Minny Pops - Sparks in a Dark Room

Factory Benelux presents a new deluxe 2xCD and 2xLP edition of Sparks In A Dark Room, the second studio album by Dutch electronic group Minny Pops, originally released by Factory Benelux in May 1982.

Formed in Amsterdam in 1978 by vocalist Wally Van Middendorp, Minny Pops took their name from the primitive Korg drum machine which propelled their austere, post-punk rhythms and provocative live performances. An early association with Factory Records in Manchester saw the band work with producer Martin Hannett, share stages with Joy Division and New Order, and become the first Dutch band to record a BBC radio session for John Peel.

Sparks In A Dark Room is their second studio album, originally issued on Factory Benelux in May 1982. Self-produced by the group, the album was recorded without a guitarist and as a result sounded unusually polished and layered, its smooth sequencers and motorik rhythms often redolent of Moroder, Kraftwerk and Cabaret Voltaire. Bonus tracks include the non-album singles Time and Een Kus, as well as demo tracks and an EP by instrumental splinter project Smalts.

This new 2xCD edition on FBN also adds a bonus disc featuring an entire live performance (13 tracks), recorded at Amsterdam Melkweg on 7 April 2012 on their 30th anniversary tour, with original members Wally Van Middendorp, Wim Dekker and Pieter Mulder joined by new guitarist Mark Ritsema.

2xLP is a limited edition of just 500 copies. 300 sets will be pressed in standard black vinyl, and 200 sets in coloured vinyl (blue and orange). Both discs have been specially remastered for vinyl.

2xLP tracklist:
A1. A Feeling
A2. Tracking
A3. Crack
A4. Vital
A5. Blue Roses
A6. Mountain
B1. Black Eye
B2. Wong
B3. Experience
B4. Dream
B5. Night Visit
B6. Trance
C1. Kogel
C2. Blue Roses
C3. Tracking
C4. Vital
C5. Goddess
C6. Dolphin’s Spurt
C7. Mountain
D1. Wong
D2. Secret Story
D3. Time
D4. Trance
D5. Mental
D6. Son

2xCD tracklist:
Disc 1:
1. Mountain
2. A Feeling
3. Tracking
4. Crack
5. Vital
6. Blue Roses
7. Wong
8. Experience
9. Dream
10. Night Visit
11. Trance
12. Time
13. Lights
14. Een Kus
15. Son
16. Secret Story (demo)
17. Schitterende Ogen (demo)
18. Time (demo)
20. Werktitel #7
21. Werktitel #5
22. Werktitel #1
23. Werktitel #8

Disc 2 (live):
1. Kogel
2. Blue Roses
3. Tracking
4. Vital
5. Goddess
6. Dolphins Spurt
7. Wong
8. Night Visit
9. Secret Story
10. Time
11. Trance
12. Mental
13. Son