The Vegas Window

Back at it again at Rock N’ Roll Heaven in Orlando. I left with some real great DM vinyl.

First off, I purchased Construction Time Again. This album features my all time favorite Depeche Mode single, Everything Counts. However the album is considerably minimilstic in its production. It lacks the pop genious of A Broken Frame yet doesn’t capture the dark atmosphere of Black Celebration. But to this album’s credit - it was the first appearance of Alan Wilder as a permanent member and the group’s first use of samples.

Transcribed from Shunt - The Official Recoil Website:

Unlike any other Mode LP, the lyrical focus of ‘Construction…’ centred around popular political concerns of the day such as nuclear arms, global pollution and economic gluttony. The music was given a hardened, more ‘industrial’ treatment thanks to the new sampling craze and use of discarded junk from any source at hand, including the building sites of Shoreditch in East London. The new production team helped to ensure that ‘Construction Time Again’ was eclectic for its time, revealing a new and more thought-provoking Depeche Mode.

Then we have another Never Let Me Down Again single. This one includes The Split, Tsangarides, and Aggro mixes of the single plus two Pleasure, Little Treasure mixes (Glitter Mix and Join Mix). I have always liked the Split Mix, especially its use in the extended version of the video. You can’t get much better than leisure suits, disco dancing, and Depeche Mode. Find out what I mean here. The Pleasure, Little Treasure mixes are decent. Now there is the Strangelove specially-priced maxi-single. Nothing too amazing here, just various mixes of Strangelove and an alternate version of Pimpf, titled Fpmip. The Stripped Highland Mix single includes Black Day, a rendition of the title track from Black Celebration. This version is a slowed down harmonica driven western approach that would make even Johnny Cash smile (or grimmace?) I am pretty much sick to death of People Are People but I had to get the 12″ single, because well… I just did.

I picked up a few new vinyl at The Shop downtown yesterday. A few of these I am very excited to have!

First off is Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s sophomore album, Liverpool. Last year, when I was working at Play It Again Records, my buddy Erick and I would spend all day going through old vinyl at the warehouse. I was treated to a first class lesson in music mainly spanning the years of 1975 - 1995. We would talk about all genres from Yes to Steve Miller. One band in particular that Erick turned me onto was Frankie. Of course, we have all heard their big hit Relax off their first album, Welcome To The Pleasure Dome. But Liverpool tops Pleasure Dome in my opinion, and it is a shame the band broke up after this album. Instead of opting for the dance approach the band took with their first release, Liverpool takes a rock approach with guitars increasingly present. This is one of the few albums that I can listen through continually and still find new nuances and layers. Every track on this album (with the exception of Maximum Joy, which I feel so-so about) is worth the 6 bucks you would most likely pay for in a second hand record shop.

Next up, the single releases for Daft Punk’s Robot Rock and Technologic. I have to admit I found the band’s third (and probably final) release to be a bit of a let down compared to Discovery, Homework, and even their side projects such as Le Knight Club… BUT these singles were worth the purchase. The Technologic single includes remixes by Vitalic, Basement Jaxx, and Peaches. The Vitalic remix is the best on the release with Peaches following close behind and Basement Jaxx bringing up the rear. I have never been a big Peaches fan, but she does a decent job with the song, giving it a warmer stripped down feeling. As far as Robot Rock goes… I would rather just listen to Breakwater’s Release The Beast, from which Robot Rock’s main sample comes. Although, the acapella on side-b makes it a worthwhile buy. I found the remixes to be a little too close to the original song and long winded. A lot could have been done with the rock elements the original track has and some serious shredding would have been a good order.

Also picked up quite a few Depeche Mode singles:

Walking In My Shoes 12″ Single
Personal Jesues 12″ Single
Get The Balance Right And Live Tracks
Never Let Me Down 12″ (with Tsangarides Mix)
Master And Servant (U.S. Black and Blue Version)
Behind The Wheel/Route 66 (Megamix)

I have been a casual Pet Shop Boys fan for awhile. I really fell in love in the band with a 45 I bought that included a track called Was That What It Was. This track has been a favorite of mine for a long time and I have even included in one of my mixes before. So, I finally picked up their album, Disco. This album includes some of that great 80s percussion and bass that defines the era for me. You know Dead Or Alive’s Spin Me Round? All those crazy claps, rim shots, and synth slap bass? Pet Shop Boys are all over that tip.

Also picked up was Kraftwerk’s The Man-Machine and New Order’s 1988. I have never been a big fan of the Blue Monday re-release in 1988. It sounds too over produced and I prefer the rough sounds of the original release. But New Order is New Order. You know?