Platfo
tfo
Building
A Dream follows
up the highly successful 2012 release Twilight
Café - (The Demo Collection 1981-1985)
which received glowing reviews in Record
Collector magazine
and on Pennyblackmusic
(‘‘one of the best collections of songs you will hear all
year’’).
This new release brings
together further recordings by Susan Fassbender and Kay Russell
including demos remastered from cassette as well as some vinyl
tracks.
In
addition to this second volume of studio performances, June 17th also sees the release of a 10 track live album, recorded in 1981.
Once
again, these recordings are released with approval of both the
Fassbender family and Kay Russell.
Gabriella
Baggio writes:
I
remember when my sisters, my dad and I went to visit Kay in
Castleford. I was about 14 at the time and we sat in Kay’s living
room watching VHS tapes of Fassbender-Russell television footage. It
was amazing to see our mother, Susan Fassbender, and Kay Russell in
action with such energy on stage as we laughed and sang along to
their hit, ‘Twilight
Café‘.
They were such a talented pair and I began to wonder about how much
music they must have written and recorded that perhaps would never be
heard again.
Ten
years later, ‘The
Demo Collection’
was released – a 20 track album containing 16 tracks I had never
heard. It brought me great pleasure to hear the fruit of my mother’s
talent and creativity, something I never thought would happen.
I was in
disbelief when Platform Records got in touch again to say that they
would like to release a further two albums in 2016. I was elated at
the prospect of hearing more music and couldn’t wait to listen.
It is a blessing and a huge privilege to be able to hear more of my
late mother’s work, and for the possibility of hearing her voice
whenever I like. It gives me enormous pride to present two fantastic,
digitally remastered albums, which showcase the incredibly diverse
range of talent and genres that Susan Fassbender and Kay Russell
experimented with in the early 80s. Thank you to Platform Records
for making this possible and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
Listen to 'Sky Flier'
Listen to 'Sky Flier'
Kay Russell (aka Kay Brown) recalls her partnership with Susan:
I met Susan Fassbender
by chance in 1980. She wanted me to hear her play the piano. I was
interested, as I could only play guitar. She astonished me with her
ability.
We decided to write
songs together. At first, there were only the two of us, composing. I
took her to a music shop to try out a synthesizer, whilst I played
guitar. A man walked in and listened. He became our first manager. He
found us three places to rehearse.
Our manager brought in
a team of salesmen. They didn't like what we were playing, because it
was too 'heavy metal' sounding. So we played them 'Twilight Cafe'. It
was released on vinyl, and charted, to an extent.
We undertook a short
tour of the U.K, with some media appearances in Europe. The best
recording studio we used was called 'Farmyard', and the producer was
Mike Howlett. Two singles followed, but were not as successful.
We had written a full
album of songs, but the recording contract was cancelled. The band
split up, after which Susan and I got married to our boyfriends and
had children. But we did continue to compose together until Susan
died at a young age. I shall never forget this immensely talented
person. And I don't think others will either.
It is thanks to
Platform Records that the remaining songs are being given a digital
release.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Building A Dream (The Demo Collection Volume 2)
and Live
in Concert (1981)
by Susan Fassbender & Kay Russell, are released on Platform
Records - June 17th 2016. Available
from all major download outlets.
Pre-Order Links:
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/building-dream-demo-collection/id1113050168 https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/live-in-concert-1981/id1113969095
Pre-Order Links:
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/building-dream-demo-collection/id1113050168 https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/live-in-concert-1981/id1113969095
Sound
processing, mastering, track compilation and packshot design by Ewan
McKenzie. With thanks to Kay Russell and the Baggio family.
www.platformrecords.co.uk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
