Oct 4 2013

[Video] Goin’ Old School: The Sound Of Belgium (Front 242, Neon & Logo)

Goin’ Old School isn’t a trip down music memory lane, it’s a mugging in the dark alleyway of nostalgia:

This week we’re dedicating Goin;’ Old School to to the documentary, and it’s soon to be released soundtrack, The Sound Of Belgium. Directed by Jozef Devillé the film has already won numerous awards and chronicles the journey of Belgian music from the dancehall days of Popcorn, through EBM and New Beat to House and Techno. You can find local screenings on their website, and this November a three CD soundtrack compilation will be released with a tracklist reading like a whos-who of influential Belgian music. To us, Belgian music will always mean old school EBM and New Beat, so check out three tracks from the forthcoming album that remind us of out wasted youth.

It’s been featured on Goin’ Old School before, but Front 242’s Headhunter from 1988 is the quintessential EBM track.

Another one from 1988 Neon’s Target Records New Beat classic, Voices.

Maybe 1988 was the year for us? Logo’s moody SynthPop/New Beat Businessmen certainly helped.

The Sound Of Belgium triple album is released 25th November, the documentary has it’s first UK screening this month, find dates here.

You can buy most of this music from:

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Sep 19 2013

[Audio] Body Party’s ‘Theme’

Body Party is the new, or old as the case may be, project from Italo cosmonaut, Mild Peril’s Chris Flatline. Apparently originally conceived while Chris was DJing the now legendary Endurance club nights in London (which I guess put’s them around circa 2009-2010-ish), the tracks have been cleaned up and released for the first time to the public under the Body Party Moniker.

You’ll fine two releases on Body Party’s Bandcamp, the lead release being the single, Theme and it’s B-side, P.P.P.T.. Heavily New Beat, with a nod to Italo and a sprinkling of EBM, Theme a pounding beat with just a hint of Industrial purcussion to the Sci-Fi Italo we are used to. This kind of Belgian groove is particularly resonant with us, as we spend a good deal of our teens stomping to sounds like this. Synthetic Disco with a cold heart Theme manages to be both intimidatingly machine–like and and emotionally melodic, just like the best New Beat should. P.P.P.T. leans slightly more toward the EBM end of the spectrum, delivering jackhammer old school basslines and a proto-Acid hypnotic vibe before flipping the switch and sweeping in with some rousing SynthWave soundtrack work, a dangerous combination.

While you;re here, check out Body Party’s other release, available for free it contains two tracks, a brooding, relentless New Beat taken on Yazoo’s Situation and a bizarrely brilliant mash-up of Front 242’s Headhunter and Amnesia’s Ibiza.

♫ Body Party – Theme/Muscles

♫ Body Party – P.P.P.T.

♫ Body Party – New Beat Situation (Extended)

♫ Body Party – Headhunting In Ibiza

Buy Body Party’s music from:

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Jun 5 2013

[Video] Goin’ Old School: Madonna, Front 242 & Taylor Dayne

Goin’ Old School isn’t a trip down music memory lane, it’s a mugging in the dark alleyway of nostalgia:

Some pure Pop with an EBM filling today, starting with Madonna’s Into The Groove from 1985.

And unexpectedly cropping up is one of EBM pioneers Front 242 finest moments, 1986’s Quite Unusual.

Back to the Pop to finish up, from 1987 it’s Taylor Dayne big moment, Tell It To My Heart.

You can buy most of this music from:

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May 16 2012

Soldout’s ‘Wazabi’

Slinky Belgian ElectroPop duo Soldout have just released their new single ‘Wazabi’. It’s a abrasive but catchy synthetic Pop track that was put together with some input from Richard 23, which kinda’ explains things.

Here’s the video, directed by Soldout, Amandine Klee and Frederic Lefevre, featuring distorted neon visuals. Distorted neon nicely sums up Soldout’s sound actually!

‘Wazabi’ is out now.

Buy Soldout’s music from:

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Apr 24 2012

Goin’ Old School: Imagination, Front 242 & Tangerine Dream

Goin’ Old School isn’t a trip down music memory lane, it’s a mugging in the dark alleyway of nostalgia:

First up is some seriously smooth early ‘80’s, 1982 to be exact, electronic Soul from Imagination and their classic ‘Just An illusion’.

In the starkest contrast possible we have Front 242, with arguably their Poppiest song, ‘Tragedy For You’ from 1989.

And finally some relaxing, experimental, tones from Tangerine Dream’s ‘Tiergarten’ from 1985. Actually the flip side to ‘Le Parc’, one of the greatest synth tracks ever written.

You can buy most of this music from:

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Feb 1 2012

Goin’ Old School: Front 242, The System & Malcolm McLaren

Goin’ Old School isn’t a trip down music memory lane, it’s a mugging in the dark alleyway of nostalgia:

OK, so I’m not sure why ‘Headhunter’ hasn’t made Goin’ Old School yet, but it’s time to rectify that. Anton Corbijn directed Front 242 , in their game changing track from 1988. Be crushed by that bassline, it’s literally all reverb (the original sound was removed).

Pure ‘80’s Synth Funk here from The System and their 1982 track ‘You Are In My System’. This looked well futuristic at the time. I have a feeling that Sci-Fi complex he’s in is actually an office building at 55 John Street in New Youk in the ‘80’s.

In 1983 Punk Impresario Malcolm McLaren brought Hip Hop to the UK, kicking off UK Hip Hop with ‘Buffalo Gals’. It was most people first experience of sampling, turntablism, graffiti and popping.