in the current issue
Rare Record Price Guide
- The world's leading authority on prices of rare and collectable records pressed in the UK.
- More Information
R.C. Partners
- Plastic Dreams
- Astral Vinyl
- Rubber Soul
- Fantastic Voyage
- Those Old Records
- Sugarbush Records
- Fine Vinyl
- RARE AND SIGNED
- Kool Kat Jazz Records
- CJ's Music Merchandise
- Rock Music Memorabilia
- Revival Records
- Love Vinyl
- NYLVI.com
- THE SOUND MACHINE
- 991.com
- Beatles Links
- Wienerworld
- VIP Record Fairs
- Austin Record Convention
- Mega Record & CD Fair
- Record Collector's Guild
- RARO
- Arrowfile
- Ace Records
- Clear Spot
- Rockground
- Heritage Auctions - Free Catalog
- Popsike.com
- System Records
- Industrial Silence
- BBC 6 Music
- GEMM
- LP CD Reissues.com
- Blue Storm Music
- GrooveCollector.com
Bob Blank - The Blank Generation: Blank Tapes NYC 1975-1985
Long overdue spotlight falls on one of New York’s undersung studio titans
For 10 years, Bob Blank’s Blank Tapes studio was the creative epicentre for the multi-strained musical anarchy bubbling out of downtown New York’s intensely-happening club scene. The young producer, known for his try-anything approach, was behind the controls for a stream of esoteric disco and post-punk classics, enjoying his highest profile after regular client August Darnell transformed into Kid Creole with the ZE label.
Unbelievably, this is the first set to appear under Blank’s own name. Unsurprisingly, he hasn’t taken the obvious route, mixing peaks by Fonda Rae, Gladys Knight and Lydia Lunch with lesser-known gems such as pioneering DJ John Morales’ mix of Mikki’s cheekily-enticing Itching For Love. The studio’s other most famed customer was late avant-disco genius Arthur Russell, who appears on Lola’s timeless Wax The Van, while Darnell joins the spooked sensuality of Emile (Night Rate) by Blank’s pet project, Aural Exciters.
Accompanied by thorough sleevenotes by Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton, this marvellous set sometimes sounds too heavenly to be true, as ecstatic boogie, sexy funk and avant-foraging rub and tumble out of Blank’s immaculately-crafted sonic blender.
Strut | STRUT 053
Reviewed by Kris Needs
<< Back to Issue 373
