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12"
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NEP 003EP
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In 1981, Nick Robson wrote "Stars". The song can pretty much be described as a slow, cosmic disco song. It has an unusual feel, and it comes as Oslo-based Neppås third release. This 12" holds the 12" mix, the 7" mix, and the original B-side, "Eye To Eye". The original 12" is as rare as they come, and here you get the original material, fully licensed, and remastered. The process of recording the material back in 1981 was not an easy one, as Nick Robson recalls: "'Fame' by David Bowie is one of my favorite songs, period. I was 18 when, I wrote 'Stars' and I wanted to write something that was my version of 'Fame' and quite honestly, as a tribute to the song. If you listen to the bass lines, there is a hint of similarity in the two. Even the lyric of 'Stars' has a passing reference to 'Fame'. 'Stars' was one of four songs recorded at Gary's Rock City studio to supply the first two singles and form the basis of the first album. The other three tracks were 'Eye To Eye', 'Boys' and 'She's Like Ice'. Although all four tracks were finished, for one reason or another, 'Boys' never made it to pressing and I walked away from the business to pursue a career in film. 'Stars' itself, was the most arduous and problematic track that I've ever recorded. It took around 14 days to finally get an agreed mix when the budget probably only ran to three days. Part of the reason for this is the enormous quantity of music tracks recorded in the song. In those days, we only had 24 recordable tracks available on the Otari, so once you had recorded 23 or less actually, you had to bounce down sub-mixes to a single track to free up another batch of tracks. I think that there are around 46 tracks of instruments alone on 'Stars' so although that kind of track usage is not uncommon now, back then it was rare. It remains the single most expensive song I ever recorded. The B-side 'Eye To Eye', on the other hand, was written, recorded and mixed in one day." Third release for Neppå, Oslo-based label focusing on lost and overseen recordings.
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12"
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NEP 002EP
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In 1980, Dutch outfit Renée came out with the album Reaching For The Sky. It's made of delicate pop-songs, with lovely little hooks and ice-cold guitars. From songs that sounds almost ABBA, to more Reggae-sounding stuff, and avant pop. In the middle of it all you'll find Anja Nodelijks hypnotic voice. The albums highlight is the song "Change Your Style", already a semi-classic on the Balearic scene. The song can probably be described as "wonky pop funk", with a twist. On the A-side you get the original. On the B-side Prins Thomas has stretched the greater parts, giving the song the length it probably deserves. Almost six minutes of bliss. Renée's "Change Your Style" is the second release by Norwegian label Neppå. This piece of music has never been presented like this before, with the song cut over a whole side of 12" vinyl. The music is remastered, and licensed from CNR entertainment. Second release for Neppå, the Oslo-based label focusing on lost and overseen recordings.
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12"
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NEP 001EP
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Don Laka is a South African jazz and funk musician. He was an influential musician in the '80s and '90s, working with the likes of Sipho Mabuse, Brenda Fassie, and Sankomota. In 1986 he released a four track EP, Stages Of Love. The track "Stages", an upbeat, synth-driven disco song, has never been released like this before. Here is the original, pressed on a whole side. The other side contains a delicious Prins Thomas edit, almost nine minutes of high-octane South African disco-boogie.
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