CITY-MS-001
Two sides of dark, restless electronica mark Merchandise’s 1996 10” debut release as different from the rest.
Deliberately oblique and consciously Factory inspired packaging known only by a record label catalogue number gave an early indication of these mischievous miscreants’ intentions.
A-side Two Minutes After creates a brooding soundscape with overtones of Joy Division and Bark Psychosis.
B-side Microcosm introduces a more dub inspired sound with hypnotic moog melodies suggesting the likes of Orbital.
Anyone looking for an antidote to the day-time TV friendly easy listening musak of recent years should look no further!
Merchandise take their name from a track by American punk band Fugazi who also inspired Cityscape’s do-it-yourself ethic.
Review from CITYlife:
Merchandise kick up a very palatable, post New Order 80s meets 90s synth pop racket. With surprisingly bouncy production this has the feel of the type of theatrical electronic pop that revolutionised the British charts in the 80s paving the way for the house explosion later in that decade. Merchandise sound like they still have one foot in the era but what the hell, this is a bubbly and ultimately forgettable pop delight.
‘I feel I can hail Merchandise as the new kings of electronica talent’ – Paintbox Fanzine