With “Balancing Chaos”, THE NAMES tear open the songs of “Encore!” and let others rewire their DNA. 13 remixes deconstruct, reshape and reignite the material, before 4 original tracks bring everything back into focus. Not as a return to the past, but as proof of transformation.

The groove has shifted. The perspective has widened. This is not a remix album as accessory. This is a parallel dimension. Sound revisited. Sound reimagined. THE NAMES have always balanced melancholy with movement. Here, they push that tension further than ever. If “Encore!” reaffirmed their timeless identity – born out of the legendary Factory Records era alongside JOY DIVISION and NEW ORDER – then “Balancing Chaos” dares to dismantle that identity and reassemble it in motion. Taking what exists. Breaking it apart. Preserving the core. Creating chaos from order – and then sculpting a new balance.

Jean-Marc Lederman’s tribute-laced take on “Watching For The New World” – dedicated to Annik Honoré – opens the album in cinematic, emotional depth. From there, the pulse intensifies. Ukrainian HARD FACTS injects “Procrastination” with urgent, war-forged club energy. Producer Gil Robert becomes a central architect of the album’s sonic mutations and his multiple reworks slide from retro-futuristic drive to dark electro-pop elegance and shadowy ambient tension. Elsewhere, the reinterpretations spiral outward, coming from an eclectic panel of artists like the unique Mike Theis (known for his work with TRICKY/MASSIVE ATTACK), EDEN, NEVEL, HALCYON LOOP, Rob G. Nichols, DISKODIKTATOR or yet ERROR FATE. Beats harden, basslines deepen, textures freeze into glacial synthscapes or spiral into hypnotic loops. The dancefloor becomes laboratory…

Each remix preserves the lyrical DNA and melodic essence of THE NAMES – those unmistakable vocals, that tension between melancholy and momentum – yet opens unexpected corridors. Words dance on new beats. Meanings shift without betrayal. This is not a polite remix collection. It’s controlled demolition. Familiar melodies fracture, vocals gain new weight, grooves turn physical.

Where “Encore!” celebrated continuity, “Balancing Chaos” celebrates transformation. Chaos is introduced – but never without purpose.  And that’s the point! THE NAMES are not a heritage act protecting a legacy. They are fearless enough to let their songs mutate. “Balancing Chaos” shows a band still unpredictable, still daring, still ready to jump into new dimensions of sound. And what if the jump isn’t forward but sideways?

With “Balancing Chaos”, THE NAMES deliver another “Encore!” but not as you expect it. Not a repetition. A mutation. THE NAMES are not a heritage act revisiting former glories. They are fluid. fearless. open… From post-punk roots to dark electro pop, from ambient abstraction to club propulsion, “Balancing Chaos” shows a band willing to jump onto the dancefloor – and into the unknown – without losing identity. The unpredictability is the point. Reinvention is the tradition.

Prepare for shifting textures. Prepare for shadows illuminated by strobes. Prepare for balance meeting chaos – and finding a new equilibrium.

THE NAMES are timeless. And still moving.

When balance meets chaos, THE NAMES do not fall apart.

They evolve.

The post The Names – Balancing Chaos CD appeared first on Alfa Matrix Store.

But the story didn’t end there. The song’s journey carried it far from its point of origin – straight into a country at war. In Kyiv, Ukrainian producer Serhiy Yasko (HARD FACTS) reshaped “Procrastination” into a tense, hypnotic, dance-floor-driven club version, forged under the pressure of very real conflict. His remix pulses with relentless motion: a dark, propulsive energy where fear, threat, and resilience merge into one powerful groove. “Procrastination… Across the nation… Across the world…” – in Yasko’s hands, these words gain new weight. Hard facts and harsh realities are woven directly into the beat.

This EP brings these two sonic worlds together. A song becomes two – each with its own breath, its own urgency – completed here with rare demo material, a stark and intimate acoustic rendering, and the album club hit “Last Train to Nowhere”, returning like a spectral echo from a distant station.

No room left for delay. No more waiting.

The present is the only reality.

Another captivating eclectic release from cult post punk / cold wave act THE NAMES who have etched their place in music history, once emerging from the iconic Factory Records alongside JOY DIVISION and NEW ORDER…

The post The Names – Procrastination EP appeared first on Alfa Matrix Store.

There are songs that shimmer on the surface, and then there are those that dive – deep, slow, inevitable. “Swimming With Brian Jones” is one of those songs. Not just a track, but a vision. A metaphor soaked in saltwater and memory. A descent through time where guitars ripple like waves and words carry the weight of everything we’ll never say.

Descending a valley, the idea surfaced – sudden, luminous: to swim with Brian Jones. Not the icon, not the myth, but the man – blond, silent, floating just beneath the waterline since July 3, 1969. A final companion in the pool of endings. A quiet metaphor for that one truth we all share, dressed in shimmering echoes from THE NAMES’ early years, when another song called “Swimming” told of youth, hope, and open water.

With “Swimming With Brian Jones”, THE NAMES invite us for one last plunge. A slow-motion ballet in the undertow, where arpeggios clash like light on water, rhythms surge like tides, and – somewhere unexpected – a lone bagpipe appears, drifting from nowhere, calling from the edge of consciousness. What melody did Brian hear as he slipped beneath? Perhaps this one.

The EP unfolds like a submerged dream: the original album version, precise and poignant, full of undercurrents and unfinished thoughts; an exclusive remix by Gilles Robert, awash in dreamy synths and gentle distortion, recasting the song as a fragile trip-pop hallucination; a live version, recorded in Brussels on November 9, 2024 – a moment suspended in time, raw and immediate… and to top it all, a black & white video, filmed under the April sun on a Belgian beach, where sea and sky blur and memories are swallowed by the tide.

As the water rises, the clocks dissolve. The present drifts. We all move slowly toward that last swim.

Will Brian be waiting? Will there be music playing? And when it’s time… will you remember this song?

Another captivating eclectic release from cult act THE NAMES who have etched their place in music history, once emerging from the iconic Factory Records alongside JOY DIVISION and NEW ORDER…

The post The Names – Swimming With Brian Jones EP appeared first on Alfa Matrix Store.

• Noemi Aurora – Kintsugi (Sunburst Vinyl)
• The Ultimated Dreamers – Paradoxical (Transparent Violet Vinyl)
• The Names – Encore! (White Vinyl)

The post Spleen White Sunburst Vinyl Pack (Noemi Aurora, The Ultimate Dreamers, The Names) appeared first on Alfa Matrix Store.

The pack collects NOEMI AURORA’s “Kintsugi” on galaxy-red vinyl, THE ULTIMATE DREAMERS’ “Paradoxical” and THE NAMES’ “Encore!” on red vinyl — three elegant, atmospheric records in one covetable package. A perfect showcase of the Spleen+ aesthetic.

The post Spleen Red Lipstick Vinyl Pack (Noemi Aurora, The Ultimate Dreamers, The Names) appeared first on Alfa Matrix Store.

The pack collects IMPLANT’s “Chaos” 3CD, NOEMI AURORA’s “Kintsugi” 2CD, THE ULTIMATE DREAMERS’ “Paradoxical” and THE NAMES’ “Encore!” — a rich cross-section of electro-industrial, darkwave and post-punk. Four essential records in one irresistible package.

The post Spleen Implanted 4-Cd Pack (Implant, Noemi Aurora, The Ultimate Dreamers, The Names) appeared first on Alfa Matrix Store.

Who better than the legendary Belgian post-punk and new wave pioneers THE NAMES to release a new album titled “Encore!”? This much-anticipated album stands as a testament to their unbreakable commitment to an ever-evolving sound. Since 1977, they’ve stayed true to their unique, eclectic style, captivating fans across the globe who continuously clamor for more.

Emerging from the iconic Factory Records alongside JOY DIVISION and NEW ORDER, THE NAMES have etched their place in music history. With a cult following and a sound that remains as invigorating as ever, “Encore!” continues their journey, offering a fresh milestone in their timeless discography.

Launched with the electrifying “Volume” EP and the bold “Far From the Factories” single, “Encore!” is a sonic tapestry where vintage echoes of the early ’80s meet explorations into futuristic soundscapes. Tracks like “Last Train From Nowhere,” “Touch Touch Touch,” and “Watching For The New World” carry the spirit of the 1980s, while “Sunny Side” and “Inadequacy” channel a nostalgic 1960s vibe. Unexpected gems like “Apophenia,” “Laudanum,” and “Swimming With Brian Jones” highlight their experimental side, while intimate tracks like “Mei Mei” and “A Walk With Miss J” bring moments of reflection. The title track “Encore!” feels like an anthem for the ages, echoing long after the last note.

This is no ordinary album – it’s a vibrant journey through decades of musical influences, weaving together post-punk melancholy, experimental avant-garde, and wistful pop. Atmospheric instrumentation, haunting vocals and striking guitars merge with dynamic synths to create an addictive carousel of sounds that keeps listeners spinning while deciphering hidden allusions in their characteristic convoluted lyrics.

Available in a limited-edition collector’s colored vinyl (150 each respectively in solid red or solid white!) and a stunning digipak CD edition with three exclusive bonus tracks, “Encore!” is a must-have for any fan of melancholic cold wave.

From Brussels, with love and electric fervor – THE NAMES are back.

The post The Names – Encore! (Colour Solid White) Vinyl appeared first on Alfa Matrix Store.

Who better than the legendary Belgian post-punk and new wave pioneers THE NAMES to release a new album titled “Encore!”? This much-anticipated album stands as a testament to their unbreakable commitment to an ever-evolving sound. Since 1977, they’ve stayed true to their unique, eclectic style, captivating fans across the globe who continuously clamor for more.

Emerging from the iconic Factory Records alongside JOY DIVISION and NEW ORDER, THE NAMES have etched their place in music history. With a cult following and a sound that remains as invigorating as ever, “Encore!” continues their journey, offering a fresh milestone in their timeless discography.

Launched with the electrifying “Volume” EP and the bold “Far From the Factories” single, “Encore!” is a sonic tapestry where vintage echoes of the early ’80s meet explorations into futuristic soundscapes. Tracks like “Last Train From Nowhere,” “Touch Touch Touch,” and “Watching For The New World” carry the spirit of the 1980s, while “Sunny Side” and “Inadequacy” channel a nostalgic 1960s vibe. Unexpected gems like “Apophenia,” “Laudanum,” and “Swimming With Brian Jones” highlight their experimental side, while intimate tracks like “Mei Mei” and “A Walk With Miss J” bring moments of reflection. The title track “Encore!” feels like an anthem for the ages, echoing long after the last note.

This is no ordinary album – it’s a vibrant journey through decades of musical influences, weaving together post-punk melancholy, experimental avant-garde, and wistful pop. Atmospheric instrumentation, haunting vocals and striking guitars merge with dynamic synths to create an addictive carousel of sounds that keeps listeners spinning while deciphering hidden allusions in their characteristic convoluted lyrics.

Available in a limited-edition collector’s colored vinyl (150 each respectively in solid red or solid white!) and a stunning digipak CD edition with three exclusive bonus tracks, “Encore!” is a must-have for any fan of melancholic cold wave.

From Brussels, with love and electric fervor – THE NAMES are back.

The post The Names – Encore! (Colour Solid Red) Vinyl appeared first on Alfa Matrix Store.

Who better than the legendary Belgian post-punk and new wave pioneers THE NAMES to release a new album titled “Encore!”? This much-anticipated album stands as a testament to their unbreakable commitment to an ever-evolving sound. Since 1977, they’ve stayed true to their unique, eclectic style, captivating fans across the globe who continuously clamor for more.

Emerging from the iconic Factory Records alongside JOY DIVISION and NEW ORDER, THE NAMES have etched their place in music history. With a cult following and a sound that remains as invigorating as ever, “Encore!” continues their journey, offering a fresh milestone in their timeless discography.

Launched with the electrifying “Volume” EP and the bold “Far From the Factories” single, “Encore!” is a sonic tapestry where vintage echoes of the early ’80s meet explorations into futuristic soundscapes. Tracks like “Last Train From Nowhere,” “Touch Touch Touch,” and “Watching For The New World” carry the spirit of the 1980s, while “Sunny Side” and “Inadequacy” channel a nostalgic 1960s vibe. Unexpected gems like “Apophenia,” “Laudanum,” and “Swimming With Brian Jones” highlight their experimental side, while intimate tracks like “Mei Mei” and “A Walk With Miss J” bring moments of reflection. The title track “Encore!” feels like an anthem for the ages, echoing long after the last note.

This is no ordinary album – it’s a vibrant journey through decades of musical influences, weaving together post-punk melancholy, experimental avant-garde, and wistful pop. Atmospheric instrumentation, haunting vocals and striking guitars merge with dynamic synths to create an addictive carousel of sounds that keeps listeners spinning while deciphering hidden allusions in their characteristic convoluted lyrics.

Available in a limited-edition collector’s colored vinyl (150 each respectively in solid red or solid white!) and a stunning digipak CD edition with three exclusive bonus tracks, “Encore!” is a must-have for any fan of melancholic cold wave.

From Brussels, with love and electric fervor – THE NAMES are back.

The post The Names – Encore! CD appeared first on Alfa Matrix Store.

Kicking off with the beloved single “Far From The Factories“, THE NAMES deliver their signature blend of introspective lyricism and atmospheric instrumentation. It’s a sonic journey from the streets of Manchester to the avant-garde realm of Andy Warhol’s New York City, all captured in an intimate video set against the backdrop of Belgium’s industrial landscape.

Next up, “Mort D’Amour” takes us on a lyrical odyssey through the complexities of love, set to a mesmerizing blend of trip-hop beats and romantic melodies. It’s a tale as old as time, echoing the timeless tragedies of Romeo & Juliet and Tristan & Isolde.

“Watching For The New World” follows suit with its catchy hooks and cinematic grooves, offering a tantalizing glimpse into a future that may not be as bright as it seems.

And just when you think you’ve heard it all, THE NAMES surprise us with “Laudanum”, something completely different (but not too much?), a hauntingly beautiful piano/voice composition that delves into the mysteries of art and literature, narrating mesmerizing explorations of the impact of mind-altering substances on creativity, the whole underscored by Michel Sordinia’s unmistakable vocals.

“This song though was written and played without using any illegal drugs or substances”, adds Michel with a big smile on his face…

With “Volume,” THE NAMES once again prove why they’re legends of the post-punk / new wave scene. So crank up the “Volume”, set it up to eleven and immerse yourself in their unparalleled sound.

Emerging from the iconic Factory Records label alongside the likes of JOY DIVISION and NEW ORDER, THE NAMES have solidified their place in music history. With a dedicated cult following and a sound that’s as fresh as ever, they continue to captivate audiences worldwide.

Don’t miss out on the latest chapter in THE NAMES’ storied career. Experience “Volume” today and prepare to be enchanted.

The post The Names – Volume EP appeared first on Alfa Matrix Store.