Vinyl: Karen Marks Ash Wednesday Cold Cafe Minimal Synth NM! Microfilm Essendon Airport

ITEM IN AUSTRALIA - INTERNATIONAL POST SHIPPING IS NOT $40

PLEASE WAIT FOR INVOICE BEFORE PAYING – thanks!

All time classic track, and all time cult rarity – the perfect mix for collectors. Herewith an original, first Australian only pressing of the much sought after, highly limited 7” Cold Café by Karen Marks and Ash Wednesday. Obscure then, and near impossible to find now, only a handful of copies have surfaced and this may be the best one ever – exquisite, stone MINT condition!!! You’ll therefore understand the starting price with this particular copy, which was mine but time to pass it on.

The following blurb from ABC Rare Collections give some context:

“ Some fresh, catchy and highly creative music was produced by Ash Wednesday as the 1970s rolled into the '80s. The new decade brought new technology to experiment with and Ash had plenty of ideas about where he might take things.

A cross section of some of the projects he was involved in from this period reveal some groundbreaking and influential post-punk electro-pop and minimal wave music that’s as popular now as it’s ever been.Inspired by William S. Burroughs and his cut-up technique of writing, Ash had begun playing around with synthesisers and tape manipulation when he met Bodhan X busking in Adelaide in 1976. The two hit it off straight away and were performing together within a week as Bodhan’s Silver Train. Drummer Johnny Crash soon joined them and JAB was born. Moving to Melbourne in search of a more lively music scene they soon became part of the thriving punk and new wave-crowd that centred around the Crystal Ballroom in St Kilda.When Bodhan left the group, Ash and Johnny recruited Sean Kelly and the nucleus of the original line-up for Models was in place. Ash quickly developed a songwriting partnership with Kelly and the two began playing around with minimal approaches to music making. The original Models lasted less than 12 months, and shortly after Ash left the band he released a solo single, Love By Numbers, giving an indication of where his music was moving. Ash worked closely with Models and JAB manager Karen Marks who was also interested in minimal electro-pop experimentation. He produced a solo single for her titled Cold Café that got some airplay on Triple R in Melbourne, but little attention anywhere else despite its original sound”.

Little written about Karen, her music and voice is the real story, but no other releases are easily found. This minimal synth gem is a brooding treat, well ahead of its time, it casts a lasting legacy that can be heard in many slowave/electro/shoegaze bands, both the a and b sides are near perfect, as is the vinyl:

Karen Marks, Cold Café / Won’t Wear if for Long:

Cover ~ NM ~ faultless Astor co. die-cut paper sleeve, this is the original issue sleeve, no pic sleeve was ever issued

Vinyl ~ MINT ~ beautiful, glossy shine, brilliant copy, possibly played once if at all – several of the faintest, superfine spindle hairlines only – likely from storage, radiant shine, a perfect copy, the best you will ever see!

Postage $5.00

As always hassle free returns and money back, if you are unhappy in any way please email me, I’m an avid collector I try my best to list accurately, play graded and graded under strong light, please leave feedback after, cheers!

MINT : The record itself is in brand new condition with no surface marks or deterioration in sound quality. The cover and any extra items such as the lyric sheet, booklet or poster are in perfect condition. Records advertised as Sealed or Unplayed should be Mint.

NM : Played a handful of times, several of the faintest hairlines only, perfect sound, full gloss and sheen, cover near new in every way.

EXCELLENT: The record shows some signs of having been played, tiniest dusting of superficial hairlines only, playback near perfect. The cover and packaging might have very slight wear/most minor cosmetic wear only.

VERY GOOD+ : Perfectly acceptable, plays with no skips or jumps, no feelable marks. Hairlines, and other superficial scratches may be evident on the vinyl but sound quality and fidelity still excellent, may have the odd pop and crackle only. Cover will have normal wear, seams and corners in tact, some age deterioration.

VERY GOOD: The record has obviously been played many times, but displays no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable surface marks and the occasional light scratch, some may be feelable but will not sound in repeat-tic manner. Normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items, without any major defects, is acceptable, may have minor seam or other tears but still acceptable integrity.

GOOD: The record has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and feelable scratches that may tic or jump. The cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discolouration, etc.

FAIR: The record is still just playable but has not been cared for properly and displays considerable surface noise, jump etc. The cover and contents will be torn, stained and / or defaced. Collector piece only.

Please wait for invoice – I post in special mailers, with bubble wrap.

Postage: 1 LP within Australia $9.50 – note double albums are 2 LP’s

NOTE – International shipping is not $40 - Shipping Rates for International Buyers :– I pack in heavy cardboard packaging, with bubble wrap and it often brings the weight over 500g – see the 2 LP’s column below - so please wait for invoice, but same as the USA Australia Post International rates are ridiculously expensive, were sorry about this! DOES NOT INCLUDE INSURANCE or TRACKING.

Air Mail takes up to 2 WEEKS for delivery.

Happy bidding!