New Releases

New Releases and Reviews

MOMENTS IN LOVE

BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd.

Format 2 x CD

Release Date: 27th July 2018

Track List:

1. Close (to the Edit)

2. Beat Box

3. Diversions 1

4. Love Beat

5. Love

6. On Being Blue (New Vox)

7. Dreaming in Colour (Way Out West's Excellent Extended Mix)

8. Metaforce (feat. Rakim)

9. Something Is Missing

10. Metaphor On the Floor (feat. Rakim)

11. Realisation

12. A Time for Fear (Who's Afraid)

13. Identity Crisis

14. Beep Beep

CD2

1. The Invention of Love

2. Moments In Love (7" Version)

3. Snapshot

4. The Wounds of Wonder

5. A Is for Beginning

6. Diversions 5

7. Dr Gradus

8. Beau Soir - Anne Dudley & Amanda Boyd

9. Il Pleure (At the Turn of the Century)

10. The Holy Egoism of Genius

11. Born On a Sunday

12. A Time for Fear (JJ's 12" Remix)

13. Balance - Music for the Eye, Extract from Pt. 3:

Blue Murder / The Interrupted Serenade / Ce N'est Pas Fini!

14. Donna

Pre-order here

ANNE DUDLEY PLAYS THE ART OF NOISE REVIEW

Originally released last year, I decided to wait until now to review Anne Dudley Plays The Art Of Noise as it was only available as a very expensive Japanese import.

An entire album of cover versions is not a new idea as some of the biggest recording artists of all time have recorded one, with only a few managing to successfully pull off such a feat. Technically this isn’t a true album of covers as Anne, Art of Noise’s longest serving member, co-wrote the greater part of the material within it, but it is the first time that she has recorded the majority of those pieces as a solo artist, reimagining some of the group’s best known tracks as stripped down piano pieces, rather than arranging them for an entire orchestra as one may have expected.

Selections are taken from (Who’s Afraid Of?) The Art Of Noise!, In Visible Silence, Below The Waste and The Seduction Of Claude Debussy with the odd surprise or two thrown in for good measure. Although each track has been reduced to the lowest common denominator to produce this album, there are times as an established Art of Noise listener that one can be forgiven for almost hearing JJ Jeczalik & Gary Langan’s wizardry sounds playing along with Anne’s performance, making this an extremely interesting collection to listen to as it’s her programmed counterpoints providing the new backing with a few original Art of Noise sounds that are reused as brief nods to the past.

Six of the group’s biggest hits, Close (To The Edit), Beat Box, Paranoimia, Legs,Instruments Of Darkness and Moments In Love are included and have all be turned on their heads. On Being Blue and Il Pleure (At The Turn Of The Century) are far superior to the original versions that appeared on The Seduction Of Claude Debussy album, with other favourites like Backbeat, A Time For Fear (Who’s Afraid),Robinson Crusoe and Camilla providing Anne with a new sound canvas to play with.

What makes this special from other cover albums is the obvious personal connection to the music, giving it a genuine soul of its own that manages to create something new and extraordinarily different making one take in each note that is played.

Anne Dudley Plays The Art Of Noise is an excellent example of musical juxtapositions and re-working material without alienating the listener that can also be enjoyed for what it is, a carefully crafted album which will appeal to fans and the uninitiated.

ANNE DUDLEY PLAYS THE ART OF NOISE RELEASED DATE 15TH JUNE 2018

Island Records

Formats: CD / Limited Edition signed LP / Limited Edition signed CD

Release Date: 15th June 2018

Anne Dudley Plays The Art Of Noise is being released outside of Japan for the first time since it was issued there last year. It will be put out on CD and vinyl, with limited editions signed by Anne.

Track List:

Ten Fingers of Love

Close (To the Edit) Diverted With World's Famous

A Time for Fear (Who's Afraid)

Paranoimia

Beat Box

Robinson Crusoe

Legs

On Being Blue

Instruments of Darkness

Moments of Love

Il Pleure (At the Turn of the Century)

Backbeat

Opus 5 Point 5

Camilla

Finale

Pre-order here

THE FIRST 48 INCHES OF FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD REVIEW

For the last twenty five years, ZTT have issued no less than fifteen compilations, based around seven singles and tracks from two albums to fill up each collection, starting with 1993’s Bang!... The Greatest Hits Of Frankie Goes To Hollywood.

Because of the lack of a huge back catalogue of singles, it has been impossible to compile a genuine Greatest Hits album, however this latest instalment from ZTT/BMG is the closest thing to such a release. The First 48 Inches Of Frankie Goes To Hollywood is a box set of the first four 12” singles, excluding remix editions, that were originally issued from 1983 – 1985 and is only available as part of Record Store Day on Saturday 21st April 2018.

The Audio

The set kicks off with Relax, the original sixteen minute ‘Sex Mix’ that was withdrawn, replaced with an 8 minute edit before being substituted with the most common version, the 7 minute ‘New York Mix’ a.k.a. ‘U.S. Mix’ (the one with the song in it). The inclusion of that original 12” gives this set a sense of genuine continuity and lays down the blueprint for Trevor Horn’s lavish Frankie multiple remixes that stand out as classic tracks in their own right.

Following Relax are Two Tribes (Annihilation), Frankie’s second number one (ironically, just as relevant now as it was back in 1984), the extended mix of their third number one, The Power Of Love and finally their first number two, Welcome To The Pleasuredome (Real Altered).

Each 12” includes its original b-side and thankfully no additional tracks have been added as bonus material. This gives the listener a chance to hear tracks rarely, if at all included in previous compilations. All of the outtakes, interviews and live tracks from those classic records can be heard once again on record for the first time in over thirty three years.

The sound quality of the each newly pressed vinyl is superb and has never sounded better. Listening to the entire set from start to finish was a very nostalgic journey. It made me wonder why it has taken so long to come up with an almost perfect FGTH compilation to be released.

The Artwork

Each new vinyl has a brand new sleeve and a set of labels designed by Philip Marshall with illustrations by Lo Cole that give a heavy nod to the design of the Welcome To The Pleasuredome LP, which works rather well. As with each of ZTT’s Element Series entries are words by curator and compiler extraordinaire, Ian Peel.

The Packaging

As I said earlier “an almost perfect compilation”, the reason I said that is because the actual packaging lets this set down. The inner sleeves are too thin due to the weight of each record and can easily be damaged. The box itself is way too thin to house the weight of all four 12”s as it is more of an envelope made from very thin card than a box, if not handled with extreme care these will tear and get battered very quickly. The last point is the resealable sticker on the back as it tends to catch on the records when they are removed or placed back into the packaging. A real shame as the artwork looks fantastic.

Final Thoughts

A great trip down memory lane. I genuinely think this is the best Frankie collection to date and it’s the only release, apart from Inside The Pleasuredome, that I have been truly excited about. I really hope that ZTT/BMG release a second set “The Last 36 Inches Of Frankie Goes To Hollywood" from the Liverpool era and maybe“The 49 Inches Of Frankie Goes To Hollywood”, a box set of all seven 7" singles? One can hope in anticipation.

Element 43 has been catalogued as ZTIS 341 for ZTT Records and as BMGCAT167QLP for BMG.

IN VISIBLE SILENCE (Deluxe Edition) REVIEW

A purchase is made at 3:55pm, Monday 14th April 1986 by a fourteen year-old boy who had been frantically looking for a new album released on that day in his local record shop on his way home from school. There in front of him, within the new releases was what he had been looking for. A cover with multiple squares, the yellow, red and blue ones hiding the image of a man’s embossed face, all running parallel to the oblong centre image of a hand holding a disc with the letters AoN. This wasn’t any new release album, it was In Visible Silence by The Art of Noise, complete with a circular lilac sticker that read Contains the hits Peter Gunn and Legs and the catalogue number WOL 2. How do I know that a fourteen year-old teenager purchased the album at that specific time and date? – Because that teenager was me and I still have the receipt inside its cover, a record of the moment that started a thirty-one year love affair with an album that has never waned.

Upon listening to it for the first time I was surprised how different it sounded from its predecessor (Who’s Afraid Of?) The Art Of Noise! and how perfect it sounded. Every track was structured in a way that has never dated, giving the album a sense of a non-linear timelessness, a product of its time, certainly, but never sounding of its time, or any other. After three decades it defies old age as if it had drank from a fountain of youth.

The chrome cassette was purchased a week later, then the following month the Compact Disc. As I opened the case and carefully lifted the disc from its housing, respecting it by not letting any of my fingerprints touch its surface (this was my first CD and also the first one released by the Art of Noise) I placed it into the drawer of my CD player, after it closed, the play button was pressed, Opus 4 began. The sound engaged me in away that I never imagined, this was one of the first non classical albums to take advantage of digital audio technology. Even now it sounds far better than most of the CDs put out during the 1980s and 1990s

Other versions surfaced between 1986 and 1988, each with their own charm, but never as good as the original version. What would now be called a deluxe edition surfaced in December 1986 with a free six track bonus album, Re-Works Of Art Of Noise containing three live tracks and the 12” mix of the group’s then new single Legacy.

A few years ago work had started on trying to get deluxe reissues of the Art of Noise’s three China Records albums released as they had been out of print since 1999. In 2015 In Visible Silence, its two follow-up albums In·No·Sense? Nonsense! and Below The Waste were reissued alongside the 1990s remix albums as digital downloads. Hope began to fade of any physical format being issued, let a lone a deluxe set. Late 2015, something started to happen, the ball had finally started to roll and In Visible Silence looked like it was to get a deluxe edition version at long last.

Fast forward to 19th May 2017, disc one of the deluxe edition remastered by Gary Langan & JJ Jeczalik is taken out of its packaging and placed into the tray of my trusted 1987 Philips CD-473 Compact Disc player. After the drawer closed, I pressed play expecting to hear a cleaned up high quality remaster, not expecting to be sucked inside the sound, never thinking that this album could be improved upon. After the final track of the original album had ended, came the first batch of extra tracks, the 7” versions of Paranoimia and Legs with the b-sides Hoops And Mallets; Something Always Happens (12” version); Why Me?; A Nation Rejects along with the previously unreleased Backbeat (Reprise). More often than not when additional tracks are added to an original album they can dilute it. Thankfully that is not the case here as they all feel like they were always included on the original In Visible Silence from 1986.

The first part of the second disc, is a treasure trove of previously unheard demos that went on to form the final album along with The First Leg and Second Legs, which as you may guess are earlier versions of Legs. Fans of Max Headroom will get an additional treat as the theme from The Max Headroom Show titled Happy Harry’s High Club is included and released for the very first time. As I have stated in a previous review, the Art of Noise’s demos are superior to many final mixes by other artists, that is certainly true here. The last part of the disc contains six 12” mixes: Legs (Inside Leg Mix); Legs (Last Leg Mix); Peter Gunn (Extended Version); Peter Gunn (The Twang Mix); Paranoimia (Extended Version) and Paranoimia (The Paranoid Mix). Although the last track had been issued on CD before as part of the 2010 compilation Influence, it’s the first time that it had been mastered for that format from the original master tape as at the time it was believed to have been lost and was made from a vinyl copy. If one listens closely you will some hidden gems over the double disc set, nothing has been added as a filler or for the sake of it. Not appearing in this set is Legacy as that was recorded after the In Visible Silence period sessions and having the mixes of the sequel to Legs would have been overkill.

John Pasche’s original 1986 artwork has faithfully been redesigned by Philip Marshall for the digipak and the traditional informative booklet written by the compiler/curator Ian Peel, the same man who rebooted the ZTT catalogue with that label’s Element Series.

By far this was always the Art of Noise’s best album, their most accessible and commercial. Now it is back after eighteen years of being out of print where it can be enjoyed again for the first time in its new form.

“This is the first work in The Art of Noise adventure series – (Three go mad in Faversham). Coming next: “Life with Derek and Dai".

IN VISIBLE SILENCE (Deluxe Edition)

Warner Music UK (XWOL 2)

Format: 2CD

Release Date: 19th May 2017

Officially announced today, and set for release on 19 May 2017: a two-disc, remastered, expanded edition of Art of Noise's million-selling second album, In Visible Silence, featuring the Grammy Award-winning hit single Peter Gunn ft. Duane Eddy.

The release date comes just six days before Anne Dudley, JJ Jeczalik and Gary Langan reboot In Visible Silence live on stage at Liverpool Sound City.

Disc One will feature the original album sequence and all the original 7” A-side mixes and B-sides. Disc Two presents eleven previously-unreleased tracks from the cutting room floor – the first time any out-take material from this era of Art of Noise has ever been released – alongside all the rare 12" mixes from the In Visible Silence project.

Every track has been remastered from the original tapes by Dudley·Jeczalik·Langan. The deluxe edition has been compiled and curated by Ian Peel, with design by Philip Marshall based on the original art of John Pasche. The sleevenotes detail Peel's two-year, 'Raiders of the Lost Art' search for the master and session tapes from the making of In Visible Silence.

The deluxe edition is available to pre-order on Amazon now (http://smarturl.it/InVisibleSilenceDlx, though please note tracklist currently displayed there is incorrect).

STAY TUNED for the launch of a special, official store on PledgeMusic where you will be able to pre-order the deluxe edition as well as a series of exclusive limited edition art prints, artefacts and merchandise.

In Visible Silence (Deluxe Edition, “XWOL 2”) tracklist:

Disc One: The original album: Opus 4, Paranoimia, Eye Of A Needle, Legs, Slip of the Tongue. Backbeat, Instruments Of Darkness, Peter Gunn ft. Duane Eddy, Camilla, The Old, Old Story, The Chameleon's Dish, Beatback. The singles: Paranoimia ft. Max Headroom (7" Mix), Legs (7" Mix)*, Hoops and Mallets*, Something Always Happens, Why Me?*, A Nation Rejects, Backbeat (Reprise) **

Disc Two: The Making Of: World War II**, The First Leg**, Happy Harry's High Club**, Chameleon 4**, Beddoo-Bedoo**, Panic**, Camel**, Second Legs** Trumpton Boogie**, Chameleon 1**, A Nation Regrets**. The Mixes Stop Here!: Legs (Inside Leg Mix)*, Legs (Last Leg Mix)*, Peter Gunn ft. Duane Eddy (Extended Version), Peter Gunn ft. Duane Eddy (The Twang Mix), Paranoimia ft. Max Headroom (Extended Version), Paranoimia ft. Max Headroom (The Paranoid Mix)

* 5 tracks previously unreleased on CD. ** 12 tracks previously unreleased.

Pre-order from Amazon.co.uk

For *additional details click here (*will be updated when artwork and more details come in)

MOMENTS IN LOVE (Exclusive Record Store Day 2017 Release)

Salvo Music (SALVOSV016 / PEEPS 1)
Format: 10" Shaped Picture Disc:
Release Date: 22nd April 2017

Before its release as a single in April 1985, Moments In Love was released four times over a nineteen month period on the following records: Into Battle With The Art Of Noise; Beat Box; Closely Closely (Enough’s Enough) and the album (Who’s Afraid Of?) The Art Of Noise! To a large number of people, that amount of exposure made the track sound tired and only die-hard Art of Noise & ZTT fans/collectors embraced it as a single in its own right.

As the follow-up to the group’s first UK top ten hit, Close (To The Edit), it was issued on 7”, 12”, cassette and shaped picture disc. With largely negative and mocking reviews by music journalists, non of those formats could place it into the UK top forty and it was very apparent that the single was in trouble. The lacklustre video and religious iconography artwork for the 7” & 12” editions didn’t really help it either and the single soon disappeared, never to be heard of again, or so everyone thought…

In August 1985 something unexpected happened, Madonna and Sean Penn replaced the Wedding March with Moments In Love at their wedding, giving the track some notoriety. It soon began to appear on various artists compilations, TV commercials, background music and whatever medium it could lend itself to. Following the success of Brylcream’s 1986-1987 advertising campaign that used LoveBeat in their commercial it was reissued in Europe, reaching the top ten in the Netherlands. ZTT then re-issued the single in the UK with improved artwork and a new video. Since then no less than four remixes have appeared on a couple of ZTT compilation albums, but never issued as singles. One that almost got issued as a single was Rob Searle’s Anthem Mix thankfully it was withdrawn from shops before its official release date. Twenty seven years after Moments In Love first appeared it was released as a digital download, peaking at #27 on Billboard’s Jazz Digital Songs in the USA and spent at least eighty seven weeks on that music chart.

For the first time in thirty years and as part of Record Store Day 2017, Moments In Love is being officially released as a vinyl single by ZTT/Salvo/BMG as a newly redesigned limited edition 10” shaped picture disc. Side A retains the 1985 7” version that also appeared on the 1987 reissue and is the only edit that actually works due to the complex structure of the track. A Time To Fear (JJ’s 12” Remix), released on vinyl for the first time, is the third track to appear on side B, following Beat Box (Diversion Ten) in 1985 and LoveBeat in 1987. Listening to it on this single makes the track stand out as it was originally intended to be, as an individual track to be enjoyed for what it is, bring a new dimension to the piece, rather than becoming lost to a certain degree on a full length compilation album.

As a general rule vinyl picture discs can be hit & miss regarding sound quality, but having listened to this a couple of times I can say that it is one of the better ones that have been issued over the years. The sound has depth to it and is not drowned out by surface noise that can make these kind of records seem rather flat, spoiling the listening experience.

The artwork was designed by Philip Marshall with Oscar H. Scott, assisted by Julia Schiller and is a new take on Paul Morley’s “the tortoise and the hare” theme that replaces the original tortoise shaped picture disc with a hare shaped one derived from XLZTT’s original masks. This brand new design is faithful to those from the 1980s, keeping the humour of Art of Noise by giving a nod to the Edited 12” picture disc, at the same time looking different and original enough to become as iconic as the classic 1985 edition.

http://recordstoreday.co.uk/exclus.../rsd-2017/art-of-noise/

MOMENTS IN LOVE (Exclusive Record Store Day 2017 Release)

Music on Vinyl
Format: Coloured Vinyl 12"
Release Date: 22nd April 2017

Music on Vinyl are reissuing the original 1985 12” Moments In Love (The Art Of Noise’s LoveBeat 12”) on a purple limited edition vinyl, unfortunately they don’t send out advanced copies for reviews, but I’m sure it will be a nice addition to any collector on Record Store Day.

http://recordstoreday.co.uk/excl.../rsd-2017/art-of-noise-1/

ANNE DUDLEY / ELLE - ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK

Sony Music Classical

Format: CD / Digital Download

Release Date: 14th April 2017

Anne's second score for the dutch film director, Paul Verhoeven is set for release on the 14th April 2017.

Pre-order from Amazon.co.uk

THE BEST OF THE ART OF NOISE (reissue)

China Records (WPCR-16977)

Format: CD

Japanese Release Date: 2nd December 2015

The standard 1992 issue of The Best Of The Art Of Noise is re-issued again in Japan, this time as a strictly limited edition budget price CD next month with no extra tracks. The last time this compilation was re-issued was in June 2013 as a SHM-CD. Only recommended for serious die-hard Art of Noise collectors.

CANCELLED! WHO'S AFRAID OF THE ART OF NOISE Deluxe

Classic Album Sundays and ZTT present a high end deluxe box set vinyl re-issue of The Art of Noise ‘Who’s Afraid Of The Art Of Noise’. Remastered from the original tapes and pressed on audiophile quality 180g vinyl, this re-issue will be pressed as a double 45rpm LP for the first time.

The contents of the box set will include:

12” DBL LP 45rpm pressing, remastered by Darrel Shienman of Gearbox.

High end audiophile slipmat with Art Of Noise imagery.

Extended 12” sleevenotes presented as a book, detailing the history of the band and the album. The sleevenotes will be written by band member Paul Morley and Classic Album Sundays founder Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy. The booklet will also include archive photos of the band and potentially some new and unseen photos.

12” Re-issue of the first Art Of Noise EP, ‘Into Battle’. Repressed on audiophile quality vinyl.

Brand new 12” remixes of ‘Moments Of Love’ and ‘Beatbox’.

12” screen print created by The Flood Gallery featuring artwork inspired by The Art Of Noise.

In addition to this, there will be a Classic Album Sundays event to launch the album featuring a full playback of the album on a valve audio system featuring a Q&A session featuring members of The Art Of Noise.

All prices include postage to your location.

NOTE: Due to licensing restrictions this campaign is NOT available to Pledgers in the US, Canada or Japan.

click here for details and latest updates.

ANNE DUDLEY / POLDARK - MUSIC FROM THE TV SERIES

Sony Classical (88875096792)

Formats: CD / Download

UK Release Date: Monday 11th May 2015

Film and television soundtrack albums can be disappointing affairs, on one hand some are nothing more than compilation albums of hit songs used throughout the visual work with no depth or any thematic importance to them. On the other hand, some that contain selections from the original scores can come across as dull, too subtle or just boring as they don't work as a separate entity away from the narrative of the feature film or series from which they belong.

As someone that hasn't seen Poldark yet, I have approached this album for a different perspective to that of the viewers of the series.

The thing I always enjoy about Anne Dudley's music is that one never knows what to expect and this album reiterates that statement wholeheartedly. Like all of her previous soundtrack albums, this stands up as an individual piece in its own right and doesn't require that the listener needs to watch the acclaimed BBC series, that was based upon the historical novels by Winston Graham. The melodies, moods, atmospheres and subtleties work perfectly throughout the entire duration of this compelling body of work and should never be listened to as background music as it is definitely not orchestrated muzak.

Unlike many notable composers Anne doesn't conform to the notion of musical boundaries. If one listens close enough it is possible to detect some modern day electronic sounds that wouldn't normally be expected to be heard alongside harps, violins and orchestrations of a score set to an 18th Century story that occasionally features themes based upon Cornish folk music. For those unfamiliar with her work anyone reading this could be forgiven for thinking that there is no way that this should work, but it does perfectly. It is not intrusive and doesn't detract from any of the nuances within the music itself. This is a great example of her musical intellect and why she has been one of the most sort after composer/arrangers for over the past 30 plus years. She is without doubt one the Britain's best modern day composers, if not the best, with Poldark - Music From The TV Series being the latest addition to an impressive career.

ACT / LOVE & HATE - A COMPACT INTRODUCTION

ZTT/Salvo (SALVOMDCD40 / Element 39)

Formats: 2CD / Download

UK Release Date: Monday 8th June 2015

By the time Act’s only album Laughter, Tears & Rage was released, the charts were being dominated by records produced by the Stock Aitken Waterman production team. Their attack on the charts was relentless as they were giving the teenager audience what they really wanted, disposable production line style pure pop records, with no emphasis on experimental well crafted music that Zang Tuum Tumb had been so successful at since 1983.

By early 1987 and late 1989 ZTT were in a void, their three biggest artists were no longer part of the label’s roster, leaving them without any significant hits. There was one glimmer of hope in the form of a collaboration between ex-Propaganda vocalist Claudia Brücken and Thomas Leer, imaginatively named Act. In theory they should have been the next big thing for the label, although it wasn’t meant to be as their debut single and highest chart entry Snobbery & Decay stalled at number 60 and their 1988 debut album went unnoticed.

So why didn’t Act set the charts on fire? Was their music too ambitious or did it lack ingenuity or charm?

The answer to those questions only occurred to me when reading the blurb on the back of the packaging of this collection “Music so cutting edge”, and then the penny dropped… timing.

Maybe if the record had been made and released a couple of years earlier it would have been a force to have been reckoned with. It certainly has depth and quality to it, but what we have to bear in mind is that by 1988 electronic synth pop's golden age was effectively dead. Gary Numan had vanished, OMD were on the verge of splitting, Kraftwerk were AWOL, the Human League had passed their sell by date and Howard Jones hadn’t had a top 20 hit since 1985. Unfortunately the genre had been taken over by the cheap D.I.Y. productions of house music and acid house along with the never ending hits coming out from the aforementioned Stock Aitken Waterman stable.

After 27 years I listened to Act’s only album for the first time as part of this compilation and for me the title Love & Hate - A Compact Introduction couldn’t be more apt. An overlooked late 80s gem with many pleasant surprises, far better than I expected it to be.

Disc 1 is the Laughter, Tears & Rage (The Director’s Cut) version with the apparent original running order and extra tracks. Although Brücken was the common denominator of both Propaganda and Act, musically they were worlds apart. One is made very aware of this when listening as Act incorporated cabaret, theatrical themes with popular synthpop styles along with very discreet hints of late 80s dance thrown into the mix making it lighter in tone to that of Propaganda and ironically should have made it more accessible for the music buying public at large.

From the opening song Gestures to the closing track Snobbery & Decaythe listener is taken on a journey of pure unadulterated pop music, even though that statement is a contradiction in terms due to its potpourri of incorporated genres, it is possibly the closest thing that ZTT ever got to releasing a true pop album and theoretically the only real competition they should have had should have been from the Pet Shop Boys.

The superb electronic sound throughout this album complements the style of the vocals that give each song its own unique identity and at the same time manages to retain a large amount of continuity from track to track, although the cover of The Smiths’ Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now seems completely out of place. There is nothing wrong with the track itself as a stand alone, but it doesn’t really compliment the rest of the album lyrically.

Listening to this collection was a real joy and one of those ‘I wish I head listened to this album years ago’ moments. Unlike the majority of synth pop albums from the 1980s this one has a unique charm about, an identity and character of its own even though a lot of influences can be detected if you listen out for them.

Disc 2, entitled Emotional 12” Versions contains 12”, 7”, b-sides and other experimentations from the group’s short-lived existence, aimed at the connoisseur keep both new listeners and faithful fans happy.

This is the second ‘a compact introduction’ in ZTT’s Element series, and is far superior to that of the first, Propaganda’s Noise And Girls Come Out To Play which was in essence a collection of various mixes of just 3 or 4 songs and was extremely repetitive. The accompanying booklet features excellent sleeve notes that are an essential read like those of other releases in the series along with previously unreleased images of the group themselves by Patrick Lichfield.

ANNE PIGALLE / EVERYTHING COULD BE SO PERFECT... (Édtion Deluxe)

ZTT/Salvo (SALVOMDCD41 / Element 40)

Formats: 2CD / Download

UK Release Date: Monday 8th June 2015

This album in its original form has always been a must have for all serious collectors of the ZTT label and this new expanded edition is no exception. Anne Pigalle was one of the first artists signed to that very label but was overshadowed by the likes of Art of Noise, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Propaganda and Andrew Poppy but yet, like those artists she had gained a following in her own right, a cult one at that, but being dubbed as the ‘new Edith Piaf’ so early on in her career was an acknowledgement of her talents.

Everything Could Be So Perfect… was a brilliantly executed timeless nouveau pop record which at times became almost stereotypical of French music in general but managed to embrace those stereotypes and turn them into a sophisticated original body of work. Out of all the early albums to be released by ZTT, this one was definitely the one to appeal to an adult audience rather than a teenage one. That is the reason why it has always worked so well and stood the test of time.

This new version, subtitled ‘Édtion deluxe’ contains the original album with the addition of remixes from the singles Why Does It Have To Be This Way… and Hé Stranger along with unreleased material.

For me, adding extra tracks to the first disc slighly detracts from the original album as less is more and I would have actually been more excited about a remastered version with nothing added, but that is just my opinion, no doubt others will disagree. In the majority of the Element series issues the extra tracks enhanced a lot of those albums, but not on this edition. To be fair this album was always going to be a difficult one to deliver as an expanded issue, mainly because of the lack of recorded material she did at ZTT along with the public at large not being aware of her work.

The second disc is as what one may have come to expect from the Element Series, a collection of mixes, demos and unreleased material from that period. Personally I would have included the three additional tracks from the first disc and left out a few of the others that appear on the bonus CD as at first I got bored with the repetitiveness of it, but after a few listens I started to appreciate those alternative versions. Maybe if an alternate version of the album had been created from the archives, one version per song it would have been more of an enjoyable listening experience the first time round, but then those other tracks would never have seen the light of day.

For the first time listener, it may not have much appeal as there are simply too many versions of the same song on a double CD, on the other hand a lot of thought and effort has gone into this treasure trove for the ZTT collectors who will embrace it.

AT THE END OF A CENTURY

ZTT/Salvo (SALVOSVX029 / Element 37)

Format: 2CD+DVD

UK Release Date: Monday 2nd February 2015

German Release Date: Friday 6th February 2015

Throughout the 1980s the Art of Noise were at the forefront of modern technology, pioneering the then new concept of digital sampling, influencing a generation of musicians, sound engineers and record producers alike. By 1990 the two remaining members of the group, Anne Dudley & J.J. Jeczalik decided that their work was done when sampling had become available to the masses. As an avid fan since September 1983, I, like a lot of others was quite sad when the news was announced only a few weeks after the release of the hit single Art Of Love and their remix compilation album The Ambient Collection.

Throughout the majority of that decade, enthusiasts like my self had to endure another two remix albums in attempt to keep the spirit of group alive by China Records, as more and more contemporary dance artists of the time were acknowledging the group as their idols, making way for a new audience to discover their music, albeit in bastardised forms. However Art of Noise themselves were busy not being Art of Noise working on other projects.

A few weeks before the third and thankfully last remix album was released, the first proper Art of Noise spin-off project, or sequel, depending on one's point of view emerged in the form of an album by Art of Silence, the brainchild of Jeczalik. It got positive praise by fans and rave reviews in the dance music press. However by early 1997 he had retired from the music industry ending what at the time seemed like the end of the Art of Noise for good. Shortly after we would be proved wrong when another spin-off project began to take shape in the form of the Image of a Group, a collaboration with original members Dudley, Trevor Horn, Paul Morley with a new member, Lol Creme of 10cc and Godley & Creme fame began working on Horn’s concept album idea based around the music of the French composer Claude Debussy that would eventually end up being released in 1999 as The Seduction Of Claude Debussy, the fifth Art of Noise and the first in a decade. The roots of that released album are included as two prototype versions on the first two discs of this three set.

CD1 Balance - Music For The Eye

This previously unreleased album is presented in its pure unadulterated form. More tranquil and less bombastic than its commercial counterpart it allows the melodic themes of Debussy room to breath, taking them in different directions to those we have been used to hearing over the last fifteen years. From a production point of view it is an ambitiously polished work and stands up to the test of time. In many ways far better than the album we've been accustomed to with the use of more subtle drum & bass rhythms and tones. Throughout the sixty-nine minute duration it gives the listener a pleasant, refreshing feel with more prominent darker ambient moods and incorporated smooth jazz vibes. It is a timeless classic that never was, an album that could have easily have reached the top of the Smooth Jazz album charts. With its fusion of classical elements it reiterates and emphasises that all genres of music can coexist together, by breaking down musical boundaries to create something new that transcends conformist convention. Unlike The Seduction Of Claude Debussy, all of the monologues are performed by Morley as introductions to the three parts that make up this album and make it easier to listen to the tracks individually without them sounding like they have been taken out of context. It is a shame that Balance - Music For The Eye was never released in its own right as it would have been an excellent debut for the Image of a Group. Alas this was not to be after Horn decided to shelve it and start again after Jeczalik allowed them to use the Art of Noise name. The results of that material appear as the second version of the album on disc two.

CD2 The Production Of Claude Debussy (The Producer’s Cut)

Formerly only available as an advanced promotional copy of The Seduction Of Claude Debussy is now commercially available for the very first time with four addition tracks. It is essentially the same as the released version with a few alternate mixes of certain tracks with a discretely different running order. After listening to disc one the listener is now hit with rampaging drum & bass rhythms, orchestral arrangements, Sally Bradshaw operatic vocals, John Hurt’s gripping narration of the life and times of Debussy. Donna Lewis and Carol Kenyon provided vocals with raps provided by non other than Rakim. Horn co-produced a large part of the album with other producers including Henry Jackman, Way Out West, Sharktank and Ollie J that gave it a contemporary dance sound of that period. The album is more concise than the first version allowing the music to flow from one track to the next by gathering momentum until it stops to breath before picking up speed and races to the end to bow out gracefully with the final track. The additional tracks are remixes of Dreaming mixed by Brothers In Rhythm that feel like a missed opportunity as they were once considered to be included as tracks on a follow-up single to Metaforce.

DVD The Image Of A Group At The End Of A Century

A potpourri of concert footage, electronic press kits, rehearsal footage, promotional videos and scratch videos that cover this period of Art of Noise's history. A Private Audience With Art Of Noise (Live at Coexistence, 01 June 2000) and A Public Audience With Art Of Noise (Live at the Shepherd's Bush Empire, 22 March 2000) are two takes on the same show presented in full for the very first time are more coherent than the previously released DVD Into Vision that kept cutting between footage from the Coachella Festival, Shepherds Bush and Wembley. The only downside is that there is no 5.1 surround sound on this release but the amount of footage on this disc alone makes up for that.

Now after more than fifteen years since the release of The Seduction Of Claude Debussy; At The End Of A Century gives fans a new perspective of the music created from that period of time, an insight to what was and could have been. It is a portal to the past of which the likes of the over-hyped Spice Girls along with the overrated Oasis ruled the charts rather than radical innovative music that has been synonymous with the Art of Noise making them stand out from their contemporaries and peers as one of the most influential groups in music history, ironically keeping a low profile as they went along.

As ever with the every release in the Element series, number thirty-seven's packaging is first rate. Included within the lavish three disc digipak is a very well documented booklet with sleeve notes by Paul Morley and curator Ian Peel along with previously unreleased pictures.

VARIOUS ARTISTS / ZANG TUUM TUMB: THE VALUE OF ENTERTAINMENT

ZTT/Salvo (SALVOSVX028 / Element 35)

Format: CD+DVD

UK Release Date: Monday 2nd February 2015

German Release Date: Friday 6th February 2015

Originally released as two separate entities Zang Tumb Tuum Sampled previously available on LP & cassette and ZTT: The Value Of Entertainment, a VHS video. For the first time they appear together in this nostalgic retrospective that showcases the original roster of ZTT's artists: Art of Noise; Frankie Goes To Hollywood; Propaganda; Andrew Poppy; Anne Pigalle and Instinct, ironically marking the beginning of the end of its golden age.

CD Zang Tumb Tuum Sampled

The original album appears for the first time on CD,

remastered and expanded exclusively for this re-release. Unlike a conventional record label, ZTT chose to ignore the hit singles that they were releasing, opting to focus on album tracks archived material from the vaults and live performances. The result is a treasure trove of the familiar and the obscure, along with the then only appearance on record of the group Instinct (although tracks would eventually surface more than a quarter of a century later on future ZTT retrospectives). Seven bonus tracks are now included including, mainly focusing on the material from The Value Of Entertainment at the Ambassador's Theatre in London.

DVD The Value Of Entertainment

The Value Of Entertainment follows Paul Morley talking ZTT at the Ambassador's Theatre in 1985 and introducing the acts appearing live on stage at the venue. Minus the touring Frankie Goes To Hollywood and recently departed Art of Noise from the label, leaving Morley to fill in the gaps. Looking back at the show almost thirty years later with Propaganda as the headlining act, it still manages to encapsulate the diversity of their artists and those musical ideas that have been synonymously associated with ZTT. In addition to the original Time Capsule video presentation that was released in 1986, there is now an additional one entitled Time Capsule Two. along with a Gallery by Andrew Catlin.

The picture quality is remarkably good despite its age and is far better than watching it on an old VHS video cassette.

Over the last three decades ZTT have released not only ground breaking albums, but also remarkable compilations too in the form of dance compilations, film soundtracks, box sets and one totally dedicated to the production skills of label owner Trevor Horn. Each one standing well apart from the run of the mill releases put out by other record companies. It is with a sense of irony that their first, originally a low priced disposable sampler, has been a fan favourite since its initial release. Zang Tumb Tuum Sampled has always been regarded by most as the ultimate ZTT compilation, but it was also the one ignored by the Compact Disc format, until now where it can be experienced for the first time in its entirety both sonically and visually with the accompanying The Value Of Entertainment.

FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD, PROPAGANDA, ART OF NOISE

SO80s (SOEIGHTIES) PRESENTS ZTT

Soundcolours (SC0342)

Formats: 2CD / Download

German Release Date: Friday 25th April 2014

UK Release Date: Monday 28th April 2014

The promise, the dream, the anticipation, the disappointment.

The first disc was originally intended to feature new reconstructions by Blank & Jones of classic tracks by Zang Tumb Tuum's three biggest acts of the time rather than updated dance remixes, with the second to feature a megamix of ZTT's back catalogue. However this is not how this double disc set is presented as nine out of the thirteen remodelled productions are of Frankie Goes To Hollywood with Propaganda and Art of Noise appearing as fillers. According to sources the duo were only sent the multi-tracks of the featured songs by ZTT, limiting them to what they could do with the project. From this fan's point of view it would have been better to have omitted the three Propaganda tracks: Duel; Dr. Mabuse; A Dream Within A Dream along with the now overused Moments In Love by Art of Noise and released the project as So80s (Soeighties) Present Frankie Goes To Hollywood.

With that said, the majority of these new reconstructions do sound as they were meant to, as one could be mistaken for thinking that they were all unreleased mixes from the 1980s. A great deal of care has been put into how these versions have been put together, so much so that Blank & Jones actually purchased equipment from that period for their additional work to seamlessly blend in with the original source material. Thankfully they didn't go in the direction of so many other people that have remixed tracks from ZTT's over the past twenty years by turning them into club anthems that removed their heart and soul.

In many ways this release is a contradiction as it is extremely enjoyable to listen to, but at the same time it's a huge disappointment as it fails to deliver on many levels. Not even the well designed artwork and sleeve notes by Paul Morley can hide the fact that it could have been so much more. ZTT have always been full of inconsistencies over the past three decades, unfortunately this album doesn't fall into that ethos.

VARIOUS ARTISTS / ZANG TUUM TUMB - THE RE-ORGANIZATION OF POP

(Exclusive Record Store Day 2014 Release)

ZTT/Razor & Tie (79301-83560-7 / Element 32)

Format: 10 x 7" Box Set

US Release Date: Saturday 19th April 2014

This is a spin-off from last year's Zang Tuum Tumb - The Organization Of Pop (New York Edition) compilation album that was released to celebrate thirty years of ZTT Records and is the second of that label's new releases for Record Store Day 2014. Unlike Live At The End Of A Century by Art of Noise, this set is aimed at the American market and is the most ambitious of the two.

The box set itself, is a work of art, complete with track by track commentary in the accompanying booklet.

At first glance it would appear that the ten singles included are just reprints of previously released 45s. Explore a little further and one will be pleasantly surprised as only a few were released in the US prior to this set. For example Art of Noise's Beat Box (Diversion Six and Seven) was only ever released in the UK in a generic die-cut sleeve, unlike here where it now has a picture sleeve for the first time.

There are three exclusive singles included in this set that have never been made commercially available before, Andrew Poppy's 32 Frames, originally release as a 12" in 1986, Chance by Act that was withdrawn prior to its 1988 release date due to copyright issues and Zambient Two that features Dolphins by Heights of Abraham on its A-side and Lisa Stansfield's When Love Breaks Down on side B. Of course no ZTT compilation would be complete without Frankie Goes To Hollywood and Propaganda.

Like Record Store Day 2014 in the UK, this release (of just one thousand) are only available from specialist record stores, but no doubt that by Saturday afternoon there will be more than a few of these items listed on eBay at extortionate prices, this is the downside to Record Store Day as it attracts touts that exploit genuine fans and collectors. My advice for Saturday the 14th April is if you see one buy it, as it will cost you a lot more from auction sites.

LIVE AT THE END OF A CENTURY(Exclusive Record Store Day 2014 Release)

ZTT/Salvo (SALVOSV006 / Element 34)

Format: 12" Picture Disc

Release Date: Saturday 19th April 2014

Almost fifteen years after the last Art of Noise single Metaforce, ZTT/Salvo release the long awaited follow up, Live At The End Of A Century. It is being issued as a limited edition 12” picture disc that will be made available as part of Record Store Day 2014 in the UK via specialist independent shops.

Art of Noise were always different as well as being creatively ahead of anyone else making music during the eighties and again in the late nineties during their “image of a group” period. This record showcases that they could exist outside of a studio environment and play live to audiences with ease like any stadium filling rock band. All three live recordings from the 1999 Coachilla Festival are taken directly from the soundboard with no remixing or additional overdubs. For the entire fifteen minutes, forty-six seconds duration of the record, wordsmith Paul Morley presents the audience with a surreal narrative of his guide to the world of Claude Debussy and his abstract ideas with fellow band members Anne Dudley, Trevor Horn & Lol Creme.

The journey starts with a one minute version of Out Of This World, a haunting, hypnotic low key soundscape or subtle musical canvas that escorts the opening monologue towards the uplifting Born On A Sunday. With operatic vocals by Amanda Boyd, to the attacking drum & bass rhythms via the bassline of the group’s E.F.L., Born On Sunday stand out as tour de force of musical ideas and juxtapositions that in theory shouldn’t work. But this is of course Art of Noise, doing what they do best, defying traditional conventions. Through the fast pounding beats the track races furiously to the middle eight section and beyond to a newly arranged version of an old favourite, Moments In Love, one of the group’s most intriguing tracks. The arrangement included here not only draws a closure to this special release, but adds an unexpected twist towards the end of the track.

Overall the record is an excellent, long overdue addition to Art of Noise’s impressive discography spanning almost thirty-one years. The music on this record may not be as influential as their work during the eighties, but it is still superior to that which was being created by other artists in the late nineties. This record is catalogued as SALVOSV006 and is number 34 in Zang Tuum Tumn’s ever expanding Element series before it becomes the missing piece.

THE BEST OF

Metro Select (METRSL079)

Format: 2CD

European Release Date: Friday 20th September 2013

A very poor and misleading budget priced release. An awful mess that is basically tracks taken from (Who's Afraid Of?) The Art Of Noise and The Seduction Of Claude Debussy jumbled together without any thought. Archive tracks that appeared on the Influence and Into Battle compilations have been thrown in as fillers. It would have been better to put out a double CD set of the two albums in their original forms. It is one of a series of three compilations to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of ZTT Records, the other two being Frankie Goes To Hollywood and Propaganda. For the pure die-hard collectors.

THE BEST OF THE ART OF NOISE

China Records (WPCR-1506)

Format: SHM-CD

Japanese Release Date: Wednesday 26nd June 2013

A remastered version of the 1992 compilation that was released after the licensing of three ZTT tracks had expired, replacing them with two further singles and an album track. Gone were all of the 12" mixes that made up the majority of the original CD which had been replaced with 7" versions cutting its running time in half. Unusually no additional tracks have been added to this Japanese remastered edition. Well worth the money for the improved sound quality of this SHM-CD. An essential must for have item for any collector.

INFLUENCE: Hits, Singles, Moments, Treasures...

ZTT/Salvo (SALVODCD21 / Element 10)

Format: 2CD

Release Date: Monday 19th July 2010

The music from the new Influence album is playing as I sit on the floor of my office surrounded by the hundreds of worldwide releases on multiple formats in my Art of Noise collection whilst writing this review. Like other serious collectors, I have always known that something else was missing and this compilation, the latest addition to the group's discography, rubs salt into the wound by giving the collector a taste of what else lies hidden away in the vaults. Unlike the previous archive release, And What Have You Done With My Body, God?, this new selection is not just aimed at the collector. It also acts as part greatest hits and part introduction to the most influential group of the past 30 years.

This is the first compilation since the long deleted original The Best Of The Art Of Noise to feature tracks from both the ZTT and China Records back catalogues. Unlike that lost album, this new retrospective includes material from the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. ZTT's curator and Art of Noise aficionado Ian Peel has not only complied this labour of love, but has also created a work of art by selecting each individual track with care. Throughout this thirty nine track compilation only four tracks appear on both compilations, the 7" versions of Kiss (featuring Tom Jones), Peter Gunn (featuring Duane Eddy), Moments In Love and Beat Box (Diversion Ten), the latter two appearing only on the LP/cassette versions of the 1988 collection. By not duplicating all the same versions of singles from The Best Of..., the listener gets an opportunity to hear the original 7" mixes of Close (To The Edit) (a.k.a. Beat Box (Diversion Seven)), Legs, Dragnet and the 12" remix, Paranoimia (The Paranoid Mix) (with Max Headroom) which all blend in perfectly with the rest of the carefully selected tracks on this album.

The thought of `best of' albums containing b-sides and album tracks had always came across to me as just filling, however that is certainly not the case here! As I mentioned earlier, this album is only part greatest hits. The music of the Art of Noise has never been able to be defined by any genre, as it is a genre within itself and the remaining tracks confirm that statement. Love Beat is a perfect example of this, a type of slow jazz that originated from Moments In Love before it became a stand alone track that went on to appear as the soundtrack to various TV commercials.

Their music was never a stranger to television as one of the most iconic theme tunes ever produced hit the airwaves in the shape of the (Theme From) The Krypton Factor. This high energy track, a fan favourite for more than two decades is available here for the very first time in its original form, before it was developed into another (Crusoe) that appeared on the In No Sense? Nonsense! album, from which the quirky and bizarre Ode To Don Jose is taken. Acton Art is an edited down reprise of that album that sends the listener on an audio rollercoaster ride with a structure that defies conventional musical structure. In contrast to that, more traditional methods are used in the form of three orchestrated tracks Promenade One; Promenade Two and Finale from the Below The Waste album, throwing a spanner into the works of any preconceived notion of what Art of Noise is, or should be.

Not just one spanner was thrown for The Seduction Of Claude Debussy tracks, but a whole set of spanners with the odd socket set thrown in too as demonstrated in the tracks Metaforce (featuring Rakim) and The Holy Egoism Of Genius. This time fusing together classical, operatic, house, drum & bass, narrative and even a rap on Metaforce, once again defying any genre categorisation. And that is just the first CD subtitled The A Side: singles, hits, soundtracks and collaborations that also includes the single that never was Something Is Missing (aka Dreaming: Colour Green) and the improvised live recording A Is For Beginning.

Following on from the success of the aforementioned And What Have You Done With My Body, God? box set, and with the same care taken as on CD 1, the listener is transported into another dimension with CD 2 The AA Side: unreleased experiments, before and after science. An alter ego to the first disc, this 66 minute chronology of completely previously unreleased material is a must have for any Art of Noise fan and it isn't too hard on the first time listener.

The first part is essentially recordings taken from the experiments from the original line-up: Anne Dudley, Trevor Horn, JJ Jeczalik, Gary Langan and Paul Morley. Beep Beep an alternative version of Who's Afraid (Of The Art Of Noise) makes one ask the question `Why weren't some of these tracks put out as singles?' A Time For Fear (JJ's 12" Remix) was planned as the follow up to Moments In Love, of which two more versions appear, Moments In Love (Anne To Tears Mix) and Moments In Love (The Monitor Mix) (with Lucky Gordon). All of those tracks were recorded before Anne, JJ & Gary left ZTT to achieve greater success. The fruits of Trevor & Paul's labour as a spin-off group in 1986 can be heard with the two versions of This Is Your Life as Art & Act that were only rumoured to exist. I'm A Stranger Here Myself and Cassandra were tracks recorded by Anne & JJ that were intended for use in an American feature film. The remainder of the disc sheds light onto the creation and development of the concept album The Seduction Of Claude Debussy with Lol Creme joining the Dudley/Horn/Morley line-up. The unreleased versions from this period, could have easily been released on the finished album. Although no versions from the pre-release CD appear here, it still makes for very interesting listening and shows how creative the group are/were. The quality of most of the unreleased tracks on this disc put the final finished products of many artists to shame. Spread throughout the disc are Interlude... tracks featuring spoken words by Trevor Horn and John Hurt. Dainty features Camilla Pilkington's recording sessions for the track Who's Afraid (Of The Art Of Noise) while Beat Box (Diversion 3.4, Extracted) is from an actual jamming session.

The packaging for Influence is first class including an eight-panel digipak to house the two CDs complete with a luxurious booklet that accompanies the set written by Ian Peel that also contains previously unpublished photographs of the group with contributions from Anne Dudley and Paul Morley. By ignoring and erasing from existence all of those so called `remixed interpretations' from the three cash-in remix albums (well at least on this album) becomes a pure joy to listen to, a work of art.

(WHO'S AFRAID OF?) THE ART OF NOISE! (Japansese Edition)

ZTT/Third-Ear JPN Ltd. (XECZ-1011)

Format: CD

Japanese Release Date: Wednesday 29th October 2008

Various versions of this album have been released around the world since it was first issued in the USA in mid 1984. The album is regarded by some Art of Noise fans as their finest work. This latest version keeps the extra track Close-Up, originally added to the 1994 Japanese issue, and adds yet another two bonus tracks A TimeTo Clear (Up), (an alternate version of A Time For Fear (Who's Afraid)) along with Resonance. Both tracks were previously unreleased tracks that eventually were released for a short time on the 1999 custom CD Bashful a.k.a. Belief System a.k.a. An Extra Pulse Of Beauty. This new expanded limited edition and the remaining Japanese Edition releases from ZTT/Thir-Ear JPN Ltd. come complete with gatefold mini vinyl CD sleeves, making them a must for any collector along with a business size Campaign Access Cards with a unique number.

"daft" (Japanese Edition)

ZTT/Third-Ear JPN Ltd. (XECZ-1012)

Format: CD

Japanese Release Date: Wednesday 29th October 2008

For the first time since the original UK 1986 release, "daft" sounds more like an actual compilation than just an expanded CD version of (Who's Afraid Of?) The Art Of Noise with addition material taken from the group's debut extended play, Into Battle With The Art Of Noise and the 12" of Moments In Love. Three addition tracks have been added to this remastered collection: Close-Up (Hop) (included on the 1994 Japanese issue), Beat Box (Diverted) and Memory Loss (both from the same custom CD as the additional ones on (Who's Afraid Of?) The Art Of Noise (Japanese Edition)

THE SEDUCTION OF CLAUDE DEBUSSY (Japanese Edition)

ZTT/Third-Eart JPN Ltd. (XECZ-1013)

Format: 2CD

Japanese Release Date: Wednesday 29th October 2008

This new expanded edition of 1999 critically acclaimed The Seduction Of Claude Dubussy includes the bonus tracks Metaforce (The Size Of A Mataphor: Mix by Roni Size) and Dreaming: Colour Maroon, previously included on the French issue of Reduction. Although not as groundbreaking as (Who's Afraid Of?) The Art Of Noise!, this long player is a departure from anything that Art of Noise had done before. It was the first one without original co-founder J.J. Jeczalik. Rather than using sampling as the basis for the album, the music was based around the works of French composer Claude Debussy, mixing narration, classical, drum & bass, rap and operatic music to form the first new material from Art of Noise in ten years. Also contained within in this set is the aforementioned long out of print remix album, Reduction, featuring (New York London Paris) Spleen and Information as its highlights with the bonus track Metaforce (X-Ray Of A Metaphor: mixed by The Shark Tank).

RECONSTRUCTED...FOR YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE (Japanese Edition)

ZTT/Third-Ear JPN Ltd. (XECZ-1015)

Format: CD+DVD

Japanese Release Date: Wednesday 29th October 2008.

Originally released in the UK as a Super Audio CD, as the soundtrack to the Art of Noise DVD Into Vision, this new edition comprises of a standard stereo CD and a DVD Audio with both stereo & 5.1 surround sound mixes. Sadly the stereo mix to the Into Vision DVD wasn't included in this set, as it is a different soundtrack to that of the stereo and 5.1 versions included here. The audio is based on recordings made during the Art of Noise's 1999/2000 tour where they played almost the entire The Seduction Of Claude Debussy album live with the exceptions of some old favourites like Moments In Love, Beat Box incorporating Close (To The Edit) and Peter Gunn. No extra tracks as such on this set unless you count the 5.1 surround sound mixes on the audio DVD.

AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH MY BODY, GOD? (Japanese Edition)

ZTT/Third-Ear JPN Ltd. (XECZ-9017-9020)

Format: 4CD Box Set + T-Shirt

Japanese Release Date: Wednesday 29th October 2008

This issue of the Art of Noise's archive box set contains no extra tracks as it is the exact same box set (ZTT201CD) with Japanese stickers and booklet with a free (Who's Afraid Of?) The Art Of Noise T-shirt. The box set itself contains four CDs of archive outtakes and remixes that formed their debut album. A 36 page book is also included with contributions from Gary Langan, J.J. Jeczalik, Anne Dudley, Trevor Horn and Paul Morley. A must for all serious Art of Noise collectors.

VARIOUS ARTISTS / ZANG TUMB TUUM: THE ZTT BOX SET

ZTT/Salvo (SALVOBOX405)

Format: 3CD+DVD Box Set

Release Date: Monday 27th October 2008

Usually a record label is not thought of when one thinks of an act, but sometimes the artist and label go hand in hand. If you were to think of The Supremes and Marvin Gaye, you would think Motown. If someone says ZTT the chances are that Art of Noise, Frankie Goes To Hollywood and 808 State spring to mind.

Instead of being conventional by taking one track from each artist, Ian Peel has compiled a box set that captures the spirit, the sound, the look and the importance of ZTT over the last 25 years. Included are numerous tracks by Seal, Propaganda, The Frames, David Jordan, Act, Art of Noise, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Shane MacGowan and 808 State (including MC Tunes versus 808 State). Almost all the tracks by each of the aforementioned artists are grouped together for the enjoyment and convenience of the listener, instead of having to skip through or change discs to listen to the next track by a paticular artist. Anne Pigalle, David's Daughters, Novecento, Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force, Time Unlimited, Shades Of Rhythm, General Max, Sun Electric, Nast Rox Inc., Andrew Poppy, Lee Griffiths, Lomax, das Psych-oh! Rangers, Tara, Heights of Abraham and the late Kirsty MacColl act as interludes between the multiple tracks of the other artists. By doing so, the listener is given the chance to hear (perhaps for the first time) some of the label's best overlooked acts by presenting some long forgotten gems that are as equally important to ZTT's history as the more well known acts associated with the label. Some of tracks appear for the first time on CD, along with some rarities and hidden tracks that will make any collector of ZTT happy. In addition to that there is an eighteen track DVD featuring fourteen of the artists that appear upon the CDs with four other acts, Adamski's Thing, Dove, Leilani and Raging Speedhorn, who didn't make it onto the audio set of this unique collection. Many of the videos are available for the first time on DVD and showcase not only the acts but the talents of the innovative directors involved during the past 25 years. If you are also into books, then you are going to be beside yourself with joy as there is a 72-page book by the compiler of the box set with some words from one of the label's co-founders and former Art of Noise member Paul Morley, plus rare publicity shots of the artists, record sleeves and press advertisements used since 1983.

This set includes some of the best and well produced tracks from past quarter of a century. Founded by Trevor Horn, Jill Sinclair & Paul Morley, ZTT changed the way that music was marketed by introducing the record buying public to multi-mix formats to increase the sale of singles and albums, this new way of marketing has been copied by almost every other record label since. ZTT was also different to other labels as they weren't afraid to sign artists who looked and sounded completely different from each other as well as signing acts like the biggest selling act of 1984, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, who had previously been turned down by every other record label. After listening to the CDs in this set and watching the DVD you will see what a diverse stable of talent has appeared on this small, but mighty label over the years!