Issue 101

We have British Electric Foundation on the front of this month's Electronic Sound and an exclusive blue vinyl seven-inch boasting two previously unreleased Martyn Ware tracks to accompany the issue. 

Our cover feature is the story of BEF's debut album, 'Music For Stowaways', and it begins at The Human League's HQ in Sheffield in late 1980, with Martyn Ware being ejected from the band and Ian Craig Marsh deciding to leave with him. What followed was a whirlwind year, with Martyn and Ian releasing 'Stowaways', initially only on cassette, and at the same time hooking up with Glenn Gregory and getting to work on Heaven 17's 'Penthouse And Pavement' album. "We wanted to present this notion that you were entering our universe," says Martyn. "We were creating an alternative fantasy existence, because the real world – I mean, I was living in a two-bedroom council house – had no glamour to it. At all.” 

This month's other lead interviews include Sparks, Penelope Trappes, Anne Clark, Nick Rhodes, Nathan Fake, Gilroy Mere, Trees Speak and Richard Anthony Hewson, the man who gave his initials to The RAH Band. We also have a lengthy piece about Ryuichi Sakamoto, whose death was announced a few weeks ago. Given his broad catalogue of groundbreaking and enriching work over a 45-year career – with Yellow Magic Orchestra, as a solo artist, and as a frequent collaborator – Sakamoto's influence can't be overstated. The electronic world already feels like a poorer place without him.  

To accompany the issue we have an exclusive blue vinyl seven-inch from Martyn Ware. Neither of the two tracks on the record has ever been made commercially available before now. The A-side is 'Unknowable', a sumptuous soundscape packed with shards of twinkling melodies and propelled by effortlessly chilled beats. Turn the disc over for 'I Am An Insect', another captivating instrumental, this one vibrating with the sound of hundreds of little beasties buzzing around and beetling about. Both pieces were originally created by Illustrious, Martyn's 3D sound company, and together they add up to what we think is one of the best records we've ever released.  

As with all of our music releases, this record is strictly limited and only available to readers of Electronic Sound, so be sure you get your copy straight away.