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The first offical press release from There(there) provides more details on the forthcoming Onetwo debut release. The release date for the Item CD will be flagged up shortly, meanwhile the press release gives extensive info on the background of the songs and plans for the future:
1/ The long awaited union between two of the most intriguing and respected of musicians from the 1980s releases its first music in the summer of 2004. Paul Humphreys, the non-dancing part of the internationally successful electronic duo OMD, has formed a partnership with Claudia Brücken, the singing part of the deluxe German pop group Propaganda.
2/ As Onetwo, Humphreys and Brücken fulfil the promise shown during a shared American tour four years ago. Paul sang loved songs from his past, Claudia sang loved songs from her past - not just a couple of Propaganda songs, but also material from her time in the cherished Act and from her cult solo album for Island. Around the time of that tour, Paul began work with Claudia on some new Propaganda music, but whilst the Propaganda reunion fell apart, the pair continued working together on their own material. Something clicked into place. There was definite compatibility between their voices, their reluctance to cash in on their previous bands by joining in with any of the nostalgia tours that have come into vogue, and with how they wanted their music to move into the new century - they were both respectful of their past achievements, but didn't want to be shackled by them, or merely revisit them. The first sample of the music they have written together surfaces on a suite of songs written and recorded during 2003/4, 'Item'.
1/ 'Item' contains five new pieces, music that draws on their respective experiences as writers, players, performers and collaborators. It also demonstrates their passion for the electronic song, their experimental spirit, the connection that there is between their voices and their melodic and rhythmic instincts, and the smart updating of their techno romantic sound.
2/ 'Item' features the discreetly majestic Sister, with Paul on lead vocals, and a song Claudia wrote with Depeche Mode's Martin Gore, the bittersweet and mesmerizing Cloud Nine. Martin also contributes guitar to the track. There is another approach to the song 'Sister' entitled 'One and Only' and two pieces, 'Element of Truth' and 'Signals', that reflect in an contemporary light the edgy, atmospheric side that was always present in their previous groups.
1/ Other collaborators on 'Item' include Bob Kraushaar, who previously worked with Claudia on the Propaganda material, and was part of the ZTT team that reimagined Propaganda's glossy gothic masterpiece 'Secret Wish' as 'Wishful Thinking'. His continuing work as a major part of the behind the scenes Pet Shop Boys technicians was a particularly important factor in Paul and Claudia choosing him to mix 'Sister' and 'Cloud Nine'.
2/ 'Element of Truth' and 'Signals' were co-written and co-programmed with Jon Russell, who had been recommended to them by the producer Pascal Gabriel.
1/ 'Item' is to be initially available as a compact disc that can be purchased exclusively through eBay, the world's most famous on line auction house.
2/ As eBay's Jimm Kjelgaard points out in a statement of his own regarding this release:
"1/Eager to take advantage of current technology Onetwo have decided to use eBay as the vehicle to get their product directly into the hands of the consumer. Onetwo will be using eBay's mass marketing appeal in order to make their music available."
" 2/ This special project is the brainchild of Jimm Kjelgaard, Stewart King and Nathan Griffiths. Although eBay employees, they independently run a music company called Übersonik. They are all experienced eBay sellers who share a deep love for music and the artists who make it. Their aim is to make sure that the Artists involved in this exciting new venture make 100 % of the profits from each unit which is sold via the eBay site. They've devised a system that is simple and easy to understand and which is also highly effective in giving the Artist and the music buying public the most value for their money."
1/ Onetwo are pleased and not a little nervous - in a good way - at being the guinea pigs in this new attempt to find an alternative to the traditional record label. This way of doing business as entertainers keeps one eye on the past where music could be held in the hands as a beautiful thing - a record, a tape, a compact disc, packaged with love and intelligence - and one eye on the future where music will exist only in the head as a beautiful thing ï a very personal communication that travels straight from the musician to the listener via wires and air.
2/ The Onetwo music will be produced for There(there), a new label set up by Paul and Claudia to be the centre of their fiercely independent new operation. There(there) and Übersonik have formed an informal alliance to help release Onetwo's 'Item' through eBay. Übersonik act like the initial distributors, as part of an experiment by them as to the practicality of becoming a new kind of label, or distribution centre, or music library, or art and entertainment host. What this basically means is, you can buy Item through eBay, courtesy of Übersonik, as if you are buying it directly from Onetwo.
1/ Work continues on the debut Onetwo album, with a release date set sometime in the more or less foreseeable future. A tour of certain parts of the outside world will fit into a similar time frame. Onetwo will perform music by OMD, Propaganda, Act and, not surprisingly. themselves, with the occasional surprise cover.
2/ The relevant site www.theremusic.com will always contain news regarding Onetwo, There(There), 'Item', further 'Items', the groundbreaking Übersonik/there(there) union, live shows, future music and basic activity. You can even go there, do that, and buy the t-shirt.
More info via: www.theremusic.com
There's also an article in The Guardian focussing on Übersonik online here: www.guardian.co.uk/arts/features/story/0,11710,1219724,00.html
Meanwhile, Genie Queen, the 3-girl outfit that Andy McCluskey has been working with (as previously reported) will be supporting Blue on some forthcoming live dates, including this Sunday's concert at Ewood Park in Lancashire.
Mal Holmes is well, although obviously still resting up. Meanwhile, some good news is that the Jo Mooney CD will shortly be available from the Fin Music section of the OMD Website. More details to follow. |
