Last Wednesday we got the wonderful news that the next salvo of unreleased Vicious Pink material from decades ago was soon to be coming our way thanks to the label Minimal Wave. Alas, I was still eyeball deep in work duties so I could not trumpet the news to the skies, as would be my wont. But this week, the weight of work responsibilities are no longer crushing my chest and I can once more have a lunch hour in which to write.

The last time that Vicious Pink hit the storage facility of antiquities, it was an embarrassment of riches that not only fit appropriately into their already established canon of released material; it expanded its horizons vividly. Their “West View” compilation of 2022 was my favorite reissue of the year because it gave us seven new songs which wasted no one’s time. This time, we get ten more. And best of all, any fans who have gotten the Vicious Pink Phenomena live DL albums, have already heard some of this material and know that it represents yet more excellent additions to the VP songbook.

Vicious Pink: Unexpected – US – Clear vinyl LP [2024]

1. So You Want To Love Me
2. Alien Patience
3. South Side
4. Chaos 303
5. Move Up Closer
6. Undercover
7. Not Your Kind of Girl
8. Slightly Ahead
9. Perpendicular
10. Night Drive

We can listen now to the pre-release single “So you Want To Love Me,” and it’s a winner that I’d heard on their live DL album previously. The studio version is a treat; sounding akin to peak, mid-period New Order with a winning chord sequence and an irresistible chorus of Josie Wardens’ on BVs. It is strongly reminiscent of “Touched By The Hand Of God,” which is kind of astonishing, because the live version I have was recorded in March of 1982. A time when New Order had yet to really define themselves on “Temptation!” Listen and love, below.

So naturally, I am going to be all over this album like white on rice. What are the facts to know? Well, like the last album, “West View,” there will be 999 copies pressed by the label. The wax is attractive clear coke-bottle green as shown below. Making it beautiful, if a S.O.B. to cue up if you’re a DJ. And we hope DJs everywhere will be adding these tunes to their playlists, because Vicious Pink were a band best experienced in clubs. The LP is a reasonable $25.00 and will ship on May 21st, 2024. I’ll be pre-ordering this after I get back from the Eurotrip this month because I can’t wait another minute to hear this one. Buy it sooner than later because the “West View: 2xLP is down to 10 copies in the group’s Bandcamp store. You’re going to miss these when they’re gone. DJ – hit that button!

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