Polytechnic Youth Vinyl, CD & Tape 3 Items

Well, after a nigh on three year sabbatical, North London’s Polytechnic Youth label returns to the fray with an absolute cracker. The label built up not only an esteemed back catalogue of releases (featuring the likes of Sonic Boom / Spectrum, Tim Gane’s Cavern of Anti-Matter, Pye Corner Audio, Polypores, Heartwood Instititute and so on) but was also constantly name dropped as a source of inspiration to a number of newer electronic labels such as Castles in Space, Woodford Halse and Library of the Occult . This new release is an absolute banger. ‘self Modifier’ is the new project from Peter Duggal, the current musical partner of ex-KRAFTWERK legend Wolfgang Flur. His work with Wolfgang has seen collaborations with Peter Hook, Juan Atkins, Midge Ure, Claudia Brücken, Carl Cox and many others for the critically acclaimed 2022 album ‘Magazine 1’ (which reached the top of the UK Electronic Album Charts). His background is particularly interesting, as he himself explains “growing up in Lozells and Handsworth in inner city Birmingham during the Thatcher years, technology and music were the ticket to escape out of the fear and oppression to somewhere unreal. On the TV were threats of impending nuclear war and out on the streets in Lozells (as in other deprived inner cities around England at this time), there were the well publicised riots - police banging on the door instructing us to turn the lights off and lock ourselves inside until further notice. Shops, houses and cars were ablaze, and some lost their lives - those who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Computers were appearing everywhere… including the home. According to the older generation they were going to take over the world, destroy everybodys’ jobs and eventually start thinking for themselves at which point they would be out of control and destroy everything else too. I, like many of my friends, became totally fascinated to the point of obsession with these machines—these were ours, and the idea of creating a whole world in your bedroom by typing in obscure commands was something truly magical. Rooted in the memories and landscape of that time, this collection of pieces emerged from nostalgia of people and places, and a deep yearning to engage with all that is no longer real”. 4 intensely beautiful slow building pieces of electronica, rhythmic and richly melodic, it's a beautiful record and a fine addition to the PY canon. Pressed on lush marbled orange wax and with a sleeve continuing the labels’ tip of the hat theme to the 70s BBC sound effects series of library releases, this one is not be missed....

The last Polytechnic Youth release for the foreseeable future (not a final closure point, more a case of let’s see…) is an absolute beauty. A 6 trk 10” mini-LP from Shibuya Station, an all-analogue synth project founded by Marc Schaffer (aka solitude fx, Endphase, Twins Natalia, as well as being the founder of the Anna Logue Records and Nadanna labels). Finding his inspiration in the late ‘70s/early ‘80s synth music and the machines of that period, Marc recorded a few tracks back in 2013 which were further developed by fellow musicians Stefan Bornhorst (The Silicon Scientist), Dave Hewson (Poeme Electronique), Orpheo Weidelt (solitude fx), Kriistal Ann (Paradox Obscur) and Erik Söderberg (Kinder Aus Asbest) over the following years. As Marc says: “Six tracks made it eventually onto international compilations “Tunes That R Attractive!”, “Sie Hat Schenkel Wie Godzilla”, “Jubilee Jamboree: 10 Years Of TuT/RuR” and “Synthesizer Music On Tape” vol.3, which are now presented on a 10” vinyl via the renowned Polytechnic Youth label, who say it’s their last release for awhile, as they concentrate on their new label, Feral Child. Instruments used were Amdek Percussion Synthesizer Pck-100, Boss Voice Transformer Vt-1, Casio Vl-1, Crumar Performer, DSI Mopho, Korg Kr-55b, Korg Ms-20, Moog Little Phatty, Moog Voyager, Novation Bass Station II, Oberheim Dpx-1, Roland Cr-78, Roland Sh-2, Yamaha Cs01, and VST synthesisers ARP Odyssey, EKSSperimental Sounds Es101, Korg Ms-20. The project name is reference to Hachikō, the dog who continued to wait for over nine years following his owner’s death at … Shibuya Station”.

The first of two fabulous new Polytechnic Youth full lengths released this May, is a wonderful -and long overdue- vinyl compilation of key UK electronic pioneers Land OF YRX’s work between 1982 and 1984. Released almost exclusively across a series of DIY produced cassette only releases, the bands’ output is now revered in that golden period of groundbreaking, home recorded 4 track experimental / minimal electronics releases, all of which are highly sought after and hugely influential on the swell of electronic musicians that followed at that point in the UK. The duo consists of Shrewsbury based Rob Andrews and Dave Gate (extended for live shows) and with their core discography being so utterly wonderful, honing in on a fair representation of their work with 20 minute-a-side time caps here, was no mean feat. So much of their greatest work featured across epic 15 minute plus jams- ideal for the cassette format, but trickier for wax. But we’ve got there; 7 beauties which highlight the bands’ love for experimental electronica, kosmische / krautrock and prog perfectly- all underpinned with Rob’s superb often Gottsching-esque guitar work. A superb band, totally worthy of further investigation- massively recommended to anyone into any of the above, or that core of early UK electronic underground / cassette scene of Colin Potter, Paul Nagle, Neural Circus as well as heavyweights like Conrad Schnitzler etc… The duo are still very much busy and working today, as “Why stop just because you’re having fun?” A wonderful and long overdue vinyl collection, available as a pressing of 300 this May.