Pete Shelley

Lost for years, and then found. A recently re-discovered seminal 1976 synth/electronic work from the Buzzcocks vocalist and synthpop pioneer. From the period before “Homosapien” this album is at the root of Pete Shelley’s journey toward his later solo electronic works. Unearthed by writer, critic and cultural commentator Jon Savage, the album is disseminated in the release sleeve notes. As he suggests “It contains nods towards muzak, the modulations of electronic disco (“I Feel Love”)”. This recording actually pre-dates the Donna Summer disco touchstone.Of the years immediately after 1977 Savage continues “There was a riot of different music styles and youth subcultures competing for attention”. Few would doubt that Post-Punk created a musical template for the future and far beyond. This musically incendiary era has fuelled the the dreams and schema of many contemporary acts during the last 10-15 years.

However, as Savage concludes: “There was also a quieter shift: artists who were exploring the outer limits of synthesizer and primitive programmed technology in an attempt to extend their range and to please themselves”.

The 37 minutes of Cinema Music’s Proto Drone/Ambience were never released at the time, destined for this time-shifted appraisal. Doubtless, Shelley was one of Savage’s “outer-limits artists”. Pre-Punk experimentalism before his brave foray into the fringes of the new-pop.