Break Beats

Various - Breaking the Back Of Love

Regulars will know that I am a bit of a label-centric and have been known to purchase records based upon the release record label before actually hearing the music. In 1985, Illuminated Records made a sharp turn chasing commercial success following 400 Blows dent on the hit parade but this was to eventually be their downfall and the label folded shortly after. French indie label Saderal had begun licensing some releases until their collapse. One of the few items to be released in the UK was this interesting compilation of Illuminated related bands. Most of the acts have featured here before, except for the ital-disco-pop of Colour Me Pop, the post-goth hi-energy of Lilly AK, and the difficult & incoherent Sex Gang Children. Those of a weaker constitution may be distressed by The Leather Nun's attempt to tickle America's prostate in their own unique way. ahem!

Ripped from a vinyl album released on Saderal Records (SDLP 1) in 1985 to high quality lossless flac audio.

A1. 400 Blows - Pressure
A2. Lilly A.K. - Take Me Now
A3. Portion Control - Raise The Pulse
A4. Out - Business As Usual
A5. Colour Me Pop - Beat Me Till I'm Blue
A6. The Leather Nun - F.F. America
B1. Lilly A.K. - Passionate Strangers
B2. Sex Gang Children - Into The Abyss
B3. Colour Me Pop - Go
B4. Heavy Duty Breaks - Heavy Duty Breaks
B5. Dormannu - Degenerate

Dormannu - Return Of Quebec

More from Illuminated. Dormannu have been covered elsewhere but as nobody else in the blogosphere has posted a lossless rip of their 1985 album Return Of Quebec, I thought I'd best.

Dormannu were Brixton squat based goth punks, Simeon, Wig, Mike and Marcus who stepped out of the Batcave scene and introduced what I can only describe as industrial goth. Dark lyrics, riffy guitars and slap bass mixed with pounding synths and beats. It worked quite well for these Jensen and Peel faves, whose excellent Powdered Lover single received much critical acclaim.

Highlights for me are the moody, intricate and atmospheric All The Way Down Now and the goth disco stompers Tragic Fascination and Sweet To Me. Their final single, the awful The Dread is also included, aided by Style Council rapper Dizzi Heights, who had featured on Dormannu's Peel Session. The album was to be their final output and Dormannu quickly disappeared back to their squat as the goth punk became crusty and tastes moved on.

Return Of Quebec : ripped to FLAC from a vinyl album released on Illuminated Records (JAMS 50) in 1985
A1. Beast
A2. Stop The Block
A3. All The way Down Now
A4. Slant
B1. The Sinner
B2. The Dread
B3. Tragic Fascination
B4. Sweet To Me

Re:Upped