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Review: In many ways the four tracks making up this release represent a micro-quadrilogy, or at least quartet of chapters that tell some of the story behind Clock DVA. A Sheffield-born industrial, post-punk and EBM band formed in 1978, which has gone through a number of iterations through to present day, while that description might imply intense drums and aggressive pacing, the reality is something very different. Nevertheless, the complex waves of grainy noise, sparse ambient moments and closing space-age keyboard and distorted public announcement arrangement reflect some of the most defining aspects of those genres. Beauty hidden beneath something coarse, unrefined and even abrasive surface clatter, the importance of silence as much as sound itself and an inherent desire not to conform, but instead break down barriers.

Review: VOD160.1 Salaried Man Club 'Gray Cross' (originally released as VAT1 in 1981) 36:21
VOD160.2 Kiiro Radical 'Denki Noise Dance' (originally released as VAT2 in 1981) 43:35
VOD160.3 Den Sei Kwan ?'Pocket Planetaria' (originally released as VAT3 in 1981) 33:13
VOD160.4 Invivo "B.B.B.' (originally released as VAT4 in 1981) 48:51
VOD160.5 Wireless Sight 'Endless Dark Dream' (originally released as VAT5 in 1981)
VOD160.6 Nishimura Alimoti "Shibou' (originally released as VAT6 in 1981) 47:19

Review: LP1 1983-1987 44:13 MIN
LP2 Nazi Jazz self released 1987 43:56 MIN
LP3 1985-1988 Sauretod 1985 - 1988 45:28 MIN
LP4 Maria Zerfall in Phase Pervers 42:30 MIN
LP5 Ware Das Blut Nicht Rot (Turnabout TapesTurn 00Z) 89-91 41:57 MIN
LP6 Totenstille, Der Rest Ist Fluch self-released 1991 42:21 MIN
LP7 Tote Zone, self-released, 1993 41:45 MIN
LP8 Zerose - Liebe, Sex & Zartlichkeit Music To Turn To - Turn Endz 1, 1991 46:11 MIN
Bonus 7inch 13:46 Min

Review: Vinyl On Demand are on a bit of a roll as of late, and this extensive - and largely excellent - collection of lo-fi tape recordings is another stunning example of how these guys operate. Not happy with having explored a vast amount of music from the European quarters, Frank Maier, the head of the label, has decided to go give himself an ambitious mission here by collating rare and wonderful recordings from the American cassette culture, masterfully executed and beautifully packaged. With 12 LPs, two 7 inches, and well over 100 tracks on here, this is any collector's dream, a sign that God must exist and that we were silly to think that such perfection couldn't be packed into a compilation. From the wonky drum machine jams of Marc Barreca, to Anode Productions, K Leimer, and even Steve Roach's visionary proto-electro/techno, there is so much gold in here that we're quite taken aback ourselves. it's almost the end of 2015 already, and this might well make it into the top 5 releases of the year. No, we're not joking, it's that important, and that good. All killer, no filler.

Review: Trust Vinyl On Demand to come through with a comprehensive box set that will question the knowledge of even the most studious of Minimal Synth and primitive electronics fans. As the title suggests, the seven LP Official Guide To Scottish Minimal Synth 1979-1983 casts it's gaze over the synth scene in Scotland in the late seventies onwards with a focus on the contribution of Alistair Robertson in particular. The Glasgow-based musician ran the Synthetic Tapes label during this period, issuing music from his own various projects and others and the seven LPs deftly showcase how Robertson got involved in the synth scenes of various other Scottish cities as the eighties progressed.