richard h kirk: never lose your shadow

12" EP of tracks from the archives of Sheffield based electronic music legend Richard H. Kirk, entitled Never Lose Your Shadow. Kirk first came to prominence in the 1970s as a member of the seminal industrial band Cabaret Voltaire. His first release as a solo artist, Disposable Half-Truths, came out in 1980 on Throbbing Gristle's Industrial Records label and since then he developed a solo career parallel to the band until its dissolution in 1994. On the EP, we compile tracks originally recorded between 1978 and 1987, which have never before been released on vinyl. The title track, 'Never Lose Your Shadow' blurs the lines between harsh industrial, dance floor, and no wave. This is one we've been playing out for a while now and wondering why it hadn't been pressed on vinyl. The other three tracks are more experimental and reference ideas Kirk was exploring in Cabaret Voltaire at the time. When asked specifically about this collection, Kirk explains that 'none of the tracks were outtakes for Cabaret Voltaire, they were always solo tracks, although I think Never Lose Your Shadow was very much a blueprint for the material that Cabaret Voltaire recorded for Virgin / Some Bizarre between 1983-85. The minimal sequencer / drum machine lockdown that I used later for Cabaret Voltaire was pioneered on this track. Lyrically, Never Lose Your Shadow was inspired by the 1971 speed freak road movie Vanishing Point, amongst other things.' The EP is limited to 999 hand-numbered copies.