Limited blue "Mirriboard" cover edition. Issued in a plastic bag, stickered with title "Pulse Of The Early Brain [Switched On Vol 5]", machine stamped number and barcode.
Includes a double-side insert with discount code for Duophonic store and download code (though this doesn't include downloads for tracks C1 to D1 and D6).
Track Information: Simple Headphone Mind’ b/w ‘Trippin’ With The Birds’ was the second collaboration between Nurse With Wound and Stereolab. A 12” disk released on yellow vinyl [1000 copies] and black vinyl [4996 copies] the sleeve was made from a 'mylar style’, aluminium coloured material that was glued and sealed – each purchaser had to open the sleeve to discover which colour vinyl they had bought. The cds were also released in a sealed sleeve. Originally released 28th April 1997 via Duophonic Super 45s. Catalogue numbers DS33-11 / DS45cd-11.
The ‘Low Fi’ ep - ‘Low Fi’, ‘[Varoom!]’, ‘Laisser-Faire’ & ‘Elektro [He Held The World In His Iron Grip]’ was originally released as a limited edition clear vinyl 10” [approx 500 copies], black vinyl 10” and cd. Released 28th September 1992 by Too Pure. Catalogue numbers Pure 14 / Pure CD14.
‘Robot Riot’ & ‘Unity Purity Occasional’ were both written for sculptures made by Charles Long. ‘Unity Purity Occasional’ was used in 2000 for Charles' sculpture of the same name . ‘Robot Riot’ is previously unreleased. (NB Unity Purity Occasional has also been previously released as the second half of Nomus et Phusis on The First Of The Microbe Hunters and as such also appeared on the previous "Switched On" volume Electrically Possessed [Switched On Vol. 4] in that guise
‘Spool Of Collusion’ & ‘Forensic Itch’ were originally released on August 18th 2008 as a black vinyl 7” that was given away with the initial pressing [5000 copies] of the ‘Chemical Chords’ lp. released via Duophonic UHF Disks / 4AD. Catalogue number AD2820. ‘Spool Of Collusion’ was also added, as a bonus track, to the Japanese cd release of ‘Chemical Chords’.
‘Symbolic Logic Of Now!’ was one side of a split 7” with Soi-Disant. 100 copies on blue vinyl and 2000 copies on black vinyl. Originally released in 1998 by Luke Warm Music. Catalogue number LWM001.
‘Ronco Symphony’ [Demo] – a demo version of the track from 1993’s 'The Groop Played "Space Age Batchelor Pad Music"’ album. Previously unreleased (NB - it's not previously unreleased it was on Spacewatch)
A cover of the track ‘ABC’ by The Multitude from The Godz album ‘The Third Testament’. The track was originally recorded for a Godz tribute album called ‘Godz Is Not A Put On’ and released in an edition of 500 copies by Lissy’s records in 1996. The track was later released as one side of a yellow glitter 7” that was part of an exclusive Japanese box set edition of ‘Aluminum Tunes [Switched On Volume 3]’. Yellow glitter 7” – approximately 3000 copies. Catalogue number D-UHF-D21.
‘Magne-Music’ & ‘The Nth Degrees’ were added as bonus tracks to the UK limited edition cd of ‘Chemical Chords’ released 18th August 2008 via Duophonic UHF Disks / 4AD. Catalogue number CADD2815CD. Both tracks also appear on the Japanese edition of ‘Chemical Chords’.
‘Blaue Milch’ was recorded for a Peter Thomas Sound Orchestra compilation album – each artist on the album was sent a Peter Thomas audio track and was asked to build it into a new track. Originally released in 1998 by the Bungalow record label. Catalogue number Bung 048.2.
The original recording of ‘Plastic Mile’. The re-recording was released as a 7” b/w ‘I Was A Sunny Rainphase’ and subsequently compiled onto Stereolab’s ‘Fab Four Suture’ album. Previously unreleased.
‘Yes Sir! I Can Moogie’ was originally released in 1995 as part of a single sided 3 track 7” flexi-disk via Wurlitzer Jukebox. Catalogue number WJ03 - 1000 copies were pressed.
‘Refractions In The Plastic Pulse’, a track from the ‘Dots and Loops’ album remixed by Autechre. A 12” disk released on 20th April 1998 via Duophonic UHF Disks. Catalogue number D-UHF-D19. 500 copies pressed on translucent yellow vinyl and 2972 copies on black vinyl.
‘XXXOOO’ was originally released in 1992 as part of a single sided 3 track 7” flexi-disk via the Encore! label. The flexi-disk was given away with edition #6 of the 'Tea Time' fanzine. Catalogue number Encore 001.
A live version of the ‘Emperor Tomato Ketchup’ album track ‘Cybele's Reverie’. recorded 26th September 2004 when Stereolab supported Air at the Hollywood bowl, CA. USA. Previously unreleased.
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Barcode (On sticker): 5060263729198
Matrix / Runout (Side A runout, etched): D-UHF D43 A HLA TOR BO@CALYX
Matrix / Runout (Side B runout, etched): D-UHF D43 B
Matrix / Runout (Side C runout, etched): D-UHF D43 C
Matrix / Runout (Side D runout, etched): D-UHF D43 D
Matrix / Runout (Side E runout, etched): D-UHF D43 E
Matrix / Runout (Side F runout, etched): D-UHF D43 F
Mind blowing! A revelation! The first two tracks with Nurse With Wound are a masterclass in psychedelia, and burst out of the speakers with a crisp and enveloping power. Those are the standouts, but the rest of the compilation is outstanding too, I like this one even more than Switched on 4. Stereolab crushes it YET AGAIN.
From my listening, the second part of Elektro (with the singing) is quite different from the version on the Low Fi EP. There are more layers and more going on, in addition to being longer - the original Low Fi version of this part is more stripped back. The track [Varoom!] has is ‘wider’ with more separation. You can hear elements that were buried in the version on Low Fi.
Love the 2 opening tracks with NWW tripped out motorik! Opening the sealed mirror wrapper I was amused to find my name written in pen on the inside of the spine, also mine had the Side 1 & 2 labels erroneously reversed, Side 3 you can certainly see why Flying Nun released Switched On Vol 2, sounds like late 80's early 90's Dunedin bands, not so much a fan of the Lo-Fi stuff. For me Lp 1 & 3 are winners with the last few tracks of Lp 2 being "also rans" The quality of the pressing is top notch.
(Stereolab was the last band I saw just before lockdown, I was right up against the stage, the Groop looked a little tired & jet-lagged from the long haul flight to the other side of the world, but still great).