IDM Mailing Archive

I have just been informed by Astralwerks that ISDN won't hit the streets until 6/13. From the blurb, I quoteth: The new, jewel-box packaged version of I.S.D.N. features a different cover, a deluxe full-colour 16-page booklet and 2 newly substituted tracks. I did not know about the substituted tracks. That is, of course, a bad thing because you'll have to buy the new one. Far Out Son of Lung was not on the upcoming release list, so who knows how long that will be delayed. Dave

quoted 9 lines I have just been informed by Astralwerks that ISDN won't hit the streets

>I have just been informed by Astralwerks that ISDN won't hit the streets >until 6/13. From the blurb, I quoteth: > >The new, jewel-box packaged version of I.S.D.N. features a different >cover, a deluxe full-colour 16-page booklet and 2 newly substituted >tracks. > >I did not know about the substituted tracks. That is, of course, a bad >thing because you'll have to buy the new one.

Anyone want to take bets that the two new tracks are "Snake Hips" and "Amoeba" from the Far Out Son of Lung reissue? C. -- cspot@hyperreal.com (Chris.Hilker) "Blue ice cubes? How degenerate!"

Matt MacQueen writes:

quoted 2 lines I know I'm going to take a lot of heat for this, but I have to say

> I know I'm going to take a lot of heat for this, but I have to say > this or I'm going to explode:

if you had blown up, who would have missed you?

quoted 3 lines "EXTREMELY LIMITED $UPER RARE I$DN", re-i$$ues, re-package! Well, okay

> "EXTREMELY LIMITED $UPER RARE I$DN", re-i$$ues, re-package! Well, okay > folks, uh, now it's not so rare, plus more/different mixes, so buy them > both, and we'll all do it again in a couple months! Yippee!

how much control do you suppose they had over the original ISDN release? apparently not very much considering they were simply taking UK copies, shrinkwrapping them and throwing a sticker on. so, now that they're doing another version for people who missed it the first time around, you think that's a bad thing? i beg to differ. if you're a kollektorskum who absolutely must have those two new tracks, then you get what you deserve. given astralwerks commendable policy towards issuing ANY of this stuff to start with, anything extra is just bonus points. i mean, i will gladly shell out $15 for two new FSOL tracks. i'm a sucker and i fully appreciate that i will just have to live with my obssession.

quoted 4 lines A$tralwekrs is owned by a major label, folks, (Virgin, I believe?) And

> A$tralwekrs is owned by a major label, folks, (Virgin, I believe?) And > Virgin deserves *NO* trust until they have proven themselves differently to > the techno/IDM/ambient/whatever communities. Their "History of Ambient" 1, > 2, 3, at $24.00 a pop was a poor showing, I thought.

except you can get them domestically thru Virgin US for $16 a pop. $8/disc for a reasonable selection of classic ambience BOTHERS you? hell, i bought the first one on import for $20. that's hardly a rip off.

quoted 1 line THINK ABOUT IT, that's all I ask.

> THINK ABOUT IT, that's all I ask.

i did. now can you handle it? Name: Jon Email: jsd@cyborganic.com Web: http://cyborganic.com/~jsd

On Thu, 11 May 1995, Matt MacQueen wrote:

quoted 3 lines Does anyone remember the words from this old SMITHS song:

> Does anyone remember the words from this old SMITHS song: > > _Pant_A_Vulgar_Picture_

^^^^ <grin>

quoted 4 lines "re-issue, re-package, re-package, re-evaluate the songs,

> "re-issue, re-package, re-package, re-evaluate the songs, > double-pack with a photograph, extra stripe, and a tacky badge.... > At the record company meeting, on their hands a dead star, > and oh, the plans they weave, and oh, the sickening greed."

Sounds like the new Morrisey 2x12"/3xCD/28xMC multi-remix, live reissue gatefold with limited edition art prints digi-pack. Now before the flamez roll on in from irate Mozzer fans, please note; this is a J-O-K-E. || [CiM] || u9323899@sys.uea.ac.uk || http://www.sys.uea.ac.uk/~u9323899/

On Fri, 12 May 1995, CiM wrote:

quoted 3 lines Sounds like the new Morrisey 2x12"/3xCD/28xMC multi-remix, live reissue

> Sounds like the new Morrisey 2x12"/3xCD/28xMC multi-remix, live reissue > gatefold with limited edition art prints digi-pack. Now before the flamez > roll on in from irate Mozzer fans, please note; this is a J-O-K-E.

Ooops, sorry; there was no actual IDM content in my last message. To rectify this I'll point out that I was pretty disappointed with Patrick Pulsingers LP _Porno_ (Disko B). The bulk of it is pretty minimal techno, nice but by no means essential. What makes it worse is that Pulsinger makes these amazing jazz/disco/70s cop-show theme tracks (_City Lights_, the _Steamin' Promises EP_, etc.) and you only get one of these seedy, grimy beauties on the LP. Ah well. You also get a _very_ dodgy porn-story booklet, with pictures natch. The packaging is ace though, in a Tarantino film-poster style. Whats the consensus; anyone love/loathe it? || [CiM] || u9323899@sys.uea.ac.uk || http://www.sys.uea.ac.uk/~u9323899/

Far-out Son Of Lung & The Ramblings Of A Madman will be on the streets this coming Tuesday, May 16 Peter Wohelski Astralwerks Recordings

First of all, thank you Jon Drukman for the rebuttal before I had the opportunity to log on and explain our position on the upcoming re-release of ISDN. 1) For one, both myself and my partner were initially against FSOL rereleasing ISDN. I am underground to the core and it is my belief that if you make a big deal about something being limted edition, then damnit, it's limited to X copies and that's it. You snooze, you lose! 2) We didn't have a choice whether or not to re-release it, as FSOL has full creative control and pretty much can release whatever the hell they want to. Our apprehension was somewhat comforted by the fact that they at least were going to make it different than the ltd. edition, so that the anal-retentive trainspotter who HAD to have it, would at least feel like it was worth it. 3) Part of the reason that this is being released is due to mailing lists like this and Ambient discussing this release and the Far-out 12", whining that THEY COULDN'T FIND ONE! It's one thing to be fully upfront with the music, but this music has the ability to transcend the chillout room or what have you and appeal to a greater segment of people- like your mom or your next door neighbor's dad who like to listen to it as they clean the house. In regards to our parent company: Astralwerks is part of Caroline Records. Caroline is owned by Virgin. True, Virgin has not exactly been the home of underground sounds of the years, but how can you say that Astralwerks has the same handle on the underground as our parent company? You can't. If any one else has concerns or questions, please feel free to e-mail me privately and I'll be happy to discuss them. Peter Wohelski Astralwerks

quoted 2 lines 2) We didn't have a choice whether or not to re-release it, as FSOL has full

> 2) We didn't have a choice whether or not to re-release it, as FSOL has full > creative control and pretty much can release whatever the hell they want to.

So this means THEY wanted to re-release it ?

quoted 3 lines Our apprehension was somewhat comforted by the fact that they at least were

> Our apprehension was somewhat comforted by the fact that they at least were > going to make it different than the ltd. edition, so that the anal-retentive > trainspotter who HAD to have it, would at least feel like it was worth it.

I think that this comment may upset a few people. Personally, I'll wait and see whether I think the new ISDN is worth buying (again). However, my point is Why was it a limited release in the first place ? They/You should have been able to guess from the acclaim that Lifeforms got that the next release would be eagerly awaited. Unfortunately, by releasing a limited edition and then doing a full release with a few new tracks, the people who bought the Ltd edition will be cheesed off. BTW, I thought that it was usually the ltd edition of something that had the bonus tracks. Oh well. Oh yes, one more question. Are the two new tracks the ones on the Far Out Son of Lung single ? Hey, FSOL I think you're on this mailing list. Tell us your side! -- __ _____ _____ _____ __| | | ___| | ___| | ___| email: jeftow@dcs.warwick.ac.uk | | | | ___| | ___| | ___| web : http://www.dcs.warwick.ac.uk/~jeftow/ \_____/ |_____| |__| |__|

quoted 3 lines 3) Part of the reason that this is being released is due to mailing lists

>3) Part of the reason that this is being released is due to mailing lists >like this and Ambient discussing this release and the Far-out 12", whining >that THEY COULDN'T FIND ONE!

I don't know about this. Most of the posts I've seen until very recently have been "where can i get ISDN?" "[list of places that have ISDN]" "OK, thanks." Very recently I've seen a few posts from people who really can't get a copy, but I think this is more recent than the plans to reissue it. BESIDES, this is to be EXPECTED. We're talking about a limited edition. It is not at all surprising that people would have some trouble finding it! I haven't seen one single post looking for the Far Out 12" since ISDN came out. The CD that I've seen a LOT more unanswered "looking for" posts about is 'Pentamorous Metamorphosis.' This is a much better record than ISDN in every way, and it's a shame that it hasn't been repressed. Contact your brethren at Caroline proper and let them know about this, please. I personally would buy four or five copies if it were repressed to give to friends of mine who want it, even though I already have a copy myself, and I know others who would as well. The fact that one release that wasn't marketed as a limited edition, except when it appeared as a bonus disc with some copies of the Chapterhouse album it remixed, isn't available anywhere anymore, while another release that was marketed as such will soon be widely available everywhere, bothers me. That "heavy Internet discussion" is being touted as one reason for that availability, when we all know better, just for the sake of some kind of cyber-marketing cachet (they talk about it on the Internet so it must be good!), bothers me even more. C. -- cspot@hyperreal.com (Chris.Hilker) "Blue ice cubes? How degenerate!"

Pentamorphous Metamorphosis? What was that? I totally agree with what you say about people being able to get hold of a copy if they really wanted - about 2 weeks ago (?) I saw an ad. from Sister Ray (a London record shop) advertising ISDN at (an admittedly inflated price of) 16.99UKP. If copies are still going about, then the demand can't have been as high as FSOL/the record company (delete as applicable) expected it to be. Which rather fudges their claim that it is a sought-after release. My suggestion is: wait for a friend to buy it (after hearing from you what a great release it is) and then tape the extra trax - they'll probably be mixed in anyway, which means you can't tape them for anybody else (of course, if you're a DJ, this argument fails, but aren't there enuff good trax on the original to satisfy the crowd?) Rob.

Peter Wohelski <Oscillate@aol.com> said:

quoted 5 lines 2) We didn't have a choice whether or not to re-release it, as FSOL has full

>2) We didn't have a choice whether or not to re-release it, as FSOL has full >creative control and pretty much can release whatever the hell they want to. > Our apprehension was somewhat comforted by the fact that they at least were >going to make it different than the ltd. edition, so that the anal-retentive >trainspotter who HAD to have it, would at least feel like it was worth it.

You'd be out of business if it wasn't for your "anal retentive trainspotter" fans, tread lightly here. ;) I respect the fact that FSOL has full creative control, that's the way it should be, I think, ARTIST driven, granting them autonomy, not having to answer to the demands of the parent labels "image" or "sound" or whatever. [Insert highly subjective opinion here]: With this in mind it's just sad that they decided to go back on their idea of a limited edition, if it was in fact even their idea in the first place. They're FSOL, they can probably do whatever the hell they want at this point. ;)

quoted 4 lines It's one thing to be fully upfront with the

> It's one thing to be fully upfront with the >music, but this music has the ability to transcend the chillout room or what >have you and appeal to a greater segment of people- like your mom or your >next door neighbor's dad who like to listen to it as they clean the house.

My boss at the lab always asks me to borrow that "one techno CD with all those bird and water sounds and crickets and stuff..." (Amorph.Androg). Of course I have *no* problems with that. She's not the type to ever go to a chillout room at a warehouse party, or be digging in the 12" bins at the indie stores, so it's perfect for her. :)

quoted 4 lines In regards to our parent company: Astralwerks is part of Caroline Records.

>In regards to our parent company: Astralwerks is part of Caroline Records. > Caroline is owned by Virgin. True, Virgin has not exactly been the home of >underground sounds of the years, but how can you say that Astralwerks has the >same handle on the underground as our parent company? You can't.

I agree you do have a handle on what you're doing. But frankly, Virgin's "bottom line" is Caroline's "bottom line," and thus it's yours too, if next month banjo-driven-folk-music becomes the cover story on every hip UK music magazine, Virgin/Caroline or whoever will spawn new labels to seek out the hippest banjo-driven-folk-music. That's the way the majors work. That's okay, I understand this. That said, I *DO* respect the Astralwerks mission, and I always send those little reply cards back that come in with the CD's, saying, "...dig deeper into the underground for your talent, give us new artists names to learn, and shatter the molds...teach me something...."

quoted 5 lines If any one else has concerns or questions, please feel free to e-mail me

>If any one else has concerns or questions, please feel free to e-mail me >privately and I'll be happy to discuss them. > >Peter Wohelski >Astralwerks

I appreciate your sincere and prompt reply. Respectfully, _________________________________________________________________________ Matt MacQueen -- multimedia production -- human interface, CD-ROM, Web <macqueen@student.msu.edu> -- aural nukes in the mix _________________________________________________________________________