Archive for the 1980s Category

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Berlin Blondes- Berlin Blondes LP

Posted in 1980, 1980s, berlin blondes, new wave, scottish, synth on June 27, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

This week, I’ll be posting a handful of records donated by a kind reader of this blog, who loaned me a few pieces from his prized collection. Thanks, Greg!

First up we have a record that’s been posted and ripped in the past, but always at a low bitrate or quality. So pardon the redundancy, but here it is in high quality, 320 kbps form. This particular LP hails from Scotland and was released on EMI in 1980. This band was notoriously the launching pad for David Rudden, who left just as the band was getting signed to form Endgames. Jim Spender also would go on to join Altered Images after this LP while the remaining members would release one more 7” before disbanding.

The LP was produced by Mike Thorne, who should need no introduction for fans of early Wire, Soft Cell, Bronski Beat, Furniture, Blur, and B-Movie, just to name a few. Quite an impressive resume!

Continuing with the name-dropping, this record should feel right at home for fans of Foxx-era Ultravox, Visage, Gary Numan, and the Bowie/Iggy sound. A little bit of tarted up synth-driven rock very suited for the era, and perhaps a little pastiche at the turn of the decade, but still a cool record worthy of being unearthed. Here’s the info:

Berlin Blondes- Berlin Blondes LP
1. Framework
2. Astro
3. Science
4. Romance
5. Trail To Istanbul
6. Secret Days
7. Mannequinn
8. Neon Probe
9. Zero Song

*download it here*

Stay tuned for more from Greg’s collection, including a rare, private tape release!

10 Comments »

Kissing the Pink- Watching Their Eyes & The Last Film 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1982, 1983, kissing the pink, new wave, synth, uk synthpop on June 23, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

Merely uploading this one for a few friends who inquired at the Wierd party last night, when none other than the inimitable Sean McBride (aka Martial Canterel) dropped it during his set. Here we have the seminal Kissing the Pink track “The Last Film,” a haunting military-driven tune that cracked the top 20 during the band’s earlier years. It appears here in club form, and I believe this version, while stellar, has not been featured around these parts.

The single can still be had for an affordable price- in fact I’ve seen a handful of copies kicking around NYC for any interested and local parties!

As an added bonus, I’ve also uploaded the Watching Their Eyes 12”, my personal favorite track of the band’s, which features an alternate club mix and an exclusive longer mix of the b-side. Here’s the contents:

Kissing the Pink- Watching Their Eyes 12” (1982)
1. Watching Their Eyes (Club Mix)
2. In Awe of Industry

Kissing the Pink- The Last Film 12” (1983)
1. The Last Film (Extended Version)
2. Shine
3. The Last Film (The Hymn Version)

*download both here* (RE-RIPPED 10.9.17)

In case you missed it, the link for Naked should still be up and running from way back in the archives. Don’t hesitate to check out one of the most innovative new wave records this side of the commercial spectrum! Stay tuned for more goodies next week, as I’ve got a bunch of ripping to attend to this weekend.

5 Comments »

Samedi- Between Two Hearts 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1987, new wave, Samedi, swedish, synthpop on June 22, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

I’m pleased to offer the first Samedi 7”, a true Swedish synth masterpiece. You may have heard the a-side on the Retronics compilation, chock full of similar gems. I also posted their 1989 full length almost two years ago. However, the b-side to this 7” has remained unheard until now, and is a nice, short and energetic synthpop track that should please quite a few ears.

Without any further ado, here’s the info:

Samedi- Between Two Hearts 7”
1. Between Two Hearts
2. World

*download it here*

1 Comment »

Turo- Agent Orange LP

Posted in 1980s, 1982, german, krautrock, matthias thurow, minimal synth, NDW, prog, turo on June 20, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

Up on the slab we have the lone LP from Turo, a krautrock/NDW release that should be right at home for fans of the more oddball minimal synth sound. This particular LP hails from 1982 and was the brainchild of Matthias Thurow, who also operated under the pseudonym “Tales of Mr. E.” This LP was predated by a 1980 release on the same label (Biber Records) under the name Turo’s Tutti, but that’s not all. Thurow’s career dates back to the 1970s, as a member of Eulenspygel, a German prog band with a handful of releases under their belt.

Fans of P!off?, Neuland, and Silvia should find lots to love here. Some really strange, moody, and wonderful stuff on this LP, counterbalanced with a few repetitive dance-oriented pieces and straight up pop tunes. There’s even a song on here that reminds me of I’m Your Man-era Leonard Cohen, and that’s pretty darn cool!

Needless to say, it’s very difficult to put your finger on this one, but it’s definitely worth a listen or two or three. Enjoy!

Turo- Agent Orange LP
1. Agent Orange
2. Ich Will Hier Raus
3. Unterwegs
4. Es Ist Soweit
5. Bei Mir
6. Lang Hin
7. Was Denkst Du Denn Wer Du Bist
8. Komm Wir Gehn Hier Weg
9. Hey Du
10. Brüderchen Und Schwesterchen

*download it here*

————–

While I have your attention, might I direct you all here, as well? For fans of the French coldwave sound, I’ve been active in a band called Dream Affair (yep, named after this 12”). Our debut LP is currently available in digital formats and will be out on vinyl via AVANT records on June 27th. Exclusive tune here!

Sorry for the shameless promotion, but I promise to make up for it with lots and lots of goodies to come over the next few weeks. Please, mr. postman…

8 Comments »

End of Data REDUX

Posted in 1980s, 1984, 1985, coldwave, end of data, france, minimal synth, post-punk, synth on May 25, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

Sorry for the delay, folks. Expecting a few goodies that haven’t arrived in the mail yet. Will get to ripping those and posting them ASAP. In the interim, I’ve been digging back through the vinyl collection and making improved rips of some of the albums I’ve posted in the past, and figured I’d share the improved fidelity with all of you.

What better band to start with, then End of Data. I’ve had mixed results with every copy I’ve come across. Quality issues, a few glaring skips, etc. However, I’ve come across great sounding copies of both LPs, so with better source material come greater results. Of course, there’s still minor crackle and a pop or two that just wouldn’t scrub out, but that’s what we love about vinyl, isn’t it?

These are two bona-fide classics, two all time favorites from France and beyond. I listen to these albums just about every week, no small feat for me! In case you missed these the first time around, you can read all about them here and here. Hope you all enjoy the improvements!

End of Data- Sahrah LP (1984)
1. End Of Data I & II
2. If I’m Not A Killer
3. Follow Me And So
4. Like A Succession I & II
5. Trottodaf
6. Sahrah / Symphonie Inachevée

*download it here*

End of Data- Dans Votre Monde LP (1985)
1. Dans Votre Monde
2. Movie Drama
3. Quetzalcoatl
4. Symphonie
5. La Rive Asiatique
6. Atttrra (Vers Le Miroir)
7. Venice
8. D.M.C.

*download it here*

EDIT: to the 21 people who downloaded Dans Votre Monde when this post first appeared, please download the LP again— track 3 had an error in bouncing that has been rectified. Sorry for the trouble!

7 Comments »

Sequins and Spandex Parts VI & VII

Posted in 1980s, italian, italo, italo disco, mixes, sequins and spandex on May 18, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

So, it’s been just under a year since the last two installments of the Sequins and Spandex series, and since summer is just around the corner, I figure it’s due time to unveil the next two. Italo is very much summer music for me (and curiously, new beat gets the job done in wintertime, as far as the big beats are concerned), and though it’s raining here in New York, I figure everyone could use a little summer cheer. As always, I’ve had a hard time whittling down my choices, so you get two mixes for the price of one!

Before unveiling the tracklisting, I’d like to thank Shawn of Led Er Est/Further Reductions for the continuous crash course in italo, as well as Nick of Crispy Nuggets for lending me a handful of jams from his back pages. I’ve also re-included the 12” mix of Mad Matrix’s “Men Alone,” a Belgian track in the same vein, since it just works so well here. There’s also a UK artist in the mix, but the track was too good to pass on. Anyway, here’s the tracklisting, and I do hope you enjoy!

Sequins and Spandex Part VI
1. Fires In the Night- K-A-T-A
2. Dancing In the Dark- Mike Mareen
3. Queen of Discoteque- Sissy
4. Blue Room (Extended)- Kirlian Camera
5. Witch- Helen
6. I’d Like To Know- Randy Wiper
7. Girl of the 80s- Go To
8. Sing With Me Tonight- Fresh Color
9. You See- Helicon
10. Follow Me- Karl Olivas
11. Over and Over- Fantasy Life
12. Men Alone (Special 12” Club Mix)- Mad Matrix
13. Darkness- Aquarius

*download it here*

Sequins and Spandex Part VII
1. Don’t Be Cold (In the Summer of Love)- The Stupid Set
2. Black and White (Extended)- Bandeaux
3. Hesitation- Mya & The Mirror
4. Just a Story- Mike Rodgers
5. Hookey- Sylvi Foster
6. A Raving Night- Neurox
7. Right- Fake
8. You’ve Got the Night- Lame’
9. Boogie Tonight- M & G
10. Lucifer’s Friend- Vision
11. Waiting For Heaven- Diviacchi
12. Shoot Me (Extended)- Malcolm & the Bad Girls
13. Happy World (Extended)- Ranko

*download it here* (updated 6.12.18)

PS- I have a good chunk of leftovers for this one. However, in fear of it being overkill, I’ll wait for you kids to digest these one for a bit. Keep your eyes peeled for the next one!

9 Comments »

Neuer Frühling- Abendlos 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1982, austrian, minimal, minimal synth, NDW, new wave, post-punk on May 17, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s a minimal synth/NDW hybrid 7” from 1982. Nothing out of the ordinary for the genre, but two very good tracks indeed. The guitar driven a-side is the clear winner for me, while the b-side has a bit of a reggae feel to it.

This particular 7” was released on CBS Records (a surprising choice for a major label), and is the product of two Austrian musicians. Drummer Gerhart Walenta was also involved in an Austrian psych/prog band called Paternoster, who released one record in 1972.

Here’s the info:

Neuer Frühling- Abendlos 7”
1. Abendlos
2. Liebesversuch

*download it here*

For those who prefer to own an original copy of this record, you can easily score one on the web for a reasonable price, if you know where to look. Get it while the getting is good!

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Absolute- Demo K7

Posted in 1980s, absolute, demo, minimal synth, new wave, reset records, synth, synthpop on May 9, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s an extra special rarity in demo form. Here we have a series of cassette demos recorded by Absolute, known for their handful of tracks on Vince Clarke and Eric Radcliffe. You can hear their officially released tracks over yonder, as part of the Reset Records collection that has been unofficially compiled. A handful of those Reset Records tracks appear here in demo form, so it’s interesting to see how they differ from their studio counterparts. I’m also quite fond of the exclusive tracks here, especially “Take Her Away,” a killer synthpop gem that should feel right at home for fans of mid-period Depeche Mode.

That said, I still can’t seem to find much in the way of information about Absolute (aside from a little connection to the great John Fryer, who produced their second 7”), but someone uploaded what seems to be a promotional photo of the band on discogs. If the above image is correct, that might shed a skint of light on the subject. If there’s anyone out there that can chime in with more, please don’t hesitate! Otherwise, here’s the info:

Absolute- Demo K7
1. Take Her Away
2. Can’t You See
3. Does Anybody Want Me
4. T.V. Glare
5. Love In My Heart
6. Friend or Enemy
7. Club Boys
8. Only Time Can Tell
9. Doofa on 45
10. Merry Go Doofa

*download it here*

14 Comments »

Berlin- The Metro 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1981, berlin, LA, los angeles, minimal, minimal synth, new wave, synthpop, US on May 3, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

Stick with me on this one folks. Any fan of new wave should already be familiar with Berlin, the Los Angeles based band led by Terri Nun and John Crawford. If you are unfamiliar with the band, please direct your attention here. While it’s their later ballads and more commercial wave tracks that seem to be remembered, it’s prudent to note that the band’s first few releases were fantastic and rare entries to the US minimal synth scene. Information, the band’s first LP, was the closest thing to Ultravox in the west coast scene, while songs like “The Metro” and “Sex (I’m A)” from 1982’s Pleasure Victim were fast paced, sexually driven synth tracks that still remain classics to date. It’s the kind of sound also explored on the SSQ LP, another personal favorite female-led new wave smash. Fun fact: Both Berlin and Q/SSQ shared labels throughout their tenure, and Jon St. James of the latter outfit is credited as an engineer for Berlin’s Pleasure Victim LP. Incestuous!

I had originally purchased this 1981 issue of The Metro to DJ, not just for the foxy picture of Terri Nun on the back, but also figuring it’s far easier to pack a 7” than a 12”. When it comes to wax, real estate is key, so it just made sense to purchase, spatially. Just yesterday, I needed a fix for “Tell Me Why” and went for Youtube, only to be presented with a much more raw and driving mix than I remembered. Lo and behold, it’s the same version on this 7”, released a year before the EP cut! A little bit of research quickly told me that this Berlin single I purchased ages ago was actually quite the rarity in their catalog, as both tracks appear in an earlier form. The differences are most notable in “Tell Me Why,” though “The Metro” also features a different intro and what seems to be a different drum track. Either way, I’m happy to include this single here, and hope you kids enjoy it!

Berlin- The Metro 7”
1. The Metro
2. Tell Me Why

*download it here* (re-ripped 5.30.13)

Also, for those who want to try to own this obscurity, there are currently a few copies for sale via discogs. Buyer beware, wink wink!

15 Comments »

U.K. Viva- Mr. Mystery 7”

Posted in 1980, 1980s, minimal, minimal synth, u.k. viva, uk on May 2, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s a driving minimal synth single from 1980. A little bit of Buzzcocks/Undertones sound underneath all the electronics, kind of representative of the shift from punk to new wave, so fans of early 1980s synth should find this one to be a real treat.

You may have heard the b-side track on the New Wave Complex series, but the a-side is the standout, at least to my ears. This is the band’s lone release, though another version of the single exists under the name Viva. Likely that there was another band with the same name, so they added the U.K. bit in to differentiate (also see bands like The Chameleons and Charlatans for this sort of treatment). The original Viva 7” was released on Square records, home to an early Aerial FX release, another thematic touchstone for this track. The U.K. Viva edition appeared on Line records, known for pressings of Iggy Pop, Nico, and Smiths singles.

U.K. Viva- Mr. Mystery 7”
1. Mr. Mystery
2. Radio Saviour

*download it here*

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