Archive for the 1980s Category

Dobri Isak- Mi plačemo iza tamnih naočara K7

Posted in 1980s, 1986, darkwave, dobri isak, lo-fi, post-punk, serbian on February 17, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Contained within this post is Dobri Isak’s lone record, released on cassette in 1986. This Serbian darkwave/post-punk band drew heavy inspiration from Joy Division, so this is definitely a must for fans of dark, furious, and somewhat lo-fi post-punk and goth rock.

There seems to be an abundance of information about the band, despite their relative obscurity. The band, whose name translates to “Kind Isaac,” originally formed in 1983. After three years and a handful of lineup shifts, they dropped their first and only release. The cassette (which translates to “We Cry Behind Dark Glasses) was limited to 100 copies, which quickly sold out. The record contains an Arnold Layne song, the band several members were active in alongside Dobri Isak.

Though the record came out in 1986, Dobri Isak remained together until 1996, playing their last gig with Arnold Layne and splitting soon after. In 2009, PMK Records re-released their cassette, tacking on a few extra bonus tracks at the end. However, here’s a rip of the original cassette, as donated by a generous last.fm user. Be sure to purchase the reissue if you dig these tracks!

Dobri Isak- Mi plačemo iza tamnih naočara K7
1. Ona Se Igra Nožem
2. Sinoć Si Sanjao Da Si Pas
3. Mi Plačemo Iza Tamnih Naočara
4. Čekamo Te (Na Istom Mestu)
5. Ja Znam Da Ću Propasti
6. Nepoznata
7. Feniks
8. Plakati Su Ikone
9. Dozvoli Mi Da Ostanem U Tvome Krevetu
10. Mrzim Te
11. Tu U Uglu (Tada Sam Te Poslednji Put Video)

*download it here*

Note: My upload of the cassette seems to have an extra track inserted in the middle, one which does not appear on the official discogs/reissue listing. According to the cassette artwork- “Nepoznata” does not appear on the release, but might very well be a hidden track. Any information welcome!

Performance- Performance 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1982, avant-garde, experimental, french, minimal, minimal synth, Performance on February 12, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s one quick little burst of minimal synth to kick off your weekend. Clocking in at ten minutes total, here’s the lone 12” from French band Performance, released in 1982. “Pilotes” is the real winner here, a great midtempo, female fronted synth track. Afterwards, the record hits more experimental territories, with gloomy male vocals and short instrumental bursts. Bringing things full circle, the 12” concludes with some midtempo female fronted synthpop.

Interestingly enough, this 12” was released on Celluloid, the same label responsible for a handful of releases by Material, Tuxedomoon, Can, Yello, and Soft Cell. Quite an eclectic mix, if you check their releases page, and definitely a fitting label for this release. Here’s the info.

Performance- Performance 12”
1. Pilotes
2. Ideal Prison
3. Tapage Nocturne
4. Sécurité
5. Idéal Présent

*download link removed* – new 2 x 7” release of “Pilotes” can be found here, alongside a reworked version of “Sécurité!”

Repetition- The Still Reflex 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1981, 7'', post-punk, Repetition, Sarah Osburn, Spizzenergi on February 10, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Have a few more 7” records to post over the next little while, so might as well keep them coming.

This particular post features a solid 7” by Belgian post-punk band Repetition, a five piece featuring an ex-member of Spizzenergi (Pete Petrol). The two tracks hail from 1981, and sound a bit Siouxsie-ish, a rather popular sound at the time.

After releasing this single, the band switched vocalists to Steve Musham, who would go on to form jangle-pop band The Corn Dollies in the mid 80s. Musham would sing on the 1981 follow up A Full Rotation and 1982’s A Will to Win. Sarah Osborne, vocalist for this single, also sang for Marine, KLINGONS and lastly and most prominently for new wave band Allez Allez. Osborne married the Heaven 17’s Glenn Gregory, the pair having met during bandmate Martyn Ware’s production work for Allez Allez’s second album Promises.

Otherwise, both tracks on this single are essential listening for that cold, early post-punk sound. Enjoy!

Repetition- The Still Reflex 7”
1. The Still Reflex
2. Fade Out

*download it here* (RE-RIPPED 5.31.13)

Svart Klovn- Knust Knekt 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1983, 7'', Kid Death, maskindans, minimal, minimal synth, norweigan, Svart Klovn on February 10, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s the 1983 debut single from Norweigan minimal synth artist Svart Klovn, otherwise known as Kid Death. The title track was also featured on the 1984 Burning the Midnight Sun compilation and later remastered for the fantastic Maskindans compilation that dropped last year, while the b-side is a fast and furious piece of minimal synth.

The only other Svart Klovn releases are the 1986 Queen Bitch 7” and the Kid D. & the Nightshades LP, both featured over at Crispy Nuggets with some additional information about Kid Death and Svart Klovn. Check it out.

Svart Klovn- Knust Knekt 7”
1. Knust Knekt
2. Macho Manifest

*download it here* (RE-RIPPED 3.3.13)

Play- You Don’t Look The Same/In My Mind 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1983, 1984, new wave, play, survival records, synthpop, uk on February 7, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Sorry for the barrage, but here’s a second post for this weekend. Before I begin, might I draw your attention to the original Der Deutsche Adel post, which has been updated with a 320kpbs, clean-as-a-whistle rip, for any fans of that fantastic record.

With that in mind, here’s a pair of singles by Play. In a previous post, I had uploaded their Red Movies LP, which was donated with a few bonus tracks tacked on to the end. These extra remixes were ripped at low quality, so I’ve rectified that not once, but twice with these following two releases! Even the band’s initial 12” is represented here, so that should bring us up to speed with a complete discography!

Play- You Don’t Look the Same MLP
1. This Little Girl
2. Deeper Than Blue
3. You Don’t Look the Same (Remix)
4. Erase the Memory
5. Chasing the Sun
6. In My Mind (Remix)
7. Red Movies

Play- In My Mind 12”
1. In My Mind
2. Red Movies
3. In My Mind (Remix)

DOWNLOAD LINK REMOVED- at long last, Medical Records has reissued the entire Play discography (Red Movies LP + the extra remixes here) on LP.  Order HERE on Bandcamp!

Ice°- Ice 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1984, coldwave, french, Ice° on February 6, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

A quick post today, ladies and gents. Here’s a French 12” from a band called Ice°. Four tracks of killer coldwave (edit: with slight pop leanings), straight from 1984. Lead-off track “Le Grande Guerre” has been featured on a handful of compilations, including the excellent Des Jeunes Gens Mödernes, which features dozens of other frozen cold French gems.

Otherwise, the sleeve lists only two members for the band: Jérôme on guitar and Bruno on bass. Both are credited with vocal duties. The record was released on Caapare records, which according to discogs, this is their only release. Not much more I can tell you about the band, so let’s get to the tracks.

Ice°- Ice 12”
1. Le Grande Guerre
2. Le Visiteur Du Rêve
3. Listen To Them
4. Amandine’s Travel

*download it here*

Lars Falk- Solo Discography

Posted in 1980s, 1983, 1985, 1988, coldwave, lars falk, minimal synth, swedish, synth, synthpop, twice a man on February 3, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Readers of this blog might have noticed several posts featuring Twice a Man, the Swedish synth group still active to date. Not only is the duo’s expansive discography rather solid (and rather genre hopping) from start to finish, one time contributor Lars Falk’s solo discography is just as captivating.

While Lars Falk was only a contributing member to Twice a Man, his three solo releases prove he’s an equally driving force in the Swedish wave scene. A great mix of gloomy synths, icy vocals, and jagged guitars calls both John Foxx and Fad Gadget to mind. Tracks such as “Hello Hello” and “See My Friend Fall” are dj staple around these parts, while the latter also been featured on the fantastic Retronics compilation, which collects several other Swedish acts including Lustans Lakejer, Samedi, and of course, Twice a Man.

That all said, here’s Lars Falk’s three solo releases, all wrapped up for your listening pleasure.


Lars Falk- Through K7 (1983)
1. Let Tomorrow Take Over
2. Hello Hello
3. Rainy Days
4. In The City
5. Through
6. Smell Of Chaos

Lars Falk- TV Eye 7” (1985)
1. TV Eye
2. Doors

Lars Falk- Lars Falk LP (1988)
1. In The Night
2. Kings And Queens
3. Nothing Is The Same
4. Painting Pictures
5. Elmer
6. Dum Dum Boy
7. See My Friend Fall
8. It’s Here Again

*download all three here*

Outer Circle- My Mona Lisa 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1984, minimal, minimal synth, new wave, nth, outer circle, post-punk, US on February 2, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

This particular post comes as a generous donation from band member Brad Bechtel, and features the follow up 12” from Outer Circle, released in 1984. At this point in time, guitarist Cole Coonce joined the band’s lineup, solidifying the band as a six piece. The remaining band members, being Steve Spingola (vocals), Pat Collison (synth), Paul Santos (bass), Lee Howell (drums), and of course Bechtel on lap steel guitar are still intact, returning with more of their distinctive edge.

The 12” features three original tracks and two remixes of “My Mona Lisa,” as done by Gary Otto. Here’s the details:

Outer Circle- My Mona Lisa 12”
1. My Mona Lisa
2. Building Dreams
3. Warm Gun
4. My Mona Lisa (Gary Otto Mix)
5. My Mona Lisa (Instrumental)

*download it here*

In case you missed it, nab the first Outer Circle 12” here!

Orchestre Rouge- Yellow Laugher LP + Soon Come Violence 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1982, coldwave, end of data, french, martin hannett, Orchestre Rouge, passion fodder, post-punk, tanit on February 2, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

I was just reminded about this killer album through a video posting on ye ol’ Facebook, perpetual time waster and otherwise social networking site. With that in mind, I’ve uploaded a killer full length by French coldwave band Orchestre Rouge. Attached is their debut record, 1982’s Yellow Laughter, a particularly driving guitar record released on RCA. The record was lovingly produced by Martin Hannett, famed producer for Joy Divison, Blue In Heaven, and a slew of other Factory Records bands.

As for membership, the band was a five piece, featuring Pascal Normal, who worked with both Tanit and End of Data after Orchestre Rouge’s disbandment. Théo Hakola and Denis Goulag went on to form Passion Fodder, taking their name from Orchestre Rouge’s second LP. As a quick aside, Passion Fodder also featured bassist Pascal Humbert, formerly of Tanit, now known for his work in both 16 Horsepower and Wovenhand. Pretty small world!

Anyway, I’ve also included the the 7” of “Soon Come Violence,” the band’s first single, featuring an exclusive b-side. Without any further ado, here’s the information:

Orchestre Rouge- Yellow Laughter LP
1. Soon Come Violence
2. Je Cherche Une Drogue (Qui Ne Fait Pas Mal)
3. Soft Kiss
4. Red Orange Blue
5. Hole In His Thigh
6. The Consul
7. Speakerine
8. Slugs
9. Crows

Orchestre Rouge- Soon Come Violence 7”
1. Soon Come Violence
2. Kazettlers Zeks

*download both here*

Kym Amps- You Don’t Know My Name 7”

Posted in 1980s, kym amps, minimal, minimal synth, wierd records, xeno and oaklander on January 26, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Minimal synth has been getting an awful lot of press these days, and it’s rather refreshing to see. The latest efforts by Led Er Est and Xeno and Oaklander are eating up the blogosphere, while both Wierd Records and Minimal Wave have been thriving with a series of new releases. Up next, via Wierd Records is the Cold Waves and Minimal Electronics compilation, which will be released on Angular Records on February 22nd. The compilation is a perfect starting point for new enthusiasts, and includes classic tracks by The Neon Judgement, End of Data, Absolute Body Control, and many more. Additionally, Pieter Schoolwerth has chosen ten of his very favorite releases for Dusted Magazine Online, records which essentially sparked the creation of Wierd Records. Peep it here.

Also, Veronika Vasicka has just curated an equally excellent compilation entitled Minimal Wave Tapes Vol. 1, which collects several of the classic releases reissued by Veronica’s label, including tracks by Ohama, Tara Cross, Das Ding, and many more. You can pick up a copy here, and view Veronica’s top 20 minimal wave recordings here.

Which brings us to my next post. Astute readers may have spotted several of Pieter and Veronica’s favorites here on these back pages, including Nagamatzu, Oppenheimer Analysis, End of Data, Borghesia, and tons more. With that in mind, I’ve uploaded one of the few I was previously unfamiliar with, a one off 7” by Kym Amps. Not much information about the release, so let’s let Veronica’s blurb on the record speak for itself:

This one is a melancholy minimal synth track with female vocals. It’s dark and mysterious, and pretty much sounds like what the cover looks like. The bassline is simple and solid, and the melodies create a nice atmospheric mood for the vocals, “You don’t know my name (but I know you)”. It’s a sad love song about loneliness and obsession. There’s a 120bpm TR808 kick drum through out the track, and never a snare or hi hat. That sparse rhythm section creates a nice build-up of tension.

Here’s the info:

Kym Amps- You Don’t Know My Name 7”
1. You Don’t Know My Name (But I Know You)
2. You Love Me

*download it here*

Expect more goodies to come, but don’t forget to support both of these incredible labels as often as possible!