Archive for the 1980s Category

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Various Artists- Systems of Romance Vol. 5

Posted in 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, coldwave, compilations, minimal, minimal synth, NDW, post-punk, systems of romance on August 31, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

I was going to hold off on posting this for a few more weeks, but after completing it in the late hours last night, I can’t help but share it immediately. Here we have the fifth installment of the Systems of Romance series, volume FIVE to be exact, and debatably my favorite of the bunch. You can expect a nice mix of guitar and synth tracks here. The only difference is this mix features 4-5 new artists that are all worth checking out, alongside several rare and unreleased tracks. Running time is a minute or so over a full length cd-r, so feel free to trim one of these for your own personal burnnn. Here’s the tracklisting:

Various Artists- Systems of Romance Vol. 5
1. After the Snow Melts- Clever Lines
2. Genetics- Final Sound
3. Epitaph- A Haunted Sawmill
4. New Year- Days Are Nights
5. Chanson D’Amour- WCH
6. In The Future- Split Level
7. Strange Days- Immunity
8. A Color- Tropic of Cancer
9. Run Run- Avantgarde De Luxe
10. Shadow Walk- Negatives in Colour
11. When Thunder Comes- Mission
12. What Goes On?- The Radiance
13. Desperate Rhymes- Piece De Resistance
14. Cover Girl- Dengon
15. Silly Earth- Scatterbrains
16. Eden- Sofia Run
17. On the Moon- Beyond Words
18. Shoot Me Down- P.S. Personal
19. Geraldine- Cha Boom Cha
20. Blind Me- Winter Severity Index
21. Sweet Cliché- The First Loves

*download it here*

Here’s a few words on the tracks:
1. Plucked from the 8 Essential Attitudes compilation. Picked it up cheap and while there are some gems, it’s mostly a mixed bag.
2. From the No Surrender! compilation, an otherwise rough and tumble collection of skinhead/oi tracks from Rock-O-Rama records.
3. Very rare single release, one of this band’s only tracks. Saw a release on The Trance Compilation.
4. Brazilian darkwave band who released a killer album in 2010, where this track hails from.
5. French synth from 1984…Stay tuned for a full post on this 12”.
6. B-side of a 1984 minimal synth single from the UK. If you have the a-side, holler!
7. Plucked from a 1985 compilation entitled Sounds from the Southern Scene Vol. 1. This band appears twice on the comp as the bookends. Their other track isn’t nearly as good, but still worth hearing.
8. Brand new coldwave sounds from LA, can’t get enough of this track!
9. Denmark band, from their first LP, released in 1982. Another track appears on SOR vol. 3.
10. An unreleased track from the UK band featured here.
11. Also from the 8 Essential Attitudes comp. Guitar-driven smash, and not the same post-Sisters band!
12. 1990s darkwave, released on a compilation of excellent like minded souls (Derrière Le Miroir, Lucie Cries, Frozen Autumn, all great bands)
13. Grabbed this 1985 12” from the US in a dollar bin. Decent new wave throughout, but this track is a standout.
14. Another US band who issued two singles in 1985 on ESYNC records (Velvascurge!). Mostly power-pop sounds, but this track has a nice guitar-driven edge to it. If anyone insists, I have both singles uploaded for a future post, but this one is the real treat of the lot.
15. Scarce minimal synth from the Netherlands. Would love to hear this full LP!
16. 1990s darkwave band who issued two records before splitting up.
17. 8 Essential Attitudes.
18. 1983 synthpop single from the UK.
19. The standout track from this 1988 12”. Also from the UK.
20. Brand new (all female) post-punk/coldwave band from Italy. A new favorite, really tremendous stuff. Keyboardist also doubles as Mushy, who just issued a full length solo LP on Mannequin Records!
21. I belive this track is a demo from a new post-punk band from London. Certainly sounds timeless!

18 Comments »

Excentrique Noiz- Matt Crescent LP

Posted in 1980s, 1986, coldwave, darkwave, excentrique noiz, japan, japanese, post-punk on August 22, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

At long last, here we have the full length LP from Japan’s Excentrique Noiz, which I must say, does not disappoint. Six killer tracks here, very reminiscent of the 7” released a year earlier. Click here to grab that one, in case you missed it previously. Just missing their very first 7” and a compilation track! Get their s/t flexi here via Habit of Sex! Many thanks again!

It’s prudent to mention that there are female vocals on the title track, courtesy of Syoko, the lead vocalist of G-Schmitt, another killer Japanese post-punk band worth many, many listens.

Excentrique Noiz- Matt Crescent LP
1. Moonlight
2. Fluorescent Dream
3. All That Place
4. Still In My Heart
5. Time To Lose
6. Matt Crescent

*download it here*

8 Comments »

Carl Matthews- Old & New K7

Posted in 1980s, 1988, ambient, carl matthews, synth on August 19, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s a fantastic dark ambient tape from Carl Matthews, a compilation of earlier and unreleased material from 1988. Fans of the Remote Viewing and John Costello releases should love this one.

You can read a brief, but informative history on Matthews on his official website, which doesn’t appear to have been updated in some time. There were talks of CD reissues of his old cassettes via Sandpiper Records, but the site is no longer available. That said, I do believe Matthews is still active to date, with two releases last year.

Here’s the info for this killer cassette:

Carl Matthews- Old & New K7
1. Image I
2. Aksu II
3. All One World
4. Image II
5. Kingdom Of Souls
6. Elemental Moon
7. Iridescence
8. Autumn
9. Harmless Thought
10. Day Of Forgiveness
11. Valley
12. Image III
13. Holo-Rhythm

Tracks 1, 4, 8, 12 and 13 were previously unreleased.
Track 2 from Aksu.
Track 3 from Reflections I (compilation).
Tracks 5 and 11 from Call for World Saviours.
Tracks 6, 7 and 10 from Iridescence.
Track 9 from Integration (compilation).

*download it here*

7 Comments »

Pretty Poison- No Tears 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1982, freestyle, new wave, pretty poison, synthpop on August 12, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

Feeling feisty today, so here’s a quick second post, hot off the press. Contained within we have an early 7” (red flexi-disc!) from Philadelphia’s Pretty Poison, also covered here. You can expect the same (surprisingly and very pleasantly) dark sounds here, which should go without saying for those familiar with the excellent Tuxedomoon original. Seriously, this cover is BLISTERING, a nice take on the already great original, supplemented with a two minute percussive piece.

Pretty Poison- No Tears 7”
1. No Tears
2. Sakii

*download it here* (RE-RIPPED @ 320kbps on 2.15.17)

Just one more early Pretty Poison release to go. Drop a line if you happen to have a copy of this one!

6 Comments »

Sport of Kings- Every Night 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1981, darkwave, post-punk, sport of kings, US on August 8, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

At long last, here’s the debut 7” from Sport of Kings, self-released by the band in 1981. I happened to stumble across it in a bin alongside the likes of Last Man In Europe, Razor Penguins, and Lung Overcoat. Needless to say, it was a good day.

This should complete the Sport of Kings discography. In case you missed them previously, you can grab the rest of their output here, here, and here. Special thanks to Fade 2 Grey for originally uploading the A-side! Otherwise, without any further ado…

Sport of Kings- Every Night 7”
1. Every Night
2. The Same Breath

*download it here*

5 Comments »

We Are Going To Eat You- Everywhen LP

Posted in 1980s, 1989, indie, paisley underground, post-punk, uk, we are going to eat you on August 3, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

This one may border conspicuously on 80s indie turf, but it’s been hitting the spot lately as the summer creeps on and my interests turn to more guitar driven tunes.

In all honesty, I’ve had this 1989 LP kicking around for a while now, purchased sealed for a dollar at an upstate NY record fair (other scores included Trisomie 21’s Playing the Pictures and the Winter Hours record I posted ages ago). It took a post over at Kentucky Fried Wave to remind me that I had it lying around, unopened and deserving of a rip.

You can read quite a bit about these guys via Kill Your Pet Puppy, where you can also find their first two 12” EPs and a slew of photos. Pretty much all you could ever want to know about them appears in their writeup, so check it out!

As far as touchstones are concerned, this album does fit in quite nicely with the likes of the 80s paisley underground. Fans of Rain Parade, Winter Hours, early R.E.M., and Game Theory should be familiar with the sounds, which with a female singer in tow, also remind me of Ghost Dance and latter-day Xmal Deutschland. For me, the LP starts pleasantly enough but ends on the stronger side, with tracks such as “If You Believe” and “Her Dreamworld” standing out and giving it a bit of that dark flavor I like so much. Don’t take my word for it, however. Here’s the info:

We Are Going to Eat You- Everywhen LP
1. Photograph
2. Heart In Hand
3. This Conspiracy
4. Each Life A Mystery
5. Glory
6. Ride Upon The Tide
7. Eye To Eye
8. On A Day Like This
9. Just Another One
10. Here Always
11. If You Believe
12. Her Dreamworld

*download it here*

This LP was released on TVT records, which had a series of successful LPs (The KLF, Nine Inch Nails) under their belt. With that in mind, this band earned a bit of commercial attention, and filmed a video for “Each Life a Mystery.” Peep it here:

6 Comments »

Two of China- Telk Mee 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1984, german, synthpop, westside music on July 20, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

Contained within we have a classic slice of Westside Music synthpop, circa 1984, courtesy of Jeffo!, a fellow NYC DJ.

Generally known as a vehicle for Andreas Tomalla (Moskwa TV, Bigod 20, MCL), Two Of China released three 12”s in total (2 if you’re not counting the Axodry collaboration), including a rather straightforward cover of “Los Niños Del Parque” by Liasons Dangereuses. This particular 12” can still be found for dirt cheap (that can also be said about most Westside releases), but we all know that just because it’s expensive doesn’t mean it’s good, don’t we?

Just noticed the back of this sleeve comes with the potent quotable: “If you don’t listen to this record you cannot enjoy the essence of future music.” Well, what are you waiting for, kids!

Two of China- Telk Mee 12”
1. Telk Mee (Wild Version)
2. Telk Mee (Strange Version)

*download it here*

For another great Westside Music release, see this post from the archives.

If you dig this post, please be sure to support the label and the artist by purchasing these tracks via iTunes!

2 Comments »

Combined Minds- 1984 K7

Posted in 1980s, 1983, american, arizona, minimal, minimal synth, new wave, US on July 19, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

This particular cassette was also donated by Ben, and features nine tracks from Combined Minds, a minimal synth band from Maryvale, Arizona.

The band operated as a three piece and recorded two cassettes for their own Multi-Purpose Musik label, an outlet for this project as well as prior releases dating back to 1979.

Always looking towards the future, this tape was released in 1983, and the follow up was released two years later. Lots of great sounds to be had here, especially for fans of Tone Set, League of Nations, (early) Soft Cell, and the more experimental side of the minimal synth spectrum. I can’t seem to get enough of “More Knobs Than Notes” and “Shop Town,” but this entire tape is a must hear for minimal synth fans big and small. Here’s the info:

Combined Minds- 1984 K7
1. Combined Minds
2. Feel The Beat
3. More Knobs Than Notes
4. Shop Town
5. Time To Relate
6. Nocturnal Nocturne
7. Comfortable
8. If I Don’t Move, I Can’t Dance
9. Sold American

*download link removed*

Sorry for the premature post, folks. I’ve just gotten word that this release (as well as several other Multi-Purpose Musik releases) are avaialbe from Shawn Helton, a member of Combined Minds who is still active in music today. Please click THIS link to read more about Helton and his projects, and to purchase these releases!

2 Comments »

Excentrique Noiz- Dark Crystal Day 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1986, coldwave, darkwave, excentrique noiz, japan, japanese, post-punk on July 14, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

I keep forgetting to post this one. A recent favorite, you may recall seeing these guys on the Systems of Romance vol. 1 compilation. A rare Japanese darkwave entry, Excentrique Noiz released two 7”s and a full length LP before calling it a day. Here we have their second 7” from 1986.

Obvious touchstones here include Clan of Xymox and Danse Society on the A-side, while the flip is a fantastic piece of post-punk/coldwave. A strange stylistic shift halfway through the song, but still an awesome tune. Here’s the info:

Excentrique Noiz- Dark Crystal Day 7”
1. Dark Crystal Day
2. In Dis Tree

*download it here* (RE-RIPPED 6.4.13)

7 Comments »

The Trial- Pictures LP

Posted in 1980s, 1990s, 1991, Czechoslovakia, new wave, synth, synthpop, the trial on July 7, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s one that’s been kicking around in some form or another for some time, but never complete, or never at tremendously great quality. You may be familiar with this band via the Crispy Nuggets VA compilations, one which featured a loose track from this LP and another the b-side off the band’s debut 7”. I’ve been playing this LP out a lot lately at the Wierd party, so for those who have been asking about this one, here it is!

Released in 1991, here we have the debut LP from The Trial, a six piece (!) Czechoslovakian synth band. Fans of the heavy synthpop sound of the late 80s (Depeche Mode, Camouflage, Xymox’s “Obsession”) should find lots and lots to love on this LP. A few of the songs haven’t aged so well, but the majority of this LP (especially side B) is phenomenal and I can’t stop listening to it. Don’t take my word for it though, see for yourself!

The Trial- Pictures LP
1. The Bodies Of Evenings
2. Terrible Scream
3. Television Liar
4. Make-up
5. Shut Up!
6. Yourself
7. Sky Of Secrets
8. Anybody
9. In The Fiction Press
10. My Bed
11. What Do You Say?

*download it here*

If you’d like to read more about the band, click HERE for a page run by a devoted fan. Unfortunately, the main history of the band has yet to be translated to English, but still plenty of info to be had. Be sure to click here to check a few video clips of the band, all three which hail from the band’s pre-LP era. Lots of photos here!

4 Comments »

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