Pardon the delay, but here is the requested Outer Circle LP, released in 1982. An abrasive mix of both guitars and synths, but neither minimal wave or synthpunk, this particular record is definitely a curious oddity in the post-punk spectrum.
Not a lot of information available about this band aside from their US origins, so let’s cut to the chase. Take a listen below!
Outer Circle- Outer Circle LP
1. Blind Venetians
2. The Home Fires
3. Another Moon
4. Inside
5. Broken Children
Not just one, but two recent requests up for your listening pleasure for the weekend. This first post contains the elusive Offering of Isca compilation, which was produced by Circuit 7 member Martyn Good and released in 1985. The Circuit 7 tracks are repeated, but the compilation also features rare tracks from V.o.K., The Outfit, Prowler, and Renegade Angel, most of which are more guitar driven post-punk outfits. Most (if not all) of these tracks encompass the band’s entire discography, to boot.
The compilation was a limited pressing to begin with, and most unsold copies were either destroyed or forgotten, so a hard copy of this one is extremely rare. If you’re loaded, there’s even one on sale on discogs for 450 beans right this second. Meanwhile, us poor souls can nab the digital compilation by clicking below:
Various Artists- Offering of Isca LP
1. Circuit 7- India
2. Renegade Angel- Hell’s Let Loose
3. The Outfit- Reckless
4. V.o.K.- Lonely Boys, Lonely Girls
5. Prowler- Murder & Revenge
6. Renegade Angel- Classic Offender
7. Prowler- Sanctuary
8. Circuit 7- Beat Tonight
9. The Outfit- Stealing With The Boys
10. V.o.K.- Nukes Of Terra
Enjoy, ladies and gents, and stay tuned later this evening/early tomorrow for a rare Outer Circle 12”!
UK’s Circuit 7 is a 2-piece minimal synth collective who recorded only six tracks throughout their short tenure. Can’t seem to find a slew of other information about the band, but the two members were Martyn Good and Andy Partington, and this seems to be their only musical venture. Sleeve scans show additional organic contributions from various folks, but no songwriting or official member status credits.
The zip below contains all six of Circuit 7’s tracks, including two 7” records (one on blue and one on red vinyl!) and two tracks from the Offering of Isca compilation, produced by Martyn Good and released on Micro Records in 1985. Without any further delay, here’s the information.
Circuit 7- Modern Story 7” (1984)
1. Modern Story
2. Eastern Dream
Circuit 7- Video Boys 7” (1984)
1. Video Boys
2. The Force
Offering Of Isca compilation (1985)
1. India
8. Beat Tonight
*download link removed*
EDIT: Good news for fans of the Circuit 7 material, as Minimal Wave is planning a CD/LP release of all of these tracks (and more) in the near future! So for those who wish to support both a fantastic label and the original artist, stay tuned to this space, as I’ll replace the download link with a purchase link when the LP goes live!
PURCHASE THE CIRCUIT 7 REISSUE LP HERE!!!
On a related note, I’ve included “Video Boys” within my latest mix-making venture. Due to the nudging of a few readers, I’ve created an 8tracks account to upload songs and mixes for friends and readers. I’ve made a twenty-one track long minimal wave mix with a dash of italo and coldwave for good measure. A few of these tracks should be familiar to Systems of Romance regulars, some are favorites, and some may appear here in the future, if demand is high and there isn’t any overlap. Anyway, click HERE to give the mix a spin, and enjoy! I’ll be making more of these as time progresses, and will be sure to update when the next one is live.
Samedi were a synthpop band hailing from Sweden. I first discovered their classic track “Between Two Hearts” on the fantastic Retronics compilation, which collects several of their peers. Whereas other Swedish synthpop bands like the Mobile Homes earned some cult success in the States, Samedi wasn’t able to achieve the same success despite a similar sound. Otherwise, the band formed in 1983 as a four piece, and fluxuated between three and four members throughout the course of the 1980s.
The band’s discography consists of three 7” singles and one full length record. All of their releases were pressed via Canned Music, the band’s own label. After calling it a day in 1990, members of Samedi focused their efforts on manning a recording studio, producing, writing, and engineering several more Italo-tinged bands over the years. Check their discogs page for some of the tracks the band worked on.
Without any further ado, here’s the information for their 1989 full length, Doubts & Beliefs.
Samedi- Doubts & Beliefs LP
1. Big
2. In Our Time
3. Above Me
4. Strangers In The Night
5. Say Say Goodbye
6. Winter’s Coming To Town
7. Touch
8. Give Me All
9. Oh Mother Earth
10. I’ll Fly
11. Lay Down Your Head
12. Open Up (Long Dist Dance Mix)
The band do keep an official myspace page here. Upon getting in touch, the band said they are working towards remastering and re-releasing the now out-of-print Samedi material for a possible reissue. If you dig this record, show yr support and encourage the process! Naturally, this post will self destruct when that happens.
Meanwhile, still been meaning to get started on the ol’ 8 tracks account, but in the interim, take a peek at this particular audio/Youtube track to take a listen to “Between Two Hearts” (not featured on this LP, mind you).
Just two years ago, I kicked off Systems of Romance in a more track-oriented/review format. My second post was on Wierd Records artists Xeno and Oaklander, consisting of the musical talents of both Sean McBride (Martial Canterel) and Liz Wendelbo (Xeno and Staccato). The band, a personal favorite on the roster, is gearing up to release their first official LP sometime this year, and have been performing heavily in the New York area, much to my great enjoyment.
Over the past few months, it seems as if both Wierd Records and Xeno and Oaklander’s following has grown exponentially. The label has been featured in several prominent magazines and blogs as of late, and The Fader has just published a post featuring a fantatic “mixtape” as plucked by Xeno and Oaklander. The mix features several obscure minimal wave cuts alongside Wierd Records favorites (including a new track from Led Er Est and an untitled number from Sleep Museum).
A proper post will follow this one momentarily, but in the meanwhile, please divert your attention **HERE** to read more on Xeno and Oaklander and to download these great minimal synth mp3s. To further entice you, here’s a list of their selections:
Cleaners from Venus- “This Rainy Decade”
Jon St. James- “Trans-Atlantic”
Epee Du Bois- “Misery”
Lister- “The Boogabe”
Ann Summer- “Ann Summer III”
Xeno and Oaklander- “Celeste”
Twilight Ritual- “Somewhere in My Heart”
Resistance- “The Gash”
Led Er Est- “Unkept Area”
Nagamatzu- “Magic”
Automelodi- “Schema Corporel”
Sleep Museum- “Unknown Song”
Glenn Winter- “Herrens Svar”
Martial Canterel- “Shrapnelle”
Staccato Du Mal- “Addiction”
Magic de Spell- “And the Burned Puppet”
Again, click here for the good stuff.
After some insight on some rare and otherwise unreleased Weimar Gesang material, I am pleased to offer the last of their uncovered gems, once and for all! Thanks a ton to all who have uploaded some of the harder-to-find material and offered extra information on the band.
Included in the zip file below are three releases. The first two are respective sides of a 1983 demo cassette, the A-side being early demos of familiar tracks and the B-side featuring a rare live set from the band’s early incarnation, recorded in October of 1983. This release predates the previously uploaded Our Silent Growth cassette. The third and final release attached is a 1987 rough mix of what was to be the fourth WG record, never officially released and given to the band’s closest friends just before they split up. Very rare materials, all three, and thanks to allelimo for encoding them!
Otherwise, here’s the nitty gritty:
Weimar Gesang- Demo 1983 (Cassette side A)
1. Frail Moments
2. Along The Walls
3. Locked In My Castle
4. Refusing
5. Show Me
6. Motionless Dance
7. Incomprehension
Weimar Gesang- Live 1983 (Cassette side B)
1. Motionless Dance
2. Refusing
3. Locked In My Castle
4. Torn Souls
5. One Sweet Night
Weimar Gesang- It is a Crime
1. It is a Crime
2. Place to Be (Nick Drake cover)
Thanks again to all who have contributed to the Weimer Gesang posts! Should you have missed them, their remaining discography can be downloaded from these back pages by clicking here and here.
To celebrate our upcoming independence day, well…here’s something straight from the heart of Germany. In short, this is the complete discography of minimal synth/post-punk band Days of Sorrow.
According to sleeve information, the band featured a four piece lineup for their first 12”, changing drummers and expanding to a five piece for the second, which followed two years later. Not much else is known about the band outside of their origins, and their records fetch incredibly impressive prices, so let’s get straight to the nitty gritty, shall we? Here’s the information for their two 12” releases, zipped up for your minimal electronic pleasure.
Days of Sorrow- Remembering the Days 12” (1984, Tollhaus Records)
1. Wild World
2. War
3. Travel
4. Don’t Leave Me Drowning
Days of Sorrow- A Thousand Faces 12” (1986, Rough Trade Germany)
1. Wild World
2. A Thousand Faces (Night-Time)
3. Mysterious Eyes
*download link removed- pick up a reissue of both of these 12”s via Dead Wax Records!
There also exists a 1986-released 7” for Wild World, but I’m gathering it’s simply the A Thousand Faces recordings of both “Wild World” and “Mysterious Eyes,” minus the eponymous 12” track. I reckon the zip otherwise contains their complete discography. Enjoy!
Thanks to two generous and anonymous donations, I’m pleased to upload the remaining tracks in Weimar Gesang‘s discography, including tracks from a split cassette with Plastic Trash.
I’ve unzipped, tagged, and reuploaded the files from the original Rapidshare files to keep everything together and circumvent Rapidshare’s waiting period. As an added bonus, I’ve included the live bootleg, entitled . Even in it’s low-quality, it may serve interesting to fans and otherwise completists.
Without any further ado, here’s the final batch of Weimar Gesang tracks!
Weimar Gesang- Our Silent Growth Cassette (1984)
1. Frail Moments
2. Torn Souls
3. The Play
4. Show Me
5. Motionless Dance
6. Frail Moments (Second View)
Weimar Gesang- VM Due Cassette (year unknown)
1. Our Silent Growth
2. Remaining Years
3. Gesang The Dragging
4. Light-Tight Place
Weimar Gesang- Live at Back Out, Roma 12.04.1985
1. Deceit
2. Melt Your Sight
3. Held Inside
4. Chantal’s Secret
5. Like in a Mirror
6. Worn Out Prayer
7. Du Bist/Light-Tight Place
*download all three releases here!*
More goodies to come in the near future, but thanks again to my anonymous benefactor for helping to complete the discography!