NEXT RELEASES (MARCH 1, 2014):
ANNA 050.2014 THE GAMES Circus Minimus LP
THE GAMES were a pioneering three-piece synth-pop outfit, formed in 1980 and consisting of Brendan Coyle (synts, perc, voc), Colin Hughes (synths, perc, organ, voc) and Steve Knott (synths, gtr, voc), from Wirral, UK. The same year, they self-released their first 7” single “First Law Of Games” followed by a contribution of the two tracks “Unrest In The Real World” and “The Song” to the “Street To Street Volume Two” LP compilation on Liverpool’s Open Eye Records in 1981. Then the band fell apart with Steve moving on under the GAMES moniker including new band members (among them two who’s had a rather successful music career later on but who may want to remain anonymous at this point). Their 7” single “Dance This Way/Love Canal” saw its release in 1982. Brendan and Colin moved on as Zephur In The Swamp, Brendan also played in Some Detergents, and Colin in Sense Of Vision.
limited edition of 400 copies, 140 grams black vinyl, extras
http://thegames.bandcamp.com
ANNA 049.2014 AZURE BLUE Beyond The Dreams There’s Infinite Doubt / Rule Of Thirds 2LP
Anna was offering AZURE BLUE’s debut album “Rule Of Thirds” in her mail order section when it came out which was special because it differed from the usual early 80’s or contemporary ‘minimal synth’ or ‘cold wave’ related releases sold there. But what was even more special was that Anna declared the album as “Best album of 2011” which she never did before, or after. Why? Because this album was simply so special, so utterly beautiful, soft, sublime, emotional and touching. A warm melange of electro pop, new wave, shoegaze, or maybe simply termed dream pop as some like to call it, with incredibly strong, catchy yet deep pop songs throughout the album with no drop outs at all ... when suddenly the follow-up album “Beyonds The Dreams There’s Infinite Doubt” was announced, with its first single “The Road I Know”, and Anna was blown away again, what a masterpiece of melancholic synth/dream pop so Anna couldn’t do otherwise than officially expressing her wish to release this on quality vinyl via Anna Logue Records, adding the debut album for a vinyl premiere, somehow like said and done, now.
Press bits:
“Nostalgia fuelled pop harking back to the heyday of Factory Records, Isaksson’s material is deeply romantic with a deft production slight of hand that can single-handedly break your heart and indeed heal it in one fell swoop.” The Line Of Best Fit (UK)
“The best electro-pop record in recent memory.” Blurt Magazine (USA)
“His touch is tender and light, and the album’s best songs always swing to the sky, riding up on decades of learning from drum machines and tangled relationships” The Fader (USA)
limited edition of 500 copies, 180 grams black vinyl, extras
https://soundcloud.com/azureblue/sets/beyond-the-dreams-theres
https://soundcloud.com/azureblue/sets/rule-of-thirds-for-the-fader
ANNA 048.2014 TWINS NATALIA The Destiny Room LP / CD / Box set / Demos 12” Picture Disc
It ‘only’ took TWINS NATALIA five years to complete their debut album, but to them it just had to be perfect in every aspect, from each sound, note and word to each and every pixel, and quality needs time, trying to create the perfect electro pop record. In 2008, TWINS NATALIA was formed when Marc Schaffer (Shibuya Station, Solitairen Effekten, solitude fx and Anna Logue Records) played some demo recordings to Dave Hewson (of early 80’s New Wave/Electro Pop icons Poeme Electronique and since long a professional composer for EMI including library music series, commercials, jingles, etc.) who wanted to work on those tracks while graphic designer Steve Lippert (Treeline and Attractive Co-ordinates label boss) spent hours of inventing fictional “new wave” or “minimal synth” band names, song titles and artworks, too, and amongst them was the TWINS NATALIA moniker, hence the project was born. Sharon Abbott and Julie Ruler (both also of Poeme Electronique fame) were recruited on vocal duties and a first 7” was released, followed by two sampler contributions and an extended 12” - coupled with the revived Poeme Electronique in 2012 - paving the way to their debut album “The Destiny Room”. The title “The Destiny Room” was coined by Dave and described Marc’s little home recording studio where all tracks were demoed on almost purely analogue gear (e.g. Roland CSQ-100, SH-2, TR-808 and Crumar Performer) and according to his vision of melancholic yet melodic electro pop, slightly inspired by Experimental Products, Kraftwerk, OMD, Rational Youth and the likes. Dave co-composed, arranged and performed all tracks in his Hewsonics studio using latest technology and and adding his incredible playing skills (listen to those solos!), expertise and imagination, always in close co-operation with Marc so that the analogue spirit remained while being transformed into the 21st century. Sharon and Julie added superbly professional and versatile vocal performances based upon wonderful and substantial lyrics written by Sharon or Steve, the latter making the whole package complete by adding a stunning and perfectly fitting artwork.
All in all, a high-class melodic 10 track electro pop album (14 tracks on CD) - never ‘cheesy’ or too commercial, always still melancholic with lots of attention to detail, complexity and versatility, from the minds of creative people for the active listener, and the dancers, too.
LP https://soundcloud.com/annaloguerecords/sets/twins-natalia-the-destiny-room
CD https://soundcloud.com/annaloguerecords/sets/twins-natalia-the-destiny-cd
Pic Disc https://soundcloud.com/twins-natalia/the-destiny-room-the-original