The Normal – T.V.O.D. / Warm Leatherette

so many sleeve variants! anyone know which one (if any) is the true first pressing?

My labels for this are on the wrong way round too!

A true classic. Minimalistic, monotone and simple, but oh so effictive when it comes to making people a) dance and b) become curious. Both songs hits me every time I listen, but it's T.V.O.D. that forever will be the top masterpiece to me.

how can we know this is the first pressing of this record, that has been repressed so many times, please?

A dear friend of mine once wrote - "It is amazing what can be done with only one tone". The record itself sounds amazing in every bit as if an accidental outcome over one's desire to create an all electronic single after years of fascination with the likes of Kraftwerk. As with The Cure's Camus study in 'Killing an Arab', 'Warm Leatherette' sumarises J. G. Ballard in merely couple of minutes. The flipside of 'TVOD' is another astonishing instant, mass irony over mass consumerism.

An accomplishment by minimalism that even works as a pop record. Even though it never tried to sound like one. I wonder if the guy ever tried to stick the aerial. A synth masterpiece that still works. Grab it.

This is the single which started MUTE records, and has been re-released twice on CD by MUTE. After releasing this, Daniel Miller, aka The Normal, focused mainly on the MUTE label, with various small excursions back into music-making over the years.

This must be the most irritating monotone song ever. However this was in the late '70's, so I guess it was a milestone then. The song was covered by many artists, most notable: Grace Jones.