By the end of the 70’s Bob Blank was one of the original respected young Disco producers of N.Y.C. Back in 1975 Bob Blank produced one of the first 12" disco records - the popular « To Be With You » by Jimmy Sabater. Opening the famed Blank Tape Studios in New York in 1976 and producing hit records (with his wife Lola a former performer with the James Brown revue) such as « Over Like A Fat Rat » by Fonda Rae put Blank Productions in the center of the music biz. Bob, the engineer on over 500 charted records (including 19 gold and platinum titles such as « Nothing But The Sun » by Sting) has been intimately involved with the East Coast music scene for 26 years.

One of the founders of the Hip Hop Scene via his production of such seminal titles as « Over Like A Fat Rat » by Fonda Rae and his remix work in the late 70s and early 80s with DJs such as Larry Levan and others, Bob has also received mention in The Rolling Stone « Book Of Rock and Roll » as the producer of some of the most important Punk and No Wave artists, such as Lydia Lunch, Aural Exciters, and others, including Lola's « Bango » (with Dinasaur L).

He was involved with production bands such as : Instant Funk, Salsoul Orchestra, Ashford and Simpson, the Beach Boys, Talking Heads, Donna Summer, Sting, Patti Smith, Eddie Palmieri, Machito, & Fania all stars, Sun Ra or Arthur Russel. And Of course with lots of ZE recording artists such as Kid Creole and The Coconuts, Lydia Lunch ( he co-produce Queen of Siam), James Whites, The Contortions, Lizzy Mercier Descloux, Marie et les Garçons& Cristina, ect...

While Bob was recording Sun Ra's Lanquitidy sets at his studios, at the same time many of the best ZE records were being produced, recorded also by Bob, as chief ingeneer or producer, which may explain a lot. Blank Tape Studios was ZE Records favotite studios.

Aural Exciters was Bob's afterhours party record. After the sessions finished Bob used to ask all theses brillant artists to do something on his own project Aural Exciters. August Darnel and Andy « Coati Mundi » Hernandez from Kid Creole & the Coconuts wrote almost all the songs, helped with Ron Rogers & Adriana Kaegi from the Coconuts.

The best studio musicians were the house band with most of the Kid Creole band member including guest Gychy Dan & Ron Rogers. James Chance plaid sax, Pat Place & Adele Bertei from the Contortions some guitars and Keyboards, Lizzy Mercier Descloux, Christine Wilshire & Taana Gardner some vocals, eveybody contributed this crazy fun project. What a Band ! And it realy sounds like an avant garde Latin flavored P-Funk party. The album begame over the years a cult Mutant Disco album played all over the world.

August Darnell even used Aural Exciters for experimantation on various material to be founded on futur Kid Creole’s albums. Songs like : « Mr. Softee », « Gina,Gina », « Maladie d’Amour », were first recorded by Aural Exciters. August also wrote the avant garde «Emile (Night Rate)», which was downbeat dub disco ten years before Massive Attack. Not to mention the evident wink to Amyl nitrate wellknown by poppers’s fans. Cults Classic Dancefloor : Emile (night rate).

This remastered release futures the 6 tracks original album + 12 inch single cover of « My Boy Lollipop » & « Paradise » + 8 never released Bonus tracks.

Michel Esteban. Bahia December 2009