ARTIST: VARIOUS COMPILED BY: TERENCE FIXMER TITLE: AKTION MEKANIK LABEL: MUSIC MAN FORMAT: CD / 2 X 12 CAT NO: MMCD 021 RELEASE DATE: 17 JANUARY 2002
Featuring classic 'EBM' (electronic body music) and Nu-Beat tracks from Nitzer Ebb, The Normal, Fad Gadget, Front 242, Crash Course In Science, Skinny Puppy, DAF, Liaisons Dangereuses and a new exclusive track from compiler (and Gigolo) Terence Fixmer, Aktion Mekanik brings together long lost/forgotten classics from the 80's Belgian Nu-Beat scene, whilst highlighting their influence on modern electronic composition. With tracks such as The Normal's 'Warm Leatherette' being covered by Chicks On Speed or bootlegged by Richard X and DJ Hell covering No More's 'Suicide Commando' and making the second half of his recent 'Electronicbody-housemusic' mix CD a homage to old and new versions of 'EBM', 'Aktion Mekanik' is a timely reminder of how we used to play. One such current producer who certainly used to play is Planete Rouge man, Terence Fixmer who has been fusing EBM with modern techno ever since 'Electrostatic' launched his life as a Gigolo in the late 90s. Born in Lille, on the Northern borders of Belgium it was at the tender age of 15 that Fixmer fell headfirst into the burgeoning EBM scene just across the border, where himself and fellow friends at Ghent's Music Man label fanatically followed bands such as Front 242, Klinik, DAF and Nitzer Ebb and frequented Belgian clubs such as Boccaccio and Skyline. "I made this compilation as a personal journey and to remember the well respected electronic artists which are in someway our modern techno forefathers," states Fixmer. "I made it just because this is the music of my heart and nothing to do with any 80s trend." With Fixmer having recently remixed Nitzer Ebb's classic 'Join In The Chant' for Novamute and now currently working with their singer Douglas MacCarthy on a new project, Aktion Mekanik neatly brings his EBM adventure full circle. Furthermore, look out next year for Crash Course In Science's never before released only album from the early 80's vaults set for a debut airing on Music Man some 20 years later.! Terence Fixmer plays live at ElectrooVoodoo, Liverpool on December 13th. More info: www.terencefixmer.com Nitzer Ebb - Warsaw Ghetto Nitzer Ebb, (strongly influenced by DAF) were, alongside Front 242, at the forefront of the EBM sound in the late 80s, with classics like "Let Your Body Learn" & "Join in The Chant". Warsaw Ghetto, taken from their second twelve inch (1985) is a more obscure track by them. Crash Course In Science - Cardboard Lamb Hailing all the way from Philadelphia, CCIS, only released one twelve inch from which this track is taken! Numerous covers have followed (check Pete Tong's essential anthem BUCCIBAG), but here in it's original glory. No More - Suicide Commando Indie Classic from 1981, got remixed by DJ Hell & Echopark in 1998 as a taster for Hell's Munich Machine album. The Normal - Warm Leatherette Daniel Miller's classic, Mute records first release....It was in l978, right after Punk had started. The music at the time was quite unusual -- apart from a few groups like Kraftwerk. Fad Gadget - Coïtus Interruptus Taken from Fad Gadget's first album Fireside Favourites, this sets a benchmark for further Fad Gadget anthems like Ladyshave & Collapsing New People! The Klinik - Hours + Hours Belgian electronic duo THE KLINIK started out in 1984, focusing their early efforts on the international home-taping circuit.But through their releases and remarkable live-gigs, which blend their haunting music with splendid and intriguing video footage, the twosome (Dirk IVENS - Voices and Marc VERHAEGHEN - Electronics) gradually built up a steady following and a reputation that stretched beyond the confinement of the "Living room" studio. Hours + Hours is taken from their first album Sabotage (1985). Daf - Verschwende Deine Junged The core of DAF are Gabi Delgado-Lopez and Robert Gorl. They met in Dusseldorf during the punk movement in 1977 whilst Gabi was singing in local punk bands and Robert finishing his formal musical training. They went on to release seminal tracks like Der Mussolini & Brothers... This track is taken from the 1981 album Gold Und Liebe. The Invincible Limit - Push! First there was Invisible Limits as a band, Thomas Lüdke being a member, programming the sequences to such classics as "Love is a Kind of Mystery" and "Devil Dance". Thomas then left, chose Invincible Limit as his new solo project, and made Push in 1986 (Last Chance Records). Crash Course In Science - Flying Turns Hailing all the way from Philadelphia, CCIS, only released one twelve inch from which this track is taken! The flip from the one previously mentioned. Liaisons Dangereuses - Mystere Dans Le Brouillard Founded by Beate Bartel & Chris Haas in 1981, releasing onlycassettes ... this track was taken from a 7inch single released on Mute records in 1982 as a b-side from the also seminal "Los Ninos Del Parque". Front 242 - Kampfbereit Truly the fathers of the entire electro and industrial genres, Front 242 first emerged with a series of singles in 1981. Never before had anything been heard like this: the heavy sequencing first pioneered by softer German space bands and by disco kingpin Giorgio Moroder was now given a harder kick, punked up if you will, creating overnight a new genre of electronic music. This track is taken from their first full album "Geography" (1982). The Neon Judgement - TV Treated The Neon Judgement were a household name in the alternative scene in Belgium and abroad. Operating from Leuven and inspired by the likes of Suicide, Wire & Cabaret Voltaire, they started out in the early eighties. TV Treated is taken from their 1981 - 1984 album but resurfaced many times later during the 80s. Psyche - The Crawler Psyche were founded in 1982, in Canada... By 1985 they had a strong following in France & signed to New Rose records... This track is taken from their second album "Unveiling The Secret". A Split Second - Flesh (remix) 1988 - This 12" ignited a new rage, later to be baptised 'New Beat', which put Belgium firmly on the dance music map. Initially, it all started with some DJ's playing the 45rmp 12" at 33rpm, forcing 'Flesh' in to a huge hit. Within the year, A Split Second became a reference for this music style. Snowy Red - Euroshima / Wardance 1988 - shall we name it Techno Pop, Synth Pop, New Wave or New Beat? Or even goth! Snowy Red are one of those very simply structured yet sophisticated electronic bands, proof that you can make decent music with just a few layers. Terence Fixmer - Aktion Mekanik Theme Exclusive track produced by T Fixmer, also coming out as a ltd one-sided twelve inch as MMSPEC12.
