Tracklist:
A1. Fly Hi ft. Mel Tormé - Original
A2. Fly Hi ft. Mel Tormé - Zanzibar Mix
A3. Fly Hi ft. Mel Tormé - Morel’s Flying Underground Remix
B1. Gimme - Original
B2. Gimme - Move D Remix
B3. Gimme - Gimme Shelter Mix

Re-issue alert! Whirlpool Productions "Fly Hi/Gimme" appeared first in 1993 on the one time and made up label 5th&Madison. The fascination that a young Justus Köhncke had for the then bubbling sounds, strictly rhythms and nu grooves of New York house music sparked the idea to join in the chant with a production of his own. Add his co-producer Fred Heimermann, the buzzing DJ and brilliant music journalist Hans Nieswandt and a visitor from San Francisco named Eric D. Clark, the singer Heather Sachs and samples by Mel Tormé to the flamboyant picture and you know why the records sounds like it does: swinging house music through the lenses of a colorful cast or how some German people thought New Jersey's Zanzibar would sound. Fly Hi embodies the sophisticated deep and soulful approach, while Gimme satisfies the more hysteric approach. Favoured and championed by DJs like Tony Humphries at the time, officially released by Snap's Logic Records and never vacated from Move D's record bag, it's re-issued in all its glory for the first time on Running Back. Additionally, Move D puts his fingerprint on it with a disco leaning and upbeat remix of "Gimme". Extensive liner notes by Hans Nieswandt upon request. Life is still in hi-fly!



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2024 repress


The First Authorised, Official Re Edition of this Electronic, New Wave, Cold Wave, Pop, Synth, Post-Punk Classic, Personally Overseen by Stephan Eicher, Everything Original: Art, Tracklist, Cut on 45 rpm - Printed on 350 GSM Paperstock incl. Sticker!

WRWTFWW Records is very honored to announce the official reissue of Grauzone’s essential 1981 maxi single with timeless classic "Eisbär", proto-techno beast "FILM 2", and romantic synth ballad "Ich Lieb Sie", just in time for the 40th anniversary of the Swiss band’s formation. The three-track vinyl is sourced from the original reels, cut at 45rpm, and comes with its iconic artwork on a 350gsm sleeve.

Tracklisting:
A1. Eisbär
B1. FILM 2
B2. Ich Lieb Sie

Info:
WRWTFWW Records is very honored to announce the official reissue of Grauzone’s essential 1981 maxi single with timeless classic "Eisbär", proto-techno beast "FILM 2", and romantic synth ballad "Ich Lieb Sie", just in time for the 40th anniversary of the Swiss band’s formation. The three-track vinyl is sourced from the original reels, cut at 45rpm, and comes with its iconic artwork on a 350gsm sleeve.

Ich möchte ein Eisbär sein…Written by Martin Eicher after a nightmare in which he saw talking polar bears on the walls, and with music by the Grauzone crew consisting of Martin and his brother Stephan Eicher, Marco Repetto, Christian "GT" Trüssel, and Claudine Chirac (on saxophone), "Eisbär" is the most recognizable title from the band, a sublime mix of ingredients reflecting the transitional era it comes from - the raw energy of punk music still palpable, combined with the audacity of early electronics, the warm groove of a disco gem, beautifully fragile lyrics, and one of the best basslines ever. It became a mega hit, totally unplanned, but how could you resist such a track?

"FILM 2" is the ultimate b-side monster, a menacing all-instrumental pre-techno masterpiece, slowly building to a magnetizing frenzy. An instant underground favorite, it was famously heard played at both speeds depending on the scenes and DJs you were frequenting, 45rpm as it was first intended, and 33rpm for the cosmic experience (search Daniele Baldelli’s Cosmic C75 1982 mixtape online for a great example of this).

The maxi single ends with "Ich Lieb Sie", a synth-pop meets doo-wop ballad, a true love song oozing with innocence. Simple, stylish, and just right.

At the crossroads of post-punk, new wave, pop, and electronic experimentation, the Eisbär maxi offers three songs that are technically different but hold the same spirit, the perfect embodiment of Grauzone’s music - wild, unpredictable, and youthful, yet sophisticated, catchy, and ingenious. The magic recipe for the good stuff.

Stephan Eicher went on to be, arguably, the most successful Swiss musician ever, with an international career extending from pop chanson to experimental escapades and collaborations with Moondog, artists Sophie Calle and John Armleder, and author Martin Suter among many other luminaries. Marco Repetto flourished as a techno and ambient producer, releasing multiple projects including releases on Aphex Twin’s Rephlex label.

Grauzone and WRWTFWW will continue to collaborate on the band’s 40th anniversary reissue campaign, with numerous projects planned for the year, including a vast selection of music, visuals, and literature never available before.


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Rights: World excl. FR, UK & US

Packaging: 2 x 180 grs Black Vinyl, 5mm spine sleeve, 2 x printed inner sleeve, marketing front sticker

TRACKLISTING - DOUBLE VINYL.
Exclusive 2025 repress - Double Heavyweight black LP , printed inners

A 1 Dry The Rain
A 2 I Know
A 3 B + A
B 1 Dogs Got a Bone
B 2 Inner Meet Me
B 3 The House Song
C 1 The Monolith
C 2 She's the One
D 1 Push It Out
D 2 It's Over
D 3 Dr. Baker
D 4 Needles In My Eyes

BIOGRAPHY BY IRVINE WELSH
I discovered the Beta Band, like I discovered a lot of great music, basically through eventually surrendering to the enthused urgings of a mate who was cooler than me. He continually evangelized about the EP's. I was lost to the concert hall and firmly ensconced on the dancefloor by then and highly resistant, but quite taken by the idea that a band would bring out extended plays rather than singles. When I did check them out, I was instantly smitten by their originality and power.

The band, therefore, were pivotal for me in terms of my own musical journey, in that they represented a gateway back into indie guitar music, which I'd basically given up since becoming obsessed with rave and acid house.

The Beta Band were definitely a band for the cool cognoscenti- like my buddy- the ones you make a bit of a tit of yourself trying to convert quite straight boring people to.

The emotions they induced were a kind of throwback to school days when you were very pompous and prescriptive about what you liked, and derisive towards non believers. It's a testimony to the power of the music that they could take me to the raw state of the younger man.

I took it personally that they didn't hit the mainstream commercial base. At least two of the three albums they made deserved quadruple platinum status. Hot Shots II and Heroes to Zeros are permanently lodged very high in my top one hundred albums of all time.

So, the return of the Beta Band has me moving into the same mode of immature, adolescent anticipation. Everyone should have the Beta Band albums and EP's in their collection. It still kind of annoys me - in fact it bugs the shit out of me - that most of them don't.

And that really is something.


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RE-RELEASE! No one can say they didn’t see these two brats coming! Justice, who’s name the world (well at least that part of the world that loves to dance) chants with emotion and whose first album is awaited with bated breath ever since the French duo revolutionised dancefloors with two radically different hits. It comes as no surprise that «†», the first album by Justice, is a fantastic treat for the ears and for the feet. A kind of musical opera marked with religious and baroque symbols, where the melodies are ripped to shreds by the beats, where electro teaches rock a lesson and where pop gets a botox injection.

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Tracklist:

A1) Paul Older - Che Disco Vuoi (Extended Version)
A2) Riva Starr - Allora Amore (Extended Mix)
A3) Valentino Vivace - Statua Greca
B1) Hey Cabrera! - Tutto Matto (Extended Version)
B2) Sam Ruffillo & Fimiani feat. Gianni D'uomo - Non Era Facile (Extended Version)
B3) Kymono - Lasciati Andare (Extended Version)
C1) Dov'e Liana - La Notte Infinita (Extended Version)
C2) Mille Punti - Matto (Extended Version)
C3) Bruno Belissimo - Donna Piu
D1) Fimiani - Proibito (Extended Version)
D2) Alessandro Rotter - La Sera, La Discoteca, La Spiaggia
D3) Alberto Melloni – Credimi


Toy Tonics ITALOMANIA Vol. 3 is a compilation dedicated to NEW ITALIAN DISCO. (Not Italo Disco.)
14 young contemporary Italian producers made new organic disco, indie dance, pop house tracks with Italian vocals.
Everything on this compilation has been produced in 2024. Fresh dance music by Italian artists
Paul Older, Riva Starr, Valentino Vivace, Sam Ruffillo & Fimiani, Kymono, Mille Punti, Mind Enterprises, Bruno Belissimo and legendary cosmic disco pioneer Daniele Baldelli + french italo hitmakers Dov'e Liana.
The ITALOMANIA compilation was initiated by Toy Tonics boss Kapote. Italo-German producer, DJ, keyboarder and head of Toy Tonics and Gomma records.
ITALOAMNIA is a MANIFESTO to show the status of Italian Disco of today.
Kapote invited the most relevant Italian producers to make new tracks with Italian vocals and show different styles of modern Italian disco with Italian vocals.

Italian Disco is not Italo Disco.
The last years the trashy pop music of the 1980’s called Italo Disco (with English lyrics) had a big revival.
But this compilation is about something else: It’s about this Italian Disco. Because the popularity of good Italian pop music is rising all over the world.
And Toy Tonics want to show a new way to combine Italianity with dance culture.
Its funny that also in France, Swiss and Germany there are new artists singing in Italian.
Let’s not forget: The culture of party, dancing, show bizness and pop music would be unimaginable without the heritage and creativity that Italians contributed.
Italy is not just the country of good food, beaches and high fashion, but it’s also the original country of dance music. Since the ancient roman times the Italians have been the kings of entertainment.
And if it comes to music; The DISCO wave of the 1970ies and the Pop music of the 1980ies has been co-created by Italians (and Italo-americans in New York).

The ITALOMANIA Pt 3 artists

Kymono

..are a jazz-funk band from Bologna. They are just at the beginning but can easily be compared to bands like Nu Genea or Il Mago Del Gelato, They are 5 amazing musicians, influenced by the great soul bands from the 1070es. Kool and the Gang, Jamiroquai, Roy Ayers… are they heroes and you can hear this in their music. They combine these skills with a big love for Italian songwriters like Battisti or Lucio Dalla. They can be big on day!

Mille Punti
is an indie dance band from Milano. Coming from a 1980s love of guitar bands with post punk attitude now they started to combine this vibes with disco. And its fun! Very catchy and very indie.

Bruno Bellissimo
is also coming from a more rock and indie scene. He plays bass, he sings, he tours around Italy as part of the band of Fra Quintale and other gib artists. Now he started to produce dance music and runs the fabulous POLYAMORE record label from Bologna.

Dov’e Liana
are from Paris, but sing in Italian language. Their raw, ironic electro pop music has been very popular over the last 2 years. They fill big concert venues in Italy now, with thousands of young fans singing they songs. It’s a phenomenon!

Riva Starr
..come from Napoli, lives in London and is one of the most successful house music producers coming from Italy since the 1990ies. He worked with Defected and many other labels. Is a regular in all important Ibiza clubs and made this pop house hit song „Allora Amore“ for Toy Tonics together with Dario Basssolino from Napoli.

Paul Older
Italian from the north. Famous in the dance world for producing funky, new school disco tracks that are played by DJs like Folamour, Jamie Jones and DJ Tennis. His song „Che Disco Vuoi“ has a big 1970ies influence. Deep & soulful.

Sam Ruffillo
Sam Ruffillo is an upcoming Italian DJ and producer and one of the lead artists of Toy Tonics (along with Coeo, Kapote and Cody Currie). He had a few underground hits combining leftfield disco and Lofi House with Italian vocals creating a new genre that is finding lot of fans right now. One of his songs (Chiamami Subito) made it into the rotation of big Italian radio station M20. On Instagram you can see his DJ sets where hundreds of Italians sing his songs at Toy Tonics parties.

Fimiani aka BPlan
The DJ und producer from Napoli is part of the new, vibrant disco scene from Napoli. (NuGenea, Mystik Jungle, Manny Whodamanny )

Valentino Vivace
is Italian from Switzerland. And is one of the most promising artists on this compilation. He combined 1980ies Italo Disco vibes with new House music and very catchy song writing. His live show with a 6 person band is one of the most existing bands of the new Italian dance scene you can see currently on stages all over Europe.

Mind Enterprises
.. are dedicated totally to the trash pop 1980ies sounds. ironic, funny, catchy. They are regularly playing in Ibiza with the hybrid live show. And their song „Americano“ is probably a radio hit…

Daniele Baldelli and DJ Rocca
are not new to the scene. Baldelli was a legend already in the 1990ies because he co-started the Cosmic Music thing with FDJs like Loda or Mozart. He is one of the most important guys in the Italian dance scene and the only older person on this compilation.


An although his Munk and Kapote music was an underground phenomena his music has always been a favourite of many great people from the scene.
Supported by DJs like Harvey, Chromeo, Moodymann, Jennifer Cardini, Gerd Janson, MYD, Andrew Weatherall to Blessed Madonna, Justice and Laurent Garnier… to name just a few.





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JUSTICE, The French duo formed by Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay, is the band of a whole generation. When the two friends were still bright students in graphic design, in 2003 they made JUSTICE a place to experiment a hybrid genre between music and image, which blends pop and electronic borders, and showcases the talents of 2 fascinating passionate pop culture craftsmen, bored with hierarchy. They met Pedro Winter who had just founded his label ED BANGER RECORDS, he immediately signs them after listening to "We Are Your Friends" which, with its joyful and vitamin-enriched electro beats combined with exhilarating voices, became the hymn of a whole generation and one of the most important tracks of the year 2000, celebrating a reconciliation of pop music and the dancefloor. It was awarded an MTV Video Award in 2007, bringing about the famous live TV appearance with Kanye West outraged that his million $ clip was outclassed by a home-made bomb. (Once the misunderstanding was cleared up, Justice, Ed Banger and So_Me became a constant source of inspiration for Kanye and his superstar rappers colleagues. Kanye even employed So-Me as director for the video for his hit song "Good Life"), Jay Z will use D.A.N.C.E for his next album. From now on, the duo's ascent was constant and then lightning struck: remixes for N.E.R.D, Britney Spears, Franz Ferdinand, U2, Daft Punk, Lenny Kravitz and an EP in 2006 (" Waters Of Nazareth ") defining the "Justice sound", this famous ultra-powerful compression of pop and baroque melodies, both dark and threatening; lightning and animative; and above all the famous Justice image, the cross from which an earlier version figures on the first EP. 2007 was the explosion that will turn the duo into the emblem of a whole generation: their first album "†", anticipated like the Messiah, holds all the promises, and swept everything away as an epic soundtrack. "†" is more than a magnificent synthesis of our time: its potential definition. 800 000 sales worldwide and 4 years later, the album is considered as a mainstay of the 2000s puzzled and tonic, one of the few who bridged the gap from Pitchfork world to MTV without losing its credibility.

Tracklist:

A1 - Horsepower B1 - Canon (Primo)
A2 - Civilization B2 - Canon
A3 - Ohio B3 - On'n'On
B4 - Brianvision

C1 - Parade D1 - Audio, Video, Disco.
C2 - New Lands D2 - Presence
C3 - Helix



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Double LP: Heavy 350gsm Sleeve, Liner Notes, Sticker
- Official reissue of Grauzone's album with 9 bonus songs including the megahit "Eisbär" and more, straight from the original reels!

Genre: Post-Punk, Electronic, New Wave, Cold Wave, Pop, Synth, Industrial, Experimental

Tracklisting Double LP Album

A1. Film 2
A2. Schlachtet!
A3. Hinter Den Bergen
A4. Maikäfer Flieg
A5. Marmelade Und Himbeereis
B1. Wütendes Glas
B2. Kälte Kriecht
B3. Kunstgewerbe
B4. Der Weg Zu Zweit
B5. In Der Nacht
C1. Eisbär
C2. Ich Lieb Sie
C3. Moskau
C4. Ein Tanz Mit Dem Tod
D1. Traüme Mit Mir
D2. Ich Und Du
D3. Wütendes Glas (Maxi Version)
D4. Raum
D5. Film 1

WRWTFWW Records is very happy to reissue Swiss cult band Grauzone's self-titled album in an expanded 40 Years Anniversary Edition packed with the original 1981 album plus 9 extra songs, as well as extensive liner notes by Swiss music historian Lurker Grand. The 19-track album is available as a double LP vinyl in heavy 350gsm sleeve and a digipack CD, both sourced from the original reels and put together under the supervision of band member and all around legend Stephan Eicher.

The pioneering band from Bern (Switzerland) had a short-lived but highly-regarded career which birthed a cult discography that still fascinates and resonates today. Consisting of core members Martin Eicher, Stephan Eicher, and Marco Repetto, and on-and-off participants Christian GT Trüssel, Claudine Chirac, and Ingrid Berney, the elusive group broke new grounds in the early 80s, experimenting with punk and industrial music, early techno sounds, minimalism, new wave, pop, and various electronics. With an innovative and polished approach to design, visuals, performance, and all around style and philosophy on top of their superb music, the constantly transforming unit developed a whole experience - the Grauzone experience: wild and unpredictable, yet sophisticated and cohesive, or as Swiss music historian Lurker Grand would call it, "an Art band with a Punk attitude".

Completely rejecting the music industry rules and refusing to play the game of promotion, touring, release schedules, and TV appearances even though they had a multi-platinum international hit with the song "Eisbär", the band quickly disintegrated in full convention-defying glory, leaving behind an inspiring music legacy for the world to discover and discover again, one generation after the other.

This extended version of their debut (and only) album beautifully crystallizes the Grauzone miracle/accident - where pop and youthful experimentation meet at (new/cold/no) wave and industrial crossroads, and where classic hits ("Eisbär", "FILM 2", "Raum", "Träume Mit Mir", "Der Weg Zu Zweit"…) flawlessly mesh with unconventional deep cuts ("In Der Nacht", "Film 1", "Maikäfer Flieg"…). Very simply put: GOOD timeless music with an edge.

Stephan Eicher went on to be, arguably, the most successful Swiss musician ever, with an international career extending from pop chanson to experimental escapades and collaborations with Moondog, artists Sophie Calle and Sylvie Fleury, and author Martin Suter among many other luminaries. Marco Repetto flourished as a techno and ambient producer, releasing multiple projects including releases on Aphex Twin's Rephlex label.




Points of interests

- For fans of electronic, post-punk, new wave, cold wave, Swiss wave, no wave, Neue Deutsche Welle (Welle means wave!), synth, pop, industrial, proto-techno, 80s, Stephan Eicher, Marco Repetto, Liaisons Dangereuses, Tristesse Contemporaine, Young Marble Giants, The Cure but weirder, Switzerland, romance, mountains, polar bears, contemporary art, wearing nice (white) shoes in dirty basement squats, and xerox machines.

- New release from WRWTFWW Records (Grauzone's Eisbär and Raum, Midori Takada's Through The Looking Glass, Kenji Kawai's Ghost in the Shell Original Soundtrack, John Carpenter's Dark Star Soundtrack, Ryo Fukui's Scenery, Dominique Guiot's L'Univers de la Mer, Bernard Parmegiani soundtracks and more).


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