Speaking of Cocteau Records, look at someone's riff on the cover for Pavilions of the Heart and Soul: https://vitebsk1920.bandcamp.com/album/centenary

Just noticed this cover idea. Unfortunately it's been used before, by French electronic artist Benjamin Lazzarus, on his album Le Passager: https://www.amazon.com/passager-Benjamin-LAZZARUS/dp/B01NBVGMSG/. It's a great album. He's very creative with his use of samples. My favorite song is "Raga Zombie". John

Bill Nelson fans unite! It looks like at least 3 of us have purchased the new album by Analytica. I was hoping for all new material, but I do like the new songs. Especially the ones influenced by New Order, circa PC&L.

My copy just arrived stateside. I figured they might skimp on this reissue, but it looks great. My wife takes a glance at the cover of Billy MacKenzie and says, "Wow, he looks intense." Ain't that the truth...

The reissue was remastered in 24 bit sound. And the artwork was redesigned - it no longer looks cheap and slap-dash, as it did the first time around. A new liner note was added as well. Bill: "I didn't have any design input for the original 'Practically Wired' sleeve, other than supplying the childhood photo' of myself and writing the sleevenotes. And, as you might suspect, the 'flying V' guitar silhouette was the wrong choice as it is not a guitar I'm associated with. I was never completely convinced by that first release packaging but am very much looking forward to seeing Phil's completed new version for the re-issue". (from the old forum, just prior to the reissue)

Tonight it finally struck me after several years of going to our local Baskin Robbins ice cream parlour: the one of the Indian guys who works there reminds me of an Indian version of Jaz Coleman (singer of Killing Joke) - complete with deep, intense look all the time.

What a great shop, your Action Records. I sometimes order from them here stateside. I especially appreciate the emails of New Release and Pre-Sale lists.

This morning sees John Foxx posting Crash and Burn, one of his albums with Louis Gordon, to Bandcamp. One of my favourite albums of their collaboration. Since the Bandcamp page leaves off so many great tracks for previewing, the better way to listen to the album might be to check out the YouTube playlist.

And I'm actually a fan of Hugh Jones! Looking at his production credits on Discogs.com, I must have more than 15 albums he worked on. I like what he did with Blue in Heaven's "Julie Cries", and Bauhaus' "Spirit". Yes, I know they are examples of 'rounding off the edges', but I think he did a great job on those singles. But personally, I don't favor the 'polishing up' Fiat Lux received. And considering Bill's relationship with Cherry Red, they should have interviewed him as well - representing the independent early days as well as Jones' remembrances.

Let there be light! The CD just arrived here in the states. Some great pictures of Ian (one in a Red Noise sweatshirt), and at least one small glimpse of Bill. Bill, love your edgy early versions of "Photography" and "Comfortable Life". For me these beat out the Hugh Jones produced versions by a mile. Still digging in. Maybe one of you can take over and give a review from a more educated fan's perspective - I'm a casual fan without much knowledge of the (hired) history.

@mondojohnny Check out This Mortal Coil's cover of another song from Colin's A-Z, "Not Me". It features Manuela Rickers (XMAL Deutschland) and Robin Guthrie (Cocteau Twins) on guitar, Simon Raymonde (Cocteau Twins) on bass, and Robbie Grey (Modern English) on vocals. Back to Wire. I get it now. Besides the fact that It Seems is such an outlier musically (the french horn on the title track is a great touch), Colin's voice and vocal style did change from the early punk days. Try these tracks from Manscape instead: "Patterns of Behaviour", "Other Moments", and "Sixth Sense".

@mondojohnny Yes, I agree that context is difficult with these lesser known bands. But what bothers me about this one not being issued on CD is that they were on a major record label (Polydor) and Mike Hedges (The Cure, The Associates, Siouxsie, Marc Almond, etc ) produced most of the album.

@mondojohnny That's strange - two weeks ago it was available on eMusic (only), but evidently no longer. The YouTube playlist for the album has extra tracks added on. Besides "Nostalgia", my next favorite is "Aim to Life".

@mondojohnny Gut feeling would be to say A Bell Is A Cup..., since it was recorded around the same time as It Seems. But I think you should start with It's Beginning To And Back Again. They took the live tapes from the previous tour and morphed them into brand new creations, added a few new songs, and large shock of POWER. Colin: "It was quite rough and ready. I think some of the feeling came out because at least three-quarters of the group didn't like A Bell Is A Cup..., and what people wanted to hear was like what we did live. That was the idea. A Bell Is A Cup wasn't spontaneous enough." I think I have a duplicate copy. I'll look around for it.

That's funny - I was listening to "Lorries" from 'Not To' this morning and thinking of posting it. Recorded 6 years or so later, 'It Seems' seems worlds apart. Love the sequencer. Certainly more a favorite than 'Not To'.

You might consider re-downloading those two releases from Bandcamp and burning them to disc on the new computer (instead of putting up with the freezing issue on the old one).

@Irwin Glenn Hi Irwin. The Discography section in Bill's website will provide the best guide to make sure you find all Bill's music. All the essential releases are there. As time goes by, we will be adding in the remaining items - mostly promotional releases left to go. The Compilation Appearances and DVD/Video sections will eventually have full pages devoted to each release (like the rest of the discography). If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask - some of the releases are quite rare. Instead of paying top dollar for the rarest ones, it may be better to wait until Bill releases them on Bandcamp. That way you can support Bill as you fill out your archive. John

Hi Paul, While you are logged in, click on the generic profile icon in the upper right hand corner of any page. A mini dropdown menu will appear. Choose the top option, My Profile. On the next screen, look for your name and that same icon in the upper left. Click the button immediately underneath, entitled Edit. When that opens, click on the 📷 icon that appears on top the profile icon. A window should open up letting you browse thru your computer and change the pic. Good luck. cheers, John

"Visit 7", by The Gaye Device, from his album Visitant. That's not him pictured, ha ha - just a cool pic. Nor is that his voice, come to think of it. It's a sample, which he doesn't do all that often. Besides sharing new music here, I'm testing out the facility for adding in the code to embed players like the one above. John

Music For Pleasure - "Nostalgia" (Track 3 from their 'Into The Rain' lp, 1982) Scott Davies remastered this track and posted it to his YouTube channel for his business/record label Rubellan Remasters. It sounds better than any version I've heard on the internet, including the (possibly) official version on eMusic. Leeds residents - what's the hold up with this finally getting issued on CD? Come on Universal, get it together for this smashing album.