Powerman – Lost Tribe

Released in 1983 and recorded at Mark Freeman’s Battery Sound recording studio, where Arthur Russell operated out of in the early to mid-1980s, Lost Tribe is an essential piece of NYC oddball new wave featuring the cult cellist himself. Along with Russell, Mark Freeman also employs many of the city’s best avant-dance musicians to help produce his extremely percussive and synth-laden pop fantasy. All four tracks here showcase Mark Freeman’s studio wizardry, his outside-the-box “Battery Sound,” and his iconic deep synth explorations, but must-listen is the epic 13-minute title track “Lost Tribe,” an intensely rhythmic head trip into distorted guitars, massive tom fills, and a blustering chuggy dance groove. ***Tip! One of our favorite NYC reissue labels, RVNG Intl., has sealed deadstock copies on their Bandcamp and recently remastered/reissued it digitally. Get it while you can! Highly recommended for fans of the Battery Sound imprint, Arthur Russell, Roland P. Young, and Electric Party.

-DM

Recommended – Full Listen