Here’s the lone LP by French synthsters Candidate, released in 1987. There’s very little to be found about this two piece (though they have a website). There are a few other releases of theirs kicking around, including a split K7 and a split 7” with Gangrène. Would love to hear them, should anyone out there have a copy kicking around!
Otherwise, you can expect some killer minimal synth grooves, with a little bit of edgy guitar thrown in for good measure. a nice mix of tension and melody here, best for fans of Pink Industry, Kas Product, Strawberry Switchblade, etc. Here’s the info:
Candidate- Side By Side LP
1. Strange Girl
2. Starway
3. On The Ice
4. Subterrateen
5. On//Off
6. Last Day
7. The Wound
Here’s something I’ve seen kicking around a few wantlists, and rightfully so. Killer minimal synth meets dark post-punk guitarwave tracks here from this Belgian band. This is their only release, though I’m sure most have heard of this band via the Tribute to Some Bizarre series. They remind me quite a bit of bands like Siglo XX and the previously uploaded Bildenzone LP.
Not much more to be said about this one, so if anyone else has any information to share, please do! P.S.- the grammatical error in the title seems to be intentional.
Vibø- One To Many 12”
1. Clinical Death
2. The Game
3. Clinical Death (Proloog)
4. Machine
5. World Is Ours
6. Grandma
Almost forgot I had this one kicking around. Thanks to bx59cppw for the nudge! This is a classic German 12”, released in 1982. Four tracks of synth weirdness here. Post-punk rhythms, fast minimal synth arpeggiations, and a very NDW approach to things, all wrapped up in four short, but incredibly sweet tracks. The Tonträger 58 Hagen label also released the Kein Mensch 7”, a similarly great release.
Not much more to be said about this one, so let’s get to the good stuff:
X-Quadrat- X-Quadrat 12”
1. Kauf Dir Die Freiheit
2. Immer Und Ewig
3. Der Digitaltanz
4. Information
Just found a sealed (!) copy of this killer 12” for super cheap, so figured I’d share it for you all. I can’t seem to find a ton of information about Troubled Gardens, but expect some heavy bass grooves, Chameleons-esque guitars, and driving post-punk vibes from this US band. Three of the songs here are vocal ragers, while the other three are more dub-inspired jams.
This 12” was released in 1985 by Fountain of Youth records, home to bands like The Crippled Pilgrims, Government Issue, and The Velvet Monkeys. This is one of their final releases. Here’s the information:
Troubled Gardens- Eden Revisited 12”
1. Voice Carryovers
2. Incredible Changing Dub
3. Silent City
4. Domination Dub
5. Hour Of The Sun
6. Spy Dub
*download link removed* – purchase this & Troubled Gardens’ instrumental cassette HERE and HERE, respectively.
Here’s one of two posts lined up to get you through the weekend. First, we have what I believe to be the complete discography of Italian band Chrisma, a synthpunk outfit active in the late 1970s. The band combined a Marlene Dietrich kind of vibe with krautrock, Chrome-esque guitar lines, disco rhythms, and primitive synthesizers for a futuristic and incredibly eclectic sound. Very ahead of their time, as far as I’m concerned, especially when you hear the drastic jump in styles between the first 7” and the debut LP.
The band takes its name from combining the first names of members Christina Moser and Maurizio Arcieri. Their earliest recordings were made in Vangelis’ home studio, which more than likely explains their futuristic sound. There’s even a rumor kicking around that Vangelis himself performed on Chinese Restaurant, but he is not listed in the album credits.
While the band was formed in Italy, they sang the majority of their songs in English, which helped earn the band a few fans stateside. You can still hear “Black Silk Stockings” (IMO, the band’s best track) in various clubs to date. In 1980, the band changed their name to Krisma and took a more synthpop turn, releasing five LPs and a slew of singles. Perhaps I’ll cover them someday in the future, but otherwise, here’s the full Chrisma output- two LPs and two 7” records. I didn’t include a few of the other 7”s, as the band would double up on album cuts for b-sides. Here’s the rundown:
Chrisma- Amore 7” (1976)
1. Amore
2. Sweet Baby Sue
Chrisma- Chinese Restaurant LP (1977)
1. Thank You
2. Black Silk Stocking
3. Lola
4. C-Rock
5. What For
6. Wanderlust
7. Lycee
8. Mandoia
9. Thank You
Chrisma- U 12” (1977)
1. U Part I
2. U Part II
Chrisma- Hibernation LP (1979)
1. Calling
2. Aurora B.
3. Rush ’79
4. Hibernated Nazi
5. Gott Gott Electron
6. We R.
7. So You Don’t
8. Lover
9. Vera Platz
In case you’re not sold on downloading this discography, peep a performance of “Black Silk Stocking/Lola” here, complete with a latter day interview with the band, for those fluent in Italian. Awesome.
If you dig on these records, feel free to purchase the excellent reissues from Medical Records!
Hey kids, I’m back! Got a few treats lined up over the next few days, but first we have the entire discography from UK band Home Service.
There’s an unfortunate discrepancy in the band’s discogs bio, which claims they have roots in the UK folk rock scene, but I believe there may have been more than one band masquerading with that name. However, a little digging has revealed that this particular project consists of only two members, David Motion and David Fraser. Many may be more familiar with David Motion’s work as both a film/jingle composer and the producer for Strawberry Switchblade from 1984-1991. Behind the scenes, he was responsible for some of the band’s best tracks, including “Since Yesterday” and “Little River.”
That said, Home Service’s own music was a bit of a curious anomaly in the new wave spectrum. The band mostly toys with a more quirky sound, seen more famously in bands like Units, Tone Set, Silicon Teens, and Devo. Their first two singles were released on Motion’s own Crystal Groove records, while their final 12” was picked up by Situation Two/Beggar’s Banquet. There’s a definite progression in style between the three singles (starting with more guitars and changing over to a mostly synth-based sound), all unified by the band’s unique voice. My favorite tracks across the three are “Wake-Up!,” “The New Age Elite Corps” and “O.M.F.I.L.,” respectively!
Taking a drastic turn for the second post today, with a little French post-punk LP from 1988. Expect some dark, thrashy tracks on this LP, mixed with the occasional dance groove for good measure. Lots of doom and gloom and guitar driven greatness to be found, so fans of Ziyo, Siekiera, and the darker side of La Vague Froide (coldwave) should feel right at home with this one.
Otherwise, there’s not a lot of info about this record floating around, as it’s the band’s only LP. If anyone can shed some more light on the band, feel free. With that in mind, have at it!
Bildenzone- Autodafé LP
1. A Pig
2. Livre De Poèsie
3. Île De Pâques
4. Autodafé
5. Rhinocéros
6. Nineties Fright
Gonna wrap up this month with two more posts in quick succession today, so bear with me, ladies and gentlemen. I’ll be touring with Mark Burgess of the Chameleons UK over the course of a few east coast, so Systems of Romance will be dormant until mid-august. Consider these three posts a series of cold treats for the upcoming August heat wave.
Up first we have the coveted full length record by Berenek, a Norweigan based minimal synth project helmed by Espen Beranek Holm, also known locally for his weekly radio program.
I haven’t heard Berenek’s many releases throughout the 1980s, but this first record, released in 1981, is a gem for sure, and fetches some insane prices on the internet. You may have seen it over at Mutant Sounds, but I’ve supplied a higher quality/bit rip, fresh from the wax. Expect some killer minimal synth grooves and alienating electronics. You can also catch a remastered version of “Pictures and Paintings” on the Maskindans compilation, a must-hear for any fan of minimal synth and obscure new wave. Here’s the info.
Berenek- Sound of Danger LP
1. Sound Of Danger
2. Pictures And Paintings
3. Crystal Dream
4. How Could We Simply Die
5. Search
6. So Many Things
7. Doorway
8. A Prisoner In A Silent Way
9. Can’t Go To Sleep
Second on the slab for this weekend are the first two 12”s by Spanish band New Buildings, who come across as a hybrid of minimal synth and dark, gloomy post-punk. Kind of reminds me a bit of Q4U, or perhaps a more subdued version of Xmal Deutschland. Not a lot of information to be found about the band, but I believe this original lineup parted ways in 1983, reforming four years later as simply Buildings. Three releases followed in 1987/8. Not sure if the change in name also signified a change in sound, so perhaps someone out there can shed a little light on the subject. With that in mind, here’s the two New Buildings releases for your listening pleasure.
New Buildings- Le Dernier Homme 12” (1983)
1. Le Dernier Homme
2. Humo
3. Longues Avenues
New Buildings- Your Message 12” (1984)
1. Your Message
2. Historias Para Largos Recorridos
3. New Buildings
Here’s a 12” by one of my favorite artists. Walking a fine line between glossy synthpop and early EBM (this 12” is on Play it Again Sam), Parade Ground issued six killer singles and one full length record, all pretty much essential for fans of the genre. The main lineup consists of brothers Jean-Marc and Pierre Pauly, who originally collaborated with Front 242. The brothers occasionally lent a hand to some of Front 242’s middle period recordings, maintaining a close personal relationship with Daniel B. The band has also collaborated with Colin Newman of Wire, who produced several of the band’s releases.
While the band split soon after releasing their full length in 1988, Parade Ground would issue two CDs in 2007. One consists of live tracks, while the other features brand new material.
Released in 1987, this 12” contains two high energy tracks, while the final track is a more atmospheric affair. Here’s the info.
Parade Ground- Strange World 12”
1. Strange World
2. Off Balance
3. The Chosen One
Systems of Romance was created in mid-2007 to serve as a dumping grounds for all great things coldwave, minimal synth, post-punk, synthpunk, industrial, synthpop, and various other combinations of these styles. Feel free to make requests, noodle around, and discuss all you like...
Otherwise, this blog is dedicated to showcasing material that has long since been out of print. If you are aware of any of these items being readily available from the artist or label, or take issue with these tracks being uploaded, please let me know so I can amend the post or remove the links.
