Cerysmatic Factory, along with everyone in the Factory Records community were saddened to hear of the recent passing of Michael H. Shamberg, the innovative music video producer who worked most famously with New Order. Michael also ran Factory's New York operations - Of Factory New York, Factory US and Factory America, and with the last of these was notably associated with Ike Yard on their debut album. Michael also produced films and videos outwith the Factory family via kinoteca.net.

New Order paid tribute to Michael their website saying they "will miss him dearly and send our condolences to all his family and friends."

In the Manchester Evening News Peter Hook, said "Michael was a lovely man. His work on our videos, so important at the time, defined our image and an era. He was a true revolutionary. One of a very small band of of truly gifted individuals! He will be missed.”

James Nice, of Factory Benelux said "We issued the Of Factory New York compilation album earlier this year to raise money for his ongoing treatment, and were able to transfer funds before he passed. More important, Michael received copies of the album and was delighted with it. He will be missed by many people inside the industry and out, and our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Miranda and his family."

Ike Yard's statement on their Facebook page echoed these sentiments: "Ike Yard would like to celebrate the life of Michael Shamberg, a friend and colleague who managed Factory America / Factory NY and produced many seminal videos for Factory artists. He also designed the cover for Ike Yard's "A Fact A Second" 1982 album. Michael passed away after a long illness last Saturday. We honor his indomitable creative spirit."

Finally, the director of New Order's True Faith, Philippe Découflé gave a short but heartfelt message at the Shamberg-associated Turtle Salon site - "Tristesse immense. Adieu Michael, mon ami...".

Rest in peace Michael.

Labels: Factory_Benelux, Ike_Yard, Michael_Shamberg, New_Order, OFNY

Factory Benelux and New Order present Of Factory New York, a unique benefit album released to assist Michael Shamberg, who ran the NYC office of Factory Records during the celebrated label's Eighties heyday.

Available on CD and double gatefold vinyl formats, Of Factory New York gathers a selection of classic tracks by artists associated with OFNY including the John Robie remix of Yashar by Cabaret Voltaire, Do the Du by A Certain Ratio, Cool As Ice by 52nd Street, Love Tempo by Quando Quango, the Megamix version of Looking From A Hilltop by Section 25 and an exclusive version of Your Silent Face by New Order, recorded live on tour in America in June 1989.

Homegrown American talent featured on the album includes Ike Yard, Thick Pigeon, Konk, Anna Domino and deejay/producer Arthur Baker. The cover art is based on an original 1983 design by Lawrence Weiner, the conceptual artist closely associated with Shamberg and Factory's Big Apple operation.

Unfortunately in 2006 Michael was struck down with highly debilitating mitochondrial disease. All artists featured on Of Factory New York have donated their work free of charge, Factory Benelux will take no profit, and 100% of net revenues will be paid over to the medical trust which takes care of Michael.

"Michael has been with us from the very start," explain New Order. "Initially he was in charge of Factory New York, then became creative producer for all our early videos. He brought our attention to the early works of directors such as Kathryn Bigelow, Gina Birch, Robert Breer, Peter Care, Phillipe Decouffle, Jonathan Demme, Robert Frank, Paula Greiff, Robert Longo, Bailie Walsh and William Wegman. Michael is very ill and needs constant medical attention. We want to help him, and played two fundraising shows in 2011. This new Factory New York compilation album will contribute further financial support towards Michael’s ongoing care."

More info via factorybenelux.com.

Vinyl tracklist

A1. A Certain Ratio - Do the Du
A2. Quando Quango - Love Tempo
A3. 52nd Street - Cool As Ice

B1. Cabaret Voltaire - Yashar (John Robie Remix)
B2. New Order - Your Silent Face (live 1989)
B3. Konk - Baby Dee

C1. Section 25 - Looking From A Hilltop (Megamix)
C2. Streetlife - Act On Instinct
C3. Marcel King - Reach For Love (New York Remix)

D1. Thick Pigeon - Subway
D2. Ike Yard - Kino
D3. Arthur Baker - Come On
D4. Anna Domino - Summer (Arthur Baker Remix)

CD tracklisting

1. A Certain Ratio - Do the Du
2. Quando Quango - Love Tempo
3. Konk - Baby Dee
4. 52nd Street - Cool As Ice
5. Cabaret Voltaire - Yashar (John Robie Remix)
6. New Order - Your Silent Face (live 1989)
7. Section 25 - Looking From A Hilltop (Megamix)
8. Streetlife - Act On Instinct
9. Marcel King - Reach For Love (New York Remix)
10. Thick Pigeon - Subway
11. Ike Yard - Kino
12. Arthur Baker - Come On
13. Anna Domino - Summer (Arthur Baker Remix)

Labels: 52nd_Street, A_Certain_Ratio, Anna_Domino, Arthur_Baker, benefit, Cabaret_Voltaire, Factory_Benelux, Ike_Yard, Marcel_King, Michael_Shamberg, New_Order, OFNY, Quando_Quango, Section_25, Streetlife, Thick_Pigeon

Recently, whilst on holiday in New York City, I was fortunate to attend an exhibition walkthrough with Ike Yard's Stuart Argabright of 'Tracking the Thrill' at The Kitchen, one of NYC's oldest non-profit art spaces. This was a selected retrospective of the influential video work of Gretchen Bender (1951-2004), the centrepiece of which was 'Total Recall' (1987) a multi-screen installation set to a superb soundtrack of by Mr Argabright.

Apparently back in the day the whole thing would be cued up on banks of video players and the play buttons would be pressed in sync. Nowadays it's driven by computers but the TV screens are resolutely old school cathode ray.

There are a couple of Factory-related videos in the rest of the exhibition:

Gretchen Bender did the title sequence for the America's Most Wanted TV show (UK readers think 'Crimewatch' in terms of content, but without Nick Ross) and the soundtrack for that was by The Other Two. Bender's cut-up style quickly became the norm for many a show.

Robert Longo's video for New Order's Bizarre Love Triangle (FAC 173) is also included. Gretchen, who was Robert's girlfriend, did the again rapid-fire editing. More on the making of that video by producer Michael Shamberg over at a New Order Discography. According to Stuart Argabright, Gretchen herself is in the video.

The exhibition has now finished (as has the holiday) but this short clip below gives an idea of the overall experience.

Labels: exhibition, Gretchen_Bender, Ike_Yard, Michael_Shamberg, New_Order, Robert_Longo, Stuart_Argabright, The_Other_Two

The Hardy Tree Gallery in St Pancras, London plays host to a special Turtle Salon exhibition of artists who are in some way related to the work of Michael Shamberg, the filmmaker noted for his work with New Order and who also ran Factory's US operations. This is more or less the same display that was shown on the Left Bank in Paris last October (at the time of New Order's Paris benefit gig for Michael) and will be relocating to Brighton at some point.

The Hardy Tree Gallery is an intimate space situated in the railway arches just behind St Pancras station at 119 Pancras Road. The curator is Cameron Maxwell from Toronto.

There are over 60 pieces on display which includes paintings, drawings, photographs, posters and collages which employ a variety of materials. In addition to this there is a series of short independent films for viewing. Some of the film footage has been integrated by Bernard Sumner into the visuals used at the recent New Order shows.

Pieces of particular interest to Cerysmatic readers...

~ New Order Los Angeles poster by John Baldessari
~ Float, 1970 by Robert Breer (Iain - how would you describe this curio?!)
~ The Perfect Kiss poster by Barbara Kruger
~ New Order 1987 poster by Lawrence Weiner
~ 'Temporarily removed' Green tinted clear acrylic 2005 by Anna Blessman and Peter Saville

All the above items are originals (for the avoidance of doubt) and available for purchase with 30% of the proceeds being donated to Michael Shamberg's medical care fund.

Many thanks to Mark Rutter for insights and info.

Labels: art, events, exhibition, Lawrence_Weiner, Michael_Shamberg, New_Order

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