Creation (The Early Years 1988-1993)

Artists

Album Info

Release Date: 2018-12-10

Label: Nile Records Australia

Limited edition box set, hand-numbered and limited to 60 copies.
The Box set contains:
- "Sketches & Blurred Visions (Demos And Sessions 1988-1993)" 3 disc edition, packaged in a 6-panel Eco-wallet
- "As Time Goes By" 2CD, packaged in a 4-panel Eco-wallet
- USB memory stick "Ikon" including extra 51 tracks not on the CD's along with the 5 discs in wav. format
- "As Time Goes By" T-shirt
- Creation Poster
- Reproduction of the ticket for Death In The Dark's first gig

The "Sketches & Blurred Visions" 3 disc edition and the "As Time Goes By" 2CD were also released separately.
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CD1, CD2 and DVD: "Sketches & Blurred Visions (Demos And Sessions 1988-1993)"
Packaging: 6-panel Eco-wallet
CD1-1 to CD1-4: demos recorded at various locations 1988
CD1-5: rehearsal recorded at Frontline Sound March 1989
CD1-6 & CD1-7: rehearsal recorded in Michaels lounge room March 1989
CD1-8 to CD1-10: rehearsal recorded at Frontline Sound July 1989
CD1-11: demo recorded at Chris's house July 1989
CD1-12: demo recorded at Chris's house June 1990
4 Track recordings mixed and restored by [...] at Toyland Studios 2018

CD2-1 to CD2-5: home demos recorded September 1991
CD2-6: home demo recorded October 1991
CD2-7: rehearsal Frontline Sound December 1991
CD2-8 to CD2-10: recorded at the Dane Centre July 1992
CD2-11: rehearsal the Dane Centre July 1992
CD2-12 & CD2-13: home demos July 1992
CD2-14: rehearsal the Dane Centre November 1992
CD2-15 & CD2-16: demos recorded at Troy Balance March 1993
8 Track recordings mixed and restored by [...] at Toyland Studios 2018

The DVD contains 4 chapter and the tracks are not directly playable, only the chapter.
DVD-1: live at The Arthouse Melbourne 11.12.1991
DVD-2: live at The Council Hall Coburg 13.12.1991
DVD-3: various home movies 1991-1993
DVD-4: home video 1992
Recorded on HD8 digital tapes edited and mastered by [...] at Toyland Studios 2018

CD3 & CD4: "As Time Goes By (The Original Ikon) (Remixed And Remastered)"
Packaging: 4-panel Eco-wallet
Tracks CD4-13 to CD4-18 are unlisted hidden tracks and comes from a demotape from May 1992, which is previously unreleased.
CD3 recorded at Frontline Sound Melbourne Australia January 1992
Remixed and mastered by [...] at Toyland Studios Melbourne 2016
CD4 recorded at The Arthouse Melbourne on 1.1.1992
Recorded on 8 track cassette by [...]
© Copyright 2018 Nile Records Australia. Marketed by Dark Vinyl Germany Limited Edition.
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The following details are copied from the USB text files:

• USB-1 to USB-12 "Death In The Dark 1988-1990 CD"
4 track recordings engineered by Chris McCarter
Digital transfer mixing and mastering by Adam Calaitzis at Toyland Studios 2018

The band thought they would never venture into the vaults and release any Death In The Dark material, however Chris agreed on this 30th anniversary occassion that it was time for the world too hear the roots, friendships no expectations, just exploring playing musical instruments.
They never thought they would release a single at this point, let aloe multiple albums and tours around the world.
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• USB-13 to USB-28 "IKON 'Sketches 1991-1993' "
All songs recorded on Chris's 8 track between 1991-1993
Mixed and mastered by Adam Calaitzis at Toyland Studios 2018

Mid 1991, Chris purchased an 8 track recorder, which cost a complete fortune. So most rehearsals were recorded for fun and to get an idea about the bands progression.
Chris never through anything out, so it was a huge task to get through boxes of tapes to find the best versions of most of these songs.
Some of this material was only ever played once, the entire band creating as the tape was recording, every now and then, IKON would go back in time and find a track that was lost and try it again.
'For Eterntiy' was only ever written as a rough demo, in 1995, Chris found the tape and thought it would be great to try again.
He same goes for 'Burning Desire', that was written in 1992 and never used again until 2002.
The band are proud of their roots, we hope you can follow their journey from high school friends, to one of Australia's most succesful darkwave/gothic bands of this generation.
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• USB-29 to USB-32 " 'Blurred Visions' video material"
[USB-29] Tracks 1-5 recorded live at IKON's debut gig at The Arthouse Melbourne 11.12.1991
[USB-30] Tracks 6-11 recorded live at IKON's second gig at The Council Hall in Coburg 13.11.1991
Home movies recorded during rehearsals and session 1991, 1993
'Never Ending' home video clip, was done as a joke at Chris's place June 1992
All footage edited and mastered by Adam Calaitzis at Toyland Studios 2018

So much video footage was taken of the band over this period. Of course, no-one ever expected it to be released.
What was quite reasonable quality technology at the time, has been well and truly overtaken by today's large screen technology.
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• USB-33 to USB-40 "As Time Goes By" CD1
Recorded at Frontline Sound Studios Melbourne January 1992
16 track reel to reel recording engineered by Sandro Barbagallo
Remixed and mastered by Adam Calaitzis at Toyland Studios Melbourne July 2016
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• USB-41 to USB-52 "As Time Goes By" CD2 (without the 6 hidden tracks)
Recorded live at The Arthouse Melbourne 1.1.1992
8 track recording by Chris McCarter
Mixed and mastered by Adam Calaitzis at Toyland Studios 2001

Who organises a gig on New Years day, evening? IKON do. Even though the band was hung over from the night before, from being out together, this gig actually goes down as one of the best recordings and performances, even though there was hardly anyone there.
Most likely partners and a handful of friends. A mix down by Chris in 1992 of 'As Time Goes By', was used as the b-side of 'Why', in desperation.
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• USB-53 to USB-63 "Death In The Dark Odditities 1988-1989"
USB-53: recorded at Chris's house
USB-54 & 55: recorded at Dawson St. Rehearsal Studios Brunswick
USB-56 & 57 home 4 track demos
USB-58: recorded in Michael's lounge room Coburg
USB-59 to USB-62: Rehearsal at Frontline Sound 4-track
USB-63: home 4 track demo, master lost
All songs mastered by Adam Calaitzis 2018

A selection of material from rehearsal tapes and sessions dating back to the very start, that were rejected for the deluxe 3 disc set.
Sadly the master tape for 'The Last Song' is long gone, hard to imagaine it was written way back then, rediscovered by Chris in 2013 and included on 'Everyone, Everything, Everywhere, Ends' album.
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• USB-64 to USB-82 "Ikon Oddities 1991-1993"
8 track demos and rehearsals engineered by Chris McCarter
All songs mixed and edited by Adam Calaitzis at Toyland Studios Melbourne 2018

With Chris going through his tape collection over the last 2 years, so much extra material was found for the 'Sketches & Blurred Visions' release, it was impossible to include it all on the release. So the USB idea was once again utilized,so nothing was wasted. This gives an even more indepth view into the development of the band.
Going from Death In The Dark to IKON, the progression once Maurice joined the band.
Tracks USB-80 to USB-82, were from the aborted attempt by the band to record their debut album themselves.
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• USB-83 to USB-91 "Death In The Dark live at the Royal Artillery Hotel Melbourne 25.9.1989"
Recorded low-fi on a walkman by Maurice Molella
Mastered by Adam Calaitzis at Toyland Studios 2018


As Death In The Dark, not so many live shows were performed. We had fun playing covers and struggling our own songs.
Most of our shows were recorded by Maurice, who went on to become our drummer 2 years later.
Like majority of the material on this release, it gives an insight into the foundation stones of IKON.
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• USB-92 to USB-103 "IKON-Live at The Arthouse 22.9.1992"
Recorded on 8 track by Chris McCarter
Mixed and mastered by Adam Calaitzis at Toyland Studios 2017

One of IKON's many gigs at The Arthouse in Melbourne. Quiet a few of the shows were recorded by Chris on his 8 track which was a lot of hard work to play and record at the same time. Took away from the performance. This is a previously unreleased recording trying out some new material.
'Burning Desire', was written the week before and only ever played live once during the early years of IKON.
The cover of 'Transmission', IKON played live from time to time. This recording was overloooked, as it's quite rough and not as good sounding as the New Years Day one.

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