Various Artists - Cold Waves Of Color LP. A superb album, compiling electronic synth pop, cold wave and minimal tracks from the Color Tapes label, spanning 1981-1985. The Color Tapes label was the brainchild of a young Gary Ramon after being inspired by cassette labels such as Fuck Off Tapes, Weird Noise and other underground UK labels; also by the music of the late '70's and early '80's such as Cabaret Voltaire, Suicide, Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, Throbbing Gristle, Fad Gadget, as well as electronic musicians such as John Cage, La Monte Young, Stockhausen, Pierre Henry, Moondog, and others. The tracks from this compilation originally came out only on limited cassette runs of 100 copies sold at gigs, mail order and record shops such as Small Wonder Records. The majority of these tracks from these UK garage cold wave bands used mostly synthesizer, drum machines and sequencers such as EMS VCS3, Minimoog, Korg MS-20, Roland Juno 6, SH-09, TR-808. Remastered from original analogue source tapes by Denis Blackham, this is a must-have for electronic, synth and cold wave collectors. Includes a full colour illustrated poster of all the cassette sleeves (70 releases) made by the label and associated releases between 1979-1986. (sealed)

Press:

"Must-have collection of English post-punk rarities, sourced from the legendary Color Tapes label, remastered by Denis Blackham, all presented on vinyl for the first time! Emerging from that incredibly influential wormhole that opened somewhere between the late '70s and mid '80s, the Color Tapes (subsequently Color Discs) label was the brainchild of Gary Ramon, who, inspired by the Fuck Off Tapes and Weird Noise labels, and attendance at an early Depeche Mode show, was prompted to start the label as an outlet for his own music and a like-minded gaggle of miscreants with drum machines, 4-track recorders, and an urge to make. It's highly likely that these tracks have been barely heard beyond their original 100 edition tape pressings in the early '80s, and thusly this is a bit of treasure trove, especially when considering the quality of the remasters, making the likes of Beserk In A Hayfield's bare bones disco wreckers, 'Tease' and 'Code', or the shuddering, ascetic coldwave of Disintegrators' 'Beyond Reason' bite sharper than ever. This is the reelest deal for people into Minimal Wave, Dark Entries, OG wave music. Don't sleep!" —Boomkat review