Hi, everyone:
I've been meaning for some time to subscribe to NWO so I could jump into this discussion. Like some of you here, I've contacted JHP in the past about the Re-Flex re-releases and received info about the CD box set similar to what's been posted on this forum. I've also been in fairly regular contact with former Re-Flex lead singer/guitarist John Baxter here in the U.S., who's been kind enough to personally keep me updated on the project's progress despite his busy schedule. I've forwarded him links to some of the threads on this forum in previous months, and we've discussed some of the posts, so I can vouch that he and the other guys are definitely aware of people's interest.
I do know there have been a few delays in the CD box set roll-out, but I'm hoping to hear things are moving along again, soon. It's a rather significant undertaking, so I'm sure they want to make certain to dot all the "I"s and cross all the "T"s. There was also supposed to be a music video cut together from previously shot footage of the band for an early Re-Flex song (circa '79 according to Bax) called "Mindless Dancing" released sometime this past June, but that, too, has apparently been delayed. As I learn more details, I'll be posting them here and on other forums.
For those of you who might be interested, I want to mention that Baxter and I have set up a web site to accommodate general fan Q&A and complement the main
http://www.re-flex.info site, which is intended more to handle inquiries about the CDs. The URL for the fan site is
http://www.reflexreaction.com , which consists of a simple homepage for now, and is active but is still very much a work in progress, so I hope you'll pardon its terribly basic nature as we're (I'm) gathering and adding content. Please feel free to send *appropriate* comments and questions to the band, and they will be forwarded accordingly. You may also opt to send e-mail directly to
questions@reflexreaction.com . The intent is for us to select the most interesting and frequently asked questions for posting on the site sometime in the future.
I'm very glad to see there are other die-hard (or, in some cases, NEW) Re-Flex fans like myself out there. I quite enjoyed them in the '80s and was always disappointed that they seemed to completely vanish from the scene after only one album. I've much of their material on vinyl, as well as a few songs in MP3 format, and I'm *greatly* anticipating both familiar and previously unreleased recordings finally being made available on CD.
As an aside to DJ Phoenix, regarding your questions about which CD to get, and track info for TPOD, etc.... I'd think there will potentially be audio clips posted on the main site as the release date (still unknown at this point) approaches, to help you decide. I'm personally planning on getting the entire set. Bax has indicated to me that it will be a limited release, so I don't want miss out. AFAIK, it won't be made available anywhere except through the web site (as opposed to Amazon and the like), but I'll try to verify that for certain.
It's my understanding the CD of TPOD will be the same track listing as the original '80s LP and '90s re-release on CD, but all the tracks have been digitally remastered. I finally got a download of "Humanication" last year, and I like it a lot, so I definitely want the better quality (not to mention, LEGITIMATE) copy.
There are also going to be some very early Re-Flex recordings (late '70s/early '80s) in the set, some of which I've heard (e.g., "Mindless Dancing"), and I would describe the material as a bit edgier, with more of a slight punk influence ("less groovy", as Bax has put it) than the "Politics" material most people are familiar with. If any of you've heard the so-called "demo" version of "Praying to the Beat", or "Cut It" or "Whizz Kid", you'll have somewhat of an idea. ("Flex It" is also from that general time frame.) This includes material dating back to a time when the Re-Flex lineup included Mark King (later of Level 42 fame) on drums and François Craig on bass.
I hope this information is helpful, limited as it is. Like all of you, I'm waiting impatiently for news about the CDs, and as soon as any comes my way, I'll be glad to share.
"Keep In Touch"! [:)]
Jenn / Flex4Fan