Archive for the synthpunk Category

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Screamers- Demos ’77-’78 LP

Posted in 1970s, 1977, 1978, LA, los angeles, punk, screamers, synthpunk on January 4, 2008 by Frankie Teardrop

Today’s band may not need much introduction, for even having not released a single full length record, their impact is immeasurable. Arguably the first synthpunk band (though perhaps Suicide and Devo may deserve further pioneering credit), Screamers hailed from the inner recesses of LA, and were among the first wave of the initial punk explosion. Unusually (especially at the time), the band incorporated tape loops, electric pianos, and synthesizers into their sound, mixing with the usual manic antics of the punk movement.

Screamers initially formed in 1975 as The Tupperwares, but were forced to change their name in lieu of legal action. From 1977 until their demise in 1979, the band became a LA sensation, selling out various clubs in California. Their trademark spiked hair and manic demon faces (both as their logo and part of the band’s image) became highly recognized symbols of the era. The band split before recording a proper full length (though they attempted to record a video record release, as their sound was arguably aided more by their visual presence), with Paul Roessler joining LA’s second synthpunk act, Nervous Gender soon after. Not much is known about the other member’s whereabouts, though singer Tomata du Plenty passed away in 2000.

Several bootleg releases comprised of live tapes or rehearsal demos were released in the band’s aftermath, as interest in Screamers rose as their followers (such as the Dead Kennedys, whose vocalist Jello Biafra sung their praises) gained more notoriety. I’ve uploaded one of these releases, the Demos 77-78 LP.

Details:

Screamers- Demos 77-78 LP
1. The Beat Goes On
2. Thru the Flames
3. Sex Boy
4. If I Can’t Have What I Want (I Don’t Want Anything)
5. She’s the Girl
6. I Wanna Hurt
7. 122 Hours of Fear (Part 1)
8. 122 Hours of Fear (Part 2)
9. Punish Or Be Damned
10. Government Love Affair
11. Peer Pressure
12. In a Better World
13. Vertigo
14. Magazine Love
15. It’s a Violent World

*download it here*

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KaS Product- Try Out LP

Posted in 1980s, 1982, coldwave, france, french, kas product, reformed, reissued, synthpunk on December 21, 2007 by Frankie Teardrop

KaS Product were a French coldwave duo from Nancy by way of Strasbourg, formed in 1980 by French musician Spatsz (aka Daniel Favre) on electronics and Mona Soyoc, a jazz singer from the United States on vocal duties, piano, and guitar. The band formed in 1980, were signed to RCA for a brief period, released a series of singles and three seminal electronic/coldwave records, and split neatly in 1990, though the band has recently reunited for a series of live performances in Europe. Other scattered sources claim Rowland S. Howard of Birthday Party and These Immortal Souls fame occasionally collaborated with the band in a live setting.

KaS Product’s sound is more tense, abrasive, and synth-driven than their contemporaries (akin to the likes of Suicide or Soft Cell’s darker material), partially due to Spatsz’s interest in classic analog synthetics and abrasive textures, the tension in their music seemingly a result of his working stint in a psychiatric ward. Meanwhile, a trickle of Mona’s jazz upbringing creeps into the band’s style, creating a rather unique hybrid of sharp melodies and icy electronics.

Though all four of their records make for solid listening, I’ve uploaded their debut album, 1982’s Try Out.

Details:

KaS Product- Try Out LP
1. One of the Kind
2. Man of Time
3. No Shame
4. Countdown
5. Never Come Back
6. Underground Movie
7. So Young But So Cold
8. Digging in a Hole
9. Sober
10. Breakloose
11. Pussy X

DOWNLOAD LINK REMOVED- both Try Out and By Pass have been reissued on CD/LP and digitally via iTunes.  Feel free to update your copies!  You can also visit the band at their official website.

To watch the classic video for ‘Never Come Back,’ click below:

Happy holidays, ladies and gentlemen! See you folks in a week’s time.

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Duchess Says- Noviçiat Mère-Perruche EP

Posted in 2000s, 2005, canadian, duchess says, mutant, synthpunk on December 10, 2007 by Frankie Teardrop

Happy Monday, ladies and gents… Today’s post features a recent favorite EP by mutant synthpunk act Duchess Says, a French-Candian outfit featuring a full lineup of guitars, drums, synths, and intensely driving female vocals.

Formed in 2003, Duchess says have released a lone EP, winning over fans with their catchy tracks and otherwise eccentricity, marrying their abrasive dancefloor sound with hyperactive stage performances and theatrics, including readings from the Pamphlet of Budgerigars, an alternate religious text created by members of the band, who claim to serve in the Church of Budgerigars. According to scattered interviews and reviews, he church primarily celebrates the consumption of beer, numerology, and the band itself.

I’ve uploaded the band’s 2005 EP, Noviçiat Mère-Perruche. Four tracks long, and featuring a cover of (previously uploaded) Six Finger Satellite’s ‘Rabies’, it’s a shame it’s so short, since it leaves you wanting more.

Details:

Duchess Says- Noviçiat Mère-Perruche EP
1. In Serial
2. Cut Up
3. Rabies (Babies Got The)
4. Black Flag

*download it here*

and for your viewing pleasure, here’s a live clip of the band performing ‘Black Flag,’ the final (and my favorite) track from Noviçiat Mère-Perruche.

Though it seems as if their initial EP is out of print, the band has made a remix single for ‘Black Flag’ available only on vinyl. Click below for a link to snap one up for yourself…

‘Black Flag’ single on Summer Lovers Unlimited
Duchess Says on myspace

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Adult.

Posted in 2000s, adult., detroit, electronic, synthpunk, wave on October 8, 2007 by Frankie Teardrop


Today’s band is Adult., a currently active synthpunk/wave unit hailing from Detroit, Michigan. Consisting of married couple Adam Lee Miller and Nicola Kuperus, their sound blends female vocals and harsh electronics. Since their inception, Adult. has helped bring dance and synthpunk back to prominence under the guise of a budding electroclash movement.

The two-piece outfit formed in 1998 under the name Plasma Co., and has since independently released four full-length records, one EP, and a series of 12” singles under their proper name. The band has since grown notorious for their captivating live performances and a slew of altered remixes of their contemporaries and influences.

For your listening pleasure, I’ve uploaded a duo of tracks. The first, ‘Shake Your Head’ is featured on their second record, 2003’s Anxiety Always while the second is a remix/reworking of avant-garde act Tuxedomoon’s ‘No Tears.’

download Adult.- ‘Shake Your Head’
download Tuxedomoon- ‘No Tears (Adult. Remix)

Here’s a live video of the band performing ‘Bad Ideas’ in 2005. The track appears on their third record, 2005’s Gimme Trouble.

For more on Adult., including discography, photos, live dates, and purchase links, please visit these links:

Official Site
Myspace Page
Adult. on Amazon.com

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Tone Set

Posted in 1980s, arizona, minimal, synth, synthpunk, tone set on October 1, 2007 by Frankie Teardrop

Today’s band is a synthpunk classic, an ephemeral act who released little, but recorded a string of stellar tracks throughout their tenure.

Upon the demise of similar synthpunk unit Dow Jones and The Industrials, guitarist and vocalist Greg Horn would relocate to Arizona and kick off a band called Tone Set along with fellow KAET coworker Galen Herod. The two piece band would record a series of tracks which would compromise the 1982 cassette Cal’s Ranch. Their sound was a minimal blend of synthpunk, mostly relying on tape loops, various keyboards, and vocal samples; some tracks cold and experimental and others a bit more lighthearted. None of these songs featured lyrics, aside from a handful of lines in “Wigglin Around In Middletown.”

After a few compilation appearances, the band would shift in a more vocal direction for their 1983 record Calibrate, both members splitting vocal duties on the A-side. Despite a bit of underground buzz for their single ‘Life Is Busy’ (including high praise from Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo, who voted for the band in an early MTv competition) Tone Set would split up soon after as both Greg and Galen would go their separate ways, each releasing a series of solo records over the next decade.

The following two tracks come from their two releases. The first, ‘Life Is Busy’ is the lead-off single from 1983’s Calibrate and the second, a previous recording of ‘What Good’s a Hit Song’ from 1982’s Cal’s Ranch cassette.

download Tone Set- ‘Life is Busy’
download Tone Set- ‘What Good’s a Hit Song’

No videos or links today, ladies and gentlemen- for I’m almost positive their work is out of print and their video for ‘Life is Busy’ is long-lost. If anyone does have said links, feel free to drop them below!

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Our Daughter’s Wedding

Posted in 1980s, nyc, our daughter's wedding, synth, synthpunk, wave on September 10, 2007 by Frankie Teardrop

Our Daughter’s Wedding were a quirky, New York City based wave outfit comparible to the likes of Devo and Suicide. The band formed in the wake of the initial New York punk movement in 1977, taking their name from a section of greeting cards found in shops.

By the time they would begin recording and releasing material, the original straightforward rock lineup would soon add synthesizers to the mix and slim down to a trio. Though they employed the techniques seen in a variety of new wave and synth acts, the band would stay more true to their punk upbrining, keeping their songs punchy and energetic and playing all of their instruments live without the aid of sequencers.

Their first single, ‘Nightlife’ was released in 1980 and failed to make any impact whatsoever, though their second attempt, ‘Lawnchairs’ made a splash in the college circuit. Alongside a few more 7” singles, the band would cut an EP and a full length record, 1982’s Moving Windows, but would soon split in 1983 without any further drive or mainstream success.

I’ve plucked two tracks for your listening pleasure. The first is a remix of their underground hit ‘Lawnchairs’ and the second is the opening track from the Digital Cowboy EP, released in 1981.

download Our Daughter’s Wedding- ‘Lawnchairs (Remix)’
download Our Daughter’s Wedding- ‘Target For Life’

Here’s a live video of Our Daughter’s Wedding performing “Target For Life:”


Though several collections of the band’s material have been pressed to cd, they remain currently out of print. For more information about the band however, please visit these handy-dandy links.

Discogs.com
Myspace Page

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The Brides

Posted in 2000s, nyc, synthpunk, the brides on September 7, 2007 by Frankie Teardrop

Today’s band is a currently blossoming post-punk/wave act from New York City.

In the vein of both Devo and the Dead Kennedys, The Brides are a high energy, almost anthemic act combining the buzzsaw guitars of punk and the sharp synths of wave. Like the best sort of punk, there’s a whimsical atmosphere around their lyrics, and incredibly catchy organ hooks throughout even their most bleak material. The band’s vocals even contain a hint of Jello Biafra’s timbre and ferocity. Delightfully morbid, the band is equally austere as it is playful and energetic.

Though the band is relatively new, popping up in the bowels of NYC as early as 2001, both vocalist/guitarist Corey Gorey and drummer D.W. Friend are no strangers to the underground NYC punk scene, for the Brides were formed in the wake of the demise of the Brickbats, a more horror-punk outfit whose split triggered a change in direction for these two previous members. Since the turn of the century, The Brides have released a slew of EPs and compilation tracks, and their most recent offering, Sofa City Sweetheart was released just this year to a fair amount of critical acclaim and buzz.

If you’re living in New York, the Brides will be appearing shortly in both Albany and Poughkeepsie as well as playing various shows in their own hometown. For anyone else out there, here’s a duo of tracks plucked from their matching 2002 EPs; Here Come the Brides (parts 1 & 2).

download the Brides- ‘Amputation Celebration’
download the Brides- ‘Those Things You Cannot See’

And in line with their curious sense of humor, here’s their music video for ‘New Shocks,’ featured on Sofa City Sweetheart:

Their material is available through various outlest such as CDBaby and the Itunes Music Store. For all further information including upcoming shows and purchase links, please divert your attention to these links:

The Brides homepage
The Brides on myspace

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Severed Heads

Posted in 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, australia, severed heads, synth, synthpunk, wave on August 27, 2007 by Frankie Teardrop

Hailing from Australia, today’s band Severed Heads relied early on tape loops and abrasive synthesizers, and over the course of several years perfected their noise-based craft into a blend of experimentation and pop music.

The band formed in Sydney in 1979 under the name Mr. and Ms. No Smoking Sign and changed their name to Severed Heads as they began recording their expansive discography. With their unique stage shows and noise-laced yet catchy tracks, the band developed a rather large following and by 1984, they embarked upon a rather large world tour backed by their single ‘Dead Eyes Opened.’

Unlike most bands featured on these pages, Severed Heads are still alive and kicking, having gone through several record deals and lineup changes (Tom Ellard remaining the only original member to date) since their conception and peak. The band would disappear from the music industry in late 1999, but continues to release underground and independent recordings and live collections on a semi-regular basis. Their most recent work includes a soundtrack to a DVD film entitled The Illustrated Family Doctor in 2005.

I’ve uploaded two of my favorite Severed Heads tracks from their earlier days… The first, ‘Triangle Tangle Tango’ is a favorite of mine to spin, featured on 1989’s Rotund For Success. The second track, ‘We Have Come to Bless This House’ is featured on their classic 1985 record City Slab Horror.

download Severed Heads- ‘Triangle Tangle Tango’
download Severed Heads- ‘We Have Come to Bless This House’

As for their biggest single, here’s the official video for ‘Dead Eyes Opened’ for your viewing pleasure:

Severed Heads official website– for more information, hilarious commentary by Tom Ellard, purchase links, and more.

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Testcard F

Posted in 1980s, british, minimal, synth, synthpunk, testcard f, wave on August 9, 2007 by Frankie Teardrop

Today’s band, Testcard F, has so little recorded output that I almost considered tossing it all at you, but that would take all the fun out of hunting it down and savoring it, wouldn’t it?

In fact, there’s not only just two singles and a John Peel recording available, there’s very little information to be found about this British band, aside from a few bits and bobs:

The band formed in 1981, and reconstructed and built their own synthesizers. Unlike some synth-punk and minimal wave acts of the time, this band near-completely utilized electronic instruments, drum machines, and backing tapes; the only organic instrumentation appearing in the form of trash cans, coat racks, and other assorted debris. Oftentimes, their live performances would be slagged viciously by heckling attendees, anxious for guitars. One particular gig in their hometown of Norwich ended in a small riot.

The band split immediately on the brink of success after winning a Norwich battle of the bands and recording their two singles and Peel Session in 1984.

I’ve uploaded their b-sides, both tracks which I enjoy more than their respective flip. The first, ‘Unfamiliar Room’ is a particular favorite of mine, featured on the Bandwagon Tango 7” and the second the b-side of the Third Stroke 7”. If anyone is anxious for the remaining a-sides and Peel recordings, drop a line and I’ll happily upload the rest.

download Testcard F- ‘Unfamiliar Room’
download Testcard F- ‘If Only it Wasn’t’

…and sadly, I have no photos, youtube clips, or homepages for you today, and naturally since their material is so far out of print, if you manage to come in cahoots with either of these vinyl singles, snap them up in a heartbeat!

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