Throw Down / Never Gonna Give You Up

This 1983 release from Small Axe Records represents a peculiar moment in the intersection of independent production and experimental synth-pop. Released under the name Larry Harris, the record surfaced during a period when small, DIY labels were attempting to capture the evolving sound of the early eighties dance scene. The production reflects the gritty, unpolished aesthetic typical of independent labels operating outside the major studio system of the era, focusing on a raw electronic texture rather than commercial refinement.

The design and conceptual direction for this release were largely driven by the independent label's commitment to low-budget, high-concept experimentation. The choice to pair tracks like 'Throw Down' and a cover of the song made famous by Rick Astley—though in a vastly different, proto-electronic context—suggests a playful, subversive approach to track selection that was characteristic of the labels in the Small Axe fold. While the record did not achieve widespread mainstream success, it remains a notable artifact for collectors of late-twentieth-century independent electronic music.