Various - Debut LP Magazine - Issue 05 mp3 album

This magazine is fun because it introduces you to some artists (and one-hit wonders) that you have never heard before. The magazine itself is also interesting for its artist profiles, interviews and dated content—really takes you back to the 80’s. The records were kind of thin. Fortunately my copy of this issue is flat, un-warped and in near mint condition. The sound quality, however, was exceptional.This issue features Howard Jones on the cover so I already knew I would like it. (I’m biased—I’m a huge Howard Jones freak!)Of thes artists on this compilation I was previously familiar with King, The Church, Visage, A Flock of Seagulls and, of course, Howard Jones—the rest were totally new to me. The standout track is Howard Jones’ “Change the Man”. (Are you surprised?) I love Howard Jones because his music is so well produced and his message positive. His vocals are instantly recognizable and his synth work superb.And now the tracks…The Armoury Show’s “Is It a Wonder” is a hard driving dance ballad with a strong beat that you can easily dance to. It is laden with a lot of great guitar work and is very well produced. Hugh Masekela’s “Getting Fat in Africa”, with its steel-drum calypso beat, is kind of a dud—not my cup of tea. King’s “Cherry” has some great slap guitar work and is expectedly new wave, club ready. The Church’s “The Unguarded Moment” is a great melodic ballad—I was already quite familiar with this song. (They’re so many Churches: The Church, The Church (London), The New Church, The Lords of the New Church…) Fiction Factory’s “Panic” is a longing, crooning ballad full of great new wave licks.Visage’s “Beat Boy (Special Mix)” is a club-ready dance anthem that promises to get people on their feet—empty, but fun. It fades out way before the end of the song—sound likes it should go on for a lot longer. Matt Bianco’s “Big Rosie” is catchy pop number that’s kind of jazzy. Olympic Smiles’ “Something’s Pushing Me” is an average new-wave ballad that’s just not quite catchy enough. It also fades out before the apparent end of the song. A Flock of Seagulls’ “Over My Head” is a solid new-wave track, but not their best work. Sid Presley Experience’s “Hup Two Three Four” is a march inspired dance number that shouts “Hup Two Three Four “at the listener over and over again—has kind of a punk feel. Howard Jones’ “Change the Man” is a fantastically produced, inspirational synth-pop number featuring Howard Jones’ unmistakable vocals and synth work.My copy of the record for this issue was in as close to mint condition as makes no difference. The signal level is average (-6 dB). The record was whisper quiet and mostly free from surface noise, clicks and pops. The recording has little or no dynamic range compression (average score of -0.1 as measured by DRC-Meter). My processed version (click & pop removal, background noise removal, tube preamp simulation and limited to -3 dB) has an average DRC score of +2.3.I gave this compilation 4 out of 5 stars because it was somewhat shy of being excellent despite having Howard Jones. Also, I would have preferred 10 full-length tracks instead of the existing 11, some of them truncated. (You can guess which one I’d drop.)//Paul Rolan Perkes