tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242210172024-03-19T03:27:47.417-07:00electropopElectronic pop music is a lifestyle and is way more than industrial sounds. Electronic pop music is a passion and from the early days of electropop in the late 1960s to the 21st century it has evolved and never lost its appealTJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338528194043617791noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24221017.post-80969768671344143032011-09-27T03:22:00.001-07:002011-09-27T03:48:08.874-07:00"Tomorrow's World" - Erasure's new album<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBZR3A9ewoJx2t-HGkxtvDtnT2yTq7JS_1SZ968zUifIGRD3d_nxKu8-zYHkQgwNuJ7Bax2TDHnWb28K0t0PJrkEYbOEy773N0v-lm4goCU2X-pnkGqcY_A_iR5KAUykGAPvb/s1600/Yazoo+Brighton+150608+137.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBZR3A9ewoJx2t-HGkxtvDtnT2yTq7JS_1SZ968zUifIGRD3d_nxKu8-zYHkQgwNuJ7Bax2TDHnWb28K0t0PJrkEYbOEy773N0v-lm4goCU2X-pnkGqcY_A_iR5KAUykGAPvb/s320/Yazoo+Brighton+150608+137.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656983016906459698" /></a> ERASURE's Andy Bell<br /><br />Following some of the early reviews and comments on the numerous pages that concern themselves with <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2011/sep/26/erasure-tomorrows-world-album-stream?fb=native&CMP=FBCNETTXT9038">the new Erasure album</a>, it becomes obvious that "Tomorrow's World" seems to divide the fans.<br /><br />While some ask "Erasure, what's happened to you?" other hail the album as a "Masterpiece".<br /><br />Be this as it may, the fact that the new album is very polished and a wee bit over produced in places ("A whole lotta love run riot" is a good example for that) is very logical to me. <br /><br />Erasure has been together for 25 years and have released tons of material, which resulted in sales in excess of 25 million, 40 chart-hitting singles and an illustrious career YET more often than not one reads them labelled as an "80s band", which is very unfair.<br /><br />In my mind, "Tomorrow's World" is trying to escape those labels and pre-conceptions.<br /><br />I have been listening to the album at least 10x now and for me personally it still delivers the magic that is Erasure.<br /><br />Songs like the opener "Be With You", "Then I go twisting" and the closing track "Just when I thought it was ending" fit in neatly with older material and are quintessential Erasure.<br /><br />"When I start to (break it all down)" is also more than a decent single, which is easily explained since Erasure as a song writing force are well established and many bands would wish for the gift of songwriting the way Vince Clarke and Andy Bell are still able to pull it off.<br /><br />Sure, the album has its weaknesses such as the too automated sounding voice of Bell in some tracks, especially since he is really a vocalist whose voice is outstanding and studio trickery really doesn't suit his voice nor is it necessary.<br /><br />Ultimately, it is the sometimes dated-sounding soundscapes of the one and only Vince Clarke that are lacking on the album, which is presumably why it has been likened to Bell's solo work.<br /><br />Does this make it a bad album? - Not at all in my opinion since, as mentioned, the songwriting is still strong and the melodies are hooky.<br /><br />Yes, as a fan of Vince's since the early 1980s I am clearly biased, but if I just compare "Tomorrow's World" to what else is out these days and on the charts, it again is rather amazing how Erasure fit in and make a mark.<br /><br />For the future I hope that Erasure come to realise that they don't need Frankmusic or other producers to lead the way and that they may return to good old Vince Clarke-based synths.<br /><br />Judging on their 2011 'Total Pop/Tomorrow's World' tour, which brought them to numerous countries all across the globe, with sold out gigs being the norm, they needn't fear to become "has beens".<br /><br />Yes, the new album is a departure from earlier works and perhaps pale in comparison to say "Nightbird" or "I say, I say, I say" but they have delivered a contemporary sounding album, worthy of the 21st century.<br /><br />The album is ordered and will make a fine addition to my CD collection and I wouldn't be surprised if it would become yet another Erasure classic.TJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338528194043617791noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24221017.post-7241849217101266792011-04-02T16:59:00.000-07:002011-04-02T17:17:00.210-07:00The Human League "Credo" - Album ReviewBy the time "Credo" arrives at my door the album has already invaded the British charts at nr. 29, which makes CREDO a hit album by any standard - but is it worth having?<br /><br />The answer is a resounding YES!<br /><br />"Sheffield's finest" Philip Oakey, Susan Sulley and Joanna Catherall aka THE HUMAN LEAGUE have indeed delivered a great piece of work worthy of the 21st century, contempary synthpop that isn't even trying to sound like back in the day when albums sold like mad.<br /><br />While many critics never really moved on from their early, groundbreaking work like DARE, the new album is more than just a great album of fans of 80's synthpop.<br /><br />In fact, there is very little 80's style music on CREDO. The two singles "Never Let Me Go" and "Night People" are the most commercial sounding tracks of the 11 tracks album and were cleverly placed as the opening numbers on the album.<br /><br />The League surprises with unique sounding songs like "Sky" or "Privilege", while tracks like "Electric Shock" or "Breaking the chains" are disitinctively 21st century fun-pop.<br /><br />Through it all Philip's trademark vocals are as strong as ever and the girls sound fab, too.<br /><br />What I like about CREDO in particular is the fact that it sounds fresh without deliberately trying to block out the band's impressive past.<br /><br />It is perhaps overall less commercial as some would have hoped but that was always the case with The Human League and I suspect that this is indeed the secret to their success. <br /><br />All in all, the album deserves a top ten slot or even higher and the Sheffield threesome can teach new bands a thing or two with regards to building up songs and delivering great memories.<br /><br />CREDO - a must have!TJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338528194043617791noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24221017.post-37464244246179252722011-03-30T04:51:00.000-07:002011-03-30T04:52:35.451-07:00NEW HUMAN LEAGUE album "Credo" out now!Have ordered it via hmv, eagerly awaiting its arrival. Review here on electropop soon!TJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338528194043617791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24221017.post-391385251937802772009-10-08T16:48:00.000-07:002009-10-08T16:49:24.687-07:00Erasure continues ...... as announced today on the official Erasure website: Vince Clarke and Andy Bell are working on a new album!!!TJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338528194043617791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24221017.post-62787870590621510762009-08-11T08:36:00.000-07:002009-08-11T08:37:33.715-07:00New online magazine for electro fansThere is a new online magazine that's worth a look: <a href="http://www.neuweltmusic.com/">NEUWELTMUSIC</a>TJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338528194043617791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24221017.post-74441353486351124882009-05-28T07:32:00.000-07:002009-05-28T07:35:21.734-07:00Depeche Mode tour in jeopardyDepeche's "Tour of the Universe" is in jeopardy as the band was forced to cancel quite a number of gigs. Frontman Dave Gahan is suffering from a malignant tumor, which has been operated on in New York recently. Watch this spaceTJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338528194043617791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24221017.post-71881578032966628392009-04-29T16:39:00.000-07:002009-04-29T16:41:11.641-07:00Florian Schneider quits KraftwerkAfter 40 years as a robot, Florian Schneider left Kraftwerk. The band is currently on tour and will continue without him. Ralf Hutter is now the only remaining original member of the godfathers of electronic music.TJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338528194043617791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24221017.post-37021145007352011742009-04-13T13:53:00.001-07:002009-04-13T13:58:03.379-07:00ULTRAVOX<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghRGNOi9_JJi0crqLrZ3NUGp08m2Ci_uuZqzgZiNda31eRGZyUvyxbbYjCCaPgHHiXZbF9EWezVPGkYmAgQvA3KhD9GvJcUtaDr8T2BZzIYh8TfUZTfadaIwsJM_fK0oTJ58xS/s1600-h/Ultravox.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 46px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghRGNOi9_JJi0crqLrZ3NUGp08m2Ci_uuZqzgZiNda31eRGZyUvyxbbYjCCaPgHHiXZbF9EWezVPGkYmAgQvA3KhD9GvJcUtaDr8T2BZzIYh8TfUZTfadaIwsJM_fK0oTJ58xS/s320/Ultravox.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324282408855443346" /></a> Just got back from Glasgow, where the reunited ULTRAVOX performed a briliant concert at the SECC. Check out the review <a href="http://www.concert-reviews.blogspot.com">here </a>TJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338528194043617791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24221017.post-30558027079758084142009-03-14T03:42:00.000-07:002009-03-14T03:45:47.502-07:00Electro rules2009 is set to be a brilliant year for electronic music fans. The Pet Shop Boys' long awaited new album "YES" is out in less than three weeks and Depeche Mode's new album is out in late April.<br /><br />While a new generation of fans is currently enjoying a cover version of DM's "Just can't get enough" by The Saturdays, a real electronic legend is back out in force and ready to give it their all: ULTRAVOX is touring soon and they will be also playing a homecoming in Glasgow to which I already have tickets!!<br /><br />Good times!!TJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338528194043617791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24221017.post-48367834691368954972009-01-06T05:19:00.000-08:002009-01-06T14:59:00.785-08:00(MY) TOP TEN ELECTRO POP ACTJust watched some sort of a TOP 10 on electro-pop heroes on YOUTUBE and thought I throw in my two cents. These are my personal ALL TIME electronic pop heroes<br /><br />01. DEPECHE MODE<br />02. ERASURE<br />03. YAZOO<br />04. OMD<br />05. KRAFTWERK<br />06. FAITHLESS<br />07. MOBY<br />08. THE HUMAN LEAGUE<br />09. LAMB<br />10. RECOILTJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338528194043617791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24221017.post-49023203408846888782008-12-24T17:39:00.000-08:002008-12-24T17:43:28.094-08:00DVD Tipp<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zX6OGO8w8sq5bqiMljKcrkkGYN5TSt_LICfDc3_6s7k-_ZYhEDbjNX0fjGSXqjBOoMqjSsZ6eG4rVHvrhPd3YfpvLKC8egtczErongMVAYuwlQLIj2rnVAkIwMIDMmNEdNmu/s1600-h/22656-400-469.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 273px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zX6OGO8w8sq5bqiMljKcrkkGYN5TSt_LICfDc3_6s7k-_ZYhEDbjNX0fjGSXqjBOoMqjSsZ6eG4rVHvrhPd3YfpvLKC8egtczErongMVAYuwlQLIj2rnVAkIwMIDMmNEdNmu/s320/22656-400-469.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283536838978173378" /></a> Just went through my DVD list and remembered one of my favourite DVDs "Moog" - a documentary on Moog Synths and Moog founder/inventor Robert "Bob" Moog.<br /><br />The DVD is class and the extra footage consists of performances from many artists such as NIN.<br /><br />Really cool.TJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338528194043617791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24221017.post-4535451308908526092008-09-29T05:18:00.000-07:002008-09-29T05:22:46.336-07:00OMD 78/08 - 30th anniversary tour<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2d3FplJPd2ilGvojwA6QR63HbKbVMCZIzuIiC492LMQDrhy7uAwH7-vB-JqxDkSV3FiSRqnLw78mCoGJoKDHl-S8VmEmdedF13DSL35S1m1-oEXid1_liy-HYsfFLKVk-ri-/s1600-h/Diverses+September+2008+084.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2d3FplJPd2ilGvojwA6QR63HbKbVMCZIzuIiC492LMQDrhy7uAwH7-vB-JqxDkSV3FiSRqnLw78mCoGJoKDHl-S8VmEmdedF13DSL35S1m1-oEXid1_liy-HYsfFLKVk-ri-/s320/Diverses+September+2008+084.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251417146297388354" /></a> Paul Humphreys of OMD and OneTwo fame<br /><br />The mighty OMD (Orchestral Manouvres in the Dark) have recently embarked on their 30th anniversary tour and played Dublin's "Ambassador" on September 28th. <br /><br />Needless to say that they were brilliant. For full review see <a href="http://www.concert-reviews.blogspot.com">HERE</a>TJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338528194043617791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24221017.post-25676517581635622072008-09-21T12:38:00.001-07:002008-09-21T12:41:52.822-07:00Electronic music gets its own show<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMO4-l1aR4ief0XlXtcyf2Y7jBnooAI97cyzy_ENf6tuEh29Kydt_6TyZ-hYuCV3pSxKpbgyLxiFI2IvT4QnHBDOKfKy_ODv7xe8US1-4CfxSXcbnrEwFVQ5z-rZfj5aump7ze/s1600-h/babylon_logo.jpeg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMO4-l1aR4ief0XlXtcyf2Y7jBnooAI97cyzy_ENf6tuEh29Kydt_6TyZ-hYuCV3pSxKpbgyLxiFI2IvT4QnHBDOKfKy_ODv7xe8US1-4CfxSXcbnrEwFVQ5z-rZfj5aump7ze/s320/babylon_logo.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248561469603520642" /></a> "Boing Boom Tschak" is a new electronic music show that kicks off on the internet station <strong><a href="http://www.babylonradio.com">BABYLON RADIO </a></strong>weekly from mid-october, friday nights. Full timetable to be announced. The show has its own <a href="http://www.electronicbabylon.blogspot.com">BLOG</a>TJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338528194043617791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24221017.post-10810376285140544292008-06-19T16:58:00.000-07:002008-06-19T17:01:50.349-07:00Yazoo - Reconnected Tour 2008<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8DyWr9cQ1jCEV9eCE63DocR0MP95pHgkyGr28oqlVBd2T4hX_biiZc-h5qV8kd0ISOqwQi65zg-IUUKy9_-HZENPHYODv-70bDoJvlCuu8BcaGtvEG5dXXIzzYYoaHWJja63a/s1600-h/Yazoo+Dublin+029.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8DyWr9cQ1jCEV9eCE63DocR0MP95pHgkyGr28oqlVBd2T4hX_biiZc-h5qV8kd0ISOqwQi65zg-IUUKy9_-HZENPHYODv-70bDoJvlCuu8BcaGtvEG5dXXIzzYYoaHWJja63a/s320/Yazoo+Dublin+029.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213746801340959746" /></a> Vince Clarke and Alison Moyet have joined forces again for a once-off tour. YAZOO is back! See three concert - reviews <a href="http://www.concert-reviews.blogspot.com">HERE</a>TJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338528194043617791noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24221017.post-59318596559412927342008-06-01T14:28:00.000-07:002008-06-01T14:33:17.813-07:00CD - Review: Scooter - Jumping all over the worldTesco offers Scooters latest album together with a bonus CD (greatest hits) for under Euro 14,-. "Jumping all over the world" is very 90s in places yet contemporary and actually quite cool and surprisingly well produced.<br /><br />It takes a good few spins to get into the groove but once you feel the it you'll actually enjoy the new material.<br /><br />Scooter uses a lot of cover melodies and even go as far as "abusing" OMD's <em>Enola Gay</em>. <br /><br />My favourite has got to be Marian because the English and German vocals are brilliant.TJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338528194043617791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24221017.post-79142000738511027092008-04-26T16:17:00.000-07:002008-04-26T16:30:13.423-07:00NEW old-school musicThe music industry hasn't got anything worth listening to to add to the history of electronic music. Thank God for outlets such as Facebook or Myspace where music lovers can find what they're looking for. <br /><br />I just found two very good artists and albums in the recent past: <a href="http://www.myspace.com/marsheaux">Marsheaux</a> from Greece and Britain based pop duo <a href="http://www.myspace.com/cassetteelectrik ">Cassette Electric</a>. <br /><br />Marsheaux album "Peekaboo" is well produced, and the two very good looking woman know how to create different moods through music. The songs are all very OMD/New Order-esque in terms of songwriting and arrangement yet, thanks to the sound of 21st century recording studios and instruments, the album is fresh sounding.<br /><br />Cassette Electric is on the way to becoming a well known act themselves as they have supported <strong>The Human League </strong>on their last tour. Cassette Electric will also support <strong>Client</strong> in November 08.<br /><br />CE's album: "Electromagnetic" offers superb songs throughout, including a cover version of <strong>Erasure</strong>'s "Respect". CE are clear Vince Clarke fans as one can find a remake of <strong>Depeche Mode's </strong>"New Life" on their myspace page. <br /><br />The vocals and musical arrangements on "Electromagnetic" are deep and long-lasting and the album will instantly hook people in. <br /><br />Check their pages and buy their albums - they are truly brilliantTJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338528194043617791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24221017.post-57397418241175624262008-01-24T02:15:00.000-08:002008-01-24T02:28:06.650-08:00YAZOO to reunite for 2008 tour<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Ax5T77OwZ9aHd7dMYbv_W6OpPB698AVXN_4nkrsXmolgVhGv4rUt9z5A0bORErN3swzSp-vVs7-e-kxBQoyX2aKaYf2eXb8fZIc_110QvxUgn-jondaUYSvDyxuIMZsRd5_N/s1600-h/yazoo_portrait.jpeg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Ax5T77OwZ9aHd7dMYbv_W6OpPB698AVXN_4nkrsXmolgVhGv4rUt9z5A0bORErN3swzSp-vVs7-e-kxBQoyX2aKaYf2eXb8fZIc_110QvxUgn-jondaUYSvDyxuIMZsRd5_N/s320/yazoo_portrait.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158987913703180434" /></a><br />YAZOO<br /><br />It is official - Synth god Vince Clarke, founding member of Depeche Mode, Yazoo and Erasure joins forces with Alison Moyet again. The duo had risen to fame in 1982 delivering the most outstanding new wave music the world had ever seen.<br /><br />Over the last 25 years there was little room for speculation and hope to ever see YAZOO back together again as Erasure took on a life of its own.<br /><br />Now, Vince and Alison are touring together as YAZOO in June 2008 in support of a 4-Disc-CD box set consisting of all Yazoo highlights.<br /><br />There is a god - this is a mega event and a fine moment in the history of electronic music.TJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338528194043617791noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24221017.post-47850150739409480902008-01-16T04:26:00.001-08:002008-01-16T04:39:38.296-08:00The good music is back<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBEYl8pLS7YnvSk4QyP4gZ3LsKbpa1yDxsxpi1BYEXrK77-ZbneqRwp2XU-X0d7Jfi-sfLcNLYuUDYM2qBBLcjfxYjC0R3TO3mOtLARFl3xSemnXD8zaleIAS4Lcca7FVIqdRp/s1600-h/new+camera+038.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBEYl8pLS7YnvSk4QyP4gZ3LsKbpa1yDxsxpi1BYEXrK77-ZbneqRwp2XU-X0d7Jfi-sfLcNLYuUDYM2qBBLcjfxYjC0R3TO3mOtLARFl3xSemnXD8zaleIAS4Lcca7FVIqdRp/s320/new+camera+038.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156050048038601474" /></a><br />Pet Shop Boys<br /><br />Although the critics weren't too fond of the Pet Shop Boys 2006 release: "Psychological" I think it is their strongest album in years and their subsequent tour had teeth. Depeche Mode's 2006 hit album "Playing the angel" was another contemporary yet quintessential Mode album that showed how the big guys are doing it. <br /><br />Erasure's 2007 album "Light at the end of the world" wasn't as good and inspiring as their 2005 release "Nightbird" although the album has two or three tracks that are brilliant and worth the money. Overall, Vince Clarke, in my book, is THE most talented songwriter and keyboarder the modern world has ever seen, yet he is THE most underrated.<br /><br />The album that blew me away in 2007 was OneTwo's "Instead" - modern, yet eighties related, classic songwriting and stellar performances from Claudia Bruecken and Paul Humphrey's. Only disappointment on the album is the fact that Paul only sings one track. His voice is phenomenal which he proofed in 2007 while touring with his old "OMD" buddies.<br /><br />In late 2007 Duran Duran released "Red Carpet Massacre" - a great, contemporary album<br />, perhaps not as melodic as its predecessor "Astronaut" (2004), but songs like "Falling Down" or "Pot full of honey" are right up there with their best recordings.<br /><br />I also like Kosheen's latest album "Damage" - what a stunner! Other worthwhile releases of "newer" artists in the recent past are The Chemical Brothers 2007 release: "We are the night".<br /><br />The good music is back - if one knows where to lookTJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338528194043617791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24221017.post-898720073758619692007-05-16T02:53:00.000-07:002007-05-16T03:01:42.511-07:00OMD - Original line-up tour<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtonrrM_Rj-7H-VeBdX74wlroXS4tUHwND1bmvvheU7y1pay7yskGgXPfumqwp88kb8yMjCrz-2OHc1r10WbXu5J_BuYlYzLq-bHPYJEMOG8si5nes50xI5kjxslPx7dStDZQ/s1600-h/PICT2884.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtonrrM_Rj-7H-VeBdX74wlroXS4tUHwND1bmvvheU7y1pay7yskGgXPfumqwp88kb8yMjCrz-2OHc1r10WbXu5J_BuYlYzLq-bHPYJEMOG8si5nes50xI5kjxslPx7dStDZQ/s320/PICT2884.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065095694512254002" /></a><br /><br />The Original line - up performed their full classic album "Architecture and Morality" as well as all their classic hits in front of a full house ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zvDVGkaxHKqIP25QSb8uKsJNccppybgupqukkuquWZbrWrlzCCRa-oiAeL2vMidNFh1dqVcevFz_LUydWi7s7uBkhPGNA1upHeaD6eNIskO8H-oIL_G1EEKeTq-YP2m_xNJk/s1600-h/PICT2893.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zvDVGkaxHKqIP25QSb8uKsJNccppybgupqukkuquWZbrWrlzCCRa-oiAeL2vMidNFh1dqVcevFz_LUydWi7s7uBkhPGNA1upHeaD6eNIskO8H-oIL_G1EEKeTq-YP2m_xNJk/s320/PICT2893.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065095213475916834" /></a><br /><br />... at Dublin's famous Olympia Theatre on May 13th 2007. Apart from a few technical problems the show was superb.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5-LRFp-ApLqdPNAKOo1C78MdXsqFF5Lv_CWrgki33UCePel0_xDw_czeiYgiaKU9afotspO6Nlg6rAQNAroD57e-Uhu33EJWG9S2GlGOxYGVcOCZ3wp0G5OxDFFUQfMe-K-o/s1600-h/PICT2890.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5-LRFp-ApLqdPNAKOo1C78MdXsqFF5Lv_CWrgki33UCePel0_xDw_czeiYgiaKU9afotspO6Nlg6rAQNAroD57e-Uhu33EJWG9S2GlGOxYGVcOCZ3wp0G5OxDFFUQfMe-K-o/s320/PICT2890.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065094818338925586" /></a><br /><br />May the continue on !TJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338528194043617791noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24221017.post-1162084998259234622006-10-28T18:22:00.000-07:002006-10-28T18:25:21.193-07:00the devils<a href="TJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338528194043617791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24221017.post-1146519604472880922006-05-01T14:38:00.000-07:002006-05-01T14:40:04.483-07:00E-Wave<strong>E-WAVE </strong>is a new music show on Dublin based radio station Liber 8FM and will be going out live every friday in May between 2.30p.m. - 3.30p.m. on 107,3FM!TJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338528194043617791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24221017.post-1145732987447740262006-04-22T12:07:00.000-07:002006-04-22T12:09:47.466-07:00Interview OneTwo (Part I)<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6112/1976/1600/One%20Two%20Autograph.0.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6112/1976/320/One%20Two%20Autograph.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Interview ONETWO<br /><br />TJ:<br />So you have this new project album coming up, the OneTwo album<br /><br />Paul Humphreys:<br />That´s correct<br /><br />TJ:<br />When is this about to be released?<br /><br />Paul:<br />We´re just finishing off the album now. We just have to record the last two tracks, really. We started out working independently and releasing the songs independently. In fact, we just started by releasing on the Internet to begin with. We started all that as an experiment by selling on Ebay only and quite quickly we sold a few thousand units.<br /><br />TJ:<br />Yes, I had to order your CD there, at Ebay.<br /><br />Paul:<br />That’s right. It just started as an experiment. Claudi* (* Claudia Brücken) and I had a few songs kicking around and then we thought “well, why don’t we just try to sell them on Ebay and see what happens” and slowly it sort of formulated into a band and now we´ve got our label, we´ve got other distribution outlets now but with the OneTwo album we´re now expanding a bit more, speaking with labels about proper distribution because rather than just the Internet although it is a very powerful tool we would also like to get it into regular shops.<br /><br />TJ:<br />Yes, it is a bit difficult. I actually went to the extreme because I am 39 now and kind of grew up with all the music that was around in the early 1980s and OMD was one of my heroes and being from Germany I know Claudias work with Propaganda quite well, so I naturally pursuit other peoples carreers so it was a natural kind of thing to order the CD but maybe, and we have seen this in the case of Prince, he didn’t sell much after having no outlet really.<br /><br />Paul:<br />Yes, that’s right. I mean, I was actually quite surprised by how many we could actually sell by just selling on the Internet and I think there is more of a culture now just sort of in the last year or so people are getting used to buying online. I thnk the Apple ™ I-Tunes probably helped with that to change peoples´way of thining really about buying music. My generation, you know, we used to go looking for things in obscure record shops but obscure record shops are not really around anymore so you are forced to look for obscure things on the Internet. And I do think the I-Tunes thing has breed a new sort of culture of buying music online.<br /><br />TJ:<br />The 21st century has finally arrived. The Item Album is essentially a 6-track album<br /><br />Paul:<br />It is an EP really, really only a sample of OneTwo.<br /><br />TJ: It is basically five tracks and then you have “Sister repeated in a different version. There is one song on the album, I think it is the third song, which is co-written by Martin Gore* (*of Depeche Mode).<br /><br />Paul:<br />It is actually the second one: “Cloud Nine”<br /><br />TJ:<br />Alright, so this is co-written by Martin.<br /><br />Paul:<br />That’s right. It was actually co-written by Martin and Claudia. It is a song that Claudia and Martin wrote in the mid 90s really because Claudi was doing a solo album that never saw the light of day and she was collabrating with lots of different people and Martin was one of them because she lived sort of around the corner from Martin and was sort of friends with Martin anyway. She got stuck writing a song and knocked on the door saying: “Martin, help!” …<br /><br />TJ:<br />(Laughs) … and then this song ended up on your CD a few years later.<br /><br />Paul:<br />Exactly.<br /><br />TJ:<br />Did you not tour with Depeche Mode at some point in time?<br /><br />Paul:<br />I toured with Depeche Mode in, gosh, 87 propbably it was.<br /><br />TJ:<br />Yes, because on the “101”* Film there is a poster which says OMD as well. (*”101” is a concert/tour movie released by Depeche Mode)<br /><br />Paul:<br />That’s right, yes, we did one of those big stadium tours of America with them and we toured for like four months. Great fun, actually. Another time we had a song called “If you leave” which was in a big movie* and was really successful in America (* the movie was called: “Pretty in pink”) and Depeche was huge there too so between the two bands we drew this enourmous crowds in big football stadiums and it was really quite strange.<br /><br />TJ:<br />With OMD reuniting soon … when I read about that I found that to be quite interesting but with regards to your OneTwo page, I really like the approach …<br /><br />Paul:<br />Do you?<br /><br />TJ:<br />Yes, because when people click on your page they read: “If you are interested in music and if you are interested in the year 2001,2013 ant the 1980s – that’s your place”<br /><br />Paul:<br />That’s right.<br /><br />TJ:<br />And you talk about Kraftwerk and all those bands that you found interesting and that is a very “musician kind of approach”.<br /><br />Paul:<br />Yeah, it is for like minded people to meet in a way, you know, that’s the sort of theme and it is more re-visiting OMD rather than a reunion to be honest. So far I have only just agreed doing some concerts with OMD.<br /><br />TJ:<br />O.K., but you´d reckon, I mean, OMD is a big influence or has a big part to play when it comes to the 1980s and there is nowhere where you don’t find your name rather than what you siad when you did the Interviw in Germany last week and you said that you´ve never had a number one and people like the BBC or so are only playing number one songs and you said that you´re kind of forgotten, I read that somewhere.<br /><br />Paul:<br />I think that’s a quote from me, actually. It is kind of true. In the UK particularly OMD seems to have been forgotten. But not in America. I have a daughter who lives in Los Angeles and I obviously go and visit her regularly and every time I am there I hear OMD on the radio but in the UK you could scan the channel everyday for a month and never here an OMD track (laughs)<br /><br />TJ:<br />Is that something that bothers you?<br /><br />Paul:<br />No, not really. What is annoying is when they do this historical shows and they do this historical context of electronic music and they pick a lot of electronic bands that were influential, who were influential, but will kind of leave us out because we had our little place there and we definitley influenced some bands.<br /><br />TJ:<br />Certainly, yes. Is that the strategy behing it? I mean, I also read on the interview that you would reckon that a new OMD album would not do as well as the older ones did although you never know. I mean in the case of Duran Duran for instance, their reunion tour was … they really made it big again.<br /><br />Paul:<br />They did<br /><br />TJ:While Tears for fears played rather smaller venues in and around the UK and Ireland so it is very hard to predict,isn´t it?<br /><br />Paul:<br />It is really, really hard to predict. That’s why I am just sort of dipping my toe in the water and see what happens with that one because you don’t really quite know how you´re gonne be perceived.<br /><br />TJ:<br />Yes, but you must have some kind of feeling. Is it easier, I am only guessing now but I would reckon it is a bit easier when you mention OMD as apposed to OneTwo.<br /><br />Paul:<br />Yes, yes, I mean it can open doors for you definitely (laughs)<br /><br />TJ:<br />Let´s assume you would do an album with OMD and maybe your are going to do an album with Andy* again (* Andy McCluskey) and Claudia is keeping herself busy doing other things with this guy,ehm, Poppy?!<br /><br />Paul:<br />Andrew Poppy<br /><br />TJ:<br />She keeps herself busy<br /><br />Paul:<br />She does, she is here actually …<br /><br />TJ:<br />Yeah, I know and I will be talking to her in a few minutes. What I am trying to say is: Does that create tension every now and then? Is there an underlined fear that OneTwo does not come into being after the, whatever you call it the OMD thingy?<br /><br />Paul:<br />Well, I hope that’s not the case. OneTwo is my main band, you know, it is an ongoing band and it is not just a project with Claudia. It is something that we are developing and we´ve got, what we think is a really great album that we´re just finishing off. We are so happy with our record, we´re so proud of it that we want to get it out there and we want to give it as much exposure as we can.<br /><br />TJ:<br />Will this one be available in regular shops, you´d reckon?<br /><br />Paul:<br />That’s what we´re hoping to. We are speaking with various industry people at the moment. Like I said, we just started small with it just on the Internet and I mean we will be using the modern outlets like I-Tunes and downloads but yes we really would like to see it in conventional shops as well.<br /><br />TJ:<br />For a regular listener, music listener, who doesn’t work in the music business, I find it very difficult sometimes to understand, I mean, when you have new musicians that aren´t aware of the business and don’t know what to do and where to go and nobody knows them, and then you have Paul Humphreys and you are still saying that you´re struggling to get a deal for your album.<br /><br />Paul:<br />The industry has really undergone an enormous change over the last few years but definitely over the last ten years, it is unrecognisable that’s how much the industry has changed. There is really not very much money in our business anymore. The record companies have tightened their belts so much that’s why we´ve gone through a phase of a lot of manufactured music. Manufactured artists are in some ways disposable to record companies, they can easily sign a once off and manufacture their songs, market them and if it doesn’t work then they can easily discard them. A signed artist to a record label over a long period of time like a big album deal is a whole different prospect for a label and a far more expensive prospect.<br /><br />They´re happen to take the cheap routes. All the routes unfortunately go down to, you know, if you trace them all back to illegal downloads really. It has really taken billions out of our business and that has to have an effect after a while.<br /><br />Record companies are not going to be brave and sign unusual artists. They can´t risk half a million on an artist anymore because they don’t have that kind of disposable income so they have to do more, what they consider “sure-fire” things. But that unfortunately is usually very mainstream.<br /><br />TJ:<br />It is really a downward spiral, isn´t it, because then we only get to hear what we get to hear. I had a recent conversation with my son who turns 14 this year and I told him that I sometimes had to wait two years for my favourite artist to bring out a new album because that’s sometimes how long it took them to make a great record.<br /><br />Paul:<br />Yes, that’s right.<br /><br />TJ:<br />He kind of smiled about it, you know, (laughing) I don’t actually think that he can understand the anticipation. And that’s what it is about, I mean, I am a musician as well on amuch smaller scale. I did nine CDs over the last 15 years and haven´t achieved anything significant really. For me it is always about melody. I am 39 now so it is not really realistic to think that tomorrow someone is going to knock on my door and saying: “You´re just what we needed” but on a whole it is all about melody and I think somewhere down the line that has been lost.<br /><br />Paul:<br />I think celebriteesm has taken over. People just want to be celebrities and they don’t care how they do it. And a lot of singers in the charts they´re not that interested in being singers and writing great songs, they just want to be on the TV and be celebrities. The celbrity lifestyle, you know. Which is why a lot of singers as well as being stabbed by the industry are only doing cover versions so that they don’t have to go to the process of writing.<br /><br />TJ:<br />Yes, and most of the time they´re just horrible. Once you know the original most of the time it is not it because the orignal very likely was produced by someone who is a musician.<br /><br />Paul:<br />Yes, I mean, we´re talking about the mainstream and the major labels and that’s the corporate music industry. There is an independent side to our industry where people basically, artists like you and ourselves, and even younger artists they´re doing it themselves. They do some great music …<br /><br />TJ:<br />Yes and then you have places like myspace and you swap.<br /><br />Paul:<br />Exactly, I mean, the Internet has become … everybody is becoming their own sort of independent label and all the rules are sort of changing. Because the corprate music world is so zipped up and not open anymore for whatever the reason usually monitary reasons that the internet is now thriving with independent artists making interesting music. It is just kind of hard to find sometimes but the one advantage that Claudia and I do have is that we have names from our previous bands and people will be looking for OMD and Propaganda.<br /><br />TJ:<br />Yes, and I am not only saying this because I am on air here, last year when I got your “Item”EP we played the “latest and the greatest” and we played “Talking loud and clear” because it si just one of my favourites …<br /><br />Paul:<br />I always liked “Talking loud and clear”<br /><br />TJ:<br />… the guys in the studio said: “Oh no, you have to play their biggest hit like “Joan of Arc” “ but we played “Talking loud and clear” and then “Sister” and the other presenter said to me:<br />“Wow, that’s great music, why is it not out there??” It was difficult to answer the question so I guessed that the industry just wants to play safe and doesn’t release it because it is perhaps a bit too 80s.<br /><br />Paul:<br />Well, it is not necessarily that we are too 80s it is just, you know, the corporate industry now are just focusing on the younger market and they´re not taking any risks at all.<br /><br />TJ:<br />Do you think it is getting better somewhen?<br /><br />Paul:<br />No, it is definitely getting worse<br /><br />TJ:<br />Aaah, I thought you´d gonna say that (both laugh)<br /><br />Paul:<br />But the thing is, you know, things like myspace and all these kind of internet places to go to look for music are all springing up now. I just think all the rules are changing. And I think that the problem with the major labels is that they are just sort of slow moving dinosaurs they really should have seen this filesharing thing coming but they just chose not to.<br /><br />TJ:<br />They are too protective of their own things<br /><br />Paul:<br />Exactly<br /><br />TJ:<br />How difficult would it be for you to ring all your old mates and do a major… maybe a mini-tour with all the so called big names because, I mean, you must have made friends over the years with megastars. Is that not something that crossed your mind to say: “Let´s try to give OneTwo a bigger platform”?<br /><br />Paul:<br />Well, yeah, there is that option. We´ve been speaking to our agent, we do have an agent now and we will be doing a few gigs later in the year with OneTwo.<br /><br />TJ:<br />I read about the gig in Leicester Cathedral in August<br /><br />Paul:<br />Yes, the only date that he have confiremd up is the Leicester Cathedral one, we´re playing Leicester Cathedral on the 28th of August but we´re putting a tour together and we´d love to come to Ireland.<br /><br />TJ:<br />That’s my hope. Over the last number of years all bands that reunited or whatever you want to call it, ehm, they all played Dublin and I think the reason is that we were really deprived of Music down here, you know, and people love them. Just a few weeks ago The Human League played at Vicar Street, a smaller venue in Dublin, and they were very, very cautious when they announced it and within a week they had to add a second date and it’s the same thing with Tears for Fears. I really think there would be a market.<br /><br />Paul:<br />Yes, there is a good demand for the live circuit.<br /><br />TJ:<br />The music is timeless because it is handmade, you know. You have your own style.<br /><br />Paul:<br />That’s right, I think there is some truth in that.<br /><br />TJ:<br />I was asking Russell from The Sparks if it bothers him that people think because they play electronic music they´re just knob-twisters.<br />Paul: (Laughs)<br /><br />TJ:<br />Does it bother you?<br /><br />Paul:<br />I mean, we were always up against that. Because it was electronic music it wasn’t considered real music and we didn’t have any guitars.<br /><br />TJ:<br />Maybe that’s why Martin Gore plays guitar any chance he gets (laughs)<br /><br />Paul:<br />(laughs), How do I keep those questions from coming?<br /><br />TJ:<br />Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. So, basically, I wish you all the best with the OneTwo album and just, off the record, I am a huge fan. Is there any chance that I can get an autograph?<br /><br />Paul:<br />Of course<br /><br />As a matter of fact OneTwo not only sent me an autograph they also visited my <a href="http://www.tj-music.com/">www.tj-music.com</a> page and left a message on the guestbook and I feel very proud and I am very happy.<br /><br />PART II OF THE INTERVIEW (CONVERSATION WITH CLAUDIA BRÜCKEN) will be up here soon.TJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338528194043617791noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24221017.post-1145536092335174582006-04-20T05:25:00.000-07:002006-04-20T05:28:12.346-07:00Coming up: Interview with Robert Goerl (Ex-DAF) und ExtrabreitI had a nice chat with <strong>Robert Goerl, former member of DAF</strong>, who is about to release a new single in June 06 and I only have to find the time to do the transcript in order to post it here.<br /><br />German New Wave heroes <strong>EXTRABREIT</strong>, who are currently touring Germany, also agreed to do an interview with me which should be up here soon as well.<br /><br />So <strong>please click back </strong>oftenTJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338528194043617791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24221017.post-1144625937927363312006-04-09T16:37:00.000-07:002006-04-09T16:38:57.976-07:00Just in:<strong>Robert Görl </strong>, the man behind the music of <strong>DAF, </strong>who releases a solo single this June, just agreed to do a telephone interview with me. I will keep you posted when this is about to happen.TJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338528194043617791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24221017.post-1144190788276075942006-04-04T15:42:00.000-07:002006-04-04T15:46:28.276-07:00OneTwo<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6112/1976/1600/One%20Two%20Autograph.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6112/1976/320/One%20Two%20Autograph.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />An Interview with Paul Humphreys (Ex-OMD) and Claudia Brücken (Ex - Propganda) who formed a band called <strong>OneTwo </strong>will be up soon.TJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338528194043617791noreply@blogger.com0