
Neutron Records started out in Sheffield in the late 70s by Stephen Singleton, Mark White and David Sydenham (later replaced by Martin Fry), then formed as the minimalist electronic avantgarde ensemble Vice Versa. In their anarchic beginnings, the label itself was conceived an independent, marking a distinctive path between music and packaging, regarding their material as manifestos focusing around subversive matters of the post-modern and anti-art principles. Although fairly obscure as the Sheffield underground scene ran predominantly local, Vice Versa still succeeded in gaining particular public attention with their own blend of electronic pop tendencies, largely inspired by the fellow-Sheffield group, Cabaret Voltaire. As purveyors of fine product, Neutron made sharp, intelligent statements for the new decade - Vice Versa's 'Music 4' (7" EP, NT001) is a brilliant piece of electronic pop linked with cut-up statements on social decadence. It also won a famous 'single of the week' line in NME, much to the surprise of the group. Further two releases, even more ambitious in that matter were a set of prints and a manifesto (NT002), to be finally concluded with a semi-legendary six-sided fold out '1980: The First Fifteen Minutes' (7" EP, NT003) - alongside Vice Versa, further three then-local groups - Clock DVA, The Stunt Kites and I'm So Hollow contributed one track each for their first proper vynil exposure before getting their own record deals ever after. Another <b>...</b>
clock dva
heaven 17
human league
anc
martin fry
mark white
stephen singleton
electrozaps