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Obscure Desire - Obscure Desire
released on Emotional Rescue, catno# ERC155
6 tracks with a total size of 70.66 mb
published in 2024 and pred on 2025-06-20
file under Electronic / Synth-pop
encoded from WEB FLAC with MPEG-1 Audio Layer III
using LAME 3.100 with 320 kbps, 44.1 kHz, Joint Stereo
source is https://listen.tidal.com/album/434055306
buy at https://emotional-rescue.bandcamp.com
t r a c k s
01. Obscure Desire (English Extended Mix) 08:17
02. Obscure Desire (Harlequin Mix) 05:03
03. Bullet 04:00
04. I Wonder 04:26
05. 4A 04:04
06. Obscure Desire (Instrumental Mix) 04:59
total: 00:30:49
p r o m o s h e e t
Emotional Rescue and Utopia Originals join forces to release
the pop, new wave, funk of Obscure Desire, a one-off project
and EP from effervescent 80s Auckland, New Zealand that saw
three friends come together to make a perfect piece of club
pop history.
Revolving around the musical talent of Andrew Waldergrave, a
trained pianist, music degree drop-out, who moved to the
island's cultural centre of Auckland and emersed himself in
the arts and nightlife scene the city had to offer.
Working at Obscure Desire, a Fashion Boutique meets Salon,
he became friends with Grant Mitchell and Giselle Trezevant,
together forming not a band, but as they saw it, a project
to make a record for their scene and beyond.
Coming from outside of the established band route of endless
rehearsals, local gigs, growing a fan base and home
recordings, they fell did not have the support network of
indigenous New Zealand labels. As so often the case in
unearthing these lost reissue gems, the artists took matters
into their own hands, seeking to write, record and release
themselves.
After meeting Trevor Reekie, head of the local Pagan Records
label, he took on production duties. Collating the necessary
musicians, the project grew from the one song to become a
full EP, recording between a home 16 track studio and a full
24 track desk at Harlequin Studios.
Centred around the title song, it is a perfect pop moment.
Waldergrave's piano leads into an infectious groove of slap
bass, gated drums, Reekie's acoustic guitar and cut vocals,
before Trezevant's vocals propel the song to an 80s swing
out vibrations. Coming in Extended, Harlequin and
Instrumental (digital only) mixes, this was an overload of
White Funk.
Here reduced to the best two versions, more room is given to
let the other recordings breathe, first the gloriously
anthemic instrumental Bullet. Intricate programming and
production, lead into the pop sensibility of I Wonder, some
kind of wonderful antipodean reimagining of Chris & Cosey
finest pop moments, an optimistic paene that permeates the
whole EP. Closing 4A, espouses the Jazz Funk, with
Trezevant's simple French lyrics telling of dreams of a
lover's image.
Released in 1986 with no local support from radio and TV, it
became something of a "hit" record in New Zealand's more
discerning clubs, however the members soon moved to London
and the project remained a one-off moment. Over time the EP
has gained cult status to become globally desired that sees
copies of the original 12" selling for $000s. Now at last
available for a global reach, while remaining a personal,
uplifting moment of time.
r e l e a s e n o t e s
If you enjoy this record, consider supporting the artists.
B A K L A V A - s u p e r s w e e t - e s t 2 0 2 5