A Guide to The Mammoth & Prodigious Work by Enigmatic & Experimental Gods: The Legendary Pink Dots & Edward Ka-Spel. Pt. 1: 1981-2000
- Shark
- Apr 24
- 12 min read
Updated: May 9
With Understanding Comes Appreciation
One of the most prolific careers in music history is the career of virtuoso and enigmatic experimentalist Edward Ka-Spel and his Legendary Pink Dots (and countless of solo/side projects and collaborations), whose music ranges through numerous music styles such Alternative/Indie Rock, Experimental, Neo-Psychedelia, Post-Punk, Synth Pop, Ambient, Industrial, Minimal Wave, Electronic and many others that people have tried to label with very little success. With over 400 recordings (studio, live, compilations and countless formats), this post attempts to guide fans of any kind —curious, casual, die-hard— to the massive official discography of the Legendary Pink Dots and the solo/side projects by his founder Edward Ka-Spel. Since the catalog is immensely large, I have divided the post in four parts based on time (decades); i.e. since 1980's when Edward started to release recordings to date; so, follow this post and subscribe to my blog to stay tuned, because our Experimentalist God is constantly releasing new material. This first delivery considers his work from 1981 to 2000. The second part will consider his work through 2000's, the third through 2010's and the fourth through 2020's (to date). I’m also sharing a Public Playlist which gathers all the official catalog listed in these series of posts and that is available for streaming on Apple Music. On Pt. 4, I will also share public playlists on Apple Music which will gather each Type of the albums available for streaming decscribed below—Official Studio Album Playlist, Official Live Album Playlist, Official Compilation Album Playlist, etc. The latter will save you days if not weeks of manual assembling. Again, follow this post and subscribe to my blog to stay tuned.
But before listing and giving details on how the catalog was built, let's take a brief review of the career of The Legendary Pink Dots and his enigmatic founder Edward K-Spel.
The Legendary Pink Dots are an influential, staggeringly prolific group led by enigmatic frontman Edward Ka-Spel. Emerging from the early-'80s post-punk underground and sometimes categorized as industrial due to associations with bands like Skinny Puppy, the group's music is nearly impossible to pin down, drawing from Krautrock, ambient, folk, synth pop, and numerous other styles. The Dots' music is by turns melodic pop and exotic psychedelia, with classical influences, sampling, and relentlessly dark, violent, apocalyptic lyrics. Ka-Spel's rhotacistic vocals are instantly recognizable, and somewhat resemble a cross between Syd Barrett and Coil's John Balance. Aside from the group's only two constant members, Ka-Spel and keyboard player Phil Knight (also known as the Silverman), the Dots have consisted of a shifting supporting cast over the years, including Canadian dub reggae producer Ryan Moore (Twilight Circus), engineer Raymond Steeg, and guitarist Erik Drost. The group has toured relentlessly since its inception, and has released well over a hundred albums, EPs, and compilations on dozens of labels, including numerous limited cassettes and CD-Rs. Early releases such as 1982's Brighter Now consisted of quirky, minimal synth pop, and their work grew more ambitious and mystical, with expanded instrumentation and more adventurous, free-form song structures. The group released some of their best-known releases, including 1988's The Golden Age and 1991's The Maria Dimension (newcomers, the latter is a safe place to start) on Play It Again Sam before switching to Soleilmoon with 1995's From Here You'll Watch the World Go By, additionally releasing material on ROIR, Beta-lactam Ring, and other labels throughout the coming decades. An increasing number of digital releases appeared during the 2010s, including live recordings and archival collections, while studio albums appeared on Rustblade (10 to the Power of 9, 2014) and Metropolis (Pages of Aquarius, 2016).
Formed in London in 1980, the Legendary Pink Dots began contributing to underground compilations and issuing cassettes of dark, twisted synth pop in 1981, including Chemical Playschool 1+2 and Kleine Krieg, both on Mirrordot. Official debut LP Brighter Now was released by In Phaze Records in 1982. Curse followed in 1983, as the group continued releasing cassettes and further volumes of Chemical Playschool. Politically fueled LP The Tower appeared in 1984, and Ka-Spel has regarded the album as one of the group's most significant works; when the album failed to make a significant impact in the Dots' home country, they moved to Amsterdam, where they remained, incorporating many musicians from the Dutch underground music scene.
Also in 1984, Belgian label Play It Again Sam signed LPD; the label's first release was the group's mini-album Faces in the Fire. The band remained on PIAS into the '90s, releasing much of its best material (1988's The Golden Age, 1990's Crushed Velvet Apocalypse, 1991's The Maria Dimension) on the label. The group's sound evolved significantly, embracing non-electronic instruments such as saxophones and strings, as well as live drums. Ever prolific, Ka-Spel also issued numerous solo albums and experiments on smaller labels, and participated in many side projects, most notable the Tear Garden (with Skinny Puppy's cEvin Key) and Mimir (with Christoph Heemann).
Following 1994's 9 Lives to Wonder, the Pink Dots ended their association with Play It Again Sam. Released in 1995, From Here You'll Watch the World Go By was their first release on Soleilmoon. Several more albums would appear on the label, as well as its sublabel Caciocavallo, which reissued much of the band's back catalog. Even as the Legendary Pink Dots neared their two-decade anniversary, the group continued to tour Europe and America quite consistently, appreciated by several generations of dark industrial/goth audiences (and documented by the 2000 live album Farewell, Milky Way). The 2002 album All the King's Horses was Ka-Spel's direct response to the September 11, 2001 attacks, and was one of the group's most melancholy releases. Its sister album, All the King's Men, was the Dots' first release on R.O.I.R., which would release a few of the group's more accessible releases. Poppy Variations appeared on Terminal Kaleidoscope in 2004, with the vinyl edition issued by Beta-lactam Ring Records, which has released much of Ka-Spel's solo output since 2000.
After releasing Your Children Placate You from Premature Graves on R.O.I.R. in the spring of 2006, the band embarked on its 25th anniversary tour. The more experimental Alchemical Playschool surfaced on Caciocavallo that year. After two more albums for R.O.I.R. (2008's Plutonium Blonde, 2010's Seconds Late for the Brighton Line), the group released Chemical Playschool 15 on Rustblade and two CD-R releases, The Creature That Tasted Sound and Taos Hum. The Dots remastered and digitally reissued nearly their entire back catalog in 2013, including several solo albums and side projects as well as several new releases of outtakes, live performances, and other archival material. A few more limited albums appeared on Beta-lactam Ring and Rustblade that year, while Metropolis issued the group's proper studio effort The Gethsemane Option. 10 to the Power of 9 appeared on Rustblade in 2014. The label also released The Shock Exchange, LPD's limited split LP with kETvECTOR, in 2015. Studio album Pages of Aquarius was released by Metropolis in 2016, while The Maria Sessions appeared on Soleilmoon that year. Mini-album The Tunnel was issued by Noise Noise Noise Records in 2018, and Dutch label Des Astres d'Or released 8118 the same year. In 2019, Cleopatra released LPD's 2015 limited album Five Days along with its instrumentals as Five Days... Complete, in addition to issuing an expanded CD version of 2013 digital release Come Out from the Shadows II. Obviously as you will see out there is way more, but let's go to the catalog now.
Each album will show you some key information as follows:
Official Numbering
The catalog is ordered accordingly to the original release date.
Year
Titles are listed under the year of their original release date.
Streaming
Availability for streaming on Apple Music.
Click Here to be redirected to the Playlist of The Entire Offcial Discography of TLPD & Edward Ka-Spel' Side Projects which are available for streaming on Apple Music.
Artist
LPD- The Legendary Pink Dots
DB- Dustbombers (Erik Drost)
EKS- Edward Ka-Spel
MdK- Martijn de Kleer
MMR- Mimir
NVH- Niels van Hoorn
OS- Orbit Service (Randall Frazier)
SLV- The Silverman
TC- Twilight Circus (Ryan Moore)
TG- The Tear Garden
Other*- Other projects and collaborations involving The Dots will have an asterisk and a short description.
The solo projects listed here are limited to the releases that were made during the time that the musician was in the band.
Titles
Many of the releases in this list were limited editions made for a particular event or with unique packaging and may no longer be available, or very difficult to find. Titles are often re-released after a time in a more general or current format. Conversely, The Dots also release new material on older formats such as LP, cassette and in one case, on 8-track.
I'm sharing the links of the reviews of each album at The Official LPD web page. I'm also sharing the Bandcamp links of each album in case you want to stream and/or buy your fav album.
Type
Studio
Live
Compilation LP/Single Video Side (This refers to side/solo/collaboration projects)
Formats
8-track, tape (cassette), 7″, 10″ & 12″ vinyl LP, CD, CD-r, MP3 (digital file), VHS, DVD, DVDr, Book
With each title is a list of all the formats that it has been released on at one time or other.
Disclosure
Most part of the information presented here, was taken from reliable sources like The Official LPD Web Page, nevertheless it is not exempt of inaccurate or erroneous data, so if you find errors or inexact information let me know to correct it. I'll really appriciate it.
# | TITLE | YEAR | TYPE | ARTIST | STREAM | FORMAT |
1. | Kleine Krieg info | 1981 | Studio | LPD | No | 90 min. tape/CDr/CD |
2. | Dots on the Eyes info | 1981 | Compilation | LPD | No | 30 min. tape |
3. | 1981 | Compilation | LPD | Yes | 2×90 min. tapes/MP3 | |
4. | 1981 | Studio | LPD | No | 60 min. tape / MP3 / CD-R | |
5. | 1982 | Studio | LPD | Yes | LP/CD/MP3 | |
6. | 1982 | Studio | LPD | No | 60 min. tape/ MP3/CDr/LP+7″ | |
7. | 1982 | Studio | LPD | No | 45 min. tape | |
8. | 1982 | Studio | LPD | Yes | 30 min. tape/MP3/CDr | |
9. | 1983 | Studio | LPD | Yes | LP/CD/MP3 | |
10. | 1983 | Studio | LPD | Yes | 2×90 min. tapes/CD/MP3/4xCDR | |
11. | 1983 | Studio | LPD | No | 60 min. tape/CD/MP3/CDR | |
12. | 1984 | Live | LPD | Yes | LP/CD/MP3 | |
13. | 1984 | LP/Single | LPD | Yes | EP/CD/MP3 | |
14. | 1984 | Studio | LPD | Yes | LP/CD/MP3 | |
15. | Dance China Doll info | 1984 | Side | EKS | No | EP/CD/MP3 |
16. | 1984 | Side | EKS | No | LP/CD/MP3 | |
17. | Primeval Waltz *Moisten Before Use (The Silverman and Clive Richards) info | 1984 | Side | MBU* (SLV) | No | 60 min. tape/CDr |
18. | 1985 | Studio | LPD | Yes | 30 min. tape/CD/MP3/ CDr | |
19. | 1985 | Live | LPD | No | 60 min. tape/CD/MP3 | |
20. | 1985 | Studio | LPD | Yes | LP/CD/MP3 | |
21. | 1985 | Side | EKS | Yes | LP/CD/MP3 | |
22. | 1985 | Side | EKS | Yes | LP/CD/MP3 | |
23. | 1986 | LP/Single | LPD | No | EP/CD/MP3 (The Lovers) | |
24. | 1986 | Studio | LPD | Yes | LP/CD/MP3 | |
25. | 1986 | Side | TG | Yes | mini LPCD/MP3 (Tired Eyes…) | |
26. | 1987 | LP/Single | LPD | No | 7″ | |
27. | 1987 | Side | EKS | No | LP/CD/MP3 | |
28. | Apples (Big!) China Doll info | 1987 | Side | EKS | No | 46 min. tape |
29. | 1987 | Side | TG | Yes | LP/CD/MP3 | |
30. | 1988 | Studio | LPD | Yes | LP/CD/MP3 | |
31. | Underglass info | 1988 | LP/Single | LPD | Yes | EPCD/MP3 (Any Day Now) |
32. | 1988 | LP/Single | LPD | Yes | 60 min. tape/CRr/MP3 | |
33. | 1988 | Live | LPD | Yes | 60 min. tape/CDr/MP3 | |
34. | 1988 | Compilation | LPD | Yes | 90 min. tape/CRr/2xCDr/ MP3 | |
35. | Traumstadt 1 (retrospective) info | 1988 | Compilation | LPD | No | 90 min. tape/CD |
36. | 1988 | Live | LPD | Yes | 90 min. tape | |
37. | Stone Circles (compilation) info | 1988 | Compilation | LPD | Yes | LP/CD |
38. | 1988 | Side | EKS | Yes | LP/CD | |
39. | 1989 | Compilation | LPD | Yes | 60 min. tape | |
40. | 1989 | LP/Single | LPD | Yes | EP/CD /MP3 (Golden Age) | |
41. | 1989 | Studio | LPD | Yes | LP/CD/MP3 | |
42. | 1989 | Live | LPD | No | mini LP/CD/MP3 | |
43. | 1989 | Compilation | LPD | Yes | 3xLPs/2xCDs/MP3 | |
44. | Live in Dallas info | 1989 | Video | LPD | No | VHS |
45. | Perhaps We’ll Only See a Thin Blue Line info | 1989 | Side | EKS | No | LP |
46. | 1990 | Studio | LPD | Yes | LP/CD/MP3 | |
47. | Princess Coldheart info | 1990 | LP/Single | LPD | Yes | EP/CD (Crushed Velvet)/MP3 |
48. | 1990 | Studio | LPD | Yes | cassette/CD/MP3/2xLP | |
49. | 1990 | Side | LPD/BQ* | No | 7″/12″ / MP3 | |
50. | 1990 | Side | EKS | Yes | 90 min. tape/CD | |
51. | Live at “Centralino” info | 1991 | Live | LPD | No | 90 min. tape |
52. | 1991 | Studio | LPD | Yes | LP/CD/MP3 | |
53. | 1991 | Side | EKS | Yes | LP/CD/MP3 | |
54. | Mimir info | 1991 |
| MMR | No | 2xLP/CD/MP3 |
55. | 1992 | Studio | LPD | Yes | CD/MP3 | |
56. | 1992 | Side | TG | Yes | tape/CD/MP3 | |
57. | 1993 | Studio | LPD | Yes | LP/CD/MP3 | |
58. | Inferno/Illusion info | 1993 | Side | EKS | No | 10″ pink vinyl |
59. | 1993 | Side | MMR | No | CD/MP3 | |
60. | 1993 | Side | TG | Yes | CD/MP3 | |
61. | 1994 | Studio | LPD | Yes | 2xLP/CD/MP3 | |
62. | Tryst 7 * split cassette with Big City Orchestra info | 1994 | LP/Single | LPD/BCO* | No | cassette |
63. | Siren (music video) info | 1994 | LP/Single | LPD | No | VHS |
64. | 1995 | Studio | LPD | Yes | CD/MP3 | |
65. | 1995 | Compilation | LPD | Yes | 2xCD/MP3 | |
66. | 1995 | Side | EKS | Yes | CD/MP3 | |
67. | 1995 | Side | EKS | Yes | 10″LP/CD/MP3 | |
68. | Down in the City of Heartbreak and Needles Vol. 1 info | 1995 | Side | EKS | No | CD |
69. | 1995 | Side | EKS | Yes | LP/CD/MP3 | |
70. | 1995 | Side | SLV | Yes | 2xLP/CD/CD-r/MP3 | |
71. | In Dub Volume 1 info | 1995 | Side | TC | Yes | LP/CD/MP3 |
72. | Remember Me This Way info | 1996 | LP/Single | LPD | Yes | CDep/MP3 |
73. | 1996 | Compilation | LPD | Yes | CD/MP3 | |
74. | 1996 | Compilation | LPD | No | CD/MP3 | |
75. | Lullabies for the New Dark Ages (Brighter Now, Curse, Faces in the Fire and The Tower in a box set) info | 1996 | Compilation | LPD | No | 4xLP/4xCD |
76. | The Man Who Never Was/Fuse info | 1996 | Side | EKS | No | 7″ |
77. | Kowskijari info | 1996 | Side | EKS | No | CDR |
78. | Other Worlds of Dub info | 1996 | Side | TC | Yes | CD/MP3 |
79. | 1996 | Side | TG | Yes | CD/MP3 | |
80. | 1997 | Studio | LPD | Yes | 2xLP/CD/MP3 | |
81. | Stained Glass Soma Fountains (compilation of early recordings) info | 1997 | Compilation | LPD | Yes | 2xCD/MP3 |
82. | 1997 | Compilation | LPD | No | 2xLP/CD-r | |
83. | Live ’85-’88 info | 1997 | Live | LPD | No | CD-r |
84. | 1997 | Live | LPD | No | CD-r | |
85. | 1997 | Compilation | LPD | Yes | CD/MP3 | |
86. | 1997 | Compilation | LPD | Yes | CD/MP3 | |
87. | Sterre info | 1997 | LP/Single | LPD | No | CDep/MP3 |
88. | Binshaker Dub info | 1997 | Side | TC | Yes | LP/CD/MP3 |
89. | 1998 | Studio | LPD | Yes | 2xLP/CD/MP3 | |
90. | Pre-Millenial Single info | 1998 | LP/Single | LPD | Yes | LP/CDep/MP3 |
91. | Live at La Luna info | 1998 | Video | LPD | No | VHS(NTSC&PAL)/DVD |
92. | 1998 | Side | EKS | No | 2xLP/CD/MP3 | |
93. | Down in the City of Heartbreak and Needles Vol. 2 (collection of early recordings) info | 1998 | Side | EKS | Yes | CD/MP3 |
94. | 1998 | Side | SLV | Yes | CD/MP3 | |
95. | Dub Plate Selection info | 1998 | Side | TC | Yes | LP/CD/MP3 |
96. | 1999 | Live | LPD | Yes | CD/MP3 | |
97. | Poi Poka Mozhesh (anthology) info | 1999 | Compilation | LPD | Yes | CD/MP3 |
98. | Share the Day/Dream Stealer info | 1999 | Side | EKS | No | 7″ |
99. | Third Album info | 1999 | Side | MMR | No | LP/CD |
100. | Dub Plates Volume Two info | 1999 | Side | TC | Yes | LP/CD/MP3 |
101. | Horsie info | 1999 | Side | TC | Yes | LP/CD/MP3 |
102. | 2000 | Live | LPD | Yes | CD/MP3 | |
103. | 2000 | Studio | LPD | Yes | CD/MP3 | |
104. | A Guide to the Legendary Pink Dots Volume 1: The Best Ballads info | 2000 | Compilation | LPD | No | CD |
105. | 2000 | Side | EKS | No | CD/MP3 | |
106. | 2000 | Side | EKS | No | 2xLP/CD/MP3 | |
107. | A Birthmarked Conspiracy info | 2000 | Side | EKS | No | LP |
108. | Dub Voyage info | 2000 | Side | TC | Yes | LP/CD/MP3 |
109. | 2000 | Side | TG | No | CD/MP3 |
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