Audio: Sandwell District - WhereNext? (Sounds) Quarterly #1

It was only a year ago that we were all gripped in the industrial four four weavings of Sandwell District’s debut album ‘Feed-Forward’ - it had finally landed some 10 years after the label’s first release. It sold out almost instantly thanks to the appetite of their avid fans and the critical acclaim the work garnered from almost the entire electronic music press - a testament to the quality and idiosyncratic nature of their sound. Wind forward almost exactly 12 months and the story of Sandwell District has taken a turn away from its label incarnation, indicating moves towards a new model for the collective’s creative output . Exactly what is yet to be revealed however the following statement was released on their Tumblr this New Year’s Eve: “New Values Beginning the 31st of December 2011, regular audio communications form Sandwell District will cease. All vinyl artifacts have been decommissioned. There is a possiblity of future, albeit irregular, print communications with audio accompaniment. However, details -- and indeed content -- is uncertain at this moment in time. The Sandwell experiment will exist through live actions -- which will continue to expand into new sonic territory -- in addition to audio / print installations as previously witnessed in New York, Los Angeles, Gdansk, Bialystok, Berlin and London. Stasis is death. See you on the other side. “ On the same day they published this mix, entitled ‘(Sounds) Quarterly #1’ - a hint at more to be expected this year coming perhaps? Again it is yet to be seen; plus, the announcement thankfully does not mean that there will be no more Sandwell Distrcit, they’ll continue to function in their live entity. In fact we have them returning to our own disco on the Saturday 14th of this month - where they’ll be joined by Ostgut Ton’s Barker & Baumecker and Terry Francis. DOWNLOAD: WhereNext? (Sounds) Quarterly #1 Tracklisting: Black Time - A Boring Day For The Boredom Boys Cabaret Voltaire - Protection The Satyrs - Yesterday’s Hero Eric Random - Fade In Front - Polaroid Powell - The Ongoing Significance Of Steel And Flesh Delia Derbyshire & Barry Bermange - Falling Stephen Mallinder - Cool Down Sandra Electronics - Clean Air Snowy Red - Sinkin’ Down Karl O’ Connor and Peter Sutton - Paralyzing Vatican Shadow - CIA Contractor Freed Over Pakistan Killings Young Hunting - Embers From The Pyre Malaria! - Kaltes Klares Wasser The Vivids - Mt Radiant Ike Yard - Night After Night The KVB - In to the Night Regis - Blinding Horses Sandwell District - Untitled B John Maus - The Crucifix Minny Pops - Secret Story Throbbing Gristle - Exotica Avrocar - Maiden 39 In Trance 95 - 21st Century European Temptation Raime - You Will Lift Your Frame Clear Throbbing Gristle - United Sandwell District - Untitled A HTRK - Slo Glo Aphex Twin - I Death in June - Crush My Love