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LP
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EDGE 032LP
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$29.50
PREORDER
RELEASE DATE: 6/20/2025
When The Outer Edge first collaborated with Collage member Markus Kammann on the EP project Mit den Puppen tanzen, it never imagined what would follow: Kammann approached the label with a completely unreleased full-length album by his former band. Upon receiving the first three preview tracks, The Outer Edge was floored. One of them was "Nachtcafé" -- a track that kicks off with a funky bassline layered over the punchy rhythm of a Roland TR-808. Add shimmering synths and Katrin A. Kunze's sharp, distinctive vocals. For a label dedicated to rediscovering lost treasures, this was exactly what it'd been searching for. Motel d'amour is a concept album, offering a sharp, vibrant perspective from a confident, intelligent, and radiant young woman eager to experience nightlife, love, and music. Kunze's lyrics paint vivid scenes of flirtation, encounters with men, the pulse of nightlife, love, one-night stands, and more. Rarely has a German album from that era captured emotional nuance and social dynamics so insightfully. Without veering into the overly personal, Kunze's direct, daring lyrical style was groundbreaking at the time -- and remains refreshingly bold today. While German listeners will fully appreciate the lyrical depth, the music speaks volumes on its own. Kunze's words are masterfully complemented by the production of Markus Kammann and Jürgen Grah. Each track is tightly composed, catchy, and full of character. While many German bands at the time leaned into rock, Kammann drew from the deep grooves of Earth, Wind & Fire, The Isley Brothers, Brothers Johnson, The Commodores, and the electro-futurism of Afrika Bambaataa's "Planet Rock" and "Looking for the Perfect Beat." The result: tracks with unmistakable electro-funk flair, powered by the classic 808 drum sound. It's a record that fits into adventurous DJ sets but also rewards a full, start-to-finish listen. A note on audio quality: Sadly, the original master tapes were lost. The tracks were restored from a vintage TDK cassette. Thanks to modern digital tools, The Outer Edge were able to remaster them to a high standard -- but in some songs light distortions remain.
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12"
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EDGE 027EP
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The Outer Edge presents Collage's incredible four-track EP Mit den Puppen tanzen (Dancing With The Puppets). Originally released in 1984 on the small F-Music label, the 12" EP is a true highlight in German Electro and NDW history, becoming a sought-after item among collectors. It features intense lyrics by singer Katrin A. Kunze, with music composed by Markus Kammann and Jürgen Grah. Kammann and Grah, both originally from Solingen -- a small city near Wuppertal -- had previously collaborated on the new wave project Schwarze Bewegung with a different singer. Their self-titled LP was released in 1982 on Bacillus/Bellaphon. Much of the electronic music emerging from Germany at the time leaned towards the styles of artists like Klaus Schulze and Tangerine Dream. Kammann's influences are evident in Collage's EP, which incorporates elements of early electronic hip-hop, such as the scratching sounds in the title track (created with tape rather than turntables) and short rap segments in "Niemals zurück". All the lyrics on the EP were written and performed by Kathrin A. Kunze, who hailed from Cuxhaven, a northern German city. The EP's hard yet playful electro beats were complemented by Kunze's distinctive performance and introspective lyrics, which lent the songs a uniquely German and wavy touch. Her subtle songwriting conveyed a sense of paranoia and sorrow. Unfortunately, the EP was never properly promoted and was distributed solely through the independent market via EFA. Despite this, Collage continued working on new material and pre-recorded an album that garnered label's attention. Polydor expressed interest but proposed using the compositions for a solo project with singer Inga Humpe (of Neonbabies), who was already signed to their roster. This would have required replacing Kunze as the vocalist, an idea the group firmly rejected. As a result, the album was never released. In 1987, Kammann, Grah, and Kunze launched another project called Cold End, which released another brilliant and highly sought-after 12" single, Metropolitan Jungle, originally issued on Tam Tam and recently re-released. The first-ever reissue of Mit den Puppen tanzen is limited to only 400 copies. The cover art remains true to the original 12" release, designed by the aforementioned Uwe Bauer (aka Bimbo Art). This reissue is a must-have for DJs and collectors alike.
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CD
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WR 011CD
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The Estonian ensemble Collage was founded in 1966 by Rivo Dikson and included students from The Tallinn Conservatory and The Tallinn School Of Music and Pedagogical Institute. Anne Erm, one of the band's original voices, named the band Collage as its repertoire included a broad range of music: jazzed-up pop songs, arrangements of classical instrumental music, scores for small formations, large jazz orchestras and original works by Estonian composers. Soon the Repertoire was further expanded to include Estonian folk music, thanks to a request from Estonian Television which commissioned five folk songs as part of an ethnographic program. These songs were also included in the ensemble's first LP: Collage, released in 1970 by Melodiya. Estonian traditional folk songs (known as runo-songs) had not received widespread use in pop music. It seemed that such use had potential. From then on, folk music achieved a significant position in the band's repertoire. Contact with the work of Swedish pianist and composer Jan Johansson (1931-1968) at The Tallinn Jazz Festival in 1966 and 1967, as well as the work of Estonian composer Veljo Tormis influenced the band to an active involvement with folk music. Collage's use of runo-songs has, in turn, influenced the activities of other ensembles throughout the years within the Estonian musical landscape and abroad. Forty Seven Minutes Four Seconds is a collection of original recordings taken from Melodiya Records, and also directly from Estonian radio studios. A wonderful lost jewel of Estonian jazz from the '70s -- modern hybrid jazzy pop that lies somewhere between Carlos Jobim, Michel Legrand, Stereolab, etc. Includes one unreleased song. Band members: Aarne Vahuri, Lea Gabral, Alo Poldmae, Anne Erm, Maire Eliste, Kersti Johannson, Enn Tomson, Katrin Magi, Ivar Johannson, Ole Valgma, and Tauno Vahter.
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