In the early days of Skinny Puppy, when the band
was mostly just an idea, cEvin Key spent much of his time in his
apartment, recording demos and experimenting with electronic
equipment. These recordings, some of which went on to be the basis
for early Skinny Puppy releases like Back and Forth, Bites, and
Remission, are finally released as part of the famous Back and Forth
series, through Toronto-based Artoffact Records.
Brap and Forth Vol. 8 is a collection of a dozen
demos, out-takes, and braps by cEvin Key, recorded between 1983 and
1985. The collection finally gives us a glimpse into the birth of
Skinny Puppy, those first experiments that would blossom and contort
into the visionary sound of the band’s first albums. A dozen Bites
and Remission-era demos are presented here, transferred from cEvin
Key’s own archive, restored, and remastered. Three of the
recordings feature Wilhelm Schroeder, aka Bill Leeb, founder and
singer of Front Line Assembly, and of course an early Skinny Puppy
band-member.
The release is bookended by two other demos from
later periods, perhaps to emphasize the centrality that the earlier
material represents.
Artoffact Records will be releasing Brap and Forth
Vol. 8 on CD, vinyl, and digital formats. There are several versions
of the vinyl: an audiophile black edition and a limited yellow vinyl
edition will receive wider release. The vinyl itself comes in a
beautifully designed gatefold sleeve, with a digital version
available to Bandcamp customers. The first pressing of the CD edition
is housed in a beautifully designed digipak.
On top of this, a special collectors’ edition is
made available, for which both label and cEvin Key have pulled out
all the stops. This version, limited to 200 copies, is pressed on a
special white and clear “inside-outside” effect vinyl. It is
accompanied by a strictly limited 7” flexi disc vinyl, pressed on
green and with silver foil text and design. The one-sided flexi
features two exclusive, unreleased demos, which will not be available
anywhere else (including no digital).
CEVIN KEY:
ARTOFFACT:
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