Mecanica – MEC090 (2024) Formed by high school buddies Andreas Gregor and David Rout, Techniques Berlin started in 1984 experimenting with synthesizers, drum machines and guitars. In the early stages, the band was heavily influenced by UK new romantic acts The Human League, Visage, Yazoo, OMD and Depeche Mode, as well as rising Canadian synth-pop bands Rational Youth, Men Without Hats and Trans-X. It took them a few years to master their electronic toys and create a unique blend of addictive electro-pop melodies and beautifully crafted alternative beats. In the late 80s, Techniques Berlin played live on a regular basis and their 3 self-released tapes received frequent local airplay in Canada. Despite their moderate success, the band failed to secure a record deal. Eventually both members had developed a strong interest in the burgeoning electro-industrial scene. Dave and Andreas founded !Bang Elektronika and were working with Digital Poodle as live drummers. Both of these projects were soon picked up by record labels. Techniques Berlin played their last show in November of 1991 at the University of Toronto, debu- ting the last track they had recorded, fittingly called ‘Time fades to Nothing’. Or so they thought… The proliferation of Internet radio and streaming music platforms introduced the band to a new generation of fans, enabling Techniques Berlin to stage a remarkable comeback. Within the next years they released the compilation “Suburban Playgrounds and Concrete Beaches” (Fabrika Records), recorded a new album “Breathing” (Nadanna) in 2018 and offered a series of shows in Toronto, Montreal, Mexico City and Leipzig. “The Language of Machines” compiles a selection of original recordings between 1985 and 1991, including some favourite tunes like ‘Dancing to the Fall of the Berlin Wall’, ‘Metropolis’, ‘Watching You’ and a few unreleased tracks/versions. Bandcamp 試聴 https://mecanica.bandcamp.com/album/the-language-of-machines-1985-1991

Mecanica – MEC088 (2024) Cetu Javu : German Synth Pop band from Hannover. Founded in 1984 and split in 1994. Cetu Javu was a German synth-pop band lead by singer Javier Revilla Diez and synth wizard and composer Chris Demere. They started with the band in 1984 and in the spring next year surprisingly reached the third place in a young talent festival in Hanover. Several other shows followed but the highlight was a concert in December of 1986 as the opening act of Erasure. Their first maxi single “Help Me Now” was released in the spring of 1987 on their own label’s. Through the mediation of Talla 2XLC, Cetu Javu got a record contract with major company ZYX Records and released their debut album “Southern Lands” in 1990. 
 When the song “A Dónde”, a B-side sung in Spanish included on the single “So Strange”, hit number two in the Spanish charts, the band surprisingly achieved a great success in Spain and toured the country in an extensive way. The second full-length, “Where is Where”, came out in Spain in 1992. The success did not stop here and led Cetu Javu become very popular in other countries such as Argentina and Mexico. Unfortunately, in 1994, between personal prob- lems and having to make decisions about the future, the group withdrew from the music scene and each member moved to focus to other activities. “Where is Where” is now re-released ,containing the original album along with some extended versions and remixes from the singles “¿Por Qué?”, “Dame tu Mano” and “Una Mujer".

Mecanica – MEC087 (2024) Cetu Javu : German Synth Pop band from Hannover. Founded in 1984 and split in 1994. Javier Revilla and Chris Demere, both from Hanover and inspired by electronic music of Kraftwerk and Jean-Michel Jarre, started to experiment with sounds since the late 70’s. The arrival of New Wave with bands like Heaven 17, The Human League, Soft Cell and Depeche Mode influenced these teenagers to began Cetu Javu in 1984 with Javier on vocals, Chris on synths, guitar, programming, Torsten Engelke on keyboards and Stefen Engelke on bass. In 1985, the band won the third place in a contest, a year later they opened for Erasure and released their first single "Help Me Now!” in 1987 on their own label Deme Records. Like their compatriots Camouflage, Cetu Javu were unapologetically Depeche Mode-like in their sound, but with a fairly original twist on their synth pop formula. Their extremely catchy 1988 singles "Situations" and "Have in Mind" were instant hits on dance clubs and even re- ceived HEAVY airplay on U.S. alternative radio stations. The band signed a contract with ZYX Records - the label world famous as the universe’s No. 1 label for horrible graphics/artworks - and released their debut album “Southern Lands” in 1990, followed by a tour together with Wolfsheim and Blind Passengers as supporting acts. “Southern Lands” is now being re-released including all original songs plus some extended versions, remixes and bonus tracks from the accompanying singles “Situations", “Have in Mind" and "So Strange".

Mecanica – MEC055 (2024) 「The Castle II」 は1986年から1989年の間に日本のアーティストであるTomo Akikawabayaによって作曲・録音された作品集である。独特の雰囲気, 催眠的なリズム, 電子的なメロディー, 実験的な間奏,Tomo Akikawabayaのユニークで魅惑的な声が詰まったアルバム。 1984年にアルバム 「The Castle I」 をリリースして以来, 日本の音楽シーンに失望し, ミュージシャンとして続けていくには海外で音楽をリリースするしかないと考えていたTomo Akikawabaya。いくつかの新曲のレコーディングを終えた後, 彼は新作の機会を探すためにロンドンへの冒険的な旅に出た。残念なことに, 3カ月後, 多くのアーティストや音楽業界の重要人物に会ったにもかかわらず, 幸運はTomo Akikawabayaの味方をしてくれず, 時間が迫っていたため, 具体的な提案がないまま日本に帰国することになった。。 その後, 長年のパートナーである半谷高明と 「Beata Beatrix」 というプロジェクトを続けたが, 出版はせず, 他の活動に専念した。ニューヨークのレーベルMinimal Waveが 「The Castle」 (1984年) と 「Anju」 (1985年) の曲を集めた 「The Invitation of The Dead」 をリリースしたのは 2015年のことだった。Tomo Akikawabayaは現在, 妻のRinkoと 「The Future Eve」 というプロジェクトに取り組んでいる。伝説のロバート・ワイアットとのコラボレーションアルバムを2019年にリリース。 制作過程 History 1987 (必読) http://ki-tsu-ne.com/2024/01/17/history1987/ アルバム 曲 解説 (必読) http://ki-tsu-ne.com/2024/01/14/release/ Bandcamp 試聴 https://mecanica.bandcamp.com/album/the-castle-ii Instagram https://www.instagram.com/th_tomoyasuhayakawa/ Double vinyl record inside heavy gatefold sleeve with embossing and printed inner sleeves. “The Castle II” is a collection of works composed and recorded by the Japanese artist Tomo Akikawabaya between 1986 and 1989. An album filled with obscure atmospheres, hypnotic rhythms, electronic melodies, experimental interludes and the unique and mesmerizing voiceof Akikawabaya. Since the release of the album “The Castle I” in 1984, Tomo Akikawabaya became disappointed with the music scene in Japan and thought that the only way to continue as a musician was to release his music abroad. After finishing recording some new songs, he embarked on an adventurous trip to London in order to look for an opportunity for a new release. Unfortunately, after three months and despite meeting many artists and important people in the music industry, luck was not on Akikawabaya's side and with time running out he had to return to Japan without a concrete proposal. In the following years, although he continued to work with his long-time partner Takaaki Han-ya with a project called Beata Beatrix, he never published anything and later focused to other activities. It was not until 2015, that the New York label Minimal Wave released “The Invitation of The Dead” - compiling songs from “The Castle” (1984) and “Anju” (1985 - both originally re-leased on his own label Castle Records. Tomo Akikawabaya is currently working under the moniker of Th, together with his wife Rinko, on a project called The Future Eve. They released an album in 2019 with the collaboration of the legendary Robert Wyatt. Mastered by Nicolás Zúñiga. Artwork by Audrey + Alain. Standard Edition. Limited to 400 copies. Double vinyl record. Deluxe gatefold sleeve with embossing and printed inner sleeves. Special Edition. Limited to 100 copies. Includes one A2 size poster. The first 40 orders will receive the poster signed.

Mecanica – MEC084 (2024) Second full-length album by Sheffield-based project Randolph & Mortimer. An 8-track 40-minute-long sonic and emotional journey heavily influenced by 80’s propaganda and the parallels we face today involving politics, religion & conspiracy theories. Created half by machines and half by the mind of Sam Evans, “The Incomplete Truth” clings to the same roots that catapulted R&M to the forefront of the techno-EBM-industrial scene with their debut album “Manifesto for A Modern World” (2019) but takes this new work to a higher level in terms of composition and production. Born in the wake of depression resulting from a terrifying near-death experience in the workplace, Sam conceived this album as a live setlist from some alternate reality free of everyday working. Every track is a potential success and includes collaborations with artists like Andi, Neu-Romancer, Black Dahlia and Dominique Slva. All killer, zero filler. Mastered by Nicolás Zúñiga. Polaroid photography by Mina Chauveau. Bandcamp 試聴 https://randolphandmortimer.bandcamp.com/album/the-incomplete-truth