Favorite all time 4ad releases

Bogotá, Colombia
March 6th 2003

I´ve been reading these last days some messagges from list members who tell 
their favorite releases. Since I discovered the lovely label back in the 
late 80´s here in muy country, I had lots of times where this label has been 
in my time. Giving me something like a soundtrack for my life and great 
pleasure for my eyes.

Back in those years, there were small underground stores in my city where 
people used to buy the records that you would never find in the big stores. 
Their owners used to travel to Europe, United States, Mexico and other 
places to get those releases from artists like The Cure, Depeche Mode, U2, 
Cocteau Twins, Tuxedomoon, Nick Cave, Joy Division, New Order, Talking 
Heads, The Smiths, Dead Can Dance, Violent Femmes, Cocteau Twins, Pixies and 
all the others. I remember how in those days those records were unpayable 
for me. I saved the money my mother gave me in order to buy one or two 
records each week. But sometimes I got late all the best releases were 
already bought.
And suddenly, a guy in a store started to charge bigger prices for the 4AD 
lps. I remember how between 1989 and 1991 the guy brought nice records but 
the prices were unaffordable. When one asked him why those prices were so 
excessive he just said: “Ese disco es  4AD” (This record is 4AD) and people 
did really had to pay high prices. Luckily some other people became aware of 
this problem and they started to import those unreachable records.

I became introduced to The Pixies by a friend who lived for two years in 
Texas and said they were a fine surfy-punk band. I was tired of the guys in 
my school who wanted me to listen to Guns and Roses, Metallica, Testament 
and all those 80 heavy metal bands. So when I listened to it, things were so 
big!!!!

I started searching for those records and was able to get albums by The 
Cocteau Twins, This Mortal Coil, Xmal Deutschland, Gus Gus, Throwing Muses, 
Belly, Kristin Hersh, Colourbox, Lush, Modern English and I may confess that 
I have been enjoying the 4AD sound and the V23 graphic design so much. Those 
artists have been with me in the good and the bad times.

Making a list of favourite releases is sometimes annoying. When you think yo 
have your list finished, then you remember another release you did enjoy and 
then you mess up your mind. But anyways, the experience is worth. So I 
decided myself to make a list of those releases that I have enjoyed so much.

- Cocteau Twins: Treasure. This record sounds like angel speaking with a 
candid voice. Elizabeth Fraser is such a muse!!!!!!
- The Breeders: POD This album sound 100% Female angst and its one of those 
cds that has a perfect measure. 12 songs and les than 35 minutes.
- Unrest: Pefrect Teeth. It´s an introduction to what nice underground 
America used to sound like.
- Lush: Gala These girls  sounded like Elizabeth Fraser´s daughters
- Gus Gus: Polydistortion: An elegant mix of freezing and chilling 
electronica from a big Icelandic combo.
- Pixies: Doolitle: Killer sound, killer lyrics, killer art kill, kil, kill, 
kill!!!!!!
- Dead Can Dance: Spleen and Ideal This something like 4AD´s sacrest and 
holiest album.
- The Mortal Coil: Blood In the times when I listened to this album I used 
to be in love with a nice girl in here. It was great to do that. Now there´s 
no love, but the record still sounds great.
- The Bithday Party: Hits. Whta has happened to me with this record is 
something funny. I´m also into Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds and I was tracing 
Nick´s work until I got into this cd. I bought it and the cd was not a good 
copy. It has problems in some tracks who skipped. Later someone stole it and 
I have never been able to replace it and to even get the original cds by The 
Band!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Budd, Fraser, Guthrie, Raymond: The Moon and The Melodies. This is another 
funny example. I girlfriend has this cd and I copied on tape. It has been 
around with me for more than nine years. And this album sounds like a 
childhood memory. I have cried listening to it. And fuck, do I really wish 
to have it on my cd collection
- Colourbox;: Colourbox (The one with the copulating horses) A nice way to 
get into the 80´s electronica before all the explosion came in the 90´s. But 
this is another wanted item. I held a party back in 2001 for my birthday and 
I got 10 cds stolen.
- Kristin Hersh: Hips and Makers. I had it, I lent it, never got it 
back.!!!!!! Such a nice voice with beautiful songs
- Clan of Xymox: Medusa True, true, a gothic New Order.
- Modern English: After the Snow . I just imagine those 80´s with them.
- Pale Saints: In Ribbons This is one fo those melodic records which 
immediately reminds me od the shoegazing movement. And sometimes I wonder if 
its a boy or a girl who sings.
- Throwing Muses: The Real Ramona It has four songs which sometimes I get to 
listen for more than ten times continuosly.
- Bauhaus: In the Flat  Field. It opened a space, shape some other bands and 
opened the way for Ivo to make his career in this label.


4AD has been such a great way to get into nice music and nice artwotk. I´ve 
got a friend who now lives in London and also likes this label. I remember 
how we used to dream about meeting ivo and his mates in London and buying 
all those cds and releases that we would never get in here. My friend once 
went to the 4AD headquarters and what did he find?? Just a small office with 
two girls who said everything was now managed via the internet. We used to 
think that palce would have big posters and free postcards, lots of promo to 
be given. But maybe those times are gone jaaa

This mailing list has been also a nice place to “meet” people who have 
shared with me nice music. You know who you are!!!!

I think the next topics in here should be:
- Most searched releases.
- Most wished reissues (I´ve been searching for the 1987 Japanese 4AD 
Release with no real luck)
- Nice bands or artists which we would hope to see released on the label (To 
Rococo Rot, Stereolab, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, etc)
- The artists we would like to be signed by the label.
- The highest and lowest prices one has ever payed for a 4AD release.
- Has someone ever been able to meet a 4AD listmember  personally?

Saludos desde Bogotá, Colombia
José Enrique Plata M.

PS Michael Scholtz nice to read you once more!!!!! E-mail me and I´ll give 
you some nice links from latin american bands influenced by our lovely 
label.



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