Chris And Cosey* - Heartbeat

Label:

Rough Trade (UK)

Catalog#:

ROUGH 34

Format:

Vinyl, LP, Album

Country:

Released:

1981

Genre:

Electronic

Style:

Electro, Synth-pop, Minimal

Tracklist

A1	Put Yourself In Los Angeles	3:46	X
A2	This Is Me	2:58	X
A3	Voodoo	2:27
A4	Moorby	2:38
A5	Radio Void	2:19	X
A6	Just Like You	3:18	X
B1	Bust Stop	4:06
B2	Useless Information	4:41	X
	Vocals, Guitar - Alex Ferguson* Vocals, Mastered By, Edited By - Mick Garoghan
B3	Moving Still	4:29	X
B4	Manic Melody (Hairy Beary)	3:41	X
B5	Heartbeat	5:51	X

Credits

Artwork By [Cover] - Chris & Cosey
Cornet, Tape - Cosey F. Tutti*
Electronic Drums, Voice [Taped Voices], Guitar - Chris Carter (2)
Engineer - Mick Garoghan
Engineer [16-track] - Mick Garoghan
Mastered By [Cut By] - Steve Angel
Producer - Chris And Cosey*
Synthesizer, Keyboards [Mt30], Vocals - Chris Carter (2) , Cosey F. Tutti*
Written-By - Chris And Cosey* (tracks: A2, A4, A6, B1) , Chris* (tracks: A1, A3, A5, B2 to B5)

Notes

A2, A3, A5, A6 & B5 recorded entirely on a four track TEAC.
A1, A4, B1 to B4 recorded on four track, then transferred to sixteen track for overdubs and additional effects.
Recorded July-August 1981.
Overdubs and mixing at Meridian Studios, London.
Cut at Utopia, London.

▸ show all 1 review

Reviews & Discussion

Post Review or Comment

Crijevo Dec 12, 2009

In one of their early post-TG chapters, Chris & Cosey's "Heartbeat", among many such examples of the time, demonstrates the immediate beauty and the power of synthetic minimalism. 1981 was a truly magic year, providing interesting, naively menacing electronic soundtracks for people willing to accept and participate in a sound adventure.

In "Heartbeat" partially lays the answer why we continue to love Throbbing Gristle's records just the same - if it wasn't for Chris Carter's electronic pulse with a twist, soothing if not always that optimistic in its overtones, I guess some of TG records wouldn't be complete or even interesting in that matter. This way, Carter's synthetic trademarks do inform and reward the listener when hopelessly disturbing sound kicks in - whether on a TG or C&C record.

So this, what is to be C&C's debut album, still fits well into TG's nightmarish catalogue. Occasional vocals don't bother to differ much from what Genesis P-Orridge used to do, improvising endlessly into echo delays. It doesn't differ much from '20 Jazz Funk Greats' list of leftovers - still, 'Heartbeat' makes it a respectful ear-pleasing listen.

The only remark about it is its sound inconsistency - pieces like "Bust Stop" and the title track demonstrate a significant techno-esque leap forward, while examples like the opening 'Put Yourself in Los Angeles' or 'Manic Melody (Hairy Beary)' distract with their demo-like appeal.