Don Byron is the quintessential clarinetist of the modern mainstream, and this is a tolerably good example of his work as an improvisor, composer, and bandleader. Byron swings and grooves well in a conventional sense, yet his slippery phrasing runs clear of rhythmic cliché. His tone is clear and pure, as well, but what's even more important than his considerable instrumental skill is the manifest originality and inspiration that drives his art.
Emerging from a tempest of edgy, electrifying dance-rock, new wave, and new romantic hits that swirled within Germany in the early '80s rose The Twins, comprised of musicians Ronny Schreinzer and Sven Dohrow. For several years, their compelling, self-written, and self-produced productions filled dance floors throughout their homeland, as well as those of neighboring countries like Italy, where the group's records could often be found at the top of the pop chart. The Twins were inspired by bands like Ultravox, Gary Numan, OMD and Depeche Mode. Their 1st album, released on Monday, 31st August 1981. The first CD version was released in 1995, and a re-release came out in 2004.
An original-art 1' x 2' tour poster designed exclusively for these sets by Dennis Loren (who created album covers, concert posters, and print ads for Jimi Hendrix, Muddy Waters, Paul McCartney, The Velvet Underground, Rick James and many others) comes in each box, as does a luxurious LP-sized 28-page booklet featuring extensive liner notes by Richie Unterberger, rare photos, memorabilia and a reproduction of the original LP artwork in 12 inch; format. For sound, look and luxury, these sets have it all…so have at it! It must have been a blast (not just a blast from the past) for the designers at Culture Factory USA to work on these new Jefferson Airplane reissues. Not only are these seminal albums of the psychedelic era, but these painstaking reproductions celebrate the band s groundbreaking graphics and feats in elaborately configured packaging.
Following the death of lead singer Ian Curtis, "Atmosphere" was released as a double-a sided single with "She's Lost Control". "Atmosphere" was the A-side for the UK release but the B-side for the US release. "She's Lost Control" is an alternate version from the one that appears on the debut album Unknown Pleasures.
"Atmosphere" was originally released in 1980 as a France-only single under the title Licht und Blindheit with "Dead Souls" as the B-side
Joy Division are rivalled only by The Velvet Underground in the establishment of such an influential legacy with such a small canon of recorded work. When their career was abruptly re-routed by the suicide of singer Ian Curtis in 1980, they had recorded just two complete albums and were still a month away from their biggest hit, “Love Will Tear Us Apart” - which has endured to become as universally adored an English pop classic as “Waterloo Sunset”. Uncut.