Josek K • The Scottish Affair (Pt 2)

 Josef K • The Scottish Affair (Pt 2) • Les Disques du Crépuscule

Crepuscule presents The Scottish Affair (Part 2), a vibrant live album by iconic Scottish guitar group Josef K recorded at the historic Beursschouwburg arts centre in Brussels on 8th April 1981.

Best known for their association with Postcard Records, Josef K also recorded two singles for Belgian indie Les Disques du Crepuscule (Sorry For Laughing; The Missionary), and also taped studio album The Only Fun In Town in downtown Brussels. The group first performed in the city on New Year's Eve 1980, playing a riotous show with Orange Juice and Marine at legendary warehouse venue Plan K, and resumed their 'Scottish affair' with Crepuscule the following April, cutting their album in a matter of days and performing at the Beursschouwburg as well as a small youth club in Lier three nights later.
At the Beurs show Jokay rattled off 10 songs in just half an hour, with journalist Bert Bertrand noting "several good reasons to get excited" about the visiting quartet. Adds guitarist Malcolm Ross: "We played four dates in Holland on our way to Brussels and then recorded the album in about five days. So we were pretty tight and Paul was in good voice."

Recorded from the mixing desk, all 10 songs have now been newly re-mastered for issue as a vinyl only album, The Scottish Affair (Part 2). Pressed in a limited edition of 1000 copies in clear vinyl, the sleeve features original 1981 poster artwork by designer Jean-Francois Octave printed in black overlaid with metallic gold pantone. The inner bag includes period flyers and images, as well as quotes by Paul Haig, Malcolm Ross, Alan Horne, Michel Duval, Annik Honore, Allan Campbell and Bert Bertrand.*


*Text courtesy of Les Disques du Crépuscule


LP tracklist:
A1. Fun 'N' Frenzy
A2. 16 YearsesE
A3. It's Kinda Funny
A4. Crazy To Exist
A5. Forever Drone
B1. Revelation
B2. Citizens
B3. Chance Meeting
B4. Sorry For Laughing
B5. Final Request

Available as a clear vinyl album (with digital download) or digital copy (MP3).
Release date November 2019. Cat. N° TWI 019

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Josef K : It’s Kinda Funny, a vinyl-only collection

Les Disques du Crépuscule presents It’s Kinda Funny, a vinyl-only collection of classic singles by iconic Scottish post-punk guitar group Josef K issued between 1979 and 1982.

As well as the three legendary 45s on Postcard Records (Radio Drill Time, It’s Kinda Funny and Chance Meeting), the album also includes both Crépuscule singles (Sorry For Laughing, Missionary) as well as the original Absolute version of Chance Meeting from 1979. B-side tracks are also included, plus a digital download coupon.

Cover art by Jean-Francois Octave. Outer sleeve printed on matt reverse board. Inner bag features liner notes and archive images by Simon Clegg.

"Josef K were The Sound of Young Scotland, together with Orange Juice, whose guitars were also radiant and brittle, whose rhythms were also scrubbed and blunt, whose vocals were also proud and serious, but who sounded like another group entirely." (Paul Morley)

"Josef K was about the heroic Outsider suavely surfing across the fraught surface of their albino funk fracas. Haig sounds high on anxiety, finding an odd, giddy euphoria in doubt." (Simon Reynolds)

Les Disques Du Crépuscule

Vinyl LP + download coupon 

Cat No: TWI 022  (13 tracks)

Released: 6 May 2016

LP tracklist:

Side 1:

1. Romance

2. Radio Trill Time

3. It’s Kinda Funny

4. Sorry For Laughing

5. Chance Meeting

6. The Missionary

Side 2:

1. Heaven Sent

2. Revelation

3. Crazy to Exist

4. The Angle

5. Pictures (of Cindy)

6. Final Request

7. Chance Meeting (Absolute version)

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Paul Haig : Les Disques du Crépuscule tapes

Well yesterday was once more Cassette Store Day. Not nearly as big as event as Record Store Day has become but one than seems to be gaining impetus as the format (doomed to disappear completely) makes a (sort of) comeback. Anyhow, I didn't pick up any tapes myself but was glad to receive the above pic which Postcard aficionado, Graeme McNay sent me. I don't recall ever having seen a Paul Haig tape but Graeme has managed to acquire two of them.
The 5-track 'The Only Truth' tape was released on Island/Les Disques Du Crépuscule in 1984; whereas the 'Warp of Pure Fun' tape, which appears to be pretty rare (it isn't listed at Discogs), was released apparently only in Belgium in late 1985 at the same time as the vinyl version.

Wouldn't mind at all if the recently revived Les Disques du Crépuscule reissued these tapes.

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Josef K & Orange Juice @ Plan K, 1980

In December, 1980  Josef K and Orange Juice went to Brussels at the invitation of Les Disques du Crépuscule for a New Year's Eve show at, former sugar refinery, Plan K.
Apparently 2000 people attended this show; also broadcast live on Belgian radio. I wonder if the recording still exists?

While in Brussels, Josef K recorded their excellent  'Sorry For Laughing / Révélation (TWI 023) single for Les Disques du Crépuscule.
The single was recorded at an 8-track studio in Brussels on January 2nd, 1981 and was released in March the same year.

Artwork:
Jean-François Octave


Image Source: ScotsPostPunk

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Paul Haig : Justice

Short piece and micro-interview on Paul Haig about the release of his 'Justice' single on Les Disques de Crépuscule in 1983. Article by -later of Pet Shop Boys fame- Neil Tennant.

I think this is from Smash Hits but I'm not sure. Might well be Record Mirror or some other music weekly.

Just been informed (see comment below) that the clipping is from Record Mirror.

Thanks, Anonymous!



Photo: uncredited
Document courtesy of and ©ROL UK / PaulHaig

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Paul Haig : Heaven Sent (poster)

Poster for Paul Haig's 'Heaven Sent' release from1983.
This was a UK release on Island Records only; you can see the Island Records logo in the bottom right corner. However, Les Disques du Crépuscule allocated it's own internal Cat. N° for it : TWI 149.
The back sleeve of the original vinyl features photography by Sheila Rock but there's no mention of who did the artwork on the front cover -as featured on this poster. I have the Les Disques de Crépuscule/Ariola version (Cat. N°600 817) and the artwork isn't credited on it either.

Poster image: Courtesy of & ©ROL UK/PaulHaig 

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The Wake : Testament (Best Of)

Forthcoming release from the recently revived Factory Benelux label is a highly-desirable Best-Of from The Wake. A must have for any fan of this very fine Glasgow band which will be available in early September.

See the release sheet below, provided by Les Disques du Crépuscule / Factory Benelux, for more details.

TESTAMENT (BEST OF) - CD / vinyl LP + bonus CD - FBN 95 CD / FBN 95 - 8 September 2014

"Factory Benelux presents Testament, a comprehensive ‘best of’ collection by influential Scottish group The Wake, including tracks recorded for cult labels Factory and Sarah Records.
The Wake formed in Glasgow in early 1981 after singer/guitarist Caesar left future pop stars Altered Images. Joined by Carolyn Allen (keyboards), Steven Allen (drums) and Bobby Gillespie (bass), the band joined Factory the following year, recording debut mini album Harmony at Strawberry Studios in Stockport and subsequently hailed as the missing indiepop link between Factory and Postcard Records. After Gillespie departed for Primal Scream and the Jesus and Mary Chain, The Wake issued second album Here Comes Everybody in 1985, with standout track O Pamela later covered by artful French ensemble Nouvelle Vague.

After leaving Factory the group joined cult Bristol imprint Sarah Records, releasing a brace of indiepop singles and albums in the Nineties before going on hiatus. Caesar and Carolyn reconvened as The Wake in 2009, releasing fifth album A Light Far Out three years later, with more new material due in 2015.

Testament combines key album tracks with popular singles including On Our Honeymoon, Something Outside, Talk About the Past, Of the Matter and Crush the Flowers. Also included are a previously unreleased 7” edit of Pale Spectre, and (on the CD only) 2012 outtake Clouds Disco. The vinyl edition includes a 54 minute bonus CD featuring 21 early live and demo recordings from 1981/82, preserved in the tape archive of Joy Division/New Order manager Rob Gretton. Among these priceless lost recordings are 7 songs never before heard even on bootlegs.

The artwork for Testament is based on the artwork for an unreleased cassette edition of Here Comes Everybody, designed by Peter Saville."  (Text courtesy of Factory Benelux)

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Some of the interesting things you'll see on a long-distance flight.

Dialogue North/South Tour, 1982


Flyer from a Les Disques du Crépuscule show at the Beursschouwburg in Brussels in 1982. Paul Haig heads the bill on a night that also featured Richard Jobson (former lead singer with the Skids and later TV presenter and film director), The Names (who would records some really fine discs with Factory Benelux and Les Disques du Crépuscule), and Winston Tong from Tuxedomoon. This show was part of a tour that played 14 or so dates across Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. The tour "centered around a flexible core of The Durutti Column, Richard Jobson, The Names and Paul Haig. Also playing at various dates were Antena, Marine, Isolation Ward, and Tuxedomoon regulars Blaine Reininger, Steven Brown and Winston Tong."

A cassette tape live recording of the "Dialogue North/South" tour appeared later that year under the title of 'Some of the interesting things you'll see on a long distance flight' (TWI 081) and featured 5 tracks from Paul Haig as well as several from Richard Jobson and Tuxedomoon, The Durutti Column, etc. (see full tracklist here).

The tape is a valuable document from the golden era of Les Disques du Crépuscule and a must have for anyone who likes Paul Haig's music.

Flyer image: Courtesy of & ©ROL UK/PaulHaig 
Cassette image : ©japanese forms

'Some of the interesting things you'll see on a long-distance flight' is available in CD format It includes a deluxe booklet with liner notes, archive images and facsimile tour programme plus several tracks by The Names not on the original cassette release. Download also available.

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Please, welcome this information.

Press information for the Seaside Festival held at belgian coastal resort, De Panne in August 1984. Apart from Paul Haig and New Order; Shriekback, Fad Gadget, and Echo & The Bunnymen also played this festival.

Image: Courtesy of & ©ROL UK/PaulHaig

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Bernard Sumnner & Paul Haig, Tokyo 1985.

A somewhat startled Bernard Sumner (New Order), a blonde-bequiffed Paul Haig, and someone's bottom as guest star, chilling in Tokyo.
This was probably taken during the Les Disques du Crépuscule package tour of Japan in May 1985. Other Crépuscule label artists on this tour were: Anna Domino, Wim Mertens, Alan Rankine, Steven Brown, and Blaine L. Reininger.
  
Image: Courtesy of ROL UK/PaulHaig
Image : ©Sunny Lee

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Paul Haig : Master Bag

A very juvenile looking Paul Haig makes the cover of Master Bag circa his Les disques du crépuscule 'Heaven Sent' release. We're almost submerged by that giant blonde wave in his hair!

Image: Courtesy of & ©ROL UK/PaulHaig
Original photo : ©unknown

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Paul Haig's coffee break

Paul Haig ponders over a cup of coffee.

Source & ©unknown
If anybody has any details on the © please contact me via Twitter
(see sidebar for Twitter link)

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Paul Haig, Edinburgh 1984

Paul Haig at Coasters, Edinburgh 1984

Image ©Graham Macindoe

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Paul Haig, circa 1985

Paul Haig, circa 1985

Postcard : PoliteCards

Photograph : ©Charles Van Hoorick / Les Disques du Crépuscule

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Josef K : ‘Sorry For Laughing’ postcard

Josef K : ‘Sorry For Laughing’ - 7” single sleeve, 1981 (detail)

Postcard : PoliteCards

Design : Jean-François Octave / Les Disques du Crépuscule

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Josef K - 'The Scottish Affair'

Josef K 'The Scottish Affair' poster/print
(Free with 'The Only Fun in Town' reissue in May)

Design by Jean-François Octave.

Les Disques du Crépuscule

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Paul Haig : At Twilight

Paul Haig : ‘At Twilight’ (TW1154)
Forthcoming Les Disques du Crépuscule compilation (Jan. 2014)
Photograph : ©Charles Van Hoorick

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josef k - Sorry For Laughing/Revelation 7"

josef k
sorry for laughing/revelation
twi 023

7" single
Belgium 1981
Les Disques du Crépuscule

3:01    Sorry For Laughing
4:16    Revelation

image © japanese forms

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Paul Haig - Running Away

Paul Haig
Running Away / Time
Les Disques du Crépuscule
TWI 088
Vinyl, 12"
Belgium, 1982

Getting away from Postcard Records for a wee bit (I'll be back with more later), Sound of Young Scotland continues with one of the better but least known artists of the 1980s. Well, he may have been quite well known to some but I don't remember Paul Haig being a huge success. Saleswise, I mean. Anyhow, following the Josef K split and the departure from Postcard, Paul Haig found refuge at the Brussels-based, superhip-label: Les Disques du Crépuscule. Label where Josef K had already released two singles ( 'The Farewell Single' and 'Sorry For Laughing') and where Haig would go on to release a fair amount of singles, EPs and albums throughout the 80s and 90s. Although it's a cover of a Sly Stone song, 'Running Away' is my favourite release by the man on this label. I don't have the 7" single but I do have the 12" EP version. The disc was in fact issued with three different sleeves. You can check out the artwork for my 12" here and here. Other artwork for this release can be seen here.

image ©japanese forms

special thanks to wikipedia

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Josef K - The Farewell Single

image © japanese forms

josef k
the farewell single
les disques du crépuscule
TWI 053
1982

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