SYSTEMS BREAKING DOWN

2022 Repress Track List: A1 : Systems Breaking Down (7:11) B1 : Systems Breaking Down (Dance Version) (6:55) Release Notes: 20JazzFunkGreats: šThe sound of mascara and tears, a flood streaming black across the pale landscape of a trembling face, lovely music and, oh, so sad.› Be With continue their 12" series by reissuing Anna™s seminal cosmic coldwave bomb šSystems Breaking Down›. Originally released in 1982, it™s undoubtedly one of the most mysterious singles of the period. Remarkably, it was released on a major label - RCA - yet very little is known about the shadowy Anna. Despite being recorded nearly 35 years ago, it still sounds strikingly vital. Both sonically relevant and lyrically prescient, it™s hard to imagine a more apposite track to soundtrack the dark days we currently occupy. A masterful study in dread, describing the gentle collapse of all structures, it is set against a backdrop of eerie, synth-heavy electronics. Produced by 80s disco-pop mavericks Geraint Hughes and Ken Leray, side A contains the epic synth-pop original, all heart-wrenching atmosphere and haunting vocals. Side B wins again, however. The more uptempo šDance Version› is a dubbed-out dark-disco tour-de-force, with cut-up vocals drifting in and out of a bassline that throbs like Carpenter™s best (think Assault on Precinct 13) and a palette of head-nod minimal wave. Both sought-after mixes have been remastered for vinyl by Simon Francis and are housed in a replica jacket of the maxi original. Outstanding.