Art of Noise

The Art of Noise‘s 1987 album In No Sense? Nonsense! is reissued as a two-CD deluxe edition in November 2018. Gary Lagan had left after In Visible Silence leaving Anne Dudley and J.J. Jeczalik to continue as a duo. Dudley recalls, “At that time, we were meeting new people, doing adverts and films and things. There was lots of new input. These adverts generated other new tracks. They would evolve and we’d agree they were good ideas. And we’d ask each other what would happen if we did this, this and this? So that kept everything evolving.” The reissue features newly-remastered audio including bonus seven-inch and 12-inch mixes including collaborations with Paul McCartney (the Art of Noise ‘Spies Like Us’ remix) and Duane Eddy (‘Spies’). Additionally, there are 22 unreleased recordings from the sessions, taken from the original master tapes.

Art Of Noise – Influence (2CD) (2010)
Electronic, Ambient, Experimental | MP3@VBR 160-320kbps | 02:20:11 | 195 MB

Collection of AoN hits, singles, b-sides and unreleased tracks

Art Of Noise pioneered the technique of sampling sounds and blending them into a melodic collage that defied simple classification. Variously described as hip hop, avante-garde, techno-pop, electro-jazz, drum and bass, and all points in between, the band influenced and inspired generations of musicians and left a lasting legacy. This 2CD set celebrates the diversity of their work on the iconic 1980s label, ZTT. Much-loved tracks such as Close (to the Edit), Beat Box and Moments in Love are featured that together serve to illustrate exactly why the Art of Noise richly deserve their reputation as one of popular music’s most influential bands.

Art Of Noise - At The End Of A Century (2015) {2CD+DVD9 PAL - Salvo SALVOSVX029}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 822 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 342 Mb
DVD9 -> 7.37 Gb | All Regions | PAL 16:9 | Dolby AC3, 2 ch | ~ 228 min | ISO Image
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 164 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2015 Salvo / ZTT / Union Square | SALVOSVX029 | Element Series - 37
Electronic / Leftfield / Abstract / Modern Classical / Experimental

This collection compiles music and films by Art of Noise from the period 1995 to 2000, and is mostly comprised of previously unreleased material, including the album 'balance - music for the eye' and the Producer's Cut of 'The Seduction of Claude Debussy' on CD, and two unreleased complete concerts on the DVD, filmed in London at Coexistence studio and Shepherds Bush Empire in 2000.

For a while back in the early ’80s Trevor Horn, Anne Dudley, Gary Langan and J.J. Jeczalik were just another group of musicians messing around with ideas in the studio. When journalist and copywriter Paul Morley (working with their record company ZTT at the time) presented an eight page manifesto defining the band and their guiding principles, The Art of Noise was born. Morley became a critical part of the The Art of Noise, contributing ideas, song titles and taking control the band’s image and the presentation of the records. Considering themselves an art-meets-pop project, a ‘hit’ record was not really on the agenda, but that is what happened in May 1984 when Close (to the Edit) hit the UK top ten…

The Art Of Noise - Below The Waste (1989) {Polydor Japan 1st Press POOP 20285}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 307 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 126 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 51 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1989 Polydor K.K. / China Records | Japan 1st Press | POOP 20285
Electronic / Synth-Pop / Alternative / Experimental / Dance-Rock / World Music

Art of the Noise are one of the most groundbreaking, but least understood, bands from the 80's. Their work with ZZT is (rightfully) hailed as groundbreaking, brilliant and highly influential. However, its later albums, without Trevor Horn, are usually either ignored or condemned as hackwork. I can't share this opinion: though later albums became more focused and song-oriented ("In Visible Silence"), the songs were high quality and engaging. And the wild third album "In No Sense? Nonsense!" is on par with "Who's Afraid of the Art Of Noise?" for pure wildness and experimental cutting-edgedness, though a little less focused. It's "suite like" construction makes every listen unpredictable, if uncohesive. And then there's this album: is this the ultimate Art of Noise "sell out" album or what? It's just too bad it didn't have their ultimate sell out single "Kiss" or it would have been a top 10 album, instead of a forgotten relic of the weird (and better than most people want to admit) 80's music scene.

The place for Art of Noise neophytes to start, Daft collects (Who's Afraid Of?) The Art of Noise! and Into Battle with the Art of Noise, along with two reworkings of "Moments in Love" from the original U.K. release of that song, to make a fantastic hour's worth of music. If anything, a single or two aside, Daft beats out the official Best Of compilation by a mile. Having aged superbly with time, AON's early works sound all the more advanced and of the moment, a testament especially to Trevor Horn's excellent production and Anne Dudley's gripping arrangements. Further entertainment comes from the liner notes, which aren't merely state-of-the-art 1984 album design but an apparently barbed attack on the further incarnation of the band from one Otto Flake…