For those unaware, Re-Flex are an English new wave band formed in London in 1979. They are most often recognized for their hit, The Politics of Dancing, the title track from their debut album, as well as the singles Hurt, Hitline, Couldn’t Stand a Day, Praying to the Beat, Sensitive, and Flex It.

The band stopped actively working together in 1985, but occasionally collaborated on individual members’ solo projects in the years following.

Vibrate Generate is the perfect sequel to Cherry Pop’s previous double-CD re-issue of Re-Flex’s The Politics Of Dancing album. Collecting together various rare and unreleased tracks from across their career.

Exclusively for this release, nearly all of the tracks have been remixed including two new versions of The Politics Of Dancing, songs from their subsequent albums Humanication and Jamming The Broadcast, it also features another new song Human.

Also included are tracks featured within films and that were not previously widely available: Life’s Too Dangerous and Revolution Now (both from Superman IV), Over The Top (Over The Top) and Cut It (Break Dance).

Indeed, the album’s title song Vibrate Generate was the last-ever recording made by the band to feature drummer Roland Kerridge, who sadly died soon after it was completed. The track has remained unreleased and is their final missing piece, now regarded by the other members to be among their best-ever creations.

This new package – which boasts 16 previously unissued recordings – will be promoted with a video for the title track.

CD 1:
1. VIBRATE GENERATE *
2. PRAYING TO THE BEAT (Remix)
3. HOW MUCH LONGER (Remix) *
4. WRONG DECISION (Remix) *
5. JAMMING THE BROADCAST (Remix) *
6. HITLINE
7. COULDN’T STAND A DAY
8. CUT IT (Music Re-Action mix)
9. WHEN DID YOU STOP LOVING ME (Remix) *
10. REVOLUTION NOW (Remix) *
11. SENDING OUT A MESSAGE *
12. THE POLITICS OF DANCING (Remix)
* previously unreleased

CD 2:
1. HUMAN *
2. GIVE IT UP *
3. JAMMING THE BROADCAST (Alternative Version – Remix) *
4. FOREVER AND EVER *
5. SOMETHING ABOUT YOU
6. HOW MUCH LONGER (12″ Dance Remix) *
7. LIFE’S TOO DANGEROUS *
8. HURT (Music Re-Action Mix)
9. LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT (Alternative Version) *
10. THE POLITICS OF DANCING (Club Mix – Remix)
11. OVER THE TOP (Remix) *
12. ANGRY MAN (Remix) *
* previously unreleased

Taking it from the top, and digging a little deeper (as this band were, most definitely, one of my own personal go-to’s for music back in the day), the British new wave band Re-Flex might well have been classified as a One-Hit Wonder band for their radio smash hit from 1983 The Politics of Dancing, but those jumping aboard that ship do a massive disservice to the tracks that followed, trust me.

Sure that one lone song was a glorious staple of ’80s compilation albums forever and a day, but with the band as tight as they were - John Baxter (vocals, guitar), Paul Fishman (keyboards), Nigel Ross-Scott (bass), and Roland Vaughan Kerridge (drums) - Re-Flex may well have been musically riding the coattails of Heaven 17, Gary Numan and David Bowie, et al. but they most assuredly had a sound that deserved more chart successes.

Thus their albums, much like this brilliant 2CD collection here today, brought forth in massive doses a definitive knack for crafting radio-friendly hooks, and the politics of oooh feeling good at the very same time (sorry!).

That track itself peaked at #24 on the Billboard charts on November 26th, 1983, but here’s a little tidbit of info for you: the song wasn’t catchy enough for the producers of Footloose as they rejected the tune in favor of Shalamar’s Dancing in the Sheets!

Anyhoo, and moving on, featuring tracks from both albums, Re-Flex’s debut album, The Politics of Dancing (1983), their sophomore Humanication (1985), and their 2010 album Jamming The Broadcast, this 24-track set is a monstrous musical collection from the band that shone brightly, albeit far too quickly.

As for the stand out cuts here, I’ve always had a soft spot for the throaty Praying To The Beat (Remix), the Fashiøn-esque Hitline, obviously the brilliantly catchy The Politics of Dancing (Club Mix - Remix) and the funky bass lines and David Sylvian-esque vocals of Hurt (Music Re-Action Mix).

With regard the cool bonus material, stand outs for me include the statically-charged Jamming The Broadcast (Alternative Version - Remix), the Depeche Mode-esque Angry Man (Remix), the free flowing synth pop of Sending Out A Message and, of course, the new track Human.

Official 2CD Purchase Link