Burning The Ground Exclusive
As October draws to a close and the nights grow longer, it feels like the perfect time to turn to one of the darker corners of early electronic music. Today’s Spooky Season Spin comes from one of synthpop’s most eccentric and influential pioneers — Fad Gadget — and his haunting single “For Whom the Bells Toll.”
Released in 1983 as the eighth single by Frank Tovey under his Fad Gadget moniker, the track appears on his third album Under The Flag (Mute Records). By this time, Tovey had refined his sound from the raw, experimental edges of his early singles into something more structured yet equally unsettling — a perfect fit for the eerie pulse of Halloween week.
The 12-inch single features “For Whom The Bells Toll (III)” on the A-side and “Love Parasite (II)” on the flip — both featuring backing vocals by Alison Moyet, who was also on the Mute label at the time as one half of Yazoo. Moyet’s soulful voice adds a surprisingly human element to Fad Gadget’s dystopian electronics, giving both tracks a unique emotional depth beneath the cold, metallic textures.
The A-side runs for approximately 8:19 before spiraling into a locked groove, creating a hypnotic, endless toll that feels almost ritualistic — as if the record itself refuses to stop ringing. On digital reissues, however, the versions differ slightly: “For Whom The Bells Toll III” cuts off abruptly at 8:03, while “Love Parasite II” fades out early at 6:32.
Adding to the mystique, it’s been reported that the original master tape for this 12-inch extended version (III) was lost by the record company, meaning that the vinyl copies circulating today may be the only remaining source of this haunting mix.
So as those Halloween bells toll, dim the lights, cue up the 12-inch, and let this one echo through your speakers — a haunting reminder that the ghosts of synthpop’s past are never too far away.
Of note:
I manually faded out the locked groove on Side A, extending the track to 9:21. The vinyl noise during the locked groove portion is intentional, as it preserves the record’s original atmosphere.
SIDE A:
For Whom The Bells Toll III 9:21
SIDE B:
Love Parasite II 6:53
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Mute – 12 MUTE 026
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single, Special Cut
Country: UK
Released: Jan 1983
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
CREDITS:
- Photography By – Anton Corbijn
- Typography – Jill Tipping
- Written-By – Gadget*
NOTES:
Distribution – Rough Trade and Spartan
Track A has a continuous locked groove at the end.
Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon Concorde Music Black
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
DAC: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 25 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!
Password: burningtheground
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Back in the mid-80s, when DJ-only remix services were just beginning to carve out their space, one UK collective quickly became a favorite among club jocks—Music Factory Mastermix. Founded in 1985, the Sheffield-based promotional service specialized in delivering creative edits, themed mixes, and exclusive reworks of chart hits and dance classics. Their productions weren’t intended for commercial release but for the hands of DJs who wanted something unique to spin on the dancefloor.