Minimal Compact - Raging & Dancing: The Anthology

[roc51]

Out on RPM (Cherry Red) in May...in case you weren't aware, Minimal Compact is one of the best kept secrets of the post-punk era.

Minimal Compact
Raging And Dancing - The Anthology retro895

Released on 23/05/11. Minimal Compact’s Statik Dancin was dance-inflected post punk that revelled in the band s Israeli origins. Still a dance floor filler, Statik Dancin' is timeless, yet still a classic of the era. Back in 1981 there was no such thing as world music, but Minimal Compact infused their music with the feel of their home country, even though they were based in Belgium and signed to Brussels Crammed Discs.
Raging and Dancing is the first career spanning Minimal Compact anthology. Band-approved with liner notes that include an interview with founder member Samy Birnbach, it takes them from 1981 to 1987, when the band called it a day after issuing their meaning-laden overhaul of Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song

Along the way, they worked with members of Wire, Tuxedomoon, John Fryer (producer of The Cocteau Twins and M/A/R/R/S). Their covers were designed by luminaries like Neville Brody and Eno/David Sylvian designer Russell Mills. Their When I Go featured on the soundtrack to Wim Wenders' Wings Of Desire. Minimal Compact were integral to the era. Minimal Compact were post-punk at its most exotic and danceable. Raging and Dancing is the definitive collection.

Statik Dancin / To Get Inside / Babylonian Tower / Cold Life / Morpheus Secrets / Next One Is Real / The Well / Not Knowing / My Will / When I Go / Low Flight / Late Night / Everything Is Wonder / New Clear Twist / Immigrant Song

[schwenko]

"Not Knowing" is the standout track IMHO

[scatter]

not to denigrate this comp, as more folks do indeed need to hear this band and glad it'll be out there, but their last comp Returning Wheel is still pretty available.

it's easily gotten on Amazon, etc for the price of a single CD, though it's a 3disc set. disc one - Classics, disc two - remixes (most admittedly negligible, disc three - outtakes and rarities).

seems like a better bang for one's buck if they're new to the Minimal Compact sound...and includes the aforementioned "Not Knowing" and "Statik Dancin"...

either one or both, take yr pick!