Needle Time

  Soft Verdict - Struggle For Pleasure [TWI 189 BEL 1983 24-Bit FLAC] Is this avantgarde or is this modern classical? This is music for piano, clarinet & harp with random, occasional and stark electronics, after all Belgium is a nation of quirks. Flemish composer Wim Mertens is responsible for writing some of the most beautiful music recorded over the past four decades. No more so than on the title track and the single Close Cover . If you don't think that know these two tracks ...you possibly already do!  I have often wondered what if Mertens and Vini Reilly ever recorded together, a joint album could have been just wonderful. I last ripped this album in 2019, this is a brand new rip which reveals much more of the music from vinyl at 176.4kHz. A1 Tourtour A2 Struggle For Pleasure A3 Salernes B1 Close Cover B2 Bresque B3 Gentleman Of Leisure

  Soft Verdict - For Amusement Only [TWI 049 BEL 1982 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] Subtitled - The Sound Of Pinball Machines Here is something very different which should appeal to all those who appreciate experimental electronica. I thought a brand new very high resolution rip would be totally nuts, but I did it anyway! Soft Verdict were originally the experimental Flemish duo of Wim Mertens and Gust De Meyer. For Amusement Only was their debut for Les Disques Du Crépuscule recorded in May 1981 and released on cassette and vinyl. Subsequent reissues have been on compact disc, albeit listed as Mertens' solo work. De Meyer went onto release just one more recording on a Casio VL Tone and is now a Professor of Culture at a Leuven University, Mertens took the project beyond the realms of modern classical music and is now a highly revered concert pianist and composer. The sleeve notes tell you exactly what to expect... For Amusement Only is using electronical potential of pinball machines...

Soft Verdict - At Home b/w Not At Home [TWI 047 BEL 1982 24-Bit FLAC] Something evocative and highly interesting from Soft Verdict. Their first single was this 12" Home/Not At Home which mixes modern classical & electronica with more conventional bass guitar, sax and drums into two very unique pieces of music. Lovers of Dif Juz, The Durutti Column and Tuxedomoon should be all over this, especially as it also features Peter Principle on bass guitar. A1 At Home B1 Not At Home

Soft Verdict - Struggle For Pleasure [TWI 189 BEL 1983 24-Bit FLAC] Is this avant garde or is this modern classical? Flemish composer Wim Mertens is responsible for some of the most beautiful music recorded over the past three and a half decades. No more so than on the title track and the single Close Cover . If you don't know these two tracks ...you need to! I have often wondered if Mertens and Vini Reilly ever recorded together, a joint album would have been just amazing. Just kick off your shoes after a hectic festive season, put your feet up and put this album on the stereo. Enjoy! A1 Tourtour A2 Struggle For Pleasure A3 Salernes B1 Close Cover B2 Bresque B3 Gentleman Of Leisure

Soft Verdict - For Amusement Only [TWI 049 BEL 1982 24-Bit FLAC] The sound of pinball machines. After a brief hiatus from the world of blogging, here is something very different which should appeal to all those who appreciate experimental electronica. Soft Verdict were originally the experimental duo of Wim Mertens and Gust De Meyer. For Amusement Only was their debut for Les Disques Du Crépuscule recorded in May 1981 and released on cassette and vinyl. Subsequent reissues have been on compact disc. listed as Mertens' solo work.  The sleeve notes tell you exactly what to expect... For Amusement Only is using electronical potential of pinball machines' micro-processors as a creative force of music, structuring the sound produced by the course of a pinball into an original electronical language. For Amusement Only is the extension of the consumer's attitude towards entertainment games.... An aesthetic experience taking pleasures out of their context and giv...