The Warp of Pure Fun (Box Set)

Les Disques du Crepuscule is proud to present a newly remastered and expanded CD box set edition of The Warp of Pure Fun, the acclaimed 1985 album by Scottish songwriter Paul Haig, formerly of influential Postcard/postpunk group Josef K.

Co-produced by Alan Rankine of The Associates, The Warp of Pure Fun followed a brief flirtation with mainstream dance-pop on the Island Records, and marked a return to warmer, more personal songs and arrangements, as well as live drums and ringing guitars, and also embracing emergent digital technology such as Akai sequencers and the Kurzweil sampling keyboard.

The album includes 4 singles in "Big Blue World," "Heaven Help You Now," "Love Eternal," and electro-funk stormer "The Only Truth," the latter produced with Bernard Sumner of New Order and Donald Johnson (A Certain Ratio).

As well as Alan Rankine on luxuriant keyboards, other stellar guests include drummers Steve Goulding, Toby and James Locke, bassist Michael McCann and Blaine L. Reininger of Tuxedomoon, who adds dramatic strings to epic closer "Love and War."

The mammoth 64 track box set also includes a raft of extended 12” mixes, including rare US remixes by Man Parrish and Mantronik, and no less than 3 versions of "The Executioner," a spooky electro collaboration with Cabaret Voltaire taped at their Western Works Studio in Sheffield.

B-sides include Paul’s frantic rockabilly take on "Ghost Rider" by Suicide, featuring Malcolm Ross and David McClymont of Josef K/Orange Juice.

Disc 2 features a fascinating early album demo recorded at home on 4 track equipment, featuring several previously unheard songs, as well as all tracks from Paul’s legendary ‘lost’ second album from 1984, including sublime standout song "Shining Hour."

Disc 4 offers 9 tracks professionally recorded live in Japan in May 1985 (with accompanying radio interview), along with several more demo tracks recorded later that year. Again, several of these songs ("Testimony," "Wrapped," "Bridges") have never heard or released on record before.

Remastered in 2021 by Peter Beckmann at TechnologyWorks London. The booklet includes a detailed track by track commentary by Paul, along with photographs and artwork by Crepuscule design director Benoit Hennebert.