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Essential Logic

Beat Rhythm News (Waddle Ya Play?) - 45th Anniversary Edition

    Iconic UK punk band X-Ray Spex co-founder Lora Logic was unexpectedly ousted before the recording of their debut album ‘Germ Free Adolescents' in 1977. Undeterred, Lora went on to form and front the post-punk band Essential Logic. With trademark angular sax lines and her unmistakable vocal stylings, she went on to create some of the most liberating and exciting music of the early post-punk era, not only as Essential Logic, but also as a solo artist. ’Beat Rhythm News (Waddle Ya Play?)' is the band's debut studio album.

    Originally released in December 1979 on the Rough Trade Records label, whose founder Geoff Travis provided enthusiastic encouragement. The album reached number 11 in the UK Indie chart. Lora’s solo album ‘Pedigree Charm’ followed in 1982. Lora and Poly Styrene would later reform X-Ray Spex for the band's sophomore and final studio album 'Conscious Consumer' in 1995.

    Essential Logic returned from an extended hiatus in 2022 with the 5 x LP boxset ‘Logically Yours’, including the new studio album 'Land of Kali', co-produced by Lora and Youth (Killing Joke), followed by 2024’s remix album thereof - ‘Rekalibrated’, which enlisted the talents of an ambitious and diverse set, including Grammy Award winner - Dave Audé, Rave-pop legend - Adamski and Scottish Kandy-poppers - bis, amongst others on remixer duties. This 45th Anniversary ‘Deluxe’ edition compiles the original studio album together with a bonus album containing the complete Essential Logic studio recordings from 1978 - 1983, including the iconic Cells Records debut single ‘Aerosol Burns’ (1978), the ‘Wake Up’ EP (1979), included here for the first time on any physical release since its original pressing, together with the non-album b-side ‘Flora Force’ and 3 post album Rough Trade Records single releases: ’Eugene’ (1980), 1981's ‘Music Is A Better Noise' and 'Fanfare In The Garden’, and their respective b-sides. Repackaged in a high gloss accented, spot varnished sleeve, on 2 x black and white splatter vinyl, foiler stickered, with inner-sleeves including full lyrics and new sleeve notes by Lora. This release also marks the long overdue and highly championed CD debut of the original album and bonus tracks.

    Following their recent UK tour with fellow punk legends Penetration, featuring Pauline Murray, in November 2024, Essential Logic show no signs of stopping or slowing down as they plan extensive live celebrations of the album throughout 2025 as well as the recording and release of their next studio album. 

    TRACK LISTING

    Quality Crayon Wax OK,
    The Order Form,
    Shabby Abbott,
    World Friction,
    Wake Up,
    Albert,
    Alkaline Loaf In The Area,
    Collecting Dust,
    Popcorn Boy (Waddle Ya Do?)
    Aerosol Burns,
    World Friction (Single Version),
    Wake Up (EP Version),
    Eagle Bird,
    Quality Crayon Wax OK (EP Version),
    Bod’s Message,
    Flora Force,
    Eugene,
    Tame The Neighbours,
    Music Is A Better Noise, Moon Town,
    Fanfare In The Garden,
    The Captain

    Essential Logic

    Rekalibrated

      2022's "Land of Kali" album was the first under the Essential Logic moniker for over 40 years and was released alongside a career-spanning boxset "Logically Yours". Now Essential Logic head honcho and former X-Ray Spex member Lora Logic has compiled an eclectic and ambitious remixed version of "Land of Kali" entitled "Rekalibrated" featuring reinterpretations from noted artists across a multitude of genres and styles including Grammy award winners, living legends and UK Singles Chart toppers.

      Lora's work with Essential Logic and X-Ray Spex while Punk in DNA and spirit has always pushed at boundaries. Rule-breaking from the start by bringing the sax into Punk while the jerky, irresistible post-Punk Funk of Essential Logic's "Beat Rhythm News" and Lora's solo album "Pedigree Charm" sit comfortably alongside more contemporary records with one ear on the cerebral and the other on the dancefloor. "Rekalibrated" highlights the many strands that intertwine to make Essential Logic and how they may be unfurled.


      TRACK LISTING

      A1. Prayer For Peace (Daybreakers Remix)
      A2. Alien Boys (Dave Audé Remix)
      A3. Mother Earth (Youth Remix)
      A4. Never Know (Skylab Remix)
      A5. Charming Every Cupid (Govinda Sky Remix)
      B1. Land Of Kali (Adamski Remix)
      B2. Serious (bis Remix)
      B3. Fallible Soldiers (Gully Remix)
      B4. Sy Rocket (Lord And Master Remix)
      B5. Beyond (303 Dreams Remix)

      Essential Logic

      Land Of Kali

        The Land of Kali’ (co-produced by Youth), is the first new Essential Logic studio album in 43 years, and features the forthcoming new single ‘Prayer for Peace’, a re-imagining of the X-Ray Spex track from the tragically overlooked album, ‘Conscious Consumer’ (1995) on which Lora also played sax. “Poly Styrene and I were living in a Krishna community in Worcestershire in the early 80s. We came together for the first time musically after X-Ray Spex to record the original version of this song. In 2019, I decided to record my own take as a tribute to the special times we shared. I hope Poly likes this new version too.” The 7” release of ‘Prayer for Peace’ is exclusive to the 5 LP box set “Logically Yours” via The bands DTC site and features a picture of Lora and Poly together during their time living at the temple. Further tracks penned for release from the album include the dystopian, lockdown-inspired ‘Alien Boys’ and ‘Sky Rocket’, written with daughter Malini, about the fairground of life. 

        TRACK LISTING

        A1 ‘Prayer For Peace’
        A2 ‘Alien Boys’
        A3 ‘Mother Earth’
        A4 ‘Never Know’
        A5 ‘Charming Every Cupid’
        B1 ‘Sky Rocket’
        B2 ‘Serious’
        B3 ‘Fallible Soldiers’
        B4 ‘Land Of Kali’
        B5 ‘Beyond’…
        Bonus Track: Land Of Kali – (Adamski's Kali-Kiss Remix) – CD Only 

        Essential Logic

        Logically Yours

          Hiss and Shake Records to release ‘Logically Yours’ – a limited edition, 5 x LP boxset of 50 essential recordings from seminal post-punk icon Lora Logic including 2 classic Essential Logic albums, early single releases, EPs, B-sides, rarities, vinyl exclusives + first new Essential Logic studio album in 43 years! Includes the classic Rough Trade Records releases ‘Beat Rhythm News (Waddle Ya Play?) + ‘Pedigree Charm’ + 2 retrospective compilations of early single releases, EPs, B-sides, rarities + vinyl exclusives ‘Aerosol Burns & Other Misdemeanours’ + ‘No More Fiction’ + new studio album ‘Land of Kali’ (first in 43 years) + 20 page booklet with introduction from Celeste Bell + Lora Logic Q+A.

          Susan Whitby, aka Lora Logic was one of the most distinctive talents from the post-punk era known for her intoxicating, rough-around-the-edges, yet exhilarating sax playing and haywire vocal style. Her offbeat, occasionally arresting lyrics tackled alienation, sexism, poverty and urban isolation, and with a complete disregard for convention, she carved her own path not only in her short-lived music career but also personal life. She was still in her teens when she answered an ad in Melody Maker “Looking for young punks,” and in 1976, with her friend Marion Elliot (aka Poly Styrene), she formed the punk band X-Ray Spex and acquired the pseudonym, Lora Logic. The duo soon achieved notoriety with the irresistible feminist protest single, ‘Oh Bondage Up Yours’ (1977) – Logic arguably stealing the show with her thrilling punk sax. “X-Ray Spex was my first band, I happened to be accepted, It happened to work, I happened to get famous overnight. I’d been playing sax in a cupboard in my room; I thought I better do something.” However, just prior to recording 'Germ Free Adolescents' (1978), X-Ray Spex's debut album, she found herself unexpectedly ousted from the band. With abundant enthusiasm and encouragement from Geoff Travis, founding director of Rough Trade Records, she went on to form Essential Logic, creating some of the most liberating and exciting music of the early post-punk era, not only as Essential Logic, but also as a solo artist. Hiss and Shake Records are pleased to present a limited edition boxset of 50 essential recordings from the irresistibly engaging Lora Logic archive, allowing for a new generation to become aware of her incredible creative output.

          Across 5 LPs, ‘Logically Yours’ includes in their entirety, the classic Rough Trade Records releases ‘Beat Rhythm News (Waddle Ya Play?) (1979) – Essential Logic’s sole studio album, and Lora’s solo album, ‘Pedigree Charm’ (1982) – her last studio album before turning her back on the music business, sad and disillusioned and fighting drug addiction, which saw her turn to a Hare Krishna lifestyle, alongside Poly Styrene, embracing a fresh new chapter. This totally absorbing and definitive collection also includes two retrospective compilations; ‘Essential Logic – ‘Aerosol Burns & Other Misdemeanours’, which comprises early single releases, B-sides and oddities including the gloriously chaotic ‘Aerosol Burns’, the essential punk/disco ‘Music Is A Better Noise’, and ‘Fanfare In the Garden’, showcasing Lora at her most pop. In addition, ‘Essential Logic – ‘No More Fiction’; contains 10 vinyl exclusives, including ‘Do You Believe in Christmas?’, recorded with the Krishna Kids Choir in 1985, alongside tracks recorded circa 1997, with Martin Muscatt, Dave Farren (Bad Manners) and Gary Valentine (Blondie), forming the basis of what would have been Essential Logic’s third studio album, ‘No More Fiction’. Having recently returned to the studio refreshed and rejuvenated, ‘Logically Yours’ also includes ‘The Land of Kali’ (co-produced by Youth), the first new Essential Logic studio album in 43 years, and features the forthcoming new single ‘Prayer for Peace’, a re-imagining of the X-Ray Spex track from the tragically overlooked album, ‘Conscious Consumer’ (1995) on which Lora also played sax. “Poly Styrene and I were living in a Krishna community in Worcestershire in the early 80s. We came together for the first time musically after X-Ray Spex to record the original version of this song. In 2019, I decided to record my own take as a tribute to the special times we shared. I hope Poly likes this new version too.” Further tracks penned for release from the album include the dystopian, lockdown-inspired ‘Alien Boys’ and ‘Sky Rocket’, written with daughter Malini, about the fairground of life. Despite her short-lived career in the music business, Lora still managed to perform and appear on releases with many artists including US experimental rock band Red Crayola between 1978 and 1981, and also appeared on recordings by The Stranglers, The Raincoats, Kollaa Kestää, Dennis Bovell, Swell Maps and later, Boy George. Undoubtedly an iconic figure of the UK post-punk scene, Lora Logic’s boldness, adventurousness and sense of fun can be seen as an influence on numerous female artists today including Karen O from Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Peaches and St. Vincent among others. 

          TRACK LISTING

          Essential Logic ‘beat Rhythm News (waddle Ya Play?)’ (1979)
          Quality Crayon Wax Ok
          The Order Form
          Shabby Abbott
          World Friction
          Wake Up
          Albert
          Alkaline Loaf In The Area
          Collecting Dust
          Pop Corn Boy (waddle Ya Do?)

          Lora Logic – ‘pedigree Charm’ (1982)
          Brute Fury
          Horrible Party
          Stop Halt
          Wonderful Offer
          Martian Man
          Hiss And Shake
          Pedigree Charm
          Rat Allé
          Crystal Gazing

          Essential Logic – ‘aerosol Burns & Other Misdemeanours’
          Aerosol Burn’ (1978) – Debut Single
          ‘world Friction (1978) – Aerosol Burns B-side
          Eugene (1981) – Single
          Tame The Neighbours (1981) – Eugene B-side
          Music Is A Better Noise (1981) – Single
          Moontown (1981) – Music Is A Better Noise B-side
          Fanfare In The Garden (1981) – Single
          Stereo (1982) – Wonderful Offer Single B-side
          Rather Than Repeat (1981) – Wonderful Offer Single B-side
          The Captain (1979) – Fanfare In The Garden B-side
          Soul (1983) – Previously Unreleased On Vinyl
          Stay High – Previously Unreleased On Vinyl

          Essential Logic – ‘no More Fiction’
          Essential Logic (1991) – Vinyl Exclusive
          On The Internet (1998) – Vinyl Exclusive
          Under The Great City (1997) – Vinyl Exclusive
          No More Fiction (1998) – Vinyl Exclusive
          Love Eterna (1997) – Vinyl Exclusive
          Barbie Be Happy (1998) – Vinyl Exclusive
          Not Me (1998) – Vinyl Exclusive
          The Beautiful And The Damned (1997) – Vinyl Exclusive
          Marika (1997) – Vinyl Exclusive
          Do You Believe In Christmas? (1985) With The Krishna Kids Choir – Vinyl Exclusive

          Essential Logic – ‘land Of Kali’ (2022)
          Prayer For Peace
          Alien Boys
          Mother Earth
          Never Know
          Charming Every Cupid
          Sky Rocket
          Serious
          Fallible Soldiers
          Land Of Kali
          Beyond

          Essential Logic

          Prayer For Peace

            The very limited 7” release of ‘Prayer for Peace’ accompanies the boxset and features a picture of Lora and Poly together during their time living at the temple. ‘Prayer for Peace’ is a re-imagining of the X-Ray Spex track from the tragically overlooked album, ‘Conscious Consumer’ (1995) on which Lora also played sax. 


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