NEW RELEASES THAT NEED TO BE ON YOUR CULTURAL RADAR
STEVE HARNELL
1 DEMON MUSIC GROUP VARIOUS ARTISTS Demon has announced a string of Classic Pop-friendly reissues and an essential compilation. Heaven 17’s Penthouse And Pavement and The Luxury Gap return separately as 2CD deluxe 7" gatefold remastered sets, featuring the full LPs, non-album A- and B-sides, demos and 12" versions. Given a similar 2CD set treatment will be Altered Images’ Happy Birthday album and its follow-up Pinky Blue. Also of note is a deluxe reissue of Toyah’s 1985 album Minx boasting rarities and unreleased demos. Finally, the 2CD It’s A Beautiful Thing: The Best Of Ocean Colour Scene compiles 44 of the finest moments from the Britpop favourites. A 26-song vinyl version is also available plus an exclusive HMV 2LP vinyl set in translucent blue.
2 MICHEL MOERS AS IS Michel Moers returns with only his second solo LP in 34 years. Blending thoughtful electronica and surrealism, As Is features collaborations with former Propaganda singer Claudia Brücken and Belgian vocalist Daan Stuyven. Conceived in a diary entry style and influenced by French composer Erik Satie, As Is was largely written in transit and both revisits and updates classic songs from Moers’ previous work. Moers has recently been involved with remastering the back catalogue of his band Telex, the acclaimed Brussels synth-pop outfit formed in 1978. Moers’ only previous solo LP to date was 1990’s Fishing Le Kiss.
3 PAUL EDMOND DURAN DURAN EN SCÈNE Published in a three-edition series and covering 1979-82, the late photographer Paul Edmond was at the heart of the action during Duran Duran’s earliest years.
