Shatter Days by Nagamatzu
Dark Entries is honored to re-issue the debut cassette by British duo Nagamatzu for the first time ever on vinyl. Expanded with five bonus tracks, “Shatter Days” is a collection of nine songs recorded between 1983 and 1988. Featuring Andrew Lagowski (SETI, Legion, Terror Against Terror) on synths, guitar, and programming and Stephen Jarvis (Pure Motorised Instinct, Terraform) on synths and bass with Andrew Fleck (synths, occasional vocals).
Nagamatzu self-released their debut cassette "Shatter Days" in 1983 after messing around with old tape machines, drum boxes and effects. They cite their early influences as SPK, Cabaret Voltaire and Joy Division. All the songs were recorded onto a TEAC reel to reel in the dining room at Andrew's parents' house. Some of the backing rhythms and sequencers were recorded first and then the band played along live during overdubs. These instrumentals combine stuttering bass, guitar bursts and funeral keyboards draped over a dragging drum machine beat, calling to mind Clock DVA, early New Order or Cocteau Twins. Their sound is full of complex rhythm patterns and dark electronics.
On the flip side of this reissue are five tracks featuring contributions to international compilations ("If God Had Meant Us To Dance He’d Have Given Us Legs,” “Three Minute Symphony,” Life At The Top" and "Total Recess 3") plus a previously unreleased song. All songs have been remastered from the original tapes for vinyl by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. The vinyl comes housed in jacket silver and black offset printed jacket featuring the Nagamatzu symbol from the "Shatter Days" cassette. Each LP includes a 8-page booklet full of photos, reviews and an interview with the band from 1983. Finally rescued from the UK D.I.Y. cassette underground and restored, "Shatter Days" presents a band at their productive beginnings.
Tracklist
| 1. | Nikto | 4:10 |
| 2. | Possession | 3:32 |
| 3. | Faith | 6:52 |
| 4. | Deliberation | 4:33 |
| 5. | She Speaks Close | 3:04 |
| 6. | Bird, Spider, Fly | 3:08 |
| 7. | Muslin | 4:02 |
| 8. | Operator Dead, Post Abandoned | 5:43 |
| 9. | Radio Song | 3:32 |
Credits
(C) + (P) 2013 Dark Entries Records
ALL SONGS WRITTEN & COMPOSED BY NAGAMATZU
Andrew Lagowski - synthesisers, guitar, bass and programming
Stephen Jarvis - synthesisers, bass and guitar
Andrew Fleck - synthesizer, vocals on A1-A4, B1-B2
Tracks A1-A4 produced by John Bowers
Tracks B1-B2 produced by Andrew Lagowski and John Bowers
Tracks B3-B5 produced by Andrew Lagowski
Remastered by George Horn at Fantasy Studios, Berkeley 2013
Layout - Eloise Leigh
Tracks A1-A4 originally appeared on "Shatter Days" cassette, self-released 1983.
B1 originally appeared on "If God Had Meant Us To Dance He’d Have Given Us Legs” cassette, Hamster Records 1984.
B2 originally appeared on “Three Minute Symphony” LP, Xtract Records 1984.
B3 originally appeared on "Life At The Top" LP, Third Mind Records 1984.
B4 originally appeared on "Total Recess 3" cassette, Mystery Hearsay 1988.
B5 is previously unreleased, 1987.
Thanks to John Bowers, Terry Burrows, Josh Cheon, Andrew Fleck, Dave Henderson, Mike Honeycutt, George Horn, Eloise Leigh, Gary Levermore.
