After all these years I haven't changed my mind about the first two Manitoba albums, now reissued under the new (but not improved) name Caribou and featuring a bonus disc each. Start Breaking My Heart is a decent record but it sounds even more uninspiring and dated now while Up In Flames is a spectacular modern classic.

This is the absolute best video biography of the only relevant period of Factory Records (1978-1981), featuring interviews with Tony Wilson, Peter Saville, Peter Hook, Chris Watson, and members of Durutti Column, Section 25, A Certain Ratio, The Names, and many more.  Unfortunately, compared to what the public has to go on, that's not saying much.

Stuttgart-based Marcus Lambkin is one of the newest DFA members and as Shit Robot his 12" single is two sides of groovy 8+ minute genre-bending dance poop.

For immediate release:

The London-based instrumental trio, Fridge is about to release their
fourth full-length album, "Happiness", due in September.  "Happiness" will
be their first US album and will be available through Text in the UK and
Domino throughout Europe.

The Baltimore, MD-based record label Temporary Residence and the
internet web site Brainwashed.com have teamed up to co-release the album
and bring the band for their very first North American Tour. Dates are
currently being confirmed for October, including a handful of dates
opening up for Low.

Fridge have two albums out on Output in the UK, "Ceefax" and "Semaphore"
as well as a double-length collection of singles titled "Sevens and
Twelves".  Their last album, "Eph" was released on Go Beat! in the UK.
Kieran Hebden of the group also has released a couple albums and various
singles as Four Tet.

For more information and some sound samples, please see
www.brainwashed.com/fridge or www.temporaryresidence.com

Tour dates will be posted on line when they're confirmed.
 

Consider this a continuation or addendum or something for my last review of Nice Nice. After I covered the Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter EPs I got some into some pleasant debates which resulted in my receiving of their EP Yesss! on Audraglint.

The free MP3s available online go back two years, but they show a band that's got a fantastic handle on the balance between sludgy noise and charming pop, unfortunately they don't seem to leave NYC that much nor do they update this website often.

On paper, a New Yorker named Thomas Meluch recording and releasing music as Benoit Pioulard reeks of pretention, but this brief 7" single is actually a very pleasant, personable, and whimsical peek into one of Kranky's newest artists.

Here is another DVD release which would make any die hard fan excited. Einstürzende Neubauten have always been a group which has had an intimate relationship with their fans and supporters and this documentary is a great snapshot of the experience with the group's  Internet inetractivity and tour following their Perpetuum Mobile release.

Finally available to the general public on DVD, this movie is the quintessential film for any hardcore Boyd Rice/Non and Death In June fan. However, it's hardly any wonder this film only did the festival circuit and never went out to a widescale release.

in answer to your Newslash's questions -

what do I think: that Brainwashed is a delight to visit - hosting many of my
favourite artists' sites and archives - providing a connection between some
artists that, previously, hadn't been apparent to me (apart from them sitting
alongside each other on my shelf). To be honest, I haven't used Brainwashed
Radio as I have so much to listen to from my regular purchases anyway. But most
everything else on your site comes through my modem - I use it mainly for the
news and 'artists and archives', but also love The Eye.

what do I want: if possible, an expansion of The Eye - I feel that 'music
television' has so much potential, but is uninspiring 99% of the time - The Eye
demonstrates the insightful results that can be achieved on a low budget; it
doesn't need higher production values. BUT, I just want more (!): more
interviews, concert footage, films made by the artists themselves (hey, why not
loan them a camera for a week), invited collaborative sessions, guided tours of
recording studios...

Excellent suggestions.  We've been wanting to do these things too.  Look for something along these lines soon. 

Hi, Jon:  I'm Fern's daughter and I was google-ing around to see where her
music is playing when I came across Brainwashed.  Good web site!  Thanks for
the review of Fern's numero release.  Thought you might be interested to know
we're working on television scripts right now.  Perhaps a "limited series"
about my parents' lives will be in the works soon.  Updates will be on my
website at www.thegloryroad.com.  Thanks again for your kind words about
mother.

            Anita Garner

Thanks for writing and please keep us posted! 

Look for the group Charles Atlas to play Brainwaves. Their next release of new material will be one half of a split EP on the Static Caravan label. The tracks were recorded in San Francisco with producer Scott Solter. You are welcome to download the most recent album To the Dust: From Man You Came and To Man You Shall Return below.

Of all the bands that Marcus and Mica Acher are in, the Tied & Tickled Trio are probably the ensemble with the comparitively most releases who do the least amount of globetrotting.  The primary purpose of this release is the hour-long live concert for Observing Systems, filmed in April of 2004, but the bonus material of music videos, live TV appearances, and a CD of unreleased material makes for a fantastic package that will please nearly every fan.