A Boy Alone, by Eric Random

A Boy Alone

by Eric Random

supported by

ferdbird77 Josh Cheon ended his recent set with this. Thats how good it is.

	/

Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Purchasable with gift card

$10 USD or more
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
We are honored to release ‘A Boy Alone’, a double LP set from Manchester electronic music pioneer Eric Random. Best known for his early recordings for New Hormones and Les Disques du Crépuscule and collaborations with Pete Shelley (Buzzcocks), Cabaret Voltaire and Nico. As an original member of The Tiller Boys with Shelley, Random injected a healthy dose of Krautrock into the dour Manchester post-punk scene in 1978/79 before going solo the following year. Random’s first 7” “Subliminal”/“23 Skidoo” was released in 1981 via Les Disques du Crépuscule and explored ominous sonic surrounds. That same year also saw the release of a second 7" single on New Hormones, “Dow Chemical Company”/ “Skin Deep”. Both tracks offered bubbling, rhythmic sound patterns, and were the first to feature other musicians that would become know as The Bedlamites. Consisting of Lynn Walton on vocals, Ian Runacres and Andy Diagram of Dislocation Dance, and bassist Wayne Worm, aka Wayne Sedgeman. Their debut 12” single “Subliminal Seduction”/“Bedlam-a-Go-Go” was released in 1982 through Plurex, mixing arid funk textures and sparse melodies. That same year the group contributed proto chill-out track “6.55” to Plurex compilation ‘Hours’ and the highly filmic track “In Cassette Conference” to the Touch cassette package ‘Feature Mist’. In 1983, Random spent several months in the Himalayas with a group of musicians from the Kulu Valley and studied non-Western instruments such as tabla. On returning to Manchester, Random convened a new group of Belamites including Walton, Sedgeman and drummer Graham Dowdall aka Dids of Ludus. They released the 12” single “Mad As Mankind”/“Dream Web Of Maya” in 1984 on Cabaret Voltaire’s Doublevision, embracing electronic, industrial and dub styles. In 1985 they contributed the soothing “Pure Power” to Food Records’ “Imminent Episode One” compilation. Our reissue also includes 4 unreleased bonus tracks from Eric’s archives recorded between 1981-1984. The whole set adds up to 115 minutes of sinister, somnambulant Random music. All songs have been remastered by George Horn at Fantasy Studios. Each copy is housed in a gatefold jacket designed by Eloise Leigh featuring a spread of ephemera, photos with liner notes by James Nice of LTM.

Includes unlimited streaming of A Boy Alone via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. ... more

ships out within 5 days

Purchasable with gift card

$20 USD or more

1.	Subliminal 04:41	buy track
2.	23 Skidoo 03:16	buy track
3.	Dow Chemical Company 04:25	buy track
4.	Skin Deep 04:50	buy track
5.	In Serious Dub 03:53	buy track
6.	Meets The Bedlamites In Cassette Conference 03:55	buy track
7.	Slaves and Pyramids (Live) 06:30	buy track
8.	6.55 05:30	buy track
9.	Pure Power 05:47	buy track
10.	Subliminal Seduction 05:23	buy track
11.	Bedlam A Go-Go 04:54	buy track
12.	Liquid Metal 06:51	buy track
13.	Mad As Mankind 06:43	buy track
14.	Dream Web Of Maya 05:51	buy track
15.	Pure Power 04:00	buy track

about

We are honored to release ‘A Boy Alone’, a double LP set from Manchester electronic music pioneer Eric Random. Best known for his early recordings for New Hormones and Les Disques du Crépuscule and collaborations with Pete Shelley (Buzzcocks), Cabaret Voltaire and Nico. As an original member of The Tiller Boys with Shelley, Random injected a healthy dose of Krautrock into the dour Manchester post-punk scene in 1978/79 before going solo the following year. Random’s first 7” “Subliminal”/“23 Skidoo” was released in 1981 via Les Disques du Crépuscule and explored ominous sonic surrounds. That same year also saw the release of a second 7" single on New Hormones, “Dow Chemical Company”/ “Skin Deep”. Both tracks offered bubbling, rhythmic sound patterns, and were the first to feature other musicians that would become know as The Bedlamites. Consisting of Lynn Walton on vocals, Ian Runacres and Andy Diagram of Dislocation Dance, and bassist Wayne Worm, aka Wayne Sedgeman. Their debut 12” single “Subliminal Seduction”/“Bedlam-a-Go-Go” was released in 1982 through Plurex, mixing arid funk textures and sparse melodies. That same year the group contributed proto chill-out track “6.55” to Plurex compilation ‘Hours’ and the highly filmic track “In Cassette Conference” to the Touch cassette package ‘Feature Mist’. In 1983, Random spent several months in the Himalayas with a group of musicians from the Kulu Valley and studied non-Western instruments such as tabla. On returning to Manchester, Random convened a new group of Belamites including Walton, Sedgeman and drummer Graham Dowdall aka Dids of Ludus. They released the 12” single “Mad As Mankind”/“Dream Web Of Maya” in 1984 on Cabaret Voltaire’s Doublevision, embracing electronic, industrial and dub styles. In 1985 they contributed the soothing “Pure Power” to Food Records’ “Imminent Episode One” compilation. Our reissue also includes 4 unreleased bonus tracks from Eric’s archives recorded between 1981-1984. The whole set adds up to 115 minutes of sinister, somnambulant Random music. All songs have been remastered by George Horn at Fantasy Studios

credits

released September 9, 2018

(C) 2018 Dark Entries Records

A1,A2 released on 7” by New Hormones in July 1981.
A1 Recorded at Western Works, Sheffield, 1981. Produced by Eric Random and Stephen Mallinder
A2 Recorded at Cargo Studios, Rochdale, 1981. Engineered by Colin Richardson
A3,A4 released on 7” by Les Disques Du Crépuscule in May 1981.
A3 Recorded at Cargo Studios, Rochdale, 1981.
A4 Recorded at Western Works by Stephen Mallinder, Sheffield on 4 April 1981.
B1 released on the cassette compilation Feature Mist in 1982.
Recorded in Manchester, 1982. Produced by Eric Random.
B3 released on the LP compilation Hours in May 1982.
Recorded in Manchester, 1982. Produced by Stuart James
C1,C2 released on 12” by Plurex Records in 1982.
Recorded and Mixed at Studio Arnold Mühren, September 1982. Produced by Stuart James
D1,D2 released on 12” by Doublevision in August 1984.
Recorded at Western Works Studios, Sheffield, 1984. Engineered and Produced by Richard H. Kirk & Stephen Mallinder
D3 released on the LP compilation Imminent Episode One in 1985 .
Recorded in Manchester, 1984.
A5,B4,C3 previously unreleased. Recorded in Manchester, 1981-84
B2 previously unreleased. Recorded live at Rheinterrassen in Bonn West Germany on 20 September 1980.

Eric Random: vocals, synthesizer, guitar, bass, rhythms, percussion, tapes
Wayne “Worm” Sedgeman: guitar on A1, bass on A4,A5,C1,C2,D1-D3 bass synthesizer, percussion on C1,C2
Lynn Walton: vocals on A3,A5,C1,C2,C3,D1-D3, lyrics on C1,C2
Graham “Dids: Dowdall: drums on A5,C1,C2,D1-D3
Ian Runacres: bass on A3
Fraser Diagram: skin, electronmicrography on A4
Stuart James: synthesizer on D1-D3
Tape Transfer and Mixing on A5,B4,C3 by Joe Tarantino
Remastered by George Horn at Fantasy Studios 2018
Artwork by Claude Stassart, Fraser Diagram, Toni Mulder, Anne Gerald
Photographs by Clive Hunt, Robin Didley, Andy Joslin, Eric Random, Marc Monin
Designed by Eloise Leigh
Thank you to Eric Random, Simon Dell, James Nice, George Horn, Anne-Marie, Joe Tarantino and Eloise Leigh.

license

about

Eric Random Manchester, UK

contact / help

Contact Eric Random

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Eric Random, you may also like:

Paralysis
by Robert Rental

supported by 17 fans who also own “A Boy Alone”

such a great discovery. Thank you ! Jean-Baptiste Lefebvre
go to album
Space Museum
by Solid Space

supported by 14 fans who also own “A Boy Alone”

Sparse, dark but filled with a sense of whimsical joy. Favorite track: Tenth Planet Kkamagui
go to album
The Bela Session
by Bauhaus

supported by 11 fans who also own “A Boy Alone”

I bought the 12 inch single for Bela Lugosi’s Dead at Fred’s records in St. John’s, Newfoundland in the eighties and it remained a treasured item in my collection until it was lost, left behind, stolen, loaned out, whatever. I accepted that that item was lost to time and likely irreplaceable. Hence my utter shock to see that I will once again hear this evocative masterwork on vinyl along with an extra three tracks. I recall Boys was included on the B-side of that long list single. Thank you! skritti
go to album
Recognise
by Mercy System

Dystopian UK Bass from Mercy System explores the realms of Dubstep nuanced with UK Garage, Grime, and Dancehall. Bandcamp New & Notable Jan 27, 2022
go to album
THOUSANDNEEDLES
by Bestial Mouths

A stellar cast of artists put their own shadowy spins on recent Bestial Mouths material—toward the goth club floor or into pure noise. Bandcamp New & Notable May 11, 2021
go to album
Forest Whispers
by Inalco2222

Two tracks from Buenos Aires artist Inalco2222 explore the grittier side of industrial music, with blown-out synths and driving beats. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 7, 2021
go to album
Music For Stowaways (CSR310CD/LP)
by B.E.F.

supported by 10 fans who also own “A Boy Alone”

Like many of you, I bought this on cassette in the early 80's and it was a guiding light to the electronic music of the decade. I had a black bomber jacket and I wrote B.E.F. on the back on large letters, with TIPEX! Class..........Wore it everywhere for years richkyd
go to album