Good day to all of you out there in synthpop land!  hehe.  It is time to look at the items that have come into A Different Drum’s store during the last week.   Thankfully, that now includes the limited edition of the new Assemblage 23 album, since Metropolis Records has now decided to sell it to other stores.

NEW ARRIVALS:

Assemblage 23 “Compass” (limited edition 2CD) $16 — One of the biggest names in futurepop and dark synthpop is back with a new album, and this is the limited edition which feature bonus remixes!  If it is like the CD single for “Spark” then it won’t be around for long (I have a few copies of the now sold-out “Spark” still here, if you want to snag one).     See the complete track list for this edition and order it here :
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/MET627/Assemblage-23-Compass-Limited-Edition

A-Ha “Shadowside” (MCD) $9 — Like the last A-Ha single, this is more for collectors than for the music, since there are only two tracks:  Shadowside / Mother Nature Goes to Heaven.   You can watch the music video and order the single here if you’d like one while I still have a few:
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/06025272105-6/A-Ha-Shadowside

Blind Faith and Envy “Remixes and Rarities” (CDR) $14 — After three cool albums of dark synthpop with female lead vocals, this popular underground act has just released a collection of remixes and previously unreleased songs for the fans!   There are 17 tracks on this packed collection.  You can see that track list and order it here :
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/SER4/Blind-Faith-and-Envy-Remixes-and-Rarities

The Disco Boys feat. Midge Ure “The Voice” (MCD) $11 — This is a purely Euro-dance single with uptempo, mainstream dance beats and a catchy tune.  The fun part is that the vocals are performed by Midge Ure (Ultravox).   You can watch the video to hear the original version of the song and order this cool remix single here :
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/Super4040/The-Disco-Boys-featuring-Midge-Ure-The-Voice

Various Artists “12-inch 80’s / Electro Pop” (3CD) $35 — With the new rebirth of “electro” among the younger audience, it was only natural that another volume be released in the “12″ 80’s” collection that focuses on the real roots of “electro pop”.   This collection covers a lot of great original 12-inch extended versions including bands like Talk Talk, Tears for Fears, Yazoo, Human League, Heaven 17, New Order, Soft Cell, Trio, Art of Noise, etc. plus even a few of the early funksters like Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, and Sugarhill Gang.   See the complete track list and order this fun retro collection here :
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/60075320869-4/Various-Artists-12-inch-80s-Electro-Pop

WANT TO KNOW WHAT COMES IN STOCK MORE QUICKLY?

Well, the people who follow me on Twitter knew about the arrival of the limited edition Assemblage 23 and other items in this update before I put together this newsletter.   I’ve started announcing new arrivals the moment they are entered into the catalog by using Twitter.   You can sign up to follow my Twitter feeds here:

http://twitter.com/adifferentdrum

If you are new to Twitter and afraid of trying to “follow” yet another social website, I have a very handy suggestion for you.  First of all, you should use Mozilla Firefox as your browser– just Google it and you’ll find the free download location.  Install it and use that instead of Windows Internet Explorer.   Then you can Google “Firefox add-ons” and you’ll see a page where you can download any number of add-on’s for Firefox.  Look up the add-on called “Friendbar” and install it.   That creates a ticker bar across the top of your Firefox browser that continually scrolls both Twitter posts and Facebook status updates from all of your friends.  You never even need to open Facebook or Twitter homepages to see what people are doing!  You just see the comments scroll across your screen while you’re doing other things.   You can also post from Friendbar and it will go to both your Twitter and Facebook accounts.   You can also reply to comments and friends using this cool tool.    Give it a shot!  Then you’ll occasionally see a “tweet” from me scroll across your screen to tell you about a new release.

Thanks again for your support!
-Todd