Loving Machinery
Order-Nr.: mnq024 |
12inch / Mannequin Records / 2012
Mannequin is really happy to present the 30th Anniversary Edition of the
12’’ EP ‘Loving Machinery” from Central Unit, the cult New Wave
mitteleuropean band based in Bologna (nowdays reformed with a different
lineup). Formed in 1981, they were among the first in Italy to
manipulate synths, drum machines and other electronic devices (as far as
we know they were one of the few bands in the world able to program a
Korg-KR55 drum machine) to create atmospheric soundscapes and they were
considered the Italian answer to Tuxedomoon, who spawned a whole school
in the Italian underground.
After the first live appareances as opening act to bands like Spandau
Ballet and Monochrome Set in their Italian tours, Central Unit published
in March 1982, the 12’’ EP “Loving Machinery” with 4 tracks, including a
cover of “What Use?” from Tuxedomoon. The EP first entered Belgian and
German charts with the single "Saturday Nite", thanks to its skeletal
electronic beats and minimal synth atmospheres, combined with mechanical
basslines and relentless bass guitar meanderings, with slothy saxophone
murmurs peeping out here and there.
Central Unit joined some important live shows in Italian and foreign
festival (remarkable their show in 1983 at No Wave, No Jazz festival in
Berlin where they played with Fad Gadget, Einsturzende Neubauten and
Notorische Reflexe), and they released an album for major label CGD,
produced by Tuxedomoon bassist Peter Principle in 1983.
Cover art by the renowned cartoon artist Giorgio Carpinteri (Frigidaire,
Linus). Carpinteri was part of the so- called Valvoline group, a group
of experimental comics artists, that followed in the footsteps of José
Muñoz, Joost Swarte and Art Spiegelman.
12’’ EP Version: Limited edition of 300 copies, clear vinyl
