2024 Purchases

Here are the music purchases of 2024 quantified in some detail. Check the 2024 cover grid dropdown to just see a grid of the cover images.

January 2024

1. Jan Linton + Logan Sky: Typical London Weather – DL – Bandcamp/$4.00
2. Fluid Japan: Come See Me To The Moon – DL – Bandcamp/$2.50
3. Yama Uba: Silhouhettes – Ratskin Records – US – DL – Promo
4. Slow Children: Slow Children DLX RM – Rubellan Remasters - RUBY35CD – US – CD – Rubellan Webstore/$9.99
5. Slow Children: Mad About Town DLX RM – Rubellan Remasters – RUBY36CD – US – CD – Rubellan Webstore/$9.99
6. Chopper Franklin: Spaghetti Western Dub Vol. 1 – Ratchet Blade Records – US – DL – Promo
7. Lou Reed: The Bells – BMG/Arista – 262 918 – EURO – CD – Mr. K’s/$2.00
8. Savage Republic: Africa Corps Live At The Whiskey-A-Go-Go December 30th, 1981 – Independent Project Records – IP085SECD – US – CD – Promo
9. Various Artists: Source – The Independent Records Collection – Independent Project Records – IP076CD – US – CD – Promo
10. Various Artists: Tape Excavation – Independent Project Records – IP073SECD – US – CD – Promo
11. Shiva Burlesque: Mercury Blues DLX RM – Independent Project Records – IP075CD – US – 2xCD – Promo
12. The Ophelias: Bare Bodkin– Independent Project Records – IP080 – US – CD – Promo
13. Office For Personal Development: Doing. Is. Thinking. – Bex Pop – UK – DL – Promo

Subtotal: $28.48

The year kicked off with an unexpected collaboration by Jan Linton and Logan Sky; two of my favorite artists I’ve discovered in the last decade. Along with a new single from the amazing Fluid Japan. I had to buy a gift from Rubellan so when I did that I finally ordered the Slow Children CDs I’ve been wanting for a year during one of their weekend flash sales! I’m thrilled beyond belief to finally have professional CDs of those albums and the bonus tracks were even better than my own editions from just a few years earlier.

One of the pleasures of this blog are the things that come over the transom as promo items. January was a bumper crop of excellent music! I was quickly entranced by the Fantastic songs and playing of Yama Uba, who negotiated a fine line between Post-Punk Club sounds and Gothic leanings that I was compulsively listening to from first blush. And no sooner than I was smitten by that when ex-Cramps bassist Chopper Franklin proffered an amazing blend of Spaghetti Western and Dub sounds with perfect lyrics and some amazing singing by Mather Louth; a polymath I’d not heard of before but is one who bears following her every move.

I finally got another of the evasive Arista Lou Reed albums at a local store that’s about the last place to find used CDs around here. And I received a beauteous bounty of promo CDs issued from the Independent Record Project label which are the most stunning CDs I’ve ever had the pleasure to view with their metallic inks and letterpress printing. I have reviewed the first of these [Savage Republic] will review more of these as time allows.

February 2024

1. John Foxx: Science Fiction Movies [demo] – DL – Bandcamp/£2.50/$3.16
2. René Paraza: Timeless 24 Karat Edition – DL – Promo
3. Chopper Franklin: Spaghetti Western Dub Vol. 1 – Ratchet Blade Records – RBR752 – US – CD-R [numbered] – gift
4. Stick Men: Tentacles – Stick Man Records – SMN2211 – US – CD – gift
5. Stick Men: Stick Men – Stick Man Records – UC – CD – Merch table/$15.00
6. Lene Lovich: Toy Box – Cherry Red – CRCDBOX146 – UK – 4xCD – Movie Mars/$33.95

Subtotal: $52.11

A modest month with a John Foxx demo DL that I thought was different from the track of the same name on the Electronic Sounds “Futurism” issue/2xCD I have. Alas, it was identical to the CD track. After going gaga about the new Chopper Franklin album on a promo DL, Mr. Franklin kindly offered a hard copy that I was happy to accept! This is likely a title that will be high on my year-end list. A rare club gig for Stick Men saw me buying a rare copy of their first disc that their merch guru had dug up a few copies of. My friend who attended with me gave me a copy of their new EP as thanks for getting his ticket.

Finally, the big purchase was the godlike Lene Lovich boxed set of her Stiff Records material that was deucedly complete, well mastered by Scott Davies of Rubellan Remasters, and carefully assembled. This was issued late last year in November, and I was hoping to buy a copy after we got back from our European vacation in five weeks, but Cherry Red was already sold out of this title, and once I found that out, I searched online for a dealer who still had it in stock before immediately ordering it from Movie Mars for a great price, with free postage! With the set in hand, it’s all that and more! When I think of New Wave, I think of Lene Lovich. That, says it all.

March 2024

1. Carly Simon: You’re So Vain – Elektra Records – DL – iTunes/$1.29
2. Steven Jones + Logan Sky: Come Back Tonight Remixes – ANIMS009 – UK – DL – Promo
3. The Metamorph: Tecton – Moolakii Club Audio Interface – UK – DL – Promo
4. Ductape: Echo Drama – Swiss Dark Nights – EURO – DL – Promo
5. Steven Jones + Logan Sky: This Silence – Our Tragedy – Etrangers Musique – UK – DL – Bandcamp/£2.50/$3.16
6. Nits: Tree House Fire – Werf Records – 10025 – EURO – CD – Nits Webstore/€15.00/$16.05
7. Divinyls: Temperamental DLX RM – Rubellan Remasters – RUBY32CD – CD – Rubellan Remasters Webstore/$12.99
8. Oingo Boingo: Nothing To Fear DLX RM – Rubellan Remasters – RUBY26CD – US – CD – Rubellan Remasters Webstore/$15.99
9. David J: Tracks From The Attic – Independent Project Records – IP084SECD – USP – 3xCD – Promo
10. Fluid Japan: Don’t Dry Your Eyes – Bandcamp – US – DL – Bandcamp/$4.00

Subtotal: $53.48

After hearing “You’re So Vain” one too many times, and my reserve finally cracked to allow for my [very] late-blooming ardor for this song blossom into obsession. It is a masterclass in songwriting and arrangement. Lots of new Steven Jones + Logan Sky mixes which I am shamefully behind on listening to what with my schedule at this time. There was no time to load anything onto the personal device for listening!

The Metamorph continued with his wildly productive streak and an album steeped in drum machine rhythm as if the cover didn’t telegraph as much! I got the new Nits EP before seeing the band in April; their first since the dramas of the last two years and the music fully reflected that. I made another order from Rubellan Recordings when I saw that he was perilously low on his remastering of my favorite Oingo Boingo album, “Nothing To Fear.” Then I chanced to look at remaining stock of other title I had held off ordering for the last year or two and nabbed the last copy available of the third Divinyls album in DLX RM form!

More great promo action this month with the great Turkish Post-Punk/Darkwave duo Ductape giving compelling evidence to their vitality. I’ve been hearing great things from Turkey in this space and I am thrilled that the lessons of Post-Punk have spread the world over. Then I got my wished granted with the physical CD release of last year’s “Tracks from The Attic” selection of David J demos in a sumptuous 3xCD package. Fluid Japan I bought immediately and have not remembered to play it yet in the ensuing tumult of my life! When I finally met Todd Lewis in July, he sat me down and played it so I could finally hear it!

April 2024

1. Attrition: Black Mariah – Two Cods – 36GODSCD – UK – DL – Promo
2. Les Longs Adieux: Vertigo – Bandcamp – IT – DL – Promo
3. Savage Republic: Meteora – Bandcamp – DL – Promo
4. And Also The Trees: Mother Of Pearl Moon – Bandcamp – DL – Promo
5. Nits + Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra: Hjuvi – A Rhapsody In Time – Columbia – COL 472920 2 – EURO – CD – Record World Show/€15.00/$16.05
6. Neneh Cherry: Blank Project DLX – Smalltown Supersound – STS248CDX – EURO – CD – Record World Show/€7.00/$7.49
7. The Blow Monkeys: Live From London – The Store For Music – SFMCD307 – UK – CD – Record World Show/€7.00/$7.49
8. Prince: The Black Album – Warner Bros. Records – 9362-45793-4 – GER – CD – Record World Show/€14.00/$14.99
9. Prince: Come – Warner Bros. Records – 9362-45700-2 – EURO – CD – Record World Show/€3.00/$3.21
10. Prince: 3121 – NPG Records – 0602498520727 – EURO – CD – Record World Show/€3.00/$3.21
11. Prince: Musicology – NPG Records – 5171659000 – EURO – CD – Record World Show/€4.00/$4.28
12. The Artist [Formerly Known As Prince]: The Gold Experience – Warner Bros. Records – 9362-45999-2 – EURO – CD – Record World Show/€4.00/$4.28
13. The Artist [Formerly Known As Prince]: Emancipation – NPG Records – 7243 8 54982 2 0 – Euro – 3xCD – Record World Show/€5.00/$5.35
14. Marianne Faithfull: Broken English – Island Records – CID 9570 – UK – CD – Record World Show/€1.00/$1.07
15. Rupert Hine: The Deep End – R’n’D – 307.2416.2 – GER – CD – Record World Show/€1.00/$1.07
16. Hazel O’Connor: Breaking Glass – A+M Records – 396 943-2 – GER – CD – Record World Show/€1.00/$1.07
17. David Johansen: In Style – Culture Factory – CFU0317 – US – CD – Record World Show/€1.00/$1.07
18. CSS: Cansei Ser Sexy – Sub Pop – SPCD 717- US – CD – Record World Show/€1.00/$1.07
19. Animal Nightlife: Love Is Just The Great Pretender – Island Records – AN 1 – UK – 2×12″ – Record World Show/€1.00/$1.07
20. Dr. Robert + Kym Mazelle: Wait! – RCA Records – PT 42596 – GER – 12″ – Record World Show/€1.00/$1.07
21. M+M: Black Stations/White Stations – RCA Records – PC 10008 – GER – 12″ – Record World Show/€1.00/$1.07
22. The Mighty Wah!: Weekends – Beggars Banquet – BEGA 117T – UK – 12″ – Record World Show/€1.00/$1.07
23. Leisure Process: Cashflow – Epic – EPC A 13 3131 – UK – 12″ – Record World Show/€1.00/$1.07
24. The Blow Monkeys: Digging Your Scene – RCA Records – PT 40600 – GER – 12″ – Record World Show/€1.00/$1.07
25. Comateens: The Late Mistake – Jupiter Records – 6.20203 – GER – 12″ – Record World Show/€1.00/$1.07
26. Quantum Jump: The Lone Ranger – The Electric Record Company – INT 126.350 – GER – 12″ – Record World Show/€1.00/$1.07
27. Annabel Lamb: When Angels Travel – RCA Records – PT40662 – GER – 12″ – Record World Show/€1.00/$1.07
28. Positive Noise: Get Up And Go – Statik Records – STAT2312 – UK – 12″ – Record World Show/€1.00/$1.07
29. Positive Noise: When Lightning Strikes – Statik Records – TAK 8-12 – UK – 12″ – Record World Show/€1.00/$1.07
30. Robert Fripp: Let The Power Fall DLX RM – Discipline Global Mobile – DGM5026 – UK – CD – Cob Records/£6.99/$8.76
31. Huang Chung: Hold Back The Tears – Arista Records – ARIST 420 – UK – 7″ – Cob Records/£0.90/$1.13
32. Tot Taylor + His Orchestra: The Chocolate Song – GTO Records – GT 292 – UK – 7″ – Cob Records/£3.95/$4.95
33. Gang Of Four: Entertainment! DLX RM – EMI – 7243 8 32146 2 4 – UK – CD – Cob Records/£5.95/$7.46
34. Brian Eno: Music For Films RM – Astralwerks – ENOCDX 9 – UK – CD – Cob Records/£6.99/$8.76
35. Robert Palmer: Some People Can Do What They Like – Island Masters – IMCD 69 – UK – CD – Cob Records/£4.95/$6.21
36. Moloko: Things To Make And Do – Echo – ECHCD31 – UK CD – Cob Records/£4.95/$6.21
37. Can: Future Days RM – Mute – 5099950442621 – EURO – CD – Cob Records/£7.95/$9.97
38. Sparks: Dee Vee Dee – Liberation Entertainment – UK – DVD – Cob Records/£19.95/$25.01
39. Various: Scarred For Life 2 – Castles In Space – CiS072 – UK – CD – gift
40. The Metamorph: The Man On The 99th Floor – Werra Foxma – fox057 – UK – Silver LP – gift
41. The Metamorph: Tecton – Moolakaii Club Interface – MCAI016 – UK – CD-R – gift
42. The Metamorph: Red Tape DLX RM – UK – CD-R – gift
43. Duran Duran: Red Carpet Massacre DLX – Epic – 88697 17855 2 – UK – boxed CD + DVD – gift
44. Mainframe: Tenants Of The Lattice-Work – Mc² Records – MC007 – UK – LP – gift
45. Ultravox: Lament [Steven Wilson 12″ Remixes] – Chrysalis Catalogue – UVX7 – UK – LP – 81 Renshaw St. Records/£15.99/$20.05
46. Furniture: The Wrong People DLX RM – Cherry Red – CDMRED441 – UK – CD – gift
47. The Bedroom Witch: A Place Of Hurt – Ratskin Records – RAT096 – US – CD-R – gift
48. OMD: Kleptocracy – 100% Records – 100CD150 – UK – CD5 – OMD webstore/£8.00/$9.99

Subtotal: $191.97

I knew that April was going to be a big month of music purchase since we were taking a three week trip to Amsterdam to see the Nit50 anniversary concert with side trips to Harlech, Wales and Paris as well. The Nits concert was spellbindingly great with fantastic songs and staging. And I actually traveled thousands of miles and had friends of mine from two other countries also attend.

The next day chasinvictoria and I traveled for an hour by train to s’Hertogenbosch to attend one of those brain meltingly large record shows that used to boggle our minds in the back page ads of Goldmine magazine. The reality of 2024 was that we searched all day to spend a modest €80 on the floor there. There was a great selection of €1.00 European 12″ singles that was calling my name, and the outlier Nits album, “Hjuvi- A Rhapsody In Time” that I never thought I’d ever see. Elsewhere a brace of 90s-00s Prince material beckoned. The one CD I had hoped to buy at the show that I actually did purchase was “The Black Album.” And at an all time best price I’ve ever seen: €14.00.

When in Wales, my friend Gavin Brick and his partner took us to nearby Porthmadog to shop for groceries, and naturally we stopped at the local record store, Cob Records, where in less than an hour, I was able to spend 75% of what I had at the show with lots of delights to show for it, including want list items like Robert Palmer, Robert Fripp, and Sparks with their “Dee Vee Dee!” The Fripp CD was on the list I took with me [fruitlessly] to the Netherlands record show. Good to get another Can CD. Which I rarely find in the wilds. It was also valuable to finally hear Moloko; being a Róisín Murphy fan for many years now.

I also received many fine gift albums with obscure wants like Mainframe thrust into my astonished hands by my friend Gavin Brick. As well as many of his physical releases which I am delighted to collect even if I pay for them. A stop in a Liverpool store the day after RSD netted the must-have item of this year’s program: The Steven Wilson Ultravox remix album. with two extended remixes by Wilson that will not be featuring on the upcoming “Lament” ultrabox [ssssshh!]. And finally, the pre-ordered OMD “Kleptocracy” CD-5 arrived to delight our ears. It’s my pick for single of the year and I can’t imagine anything else bettering its position, but I’m open to anything!

May 2024

1. Fractured Wrist: Initial Sketches 1 – Bandcamp – SCOTLAND – DL – Promo
2. Head Noise: Twisted Histories – Robot Recordings – HNALBUM02 – WALES – DL – Promo

Subtotal: $0.00

After a busy month prior, there were only two promos of note in May. Finally, Head Noise had another full album to offer us. It was to my eternal chagrin that I was staying at the opposite end of Wales from Head Noise’s Mitch Tennant. How I would have loved to have met up with him in while I was there. And Fractured Wrist played everything in an instrumental EP delightfully free from rhythm or quantizing.

June 2024

1. Jan Linton: 30th Century Man – Bandcamp – HK – DL – Bandcamp/$3.00
2. The Countess Of Fife: Angel In My Pocket – Bandcamp – SCOT – DL – Bandcamp/£3.00/$3.86
3. Rolling Stones: Steel Wheels – Rolling Stones Records – CK 45333 – US – CD – Mr. K’s/$2.00
4. Goldfrapp: Number One – Mute – MUTE 9304-2 – US – CD-5 – Mr. K’s/$2.00
5. The Twistettes: Tory C*nts – UKP – DL – Promo
6. The Metamorph Meets The British Stereo Collective: Critical Mass – Bandcamp – UK – DL – Bandcamp/£2.00/$2.58
7. John Foxx: Miles Away – Electronic Sounds – ES7114 – UK white vinyl 7” – webstore/£13.99/$18.00
8. Jesse Rae: Almost Ma Sel Again – Pace Yourself – SCOT – DL – Bandcamp/Promo
9. Savage Republic: Live in Wrocław January 7, 2023 (EU Limited Edition) – Bandcamp – DL – Promo

Subtotal: $31.44

A quiet June with some nice promo things manifesting. The Twistettes had the ideal theme song for the British General election that saw Tories swept from power across the board. France managed to avoid a Marie LePen nightmare on their risky election, so now all eyes are on America as we attempt to ensure that the 45th President [I still can’t believe that happened!] doesn’t become the 47th! Thrilled to see that Jesse Rae is still getting his fantastic back catalog out to the ears and eyes of the people.

Jan Linton had a second Scott Walker cover version, and it is begging for at least a full EP thereof. I loved the Metamorph/British Stereo Collective album of last year enough to make it my pick for the year! [I must get to a deep dive on it, but life has been hurly burly] So I needed to get the early single version of the “Critical Mass” track! Another Foxxy colored vinyl 7” courtesy of Electronic Sound magazine had to be purchased. A new single from the Countess Of Fife will be added to the 2nd pressing of her “Star From the Sea” LP imminently, but I opted for the DL. And a visit to the local store that actually has used CDs revealed some goodies in the cheapie bin. I’ve only wanted “Steel Wheels” since it was released 35 years ago! I actually bought the CD-singles to get the B-sides thinking “I’ll get the album later.” Half a lifetime later…it’s done.

Half Year Subtotal: 88 releases | $357.48 | average cost – $4.06/title

July 2024

1. Duran Duran: Future Past DLX – BMG – 538696562 – US – CD – gift
2. The Metamorph: Exploded View DLX RM – Bandcamp – UL – CD-R – gift
3. The Heathen Apostles: The In Between – Ratchet Blade Records – US – DL – Promo
4. OMD: Kleptocracy – 100% Records – 100T150 – UK – red vinyl 12” – OMD webstore/$20.00
5. OMD: Kleptocracy – 100% Records – 100T150 – UK – red vinyl 7” – OMD webstore/$13.00
6. Buzzkunst/Howard Devoto: Special Sauce/Designoid – Wire-Sound – WIRED51 – UK – 2xLP – Cargo Records: £25.00/$32.03
7. Real Life: Everything Explodes [2023] – OZ – DL – iTunes/$0.99
8. The Heathen Apostles: The In-Between – Ratchet Blade Records – RBR 753 – US – CD – gift
9. Pet Shop Boys: Nonetheless – Warner Records – 5054197903632 – US – CD – Schoolkids/$15.00
10. Dex Romweber Duo: Ruins Of Berlin – Bloodshoot Records – BS158 – US – CD – Schoolkids/$14.00
11. Modern English: 1 2 3 4 – InKind Music – IKM-ME04CD – US – CD – Schoolkids/$13.99
12. Dove Blood: Delirious – Bandcamp – US – DL – Promo
13. Autumn: Catacombs – Bandcamp – US – DL – Bandcamp/$3.00
14. René Paraza: Nothing New [Under The Sun] – DS – DL – Promo
15. Vamberator: Sleep The Giant Of Sleeps – Bandcamp – DL – promo
16. Black: Comedy – A+M Records – CD5222 – US – CD – gift
17. Black: EP:II – Nero Schwarz – NEROCD 18 – UK – CD5 – gift
18. Skids: Destination Düsseldorf – Last Night From Glasgow – LNFG117CD – UK – CD-R – gift
19. OMD: Architecture + Morality The Singles – EMI – 3583902 – UK – CD – gift
20. Blow Monkeys: Together/Alone – Last Night From Glasgow – LNFG144CD – UK – CD – gift
21. China Crisis: China Greatness – Last Night From Glasgow – LNFG154 – UK – 2xCD – gift
22. Various: Music Week Vol. 2 – Music Week – UK – CD – gift
23. Various: Music Week Vol. 11 – UK – CD – gift
24. Robert Palmer: Sweet Lies – Island Records – CIDX 352 – UK – CD-3 – gift
25. Snips: You’re A Wonderful One – EMI – EMI 5071 – UK – 7 – gift
26. Snips: Nine O’Clock – EMI – EMI 5040 – UK – 7 – gift
27. Fatal Charm: Christine – Double D Records – FATAL 1 – UK – 7 – gift
28. Re/Generation: Absolute Beginners/Beautiful Boy – DL – iTunes/$1.99
29. Afterimage: Faces To Hide – Independent Project Records – IPO82SECD – US – CD – Promo

Subtotal: $114.00

A heavy month of acquisition thanks to promo and generous gifts. Gavin sent me his DLX RM of “Exploded View” as well as the 2021 Double Duran album I hand’t gotten around to buying. Even though I’d heard nothing but good things about it from my friends. At this point I’m on tenterhooks trying to decide which album is stronger: “Future Past” or “All You Need Is Now.” Still poorly mastered, though! OMD came into some loose stock on the glorious “Kleptocracy” 12”/7” that I passed up before the vacation, so I jumped on it now! Their stuff skyrockets if not purchased in pre-order and I like having their modern singles in every format. The Buzzkunst/Howard Devoto album I preordered came and it’s still sealed. No time for albums!

I was thrilled to hear something new from Real Life with a superior re-recording of a 90s track unfamiliar to me. David Sterry still has the chops and I’d like to hear a lot more from him! Chopper Franklin’s main band, Heathen Apostles had a new album out and since I raved over the Spaghetti Western Dub album form earlier this year, he sent a promo. Good thing too! Solid, dark, Country Music made by those who respect its power. At this point, I’d listen to Mather Louth sing anything.

Seeing Modern English in Raleigh and wouldn’t you know it; the band were doing an in-store the next day at the shop we’d already planned to visit! Obviously, it was time for my first Modern English album and they were definitely keeping the Post-Punk faith! I also got the one Dex Romweber [R.I.P.] Duo CD I still needed and the new Pet Shop Boys album just because I could! I’d been wanting to buy their “new CD” for over a decade but no one around here sells CDs any more! I still need to review this one!

Strong promo from Dove Blood, René Paraza, and Autumn! I’d not heard of Autumn, but I cannot wait for their next album and should grab some of their prior art as it’s very impressive. One of the commenters here bought a mega-pack of 160 CDs from Last Night In Glasgow and knew that a few of the titles would not be to his liking, but probably were to mine, so he asked if he could send them to me? Sure, sure! And he took the chance to thin out his Record Cell a bit as well with more other titles on CD and 7”! So far I’ve written about Detroit Starrzz but many monastic faves beckon…once I get the time. And I finally got the Re/Generation single by Peter Godwin and Leah Lane which was a fantastic duet moving in some different directions to Godwin’s usual haunts.

August 2024

1. Peter Baumann: Repeat Repeat – Rubellan Remasters – RUBY34CD – US – CD – Rubellan Webstore/$12.99
2. Vivabeat: Party In The War Zone – Rubellan Remasters – RUBY52CD – US – CD – Rubellan Webstore/$14.99
3. Parenthesis Dot Dot Dot: The Raptor E.P. – Bandcamp – UK – DL – Bandcamp/£4.32/$5.55
4. Parenthesis Dot Dot Dot: Nothing Came Out – Soundcloud – UK – DL – Soundcloud/free
5. Fluid Japan: When Your Heart Is A Suicide [Shinagawa Mix] – Bandcamp – US – DL – Bandcamp/$2.00
6. Fluid Japan: When Your Heart Is A Suicide [Shinjuku Mix] – Bandcamp – US – DL – Bandcamp/$2.00
7. Fluid Japan: Always – Bandcamp – US – DL – Bandcamp/$2.00
8. mystery disc
9. Greg Lisher: Underwater Detection Method – Independent Project Records – IPO86SECD – US – CD – Promo
10. The Twistettes: Big Boned – SCOT – DL – Promo

Subtotal: $37.53

I finally made an order to the Rubellan Remasters website now that Scott Davies is sadly closing operations after suffering the slings and arrows of the music industry one too many times. He was low on stock on the Vivabeat album which came out in December as I was in trip saving mode. I also took the opportunity to order the Peter Baumann album which was just as much fun as I’d hoped it would be! I caught up with Fluid Japan. I’d missed their last singles because they were released on the day I was heading to Raleigh to see the Totally Tubular Festival…in the company of FJ’s Todd Lewis! I only buy from Bandcamp on the computer so I can download the files and well, I’d forgotten about the two singles until the new one came out this week! Prompting me to clean up on all three.

And mein gott im himmel! I stumbled across the news that Tim Benton was now recording under the name Parenthesis Dot Dot Dot and waster no precious seconds of life before downloading his “The Raptor E.P.” with blinding haste! Almost a quarter century following my last encounter with his stellar songwriting in Baxendale, and I’m like a potted plant that’s just been watered after that long! That man is indecently talented and I can scarcely listen to anything else right now.

September 2024

1. Parenthesis Dot Dot Dot: White Rabbit – UK – DL – gift
2. Parenthesis Dot Dot Dot: Your Excellency – Where It’s At Is Where You Are – WIA016007-7 – UK – DL – Bandcamp/£3.00/$4.08
3. Parenthesis Dot Dot Dot: Push – God is In The TV – WALES – DL – Bandcamp/£1.50/$2.00
4. Emily Kinski’s Dead: Dancing On The Battlefield EP – Swiss Dark Nights – SW – DL – Promo
5. Car Crash Set: Join The Car Crash Set – Anna Logue Records – GER – DL – Promo
6. CVP: Always Never – Anna Logue Records – DL – Promo
7. Andrios Costas: My Memories – Anna Logue Records – DL – Promo
8. Vamberator: I Used To Be Lou Reed – Bandcamp – DL – Bandcamp/£1.50/$2.00
9. Ultravox: Lament [Steven Wilson Dolby Atmos®] – Chrysalis Catalogue – CDLBR 1459 – UK – Blu-Ray – SuperDeluxeEdition.com/£25.00/$32.70
10. Ultravox: Lament 40th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition – Chrysalis Catalogue – CDLB 1459 – UK 7xCD + DVD-A – importcds.com/$82.63
11. Altered Images: Pinky Blue DLX RM – Edsel Records – EDSL0206 – UK – 2xCD – gift
12. Various: Jon Savage’s Do You Have The Force Vol. 2 [Alternative History of Electronica] – Caroline True Records – CTRUE30CD – UK – CD – gift
13. A Certain Ratio: It All Comes Down To This – Mute – CDSTUMM492 – UK – CD – gift
14. Al Stewart + The Empty Pockets: Live – Wallaby Trails Recordings – 1002 – UK – 2xCD – gift
15. Fontaines D.C.: A Hero’s Death – Partisan Records – PTKF2182-1 – US – LP – gift
16. Various: Postcards Vol. 3 D.I.Y. And Indie Post-Punk From England 1979-1981 – Samizdat – SAMIZDAT03 – EU – LP – gift

Subtotal: $160.94

October 2024

1. Logan Sky + RIS-707: Everything, Everywhere, Endlessly – Etrangers Musique – UK – DL – £1.50/$2.07
2. Steven Jones + Logan Sky: Voltage [2024v] – Etrangers Musique – UK – DL – Promo
3. Chameleons: Tomorrow Remember Yesterday EP – Metropolis – DL – Bandcamp/$6.00
4. Chameleons: Where Are You? – Metropolis – DL – Bandcamp/$3.50
5. Chameleons: Strange Times – Blue Apple Music – BAMCD25 – UK – 2xCD – Merch table/$30.00
6. OMD: Souvenir 40th Anniversary Box – Virgin/EMI – 7732451 – UK – 5xCD + 2xDVD – eBay/$100.00
7. The Metamorph: Zenith – Bandcamp – UK – CD-R – gift
8. Visage: Live 2013/The Prague Sessions – August Day – SSC012/SSC014 – UK – 2xCD – Visage webstore/$32.99
9. Dr. Robert + Matt Deighton: Instant Garden – DL – iTunes/$0.99

Subtotal: $175.55

November 2024

1. Head Noise: I Was A Teenage Video Nasty – UK – DLL – Bandcamp/£2.00/$2.48
2. Peter Murphy + Boy George: Let The Flowers Grow – UK – DL – Bandcamp/$1.25
3. Fluid Japan: A Safe Place? – US – DL – Bandcamp/$2.50
4. Ultravox: Lament Extended Remixes – Chrysalis Catalogue – UVC8 – UK – CD – Ultravox Webstore/£11.00/$14.02
5. Robert Palmer: All Around The World – MCA Records – MCA-52643 – US – 7” – Rock + Roll Heaven/$2.00
6. Ultravox: The Island Years – Caroline International – CAROLR037CD – EU – 4xCD – Rock + Roll Heaven/$24.98
7. OMD: Bauhaus Staircase Instrumentals – 100% Records – 100LP149 – US – LP – Remix Record Shop/$25.00
8. Prince: Batman OST – Warner Bros Records – 9 25936-2 – US – CD – Remix Record Shop/$6.00
9. Malcolm McLaren + The Bootzilla Orchestra – Waltz Darling – Epic – EAS 01774 – USP – 12” – Remix Record Shop/$5.00
10. The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash – Rhino Records – R2 976641 – US – DVD – Park Ave CD/$8.00
11. The Time: The Time – Warner Bros Records – 3598-2 – US – CD – Park Ave CD/$8.00
12. Duran Duran: Medazzaland – Capitol Records – CDP 7243 8 33876 2 5 – US – CD – Park Ave CD/$4.00
13. Blondie: Against The Odds -UMC – 00602508761010 – EU – 3xCD – Park Ave CD/$41.98
14. Nöel: Is There More To Life Than Dancing? DLX RM – L’il Beethhoven Records – LBRCD121 – EU – 2xCD – Park Ave CD/$15.98
15. Ian Hunter: Short Back ’N Sides DLX RM – Chrysalis Records Ltd. – CRC1326 – CZ – 2xCD – Park Ave CD/$23.98
16. Roger Eno + Brian Eno: Mixing Colours Expanded – Deutsche Grammophon – 483 9334 – GER – 2xCD – Park Ave CD/$22.98
17. John Cale: POPtical Illusion – Double Six Records – DS178CD – US – CD – Park Ave CD/$14.98
18. Fluid Japan: Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence EP – Bandcamp – US – DL – Bandcamp/$6.00
19. OMD: Look At You Now – 100% Records – 100CD 154 – UK – CD-5 – OMD webstore/$9.80
20. OMD: Look At You Now – 100% Records – 100S154 – UK – 7” [pink vinyl] – OMD webstore/$12.48
21. OMD: Look At You Now – 100% Records – 100T154 – UK – 12” [pink vinyl] – OMD webstore/$18.72
22. Les Longs Adieux: La Luna – Bandcamp – IT – DL – Bandcamp/€2.50/$2.63
23. Judas Priest: British Steel DLX RM – Columbia – CK 85752 – US – CD – Voltage Records/$8.98

Subtotal: $281.76

December 2024

1. Danielle Dax: Dark Adapted Eye DLX RM – Rubellan Remasters – RUBY07CD – US – CD – Rubellan Remasters/$6.99
2. Danny Elfman: So-Lo DLX RM – Rubellan Remasters – RUBY37CD – US – CD – Rubellan Remasters/$9.99
3. Visage: Fade To Grey The Singles Collection DLX RM – Rubellan Remasters – RUBY29LP – US – LP pink + blue vinyl – Rubellan Remasters/$18.99
4. Ultravox: Lament Steven Wilson 2.0 mix/Instrumental – Chrysalis Catalogue – CDLC 1459 – US – 2xCD – Amoeba/$24.98
5. Yachts: Missing in Action – The Lost Tapes 1980/81 – 4BE – 4BE001 – UK – LP – gift
6. Simple Minds: Your Name In Lights – BMG – US – DL – iTunes/$1.29
7. Steven Jones + Logan Sky: Dark Thoughts – Etrangers Musique – UK – DL – Bandcamp/£2.50/$3.15
8. DEVO: RecomboDNA DLX RM – Futurismo – FUTNO27 – 4x color/splatter LP + CD-3 – gift
9. Fractured Wrist: December – Bandcamp – SCOT – DL – promo
10. Visage: Fade Top Grey [Lecomte de Bregéot + Violet Chachki mix] – Steve Strange Collective – UK – DL – iTunes/$2.97
11. Visage: Before You Win – Steve Strange Collective – UK – DL – iTunes/$2.99

Year End Total: 186 releases | $1162.97 | average cost – $6.25/title