Surprize - Complete Discography

It's easy to post a complete discography for a band when they only released eight songs on two records! Italian band Surprize released the four-song The Secret Lies In Rhythm EP on Italian label Base Records in 1982, and another four-song EP, In Movimento, on Factory Benelux in 1984. In Movimento is known primarily for its Manchester connections: it was a "Dojo-BeMusic production," or Donald Johnson of A Certain Ratio (who also contributes bass, Simmons, and backing vocals) and Bernard Sumner of New Order (credited with DMX programming). The main credits are as follows:

• Mirko Virdo Pellati: drums, simmons, backing vocals
• Wud: voice, synthesizer, guiro, cow bells
• Luca Patini: guitars, wood block
• Francisco Garau: vibraphone, balafon, bongos, cow bells, cabasa, talking floor drum, kokiriko, backing vocalsLuciano Graffi: bass, click bass, fretless bass
• Frank Nemola: trumpet, trombone

With an instrumental lineup like that, and an ACR member at the desk, there is a definite ACR feel to the record, most like their To Each... and Sextet period. On the earlier EP, the back cover shows Surprize as a seven-piece band, though the members are not listed. While there is an arty gloss to In Movimento, the The Secret Lies In Rhythm is more lively, with the horns and varied percussion more prominent in the mix; it's more in the vein of Pigbag than ACR, and it's a lot of fun. Unfortunately it's also very short, clocking in at just over 16 minutes. But put it together with the second EP and you've got a whole album's worth of above-average, occasionally brilliant postpunk art-funk. Get them here or here.

Royal Family and the Poor - Live 1983-1985

Royal Family and the Poor is the musical vehicle of Michael Keane of Liverpool. Keane is steeped in mystical and occult traditions, and his best work (which is most of it) conveys all the attendant beauty, joy, fear, and mystery of his spiritual endeavors, by turns gentle and powerful. After two albums for Factory Records, Keane left the label and signed up with Bourbonese Qualk's Recloose Organization. The vinyl fruit of that alliance is a single album, Live 1983-1985. The performances capture the gentle side of Keane's musical vision as he sings over a drum machine and backing synths. The tracks and recording dates are as follows:

1. Restrained in a Moment (which Keane introduces by its alternate title, "I Love You") - London, 24.1.85
2. Dawn Song - Edinburgh, 5.2.85
3. Visions - Glasgow, 6.2.85
4. Transparent - Liverpool, 2.4.85
5. Something Someone - Stafford, 6.5.83
6. Destiny - Stafford, 6.5.83
7. Heartbeat - Edinbugh, 5.2.85

Live 1983-1985 was issued in a limited edition of 1,000 copies. It was not reissued on CD by LTM's Boutique label along with the rest of the Royal Family and the Poor catalog. Get the vinyl rip here or here.