THE LEGENDARY PINK DOTS

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Release date and tracklist

1998
US VHS Soleilmoon VISOR003

2004
US DVD Soleilmoon SDVD 1

1. Hallway
2. Monologue
3. On High
4. Spike
5. Love in a Plain Brown Envelope
6. Destined to Repeat
7. Harvest Babies
8. Velvet Resurrection
9. Hellsville City of Needles

Credits

• Edward Ka-Spel – Voice, Keyboards
• The Silver Man – Keyboards, Electronics
• Edwin von Trippenhof – guitar, occasional bass
• Ryan Moore – drums, occasional bass
• Niels van Hoornblower – horns, flute
• Frank Verschuurend – live sound

Notes

Recorded on September 13, 1997 at La Luna, Portland USA. Originally released only in North American format (NTSC), although the LPDs had 100 copies specially made in European format (PAL) for sale via mail order. In early 1999, a PAL edition was commercially released. The DVD contains some minor audio defects.  Program length: 60 minutes
SING WHILE YOU MAY DAZHTANII

Product Description

Recorded in 1997 near the end of their “Hallway of the Gods” tour of Canada and America, and originally issued in VHS format in 1998, “Live at La Luna” reveals like never before the magical atmosphere of sound and light created by Edward Ka-Spel and his talented crew. Captured by a pair of roving cameramen and a center camera filming from the balcony, the performance is presented as an ever-evolving collage of music and faces, from the keyboards of The Silverman to the saxophone flourishes of Niels van Hoorn, from the rhythm-n-bass section of Ryan Moore (Twilight Circus Dub Sound System) and Edwin von Trippenhof to the inimitable vocals of Edward Ka-Spel.

Regrettably, there were several minor glitches in the audio part of the program we were unable to completely repair. We don’t think they detract in any way from the performance, but an attentive listener may notice them. For this reason we have included a disclaimer on the outside of the packaging to warn consumers of the defects. Nevertheless we feel the uniqueness of this release, combined with its low price, will please the loyal followers of this legendary group.

THE LEGENDARY PINK DOTS

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Release date and tracklist

07 September 2014
NL 2xCD-r self-released on Bandcamp
NL MP3 self-released on Bandcamp

1. Chemical Playschool 16 Part 1 17:40 (1.Nemesis/ 2.The Line In The Sand)
   
2. Chemical Playschool 16 Part 2 22:29 (3.Den Of Disrepute/ 4.Hotline / 5.The Monsters Take The Fun Away/ 6.Because It’s There/ 7.Spirit Of ’81)
   
3. Chemical Playschool 16 Part 3 13:48 (8.Fever Fever/ 9.The Abduction Of Henry)
   
4. Chemical Playschool 18 38:50 (1.The Things They Do On Planet U/ 2.Fantastic Voyage Parts 1-3/ 3.Pink Receptacle/ 4.The Only Living Doll In The Dolls’ House)
   

Credits

• Edward Ka-Spel
• The Silverman
• Erik Drost
• Raymond Steeg

Cover Art by Anita Hammer

Notes

The creatures who frolic in the Chemical Playschool have again escaped their test-tubes, and hell, this time they have gone too damn far…

Recorded from May through July 2014 at The Dolls’ House, London and The Silver Studio in Nijmegen. Mastered by Ray.

CD-R: Lovingly home-made double cdr package with sumptuous full-colour fractal artwork and inserts in a card cover ( no plastic!). Edition of 299

THE LEGENDARY PINK DOTS

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Release date and tracklist

THE LEGENDARY PINK DOTS

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Release date and tracklist

2000
PL CD SPV L-0012

THE LEGENDARY PINK DOTS

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Release date and tracklist

2000 US CD Caciocavallo CAD11

1. Lent – [MP3]
2. When I’m With You
3. When Lenny Meets Lorca – [MP3]
4. Skeltzer Spleltzer
5. Mood 159
6. Pain Bubbles
7. Blue
8. Condition Green – [MP3]
9. Death Of A King
10. Godless

***
2001

US LPx2 Beta-Lactam Ring MT050

side a

1. Lent – [MP3]
2. When I’m With You
3. When Lenny Meets Lorca – [MP3]
4. Skeltzer Spleltzer

side b

1. Mood 159
2. Pain Bubbles
3. Blue
4. Condition Green – [MP3]

side c

1. Death Of A King
2. Godless

side d

1. Premonition 25

***

November 14, 2012
NL self-released on Bandcamp

1. Lent – [MP3]
2. When I’m With You
3. When Lenny Meets Lorca – [MP3]
4. Skeltzer Spleltzer
5. Mood 159
6. Pain Bubbles / Blue
7. Condition Green – [MP3]
8. Death Of A King
9. Godless
10. Premonition 25
11. Blue (Full Glory)

Credits

• Ryan Moore – bass, drums, percussion, sound processing
• Martijn de Kleer – guitars, violin, drums and bass
• Qa’Sepel – vox inhumana, keyboards
• The Silverman – keyboards, filters, sound processing, voices from beyond
• Niels van Hoornblower – saxophones, flute, bass clarinet, percussion
• Frank Verschuuren – sound processing

Notes

Vinyl edition has a gatefold cover and separate lyric sheet. Also includes a white paper sheet with a pink dot on it.
The vinyl release features slightly different mixes of some tracks.

THE LEGENDARY PINK DOTS- A Perfect Mystery REDUX (2012 Remaster)

The year 2000

End of the second millennium and end of an era for The Dots. Ryan left after this album to focus on his excellent Twilight Circus Project while Frank Verschuuren departed for a career in the New World .

The final gasp of the Dots’ “big” line-up lacks consistency.  Some fine tracks that stand the test of time, but some regrets about not capturing the enormity of “Pain Bubbles ” in the studio environment.Likewise “Lent” often sounded better live….but perhaps that’s inevitable. The extended LPDs line-up somehow delivered their best work on stage at this time.

Worth a listen is Premonition 25- in my humble opinion the best of this long running saga of dark epics.EK

Artwork here is from the hyper-limited vinyl version released by Beta-Lactam Ring Records.Nienke Poiesz is the creator.

Press Release

Power. The unutterable lust for power. How would it be if there was no shame attached to this trait? A belief in yourself as puppet master, shaping lives, moulding a world together that fits you like a glove; ultimately the certainty that only you exist and everyone and everything around you is merely a pliable illusion. The universe can only tolerate so much madness, and as the lust grew, he faded. And nobody forgave or honoured him for his actions because they couldn’t remember his name or his face. Deeds, events slipped into history, into mythology, into stories to scare children with, into nursery rhymes of which nobody could decipher the meanings…. Into almost nothing. Almost. And him? Didn’t he simply get what he wanted? The last doubts cast aside, a confirmation that only he existed in an empty universe that he had to fill? To fill, but with what? Still the shapes haunted him because they came unbidden, and they slipped away before he could catch them and give them substance. His substance. And still the voices haunted him, because they were not HIS voices yet they were somehow familiar. However, familiarity could never fit in this One-dimension. And he tried to think of nothing, and he applied himself with patience. And he almost succeeded. Almost.

Reviews

Firmly in their psychedelic- goth period, A Perfect Mystery is one of the more conventional and enjoyable releases in Legendary Pink Dots’ extensive discography. The album settles into a pattern where songs begin with a slow, atmospheric start and then increase instrumentation, which turns up the musical tension and explodes in a trippy fury of mad, whirling, musical dervishes, with Edward Ka-Spel’s foreboding lyrics wavering over everything. It all comes together perfectly on “Pain Bubbles,” where the Silver Man’s swirling keyboards and Niels Van Hoorn’s sax dance around each other over a pulsating beat. A gentle exception to the pattern, and a standout track, is the gentle groover “Blue,” a spacey guitar-and-drums ballad that mutates into ambient dub that evokes drummer Ryan Moore’s side project, Twilight Circus Dub Sound System. “When I’m with You” shows the rockier side of the group, a slow groover that intensifies and peaks majestically with an outstanding sax solo. The only misstep is the apocalyptic Appalachian chant “Skeltzer Speltzer.” a psychedelic hoedown that sounds like Malcolm Mooney-era Can, but at one-quarter speed. Overall an excellent introduction to the band. Those not afraid of mildly challenging material should dive in enthusiastically. Note that the vinyl version of this album contains different mixes than the compact disc, and also includes an additional track. – James Mason, All Music Guide

***

I’ve seen the Legendary Pink Dots in concert twice and have heard live recordings, but this is the first studio album I’ve heard. Originally released by Soleilmoon in 2000, several of these songs sound familiar, which makes sense as this was the album they were surely supporting when I saw them perform in 2000. The Beta-Lactam release of the CD is a 2-LP set housed in a beautiful gatefold jacket, and includes an entire side (one lengthy track) not on the original CD. The Pink Dots web site discography also notes that the vinyl has different mixes of the tracks.

Of the standard Pink Dots styled songs, “Lent”, “Pain Bubbles”, and “Condition Green” are my favorites. I’m almost certain “Lent” is the song they opened the show with when I last saw them in 2000. I really like the combination of droning ethereal electronics, sax, Martijn de Kleer’s guitar, and Ka-Spel’s haunting voice. de Kleer has a guitar style that at times reminds me of Dave Gilmour. The song is slow paced but there’s a tremendous tension that builds throughout, the electronics and guitar giving a space rock edge to the music. “Pain Bubbles” is similar and culminates in an intense space jam and some more tasty guitar from de Kleer. “Condition Green” is a nice song with a floating psychedelic atmosphere. Acoustic guitar, wah’d electric guitar, flute and bubbly space synths make for a magic carpet ride backing to Ka-Spel’s vocals. “When Lenny Meets Lorca” is a 60’s pop-psych sounding tune with steady dancey percussion and razor sharp guitar attacks, phased pulsating drones, bubbling space synths, and a flute melody that gives an extra psychedelic kick to the music. A little different but worthy of mention is “Skeltzer Speltzer”, a whimsical song that sounds like an avant-garde Celtic pub tune. But the real earcandy for space rock fans is “Godless” and “Premonition 25”. “Godless” is a lengthy psychedelic voyage with poetic Daevid Allen styled delivery from Ka-Spel. It includes some of the freakier, and more overtly space rock, music heard on this set and is definitely one of the better headphone tracks. Love those pulsating beats, phased drones, raga styled acoustic music, and swirling electronics. “Premonition 25” is the side long bonus track and showcases the more experimental side of the Pink Dots. It’s a Revolution #9 styled freakout journey with lots of oddball voice and sound samples, loops, and space electronics that are both collage styled aggressive and floating ambient. This one’s for the dosed audience.

It wasn’t lost on me that the Legendary Pink Dots pretty well packed the house both times I saw them live. Probably the best crowds I’ve seen for a band that plays adventurous music that is often in the space rock realm. The band have a knack for good songwriting which may attract the larger audience, and I was impressed with the combination of solid songs and spacey, often experimental, music. I’ll have to check out more of their studio releases. – Jerry Kranitz, Aural Innovations

***

For those of you who have the opportunity to see the tour for this new album, take it, and experience the unique space rock jam sessions that focus on this new material. Their new direction is improvisation and all-out jamming, and the music on this disc is some of a very joyous and new nature to the Pink Dots. The lyrics are wonderful, of course, sticking to Edward’s excellent story-telling style, but most of them have a more rhyme-schemed, verse, chorus, verse style that is very out of the ordinary for him. Niels van Hoornblower’s winds are throughout the disc, as well as Ryan Moore’s distinct dub style and The Silverman’s wonderfully eerie and spacey keyboards and effects. Martijn de Kleer mostly plays guitar, it seems, but also adds in superb violins on such tracks as “Skeltzer Spletzer.” The CD really brings you back to the show, with a spellbinding and uplifting feeling – upbeat and more solemn tracks alike. As Edward said in a recent interview, a lot of the music on this disc “could never, in fact, be repeated.” – Daniel McKernan, Brainwashed

HTEZZSIM……………SING WHILE YOU MAY!

Lyrics

THE LEGENDARY PINK DOTS

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Release date and tracklist

2000
US CD Caciocavallo CAD5

1. A Crack In Melancholy Time
2. On Another Shore
3. Vigil-Anti
4. Love In A Plain Brown Envelope
5. 9 Shades To The Circle
6. Demolition 13
7. Bella D
8. Needles
9. Space Captain (Extended)

21 January 2014
NL enhanced MP3 self-released on Bandcamp

1. A Crack In Melancholy Time / On Another Shore  12:30
2. Vigil-Anti  05:36
3. Love In A Plain Brown Envelope  04:33
4. 9 Shades To The Circle / Demolition 13  27:40
5. Belladonna  03:39
6. Needles  08:01
7. Space Captain (Extended)  10:17

Credits