Anyone receive Field Report San Francisco or Case Study London yet? I ordered both earlier in the week, but won't be receiving them until next week. Being soundboard recordings, I am curious as to how well they will sound.
http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2012/04/spk-live-at-oddfellows-hall-san-francisco-on-5-16-1981.html would seem to be the same recordings as Field Report San Francisco and the post discusses the ups and downs of the sound quality.
Haven't listened myself. I have nice copies of almost all their studio work and a few bootlegs of SPK live from around that time but I think the horror of what they became with the terrible Elektra and Nettwerk eras puts me off collecting their work. I noticed Brian Lustmord seemed very happy with the Case Study London release - http://b-lustmord.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/spk-1983.html
Haven't bought these. I am curious about how much they actually add to all the live material in the VOD box set. Some tracks from these sets are included in the box, but are the rest of the tracks worth buying these CDs for, if you have the box already?
CD's are excellent standard, sound quality is superb. I have been playing them alot over the past few weeks. Recommended
VOD box set has some dubious quality recordings (I agree) but acts as a document to their live work just fine ... great booklet too.
I have a German copy of the "Breathless" 7", could be the worst single I own.! Unlike you Mr. Gooloagong I can't stop collecting!
Thanks for the info, Steve. I might pick these CDs up then. Agree about the sound quality of the VOD box. Perfectly acceptable for what it is.
Quote from: Steve on March 09, 2013, 10:53:01 AM
I have a German copy of the "Breathless" 7", could be the worst single I own.!
Now while this thread is actually about two semi-official live releases which seem to be by all accounts pretty great, I can't resist going into the horrible story of what happened to SPK, which judging from the bonus material on the official DVD release of Despair a few years ago also pissed off others involved in the band.
The material recorded under another name in 1981 (can't find my Trevor Blake unauthorised book to remind myself of it) which ended up on side two of Auto Da Fe and played live...well that was OK. Could have worked on the lyrics a bit and whoever told Revell he could sing needs shooting, but not too bad. Likewise the Metal Dance 12" from '83 sounds fine to me - obviously an experiment at being commercial but sounded good and a bit of a wild B-side.
What the hell happened for their '84 major label album? Everything turned to shit. Bad songwriting, bad production, truly horrible production and fucking saxophones - even the cover is hateful. There is a reason that the only CD reissue of this is on a label "Wounded Bird Records" specialising in major label follies and general flops of music.
Graeme Revell then retreated and recorded the Zahmia Lehmanni thing solo. Which is unobjectionable and pleasant soundtrack-ish music - alright if you like that kind of thing - marketed as 'SPK' for commercial reasons although god knows Machine Age Voodoo had killed off much of the name's pull by then. And then, shockingly, SPK came to horrible zombie life for some shows and records on Nettwerk which, unbelievably, were even worse than the WEA/Elektra record as and Steve points out above, could be some of the very worst music ever made. I don't think I can come near to describing how full of fail songs like Mouth to Mouth and Crack are. I don't even want to think about them! Thankfully, Hollywood called in the form of the Dead Calm soundtrack and subsequent lucrative career (I have a fairly unique 7" from the flop early '00s movie Goal which couples the Happy Mondays and Graeme Revell but haven't listened to his soundtrack work properly) - the world was finally free from the torture of SPK's post-1983 afterlife.
"can't find my Trevor Blake unauthorised book to remind myself of it"
I was thinking there was some sort of SPK zine/book. I never bought it for some reason but I do remember the name Trevor Blake but can't remember what else he did.
It was a book half about the real SPK, half about the band, published by the people from the real SPK. But they made the strange decision to rush out an advance unfinished version for selling at a book fair and I guess Mr Blake was pissed off and the final version never appeared.
It's a good volume but for instance the awful Nettwerk material talked about above is described as something like "[more 12"ers, Karina Hayes, blah blah}" - very much unfinished with his notes left in. They must have printed quite a few, it was available via distros up through the end of the 90s.
Trevor Blake's excellent blog is at http://ovo127.com/ - the real SPK is at http://www.spkpfh.de/
Here's some text from the book: http://home.pi.be/~spk/spktrevorblake.htm
The two CD's came as a surprise to me too ... one has seperate track listing and one has the CD marked as just one long track - bizarre, but I can give the "spares" to friends!
It is listed on Discogs as 2 CD's per release.....
I bought both albums in January in "new" condition from Reckless Records in Chicago, and I only got one disc with each. Both with the whole album as one track. The digipaks are clearly designed to only hold one disc, so where was the second one supposed to be kept if it existed??
Discogs mentions the 2 CDs, but implies that they are identical copies. That's a bummer if one has separate tracks, because then I could put them in shuffle on my ipod. Does anyone know which stores are giving both to the customer? I see these CDs are in the various usual industrial web shops now (Malignant, Cold Spring, Storming The Base, IsoTank, etc.) and none of the product descriptions actually mention it being a double CD.
I bought my copies from Burning World Records in The Netherlands, an excellent mail order outfit ... The CD's were shrinkwrapped so it is hard to see how there are only "single" copies about.
Mine weren't shrink-wrapped, I think they came in those CD bags with fold-over adhesive seal. I thought nothing of it at the time since they were bootlegs on a very obscure label, but I guess it's pretty obvious now that someone tampered with them (Reckless or perhaps whoever their supplier was).
I decided to ask Reckless what was up, and this is what they said: "That's how we received them from Forced Exposure (the distributor). Most import CDs are not shrink wrapped."
Hmmm. I was thinking of getting both, but it all adds up a bit. Would you say the London one was the one to go for, then?
On the off chance that someone is holding onto an original 'Factory' 7", I am in the market.
Yes, I already have 'Auto da fe', and was listening to it recently after a long break. It comes across as very accessible, some of it, at this distance. 'Leichenscri' was always my favourite, but I used to think 'IOU' was way too heavy, 20 years ago. Now I think it's quite interesting!
Quote from: Dom America on March 15, 2013, 05:19:52 AM
On the off chance that someone is holding onto an original 'Factory' 7", I am in the market.
Have you ever seen a copy for sale? I know a guy in Austin who owns the "Meat Processing Section" 7". I have never, ever seen any of the other 7"'s available
anywhere!
Quote from: bitewerksMTB on March 15, 2013, 07:53:50 PM
Quote from: Dom America on March 15, 2013, 05:19:52 AM
On the off chance that someone is holding onto an original 'Factory' 7", I am in the market.
Have you ever seen a copy for sale? I know a guy in Austin who owns the "Meat Processing Section" 7". I have never, ever seen any of the other 7"'s available
anywhere!
I've only seen 'Factory' once on ebay a while back. I have 'Meat Processing' section, as well as the other two 7"s the band released in 1979. 'Factory' and 'Solipsik' are the two I don't have but the latter isn't a favorite.
The early 7"'s turn up now and again on EBay and sell for hundreds of dollars. There is a copy of "No More" floating about that is signed "To Steve" .. if you ever see that - it's mine!!! (stolen from me in 1983)!!
Quote from: burdizzo on March 15, 2013, 09:24:11 AM
Yes, I already have 'Auto da fe', and was listening to it recently after a long break. It comes across as very accessible, some of it, at this distance. 'Leichenscri' was always my favourite, but I used to think 'IOU' was way too heavy, 20 years ago. Now I think it's quite interesting!
I agree on this 100%. I prefer IOU over ADF these days.
Leichenschrei of course is their finest hour. Coming from a Metal background, hearing this for the first time was a revelation, never heard anything as disturbing before and crazy if you think how tame Metal and Punk were in comparison at this point in time. I have the re-release with the painting of a lunatic on the cover, coincidentally painted in a psychiatric asylum just 200m away from where I live, at the beginning of the last century.
Going through the Working Cycle Transmission bootleg set. I think it is a bootleg? Seems so, but it's nicely done. Deservingly so, too. The vinyl version is listed at Discogs, but the CD set is not. Maybe they haven't deleted the vinyl box yet? It's good and very interesting. Recommended.
Lustmord wrote about the sets and the history here:
http://www.lustmord.com/spk-1983/
http://www.lustmord.com/spk-vinyl-box/
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByX_x68pWM5/
Does anyone know details of whatever the event is the photos were taken at?
Also:
https://www.oldeuropacafe.com/catalog/category/spk-leichenschrei-re-edition-oec.html
It was a "séminaire" with Graeme Revell in Paris, some talk about the old days i suppose. If i had lived in Paris i´d gone for sure.
Here´s some info in French: https://sv-se.facebook.com/events/425236981373614/ (https://sv-se.facebook.com/events/425236981373614/)
The new SPK 7" box from Vinyl On Demand is very nice, stoked to have these three records after all these years...
A+ project. Absolutely seminal.
I have the VOD Vinyl Box and the 7" Box. Big pimpin B)
Obviously of interest to this forum (and thread), is that the new issue of Noise Receptor Journal will feature a long form interview with Tone Generator (aka Dominic Guerin) who was in SPK during the early seminal period of the group and who contributed massively to the concept and sound. He talks extensively of this earliest period of SPK as well was subsequent activities in Last Dominion Lost. New issue is due out in August.
Quote from: re:evolution on June 09, 2019, 11:03:57 AM
Obviously of interest to this forum (and thread), is that the new issue of Noise Receptor Journal will feature a long form interview with Tone Generator (aka Dominic Guerin) who was in SPK during the early seminal period of the group and who contributed massively to the concept and sound. He talks extensively of this earliest period of SPK as well was subsequent activities in Last Dominion Lost. New issue is due out in August.
amazing news! sounds very interesting
From OEC page:
"First Concert in Nearly 40 Years
One Night Only
Industrial legends SPK rise from the smouldering wreckage of history for a rare, earth-shaking return to the stage — their first live performance in almost four decades.
Pioneers of sonic extremity and cultural subversion, SPK shattered boundaries in the early '80s with their raw, mechanized assault on music, medicine, and the mind. Now, they're back to reclaim the chaos.
Expect grinding machinery, flickering AI visuals, primal catharsis — a full-spectrum sensory overload channelling the spirit of industrial's origins into the fractured now. From the brutal noise of "Information Overload Unit" to the lacerations of "Leichenschrei", this is not a nostalgia act — it's an act of resurrection.
SPK still lay claim to defining what the future of music can be — forever exploding the boundaries of the possible.
Founder Graeme Revell, the mind behind the machine, went on to shape the sonic language of cult films like The Crow, Sin City, and Dead Calm, as well as blockbuster video games like Call of Duty. He introduced a sweeping palette of sound and noise into these genres, infusing them with the same uncompromising intensity that defined SPK."
I would love to be there. But what can I expect? Anyone imagines that it could be any good?
I can't find any info online.. Anyone has a link?
Sorry, I didn't write it correct. There is no link for this event, but the text I copied is from the OEC newsletter.
OEC event is now official. I've already reserved a ticket.
Quote from: Phenol on June 09, 2025, 01:06:08 PMOEC event is now official. I've already reserved a ticket.
link???
also that writeup is so cringey. i'm a big fan of SPK but they seem to be so in love with themselves it's hard to take seriously. the fact they turned into some gay dance group and basically pissed away all of their credibility 40 years ago makes it even more embarrassing.
that being said, I am in desperate need of an original "Factory" 7" if someone has one or know someone who has one. I will pay a lot.
https://www.oldeuropacafe.com/news/concert-listing
I'm not sure what to expect, it's just one those things where I know I'd regret not going. I agree that the legacy is tainted by later releases, but I think the later day SPK is still better than many syth pop acts from the same period. I can enjoy tracks like "Metal Dance" and "Walking On Dead Steps" even though they're a far cry from the glory days.
Quote from: Phenol on July 06, 2025, 02:49:16 PMhttps://www.oldeuropacafe.com/news/concert-listing
I'm not sure what to expect, it's just one those things where I know I'd regret not going. I agree that the legacy is tainted by later releases, but I think the later day SPK is still better than many syth pop acts from the same period. I can enjoy tracks like "Metal Dance" and "Walking On Dead Steps" even though they're a far cry from the glory days.
completely understood, i wasn't trying to say you shouldn't go or even fault you for going. i hope it's good, my expectations are just very low. please do let us know.
I'll let you know how it was. I'm quite critical towards re-unions too. Digging up old legends rarely does anyone any good. I like the Tone Generator & Body Without Organs project from Dominic Guerin, so sometimes the old guard can come up with something interesting, but this gig is Graeme Revell, so we'll see...
Did anyone go to the reunion show? The video clips that I have seen do not seem very impressive, but the recording quality is far from the best.
I went and liked it. Will return with a more substantial review, but don't have time right now.
Graeme used AI images as his backdrop for the show in Germany. This shit is a legit joke at this point. I think if the members died it would only help the legacy at this point.
He used AI in Italy too. That part sucked big time. The political statements he made were also way too banal for a guy his age (Trunmp = Hitler + we don't like Meta, Amazon and mass consumerism) and his points about AI as subverive didn't weigh up for how ugly the visuals themselves were. I liked the music, however, and it felt like he wanted to be there. The old tracks still sound great and the new ones aren't bad, IMO, just different. Obviously the performance wasn't violent like SPK gigs seem to have been back in the day, but the sounds themelves are still disturbing and overall I was pleasently surprised. Also, I'm happy to have witnesed an event like that.
The setlist in Pordenone:
Slogun (Factory 7")
Leichenschrei medley
Byzantium (new)
Schmutziputzi (new)
Ground Zero: Infinity Dose (Information Overload Unit)
Gamelan (new)
Xylazine (new)
Berufsverbot (Information Overload Unit)
Fetisch (new)
The Mothman (new)
The Snow (new)
As you can see they played quite a bit of new stuff but also made some nice dives into the classics. The old struff was remixed/reworked, but still not too far from the recorded versions. The show began with some technical issues with a laptop on mute (senior moment, haha...). Not the best start, but that was fixed soon enough and the show went on. Regarding the laptop on stage, I find it funny how everyone seem to fetischise the "analog" and "tactile" while genre greats like SPK are perfectly comfortable with laptops on stage. I imagine there were a few laptops on stage at the VOD Fest too?
Anyway. The audince was responsive and Graeme + son seemed like they wanted to be there and enjoyed themselves on stage. Peronally I was pleasently surprised with the gig as I didn't expect so many old songs. It actually got noisy and nasty at times. As I see it, the new songs were okay, but as you can imagine not really what you want after hearing an immortal classic. The on and off in terms of "great old" and "okay new" songs made me (and probably many others) feel a little mixed about the whole thing which highlights the paradox regarding a re-union gig like that: you want a nostalgia party from a band that really shouldn't be nostalgic at all, and it feels like it just can't be done right. A full-on greatest hit parade would be going against the essence of SPK as innovators, but no one is really that interested in the new stuff. They went for a mix of the two approaches and I guess that was the best option they had. In the end, I'm happy I went and feel like it was better than I expected but also that it's maybe better to leave the past in the past and pay more attention to the current. I was tired after the show and just went back to my hotel, so I didn't pick up many immediate reactions from the crowd. I have texted with a few people afterwards, though, and according to them the response was pretty much split between those who were dissappointed, those who were happy, and those who were simply happy to have witnessed it. That division is to be expected and I guess I belong to the last category: happy to have witneed it.
Was the show professionally recorded?
It was, directly from the mixer and overseen by Devis from Teatro Satanico. The sound is reported to be good enough for release, so we might get it on CD.
Quote from: Phenol on July 22, 2025, 08:28:57 PMIt was, directly from the mixer and overseen by Devis from Teatro Satanico. The sound is reported to be good enough for release, so we might get it on CD.
Good to know. There were moments in the IG videos that sounded great, but the quality of the recordings was definitely not very good. Hopefully those of us not fortunate enough to attend will get to hear a high quality version someday.
Quote from: Balor/SS1535 on July 23, 2025, 12:50:20 AMQuote from: Phenol on July 22, 2025, 08:28:57 PMIt was, directly from the mixer and overseen by Devis from Teatro Satanico. The sound is reported to be good enough for release, so we might get it on CD.
Good to know. There were moments in the IG videos that sounded great, but the quality of the recordings was definitely not very good. Hopefully those of us not fortunate enough to attend will get to hear a high quality version someday.
There is an audience recording on Dimeadozen tracker. Sound is OK -enough- to enjoy -or not- . Send a PM if you need it, i ll send. I am listening to it now. - Dont know what was happening on stage. Was there any action ? - Sonic-wise, hm, depends on one's expectations. If you have expectations it's hit-or-miss. If you havent, it's more fine. - Personally, i dont expect anyone to perform at this age as in his prime. Any attempt that doesnt make you ridiculous could be consider a success.
Quote from: Theodore on August 12, 2025, 02:07:37 PMQuote from: Balor/SS1535 on July 23, 2025, 12:50:20 AMQuote from: Phenol on July 22, 2025, 08:28:57 PMIt was, directly from the mixer and overseen by Devis from Teatro Satanico. The sound is reported to be good enough for release, so we might get it on CD.
Good to know. There were moments in the IG videos that sounded great, but the quality of the recordings was definitely not very good. Hopefully those of us not fortunate enough to attend will get to hear a high quality version someday.
There is an audience recording on Dimeadozen tracker. Sound is OK -enough- to enjoy -or not- . Send a PM if you need it, i ll send. I am listening to it now. - Dont know what was happening on stage. Was there any action ? - Sonic-wise, hm, depends on one's expectations. If you have expectations it's hit-or-miss. If you havent, it's more fine. - Personally, i dont expect anyone to perform at this age as in his prime. Any attempt that doesnt make you ridiculous could be consider a success.
I would be interested to hear the recording!
From the videos that I have seen, it appears that it was him an his son alternating between working with synths/gear and beating on a oil drum.