Jeff And Jane Hudson - Flesh - Dark Entries, Captured Tracks - DE-014, DE-015, CT-110

Now for a quick flight to Boston to catch up with Jeff and Jane Hudson. For this journey Dark Entries have teamed up with Captured Tracks to resuscitate J&J’s back catalogue. The 2LP not only features the seminal Flesh album of 1983, but a host of other obscurities from 7”s and Eps. This is a mammoth twenty track operation and a real exploration of Jeff and Jane Hudson. The world of this duo is introduced through the subtle tones of “3×3,” with industrial echoes and absorbing vocals. The pace quickens with the electro pop energy of “Fat of the Land.” J&J openly investigate the abilities of their new machines, turning their hands at synth wave whilst inserting some of the traditional sounds of post punk alongside the gleaming new ideas of factory music. Many of the tracks still sound well beyond their time, such as “Help Me” having an E.M.A.K. futurism to it. Some of the sinister worries of the age come to a head, captured in “Operating Instructions” and “Los Alamos.” The second 12”, which opens with the ’81 EP World Trade has a much earlier electronic feel. The levels of experimentation are much higher, with the twosome jumping across styles and sounds. Nevertheless, a social commentary dissects the abstraction. The synth pop orientation returns with “Special World”, as arches of Roland synths bridge man and machine. J&J’s first 7” occupies the last two pieces of the album. The warbling lyrics and sounds of “No Clubs” leads into the clean and darkly lit “Dream”, Jane’s sultry vocals mixing beautifully with cold mechanical sounds.