Karen Marks – Cold Cafe

Almost four decades since it’s domestic release, Karen Marks’ 1981 single Cold Café has reaped it’s deserved international credit to become one of Australia’s most recognised minimal wave recordings. Efficient Space now shares the Melbourne artist’s brief but entire discography, produced with experimental synthesist Ash Wednesday (The Metronomes).

This archival release combines both cuts from her sought after Astor debut 7″ – Cold Café and Won’t Wear It For Long, with You Bring These Things, a forlorn arrangement of a Paul Kelly song gifted to her by the revered wordsmith, and two unheard demos – a more paranoid version of her signature tune and a long-lost fourth song Problem Page. Discovered on cassette at the 11th hour, these newly restored living room recordings follow Marks and Wednesday’s ingenious framework of minimal lyrics, minimal chord progressions.