We Get Messages: MONITOR April 03, 2013

MONITOR began as the musical arm of World Imitation Productions (WImP), a San Fernando Valley art collective that vigorously published dozens of art pamphlets and exhibited in galleries throughout the 70's. They performed at various underground venues in Los Angeles, such as The Masque and Hong Kong Café, where they found kindred spirits in the Los Angeles Free Music Society (LAFMS) groups as well as NON, NERVOUS GENDER, HUMAN HANDS and BPEOPLE. MONITOR's affinity for performance art, synthesizers and primitive electronics set them apart from traditional rock bands. Their sole album from 1981 was produced by Ed Barger who made several of DEVO's early recordings. Barger and MONITOR singer/bassist Laurie O'Connell produced THE MEAT PUPPETS' debut EP, and the Kirkwood brothers' appearance on the MONITOR album was their first time on vinyl.

"MONITOR's debut album, a compendium of mutant amplified folk tunes is the best local release I've heard all year." – Matt Groening, L.A. Reader, 1981

Monitor CD now shipping. Pre-order LP (street date April 30th).

MONITOR live at Hong Kong Café, 1980. Photos by Ferrara Brain Pan.

MONITOR on New Wave Theatre, 1982.

Now the Truth Can Be Told: Hardcore DEVO March 27, 2013

We are very excited to announce the first time reissue of DEVO's Hardcore. Essential archival material from the mid-70's that shows just how much DEVO was ahead of their time. Recorded on various 4-track machines and in tiny studios, basements, and garages between 1974-1977 in Akron, Ohio.

Initial CD releases from the early 90's are long out of print and go for high, collector prices. This is the first time that both Volumes appear on vinyl, lovingly packaged with Moshe Brakha's stunning cover photography, including four unreleased songs from the era.

Deluxe edition on red vinyl with full-color poster only available via superiorviaduct.com. Black vinyl hits your local record store June 25th, and the 2CD set comes out July 9th.

Photo by Moshe Brakha.