Instant Hit: O'Gar- Playback Fantasy

"Playback Fantasy" was a first single release for the Italian singer and producer Marco Ongaro who recorded a couple of songs and one album during the 80's under a name O'Gar. "Playback Fantasy" was a hit in Europe and it was released in several European countries. The single was released in 1983 and it was issued as both 7" and 12" inch record with the instrumental version of the song as a b-side. It was also featured on O'Gar's only album Gimmick from the year 1985.

WAW: Bear in Heaven- Reflection of You

While waiting for the new Bear in Heaven album which is going to be released in April, here is a brand new video for the song "Reflection Of You" that has been revealed on Youtube today. The video was directed by John Lee of the infamous art collective PFFR (of Wonder Showzen fame). Beware of Motion sickness!

 

China Crisis- 'Ultimate Crisis'

China Crisis will release a 34-track double CD compilation entitled 'Ultimate Crisis'. This is their first compilation since 1998 when they released 'The Best of China Crisis'. 'Ultimate Crisis' follows the China Crisis story from 1982's "African And White", the first release on the local 'Inevitable' label that caught the attention of Virgin Records, throughout their singles chart career. The compilation album is out on March 12, 2012 on Virgin Records. Available on Amazon and all the big online music stores.

http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Crisis-China/dp/B006ZGDC0I

Out This Week: School of Seven Bells- Ghostory

School Of Seven Bells are back with their third album release this week. The album is entitled 'Ghostory' and it is their first album to be released without founding member Claudia Deheza who left the band in October 2010. The album features familiar ethereal and enigmatic tones surrounded by layers of influences from 80's pop, shoegaze and ambient electronic sounds. The first single from the album, "Lafaye", was released in January and the album is out tomorrow, February 28, 2012 through Vagrant Records/Ghostly International. 

www.sviib.com

Gemma Ray Sings Sparks with Sparks

Gemma Ray has teamed up with Sparks for a collaboration. The British singer takes on two Sparks songs in her own noir style, but in true maverick fashion Ron & Russell Mael have taken these two Ray-styled interpretations, and re-built them Sparks-style! Over the next weeks these songs will be revealed while a video for “How Do I Get To Carnegie Hall?” is already streaming on Youtube. The single is now available to buy on 7″ and digital download.

http://gemmaray.tv

WAW: School of Seven Bells- Lafaye

School of Seven Bells have revealed a brand new video for their single "Lafaye". The video was directed by David Lowery and Toby Halbrooks and it was shot in an old house in south Dallas. It features lingering shots of singer Alejandra Deheza with lighting effects that mirror the song's slow shift from a steady, grim electronic beat to an ethereal, soaring chorus.

Via: www.rollingstone.com

February Singles Round-Up

February singles round up is here. We start with the second EP for Vince Clark and Martin Gore who record together under a name VCMG. Their second single is called "Single Blip" it is out on Mute and features four remixes of the song. Amanda Mair has released "Sense", the third singe from her self titled debut album out on Labrador. Zola Jesus and Kasabian have both released fourth singles from their albums which were released last year. Kasabian are back with "Goodbye Kiss" and Zola Jesus with "In Your Nature". Now some elctronic dream pop; M83 have issued "Reunion", a second single from their so much anticipated 2012 album 'Hurry Up, We're Dreaming' and Mauro Remidi aka Porcelain Raft has released "Unless You Speak From Your Heart" which is included on his recent album 'Strange Weekend'. Last but not least, Ladyhawke is back with "Black, White & Blue" which announces her new album coming this spring. Not so impressive as we expected it would be, but lets wait for the album and see.

Retrovision: ABC- Poison Arrow

ABC released one of their biggest hits "Poison Arrow" thirty years ago. The song reached #6 in the UK charts and it was also included on their debut album The Lexicon of Love which was issued during the same year. The video features the lead singer Martin Fry in three roles, as a haughty upper-class opera patron, as a messenger boy at the opera, and as a bandleader at a 1960s-style swinging nightspot, in all three roles, unsuccessfully attempting to woo the leading lady, played by Lisa Vanderpump.

  

Next Wave: Porcelain Raft

Porcelain Raft is a stage name for Mauro Remidi who has recently joined Secretly Canadian. Prior to this, back in 1999 he played his own composition at La Mama Theatre in New York as part of the tap dance show 'Vaudeville 2000' and in 2008, he collaborated with Filthy Dukes, singing on the track "Somewhere at Sea". His debut album 'Strange Weekend' reflects Mauro's new musical formula. Even if it has been made in a small place, it is hypnotizing dream-pop, with melodies and synths billowing out in all directions. The music of Porcelain Raft stands confidently on a high hill between the sounds of M83 and Beach House. 'Strange Weekend' is out now and good news is the Porcelain raft will support M83 during the European tour.

http://porcelainraft.com
http://www.facebook.com/porcelainraft

Reissue: Hard Coprs- Clean Tables Have To Be Burnt

Minimal Wave Records will release a full length LP release entitled Clean Tables Have To Be Burnt by UK legends Hard Corps. This the first time ever that rare unreleased versions of Hard Corps tracks from the 1980s have been remastered and are being made available. The album comes as a 180 gram vinyl pressing limited to 999 copies with double sided inner sleeve featuring a beautiful group shot and all of Regine’s lyrics. The album will be available in early April. More Hard Corps news to come in March. Stay tuned for that.   

http://minimalwave.com/hard-corps