Description
#buzzkunst #vinyl #vinylrecords
The influential duo of Pete Shelley and Howard Devoto, who originally carved their place in music history as founding members of the Buzzcocks, have revisited their groundbreaking 2002 project with the release of ‘Special Sauce / Designoid’ on Wire-Sound. This release not only brings Buzzkunst, their first collaboration in over two decades, to vinyl for the first time but also offers a fresh perspective with a revised tracklist and two previously unreleased tracks, “Psychosomatic” and “Punk of Me.”
‘Buzzkunst’, initially released in 2002, marked a significant evolution in the duo’s musical journey, blending Shelley’s signature raw, melodic guitar work with the electronic experimentation that characterized the early 2000s. Devoto’s lyrical and vocal stylings remained deeply reflective of his post-Buzzcocks projects like Magazine and Luxuria, offering a unique fusion of post-punk energy and electronic innovation. The original album was a homegrown project, recorded in their London residences using basic technology, which added an intimate and unpolished quality that resonated with fans and critics alike.
In addition to the refreshed Buzzkunst tracks, ‘Special Sauce / Designoid’ introduces listeners to Designoid, a mini-album comprising 11 never-before-released archival recordings from the same creative period. These tracks, instrumental and vocal alike, showcase the idiosyncratic nature of Devoto’s artistry, including a contemporary reworking of “Breakdown,” a song that originally appeared on the Buzzcocks’ seminal Spiral Scratch EP. This addition to the release not only enriches the listening experience but also solidifies the lasting impact of Shelley and Devoto’s collaborative efforts.
This release serves as both a tribute to and a continuation of Shelley and Devoto’s legacy, offering fans old and new a chance to experience their work in a new light. As the music world continues to revisit and revere the post-punk pioneers, ‘Special Sauce / Designoid’ stands as a testament to the duo’s enduring influence and the timeless nature of their innovation.
