CiS-SL045 pulls together the first two (long sold out) volumes of Northern Minimalism originally released as very limited lathe cut records in 2020; a two track 7” on Misophonia Records and a four track 10” via top Sheffield DIY label Do It Thissen. Remastered by the brilliant Antony Ryan at RedRedPaw and given a new set of threads by way of an homage to early 4AD EP Presage(s), these versions are exclusive to CiS Subscribers.
Whereas NM3 has roots in post-punk, NM1+2 are firmly placed in the late 70s Sheffield underground with distorted and dismembered voices, cheap drum machines, fuzzed out synths and no guitars (except the overdubbed bass from Graham Sutherland on Suburban Shrinkage).
“SoYo: so much to answer for. The People’s Republic of South Yorkshire has given the world more than its fair share of electronic music delights over the years. Sheffield of course draws most of the plaudits, with the likes of Human League, Cabaret Voltaire, Warp Records et al having laid down a rich and well documented musical heritage.
But Mat Handley (Pulselovers) hails from Doncaster and his latest love letter to northern England’s electronic music scene Northern Minimalism showcases influences not just from either side of the Pennines, but from Europe and across the Atlantic.”
Chris Hill, Further (reviewing NM2 in 2020).