Music News

"Art decides what will survive" - Roger Linn (The Dead Presidents Society)

ECHOES FROM OUR PAST LP

Solitaire’s 1984 recording of "After Darkness" is featured on the newly released Anna Logue Records LP "Echoes from our Past". The German record label selected Solitaire to be one of 13 artists featured. The Record Label describes Solitaire as "a one-man project with pioneering live-electronics." Solitaire is proud to be featured on the compilation from Anna Logue Records. This Vinyl Edition record brings you electronic pop music from international artists dating back to 1979 to 1984 – the true "anna/logue years!"

Solitaire is featured on this limited edition LP with such international artists as DADA DI MUSICA, THE TWO, BOYS DU SEVERE, INFORMATICS, VALEK, BERND KUNZE, THE HIGHER PRIMATES, VEX, INVISIBLE ZOO, GILDED YOUTH and PERFECT JEWISH COUPLE.

Many thanks to Marc Shaffer and Anna Logue Records for bringing this project together in an extremely well packaged collector’s set. "These songs are the echoes of your past."

To order: http://annaloguerecords.com/releases.htm#anna009

Hear Samples at: http://www.myspace.com/echoesfromourpast

Price:(at time of site publication) 18,90 € plus shipping & packaging.

a1	DADA DI MUSICA - Flat Flat	3'19''
a2	JEFF WALTON - Danger Boy	4'28''
a3	BOYS DU SEVERE - Mondmädchen	4'04''
a4	INFORMATICS - Shed Your Skin	3'37''
a5	VALEK - I, Foreign Eye	2'45''
a6	BERND KUNZE - Own World	2'24''
b1	THE HIGHER PRIMATES - After Image	4'22''
b2	VEX - DNA	3'22''
b3	INVISIBLE ZOO - How Can I Be Sure?	4'04''
b4	SOLITAIRE - After Darkness	4'26''
b5	GILDED YOUTH - Please Don't Kiss	4'38''
c1	PERFECT JEWISH COUPLE - Nuclear Blues	4'02''
d1	THE TWO - Love Is Not Enough (Demo)	4'46''

INVADE MY SPACE (Please):

Invade My Space

SolitaireMusic.Net has joined the MySpace Community. Join Solitaire along with new and long-time friends. Check out samples from the Solitaire music library and get new songs from Retrophaze and Nursery33. Visit:

http://www.myspace.com/solitairemusicnet

http://www.myspace.com/retrophaze

http://www.myspace.com/nursery33

Solitaire 25 Years Later "Still Techno After All These Years." – By Jillanne Lynn Editor

20 Years Later – Solitaire currently featured on the German compilation "Echoes From Our Past" is working on a number of other projects including a possible LP comprised of early collaborations with the NEOCENTRICS, and a DVD "Solitaire Live at Maxwell’s ‘84". There are also talks of a spot on another European compilation album "Sirens in the Mix", which Solitaire is very excited to be a part of (details to follow as released and as appropriate.)

Modern Musicians owe a great deal of gratitude to early electronic pioneers such as Solitaire. In an age when even country bands openly sport a Mac computer and MIDI gear on stage, it's hard to believe that just a few decades ago, music and computers (especially in a live setting) were considered oddities, at best; most booking agents didn't know what to think of early Synth artists, Techno performers and minimalist composers. In an interview by Jillanne Lynn, we caught up with Solitaire to understand the acts' history, the period of inactivity and what drivers brought the act back into the spot light with international recognition. In short, we set out to find why Solitaire is "Still Techno After All These Year’s" .

In the mid eighties James Callahan performing as Solitaire, brought "One-man Synth Pop" to audiences in Baltimore and D.C. Ten years before Windows 95 and Pentium technology Solitaire delivered ground breaking computer driven performances. In 1986 Solitaire was voted Maryland's "Best Keyboard Player" by Maryland Musician Magazine’s Annual Reader poll. Much like his contemporaries, it looked as if Solitaire's reward for introducing music performance to the age of computers would be obscurity.

"It’s strange how there seems to be more interest in Solitaire now than there was some two decades ago, when the act first debuted", explains James Callahan. "Solitaire was definitely ahead of its time."

James’ one-man Synth pop act was among the first national (USA) and definitely the only regional (Baltimore/Washington D.C.) act to bring "one man Techno music" to live audiences. James continues, "In 83 you had artists like YAZ using similar technology. Kraftwerk and Gary Newman had similar Synth driven sounds, but with the exception of UK’s Howard Jones I can’t recall anyone playing Synth-Pop or Techno completely solo. Solitaire as a live act consisted mainly of a Commodore 64, a Sequential Circuits SixTrak and DrumTrak Midi’d together - the rhythm section was stored on 5 1/4" Floppy Disks. My lead synths were a Jupiter 6 and JX3P (Which I eventually triggered via a Korg keyboard controller)."

"Looking back on it now I must have been completely out of my mind." - Solitaire

"Insane or not, I don’t make any apologies for being ahead of the curve. I'm glad to see renewed interest in Solitaire. I think the act got a raw deal and was overlooked by "the industry" in the 80's. Now both the act and the songs are showing that they stood the test of time. People are interested now, maybe even fascinated. To me that's all that really matters."

Story continued on page Solband.htm

Inside the Studio "Retrophaze's Second CD "Failed Sophomore Effort" Due Out Next Year"

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh! It's Retrophaze

Jim and Paul are busy recording their next CD. The band has a number of songs in the works. Paul Demme was quoted in a recent interview as saying, "I think fans of minimalist Techno and Synth Pop will be very pleased with our new project. Our first album Digital Folklore was very conceptual; we experimented with a number of styles and genres. Without giving too much away all I can tell you, is we have a catch phrase that we’ve been using quite a lot in the studio – for those about to oscillate – we salute you."

Continued on Page Retrophaze.htm

New Rappin' With Rock Stars Episode "Solitaire – An Echo from the Past"

Rappin' with Big Mark

Many thanks to "Big Mark" and our friends at "Rappin' With Rock Stars"

Solitaire is currently filming an interview with "Big Mark" and the crew of "Rappin’ with Rockstars". The episode "Solitaire – An Echo from the Past" should be completed soon. For details visit: http://www.myspace.com/rappinwithrockstars

Why being a musician is good

Retrophaze would like to thank Rappin’ With Rockstars for their continued support. Retrophaze is proud to have written and recorded the shows official theme song. SolitaireMusic.Net would like to thank the shows producer "Big Mark" for airing music videos produced by our label and for supporting musicians world-wide. Thanks also to our video models, the lovely Alison and Jamie.

Sorry we can no longer receive posts or deliveries at the previous PO BOX or Studio Locations in the USA or UK. Please send all parcels and correspondence to business offices ONLY, please email admin@SolitaireMusic.Net for locations.

*Solitaire Music.Net is not responsible for content of linked sites. We work with a great internet community, however we cannot be held liable for any financial or other damages that, however unlikely, could occur outside our domain. By clicking on links you hold Solitaire Music.Net harmless on any and all subsequent transactions.