ESG play a selection of Spring / Summer dates in France, London and the USA starting this Thursday at the Nuits Sonores Festival in Lyon, France and followed the next day by the Electric Brixton.

25 May - Nuit Sonores, La Sucrière, Lyon, France
26 May - Electric Brixton, London - Buy Tickets
22 June - Plage Longe, Beach Cannes
7 July - West Fest Chicago 2017
20 July - Good Room, Brooklyn NY
12 August - Athens Popfest, Georgia Theatre

More info on ESG's Facebook page.

Labels: ESG, gigs

The Weekend Fest in Köln (Cologne), Germany which runs from 27-29 November 2014 has a distinctly Factory flavour to it with both ESG (Emerald, Sapphire and Gold) and ACR (A Certain Ratio) featuring prominently on the bill.

ESG (who recently made a surprise appearance at Glastonbury are onstage at 23:45 on Friday 28 November 2014.

The following night (and even later) ACR are on at midnight.

The decidedly non-FAC (but nonetheless brilliant) Teenage Fanclub headline the Thursday night.

Other delights include a Jarvis Cocker DJ set after ESG.

More details including ticket info (weekend tickets at 88 Euro) at weekendfest.de/

Thursday 27 November - 22:45 - Teenage Fanclub
Friday 28 November - 23:45 - ESG
Sat 29 November - Midnight - ACR

Labels: A_Certain_Ratio, ESG, Germany, gigs

James Lavelle (UNKLE, Mo' Wax) is this year's Meltdown curator at London's South Bank and he has concocted a stylistically varied line-up that includes Neneh Cherry, Edwyn Collins, Mark Lanegan, Goldie and it isn't without a Factory Records connection. New York No-Wavers ESG (last seen on these shores playing dates in January) perform on 21 June with 23 Skidoo. They are followed the next day by Jeremy Deller's classic Acid Brass featuring the Fairey Band.

Tickets go on sale 1 April (South Bank members) and 3 April (general sale).

More info at southbankcentre.co.uk

Labels: 23_Skidoo, ESG, gigs, Jeremy_Deller, Meltdown

ESG play Factory 251 in Manchester on Sunday 19 January 2014 as part of their last ever UK tour which features dates at Brudenell Social Club in Leeds, London's Koko and Think Tank in Newcastle.

Support comes from Stonelove DJs plus further bands to be announced. This date also forms part of 251's 4th birthday celebrations.

Tickets are on sale now via TicketWeb and Piccadilly Records.

Full January 2014 itinerary

Fri 17 - Koko, London [Buy tickets]
Sat 18 - Brudenell Social Club, Leeds [Buy tickets]
Sun 19 - Factory 251, Manchester [Buy tickets]
Mon 20 - Think Tank, Times Square, Newcastle-upon-Tyne [Buy tickets]

More info at ESG's official website and Facebook.

Labels: ESG, FAC251_The_Factory, gigs

ESG has added a night in Leeds immediately after their previously-announced KOKO shows. The Moody no-wavers are celebrating 34 years in the music biz (the same number as their FAC 34 single) with a gig at the Brudenell Social Club, a venue favoured by fellow Facsters ACR and The Durutti Column.

If you can't wait til then, ESG's new album 'Closure' and single Watching are available now via ESG Records thru the CDBaby.com store.

--

ESG
The Brudenell Social Club
Leeds

Saturday 18 January 2014
7:45pm
20.00 GBP + booking fee

Labels: ESG, gigs

And so we continue with our trawl through the Factory rarities in order to dig out some valuables, some to be found in the unlikeliest of places. All prices are extracted from the 2014 Record Collector Guide, some eager Discogs listings and my own experiences.

Wim Mertens



Take one Belgian neo-classical composer and two simultaneously issued albums (on Les Disques Du Crepuscule), switch the logos and alter the labels and what happens? Er, very little. By the time Factory got its act together and added them to its catalogue, both Educes Me (FACT 190) and the soundtrack to the heavy Peter Greenaway art-house film Belly Of An Architect (FACT 195) had already sold as many copies as they could muster a few months earlier. To be fair, Belly did fairly well and shifted a few units off the back of the film's VHS release (on Palace, sigh) and via continued interest in Greenaway's work. Educes Me, on the other hand, didn't exactly benefit from being on Factory but it did get a curious re-release as a boxed-cassette. If you happen to have such an item - smartly packaged in a bright yellow hue with a colourful inlay booklet - then have a seat. Record Collector valuations clock in at an eye-watering £200. For a tape. No, really. Check out our Wim Mertens discography to feast your eyes on his other work (much of which fetches serious money - see Part 3 of our Facs In The Attic series).

Various Artists



Inevitably, that most frequent purveyor of releases comes up trumps when it comes to Factory valuables. Various Artists releases include the A Factory Quartet double-album (FACT 24 - £20), the Palatine box-set (FACT 400 - £40 to £100), particularly the vinyl and CD sets and two curios that don't feature in the RC book of dreams. The first is the 4 x 12" promo pack which has no number but comes loosely-housed in a PVC sleeve with each track's BPMs helpfully printed on it, plus four white-label copies of Pleasure Crew's I Could Be So Good For You (FAC 169), Fadela's N'Sel Fik (FAC 197 - worth a tenner on its own), The Hood's Salvation (FAC 182) and Meatmouth's Meatmouth Is Murder (FAC 196). I'd estimate a £15 price-tag, partly for at least two of the enclosed records but also for the attractive Johnson Panas sleeve. The second is Martin (FACD 325), a collection of Hannett's finest production work including Joy Division, U2 and A Certain Ratio etc.. I'd pitch this at £15 to £20 all day long for the CD and vinyl.

All of which is peanuts when compared to A Factory Sample. FAC 2 was the first release on the label, came packaged in expensive polythene outers, bolstered by some natty stickers and four sides of music. No wonder it's valued from around the £200 mark. Without the stickers, it's probably worth £100 - £125 and with a scruffy sleeve minus the polythene, around half that again.

The Wake



Before jumping the sinking Factory ferry and high-tailing it to the Sarah label, Glasgow's The Wake released some of the most beautiful songs to ever grace the label. Vinyl copies of debut-album Harmony (FACT 60) and gorgeous (and delayed) follow-up Here Comes Everybody (FACT 130) command around £20 - £25 each, although the former has just been exquisitely reissued as a double-vinyl version on Factory Benelux which may or may not have an effect on prices. The band's singles aren't too hard to come by although the 7" of Talk About The Past (FAC 88) is trickier to track down (£8).

Stockholm Monsters



This under-rated outfit feature in this article due to their two earlier singles, Fairy Tales (FAC 41) and Happy Ever After (FAC 58), both capable of reaching £15 in top condition. There are two different-coloured sleeves for Fairy Tales, a burgundy and a green one, both as easy (or as hard) to find as each other. The band's only album, Alma Mater (FACT 80) is worth £10 of anyone's money, while their superb Partyline 12" (FAC 146) might scrape a few quid less (a travesty) with 7" test pressings doubling the price.

The best of the rest







In no particular order are just some of the other least likely (and most probable) rarities worth seeking out.
The braille sleeved Electricity (FAC 6) by OMD - £60
The only Distractions single on Factory (FAC 12) - £15
The first (and only) reggae 12" by X-O-Dus (FAC 11) - £15
That infamous Sex Pistols cassette (with gold tape, pouch and card) (FACT 30) - £20 - £50
The one and only ESG 7" (FAC 34) - £30
The majestic Nightshift by The Names (FAC 29) - £15
The white vinyl John Dowie 7" with feather (!) (FAC 19) - £15
The two Dutch masters by Minnypops, Secret Story (FAC 57) and Dolphin's Spurt (FAC 31) - £12
The cassette version of Pigs and Battleships by Quando Quango (FAC 110c) - £18
The rare as hen's teeth CD promo and invite of The Other Two's Loved It (FACD 251) - £25 to £40
The first James single Jimone (FAC 78) - £12
The stand-alone Thick Pigeon album (FACT 85) - £40
The sleazy Crawling Chaos 7" Sex Machine (FAC 17) - £20
and the under-rated Chicken Rhythms by Northside on vinyl (FACT 310) - £12

Thanks to Record Collector and Discogs for prices.

Part 3 will feature rarities recorded by Factory artists and issued on Factory Benelux and Les Disques du Crepuscule.

Labels: Crawling_Chaos, ESG, Fadela, James, John_Dowie, Meat_Mouth, Minny_Pops, OMD, Pleasure_Crew, Quando_Quango, Stockholm_Monsters, The_Distractions, The_Hood, The_Names, The_Wake, Thick_Pigeon, Wim_Mertens, X-O-Dus

One of the first acts to ever grace the stage at the legendary Hacienda and the first American act to 'sign' for Factory Records have announced a European exclusive!

ESG, who regrouped a few years back, will return with a special one-off show at London's KOKO venue on Friday 17th January 2014. The band is currently celebrating its 35th anniversary since forming in 1978.

A tightly-knit family unit of minimalist new-wave funk and bass-heavy party-soul, Emerald, Sapphire and Gold initially hooked up with Factory producer Martin Hannett during his short spell in New York producing A Certain Ratio's To Each in 1980. Despite not being surrounded by his usual technology and 'toys', Hannett helped the sisters create one of hip-hop's most sampled EPs, You're No Good, and in particular the flipside of FAC 34 UFO, which remains a key component of many a homeboy's crate to this day.

Tickets for this rare show are on sale now and you can pick them up via Allgigs here, priced from £22.50. You can expect You're No Good, UFO, Moody and other classics from the past and the present to lift the roof off Camden's KOKO in typical South Bronx party style.

Labels: ESG, gigs

Watch rare video of ESG live at the opening night of FAC 51 The Hacienda via fac51thehacienda.com

Labels: ESG, FAC51_The_Hacienda, video

Öst, the new E.P. by Ike Yard is out today on iTunes.

The digital release features 2 new cuts, written in Tokyo and NYC, plus 2 chilly North European remixes. All of which represents the first new Ike Yard release since 1982.

And, according to Stuart Argabright, it's hot!!!

Tracklisting

1. Oshima Cassette
2. Oshima Cassette (Wäldchengarten Rmx)
3. Citiesglit
4. Citiesglit (Hinsidan Rmx)

Download link for UK users: iTunes UK

The vinyl version is still in production and we will revert when we have more news.

Labels: ESG, Ike_Yard, Stuart_Argabright

News in from Ike Yard's Stuart Argabright:

The new Ike Yard 10" (Oshima Cassette / Citiesglit + remixes) and the new album (Nord) are going into mastering @ Berlin's famous Dubplates & Mastering, the home of Basic Channel, Studio of Moritz Von Oswald, Ernestus (B C team).

Stuart says "Moritz was on cover of The Wire the other month, and of course Basic Channel did revo techno didn't they... Can feel some Sub Bass Ike Yard coming down the pipeline."

Labels: ESG, Ike_Yard, Stuart_Argabright

Ike Yard has signed to Denmark's Phisteria label. The first fruits of this new relationship will be a 10" comprising Oshima Cassette / Citiiesglit plus remixes, followed by the as-yet-untitled new Ike Yard album.

Both releases will be available as digital downloads from iTunes, Beatport and Amazon with actual release dates to be confirmed.

Labels: ESG, Ike_Yard

An announcement at barbican.org.uk confirms the cancellation of the tasty ACR/ESG doubleheader thus:

"We would like to advise that this show has been cancelled due to unforseen circumstances. We will shortly be sending out an official notification to ticket holders and regret any inconvenience caused."

Thanks to Mark on the Cerysmatic Factory Message Board for spotting.

Labels: A_Certain_Ratio, ESG

ESG and A Certain Ratio play a very special gig at the Barbican Hall on 3 March 2009 as part of the Spring 09 Contemporary Events strand.

Tickets are available now priced between 15 and 25 GBP.

Labels: A_Certain_Ratio, ESG

As first reported on the 99 Records list, legendary New York No-Wavers ESG have reformed almost exactly a year after playing their last gig (in Chicago) and splitting up. More details at myspace.com/esgtheband.

To mark the occasion they play a gig at Andrew W.K.'s new NYC venue Santos Party House on Saturday 13 September 2008.

--

Santos Party House
100 Lafayette St
New York
NY 10013
USA

Tel: +1 212 343 8088

Labels: ESG

A (proper) live version of what could be Factory's greatest release: 'You're No Good' (FAC 34) by New Yoik punkfunksters ESG has been posted to YouTube:

"99 Records artists E.S.G (EMERALDS, SAPPHIRES & GOLD) perform You're No Good at Danceteria when Video Mix Danny & Jessica did the video there this is a fixed ceiling camera and but good audio from the board! 1984 I think"

Thanks to Tim B.

Labels: ESG, Factory_Records

Chris Mugan in The Indepedent muses on "The no-hit wonders that music refused to forget" and mentions ESG ("They developed their own pared-down sound that somehow chimed with more arty concerns..."), The Raincoats ("mixing sonic eccentricity with put-downs of consumerism and patriarchal society.") and namechecks Ludus. A rather unfortunate typo turns Martin Hannett in Martin Hamnett though.

Labels: ESG, Red_Turns_To

Haçienda Xmas Party
29 December 2007
Sankeys

Basement:
David Morales

Graeme Park
Jon Da Silva
Rowetta (Live PA)

Temperance Club:

Dave Haslam
Peter Hook
Jason Boardman

Greg Wilson's Funk Room:

Greg Wilson
Tom Woodward
Scott Carey
Gareth Brook

Tickets: 15 GBP advance available now from www.ticketline.co.uk / www.skiddle.com

Address:

Sankeys
Radium Street
Manchester
M4 6JG

Tel: 0161 661 9668

--

www.myspace.com/fac51thehacienda

Labels: Dave_Haslam, ESG, FAC51_The_Hacienda, Peter_Hook

The Guardian's 1000 albums to hear before you die continues with parts 2 and 3 covering the letters 'D' to 'M'.

The FACts are:

The Durutti Column 'The Return of the Durutti Column' (1978)

"Former punk turned avant-garde jazz-classical guitarist Vini Reilly and veteran jazz drummer Bruce Mitchell were one of music's oddest but most inspired couplings. Their Factory debut combines fragility, melancholy, birdsong and electronic effects to produce soundscapes of breathtaking, fragile beauty."

ESG 'A South Bronx Story' (2000)

"A compilation that shows how three sisters from the Bronx in the early 80s tried to play slick funk but ended up sounding like a wonky African-American version of Joy Division. With congas. It nevertheless sounded hypnotically brilliant, and set the template for every subsequent strand of mutant disco and punk funk."

Happy Mondays 'Bummed' (1988)

"The work of two drug-addled geniuses - frontman Shaun Ryder and Factory Records' resident producer, Martin Hannett - this second Mondays album bettered most of the Madchester explosion it preceded. Bummed is a record of thrillingly raw white-man funk, built on menacing grooves, surefire pop hooks and Ryder's surreal drawls."

James 'Stutter(1986)

"Before Madchester, and before the Horlicks rock of Sit Down became ubiquitous, James were an invigorating prospect: a folk-pop band apparently engaged in a bout of pro-wrestling with their instruments. Their debut album clangs like a grand piano tumbling downstairs - leaving singalong melodies in its wake."

Joy Division 'Closer' (1980)

"The arrival of Joy Division's second album in the aftermath of Ian Curtis's suicide brought with it a shadow of death that disguised Closer's expressions of life: the clattering energy of Atrocity Exhibition, the metallic pop of Isolation and the virtuosity of Curtis's baritone. Still, its final songs, The Eternal and Decades, are untouchable in their manifestations of abject despair."

Magnetic Fields '69 Love Songs' (1999)

"Stephin Merritt's meticulous modernisation of the Great American Songbook is an absurd folly - a giddy explosion of wit, whimsy, inspiration and ambition that is matchless in its achievement. Every imaginable romantic experience is refracted through every imaginable genre of music, with moods and sounds glittering like mirror-ball lights across a disco floor."

--

Special mentions for 808 State's excellent Ex:El (on which Bernard Sumner guests on vocals) and the ground-breaking 'My Life in the Bush of Ghosts' by Brian Eno and David Byrne. Peter Saville designed the cover and he talked about working with Eno on that project in the recent Creative Review blog interview.

Labels: A_Certain_Ratio, books, Electronic, ESG, Factory_Classical, Factory_Records, Happy_Mondays, Joy_Division, labels, Magnetic_Fields, Peter_Hook, Stephin_Merritt, The_Durutti_Column

According to Pitchfork et al, ESG will play their final ever gig on Friday 21 September 2007 at the Abbey Pub in Chicago and then disband.

ESG's Renee Scroggins said, "It's been a long career. We were able to play a good 30 years in the business. I'm just really tired right now. We love our fans, and we appreciate 30 years of support."

Labels: ESG

ESG play a rare London date on Wednesday 15 November 2006 at Dingwalls (Lock 17) in Camden. This is an over-18s gig. Tickets available from all usual agents priced 16.50 GBP.

Dingwalls (Lock 17)
Camden Lock
Camden High Street
London NW1 8AB

Labels: ESG

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