Archive for the 1986 Category

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Yalta – Your Games 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1986, italian, new wave, post-punk, Yalta on July 19, 2026 by Frankie Teardrop

Sorry for the delay, y’all. Gonna try to make a few posts in the coming weeks to make up for it. Here’s the first, a 7” single from Italy that I picked up on a whim at the legendary Radiation Records in the Trastevere region of Rome. However, like many of the best-known Italian post-punk/new wave bands (Diaframma, Litfiba, etc.), Yalta were from Florence, a city generally known for high quality art. Coincidentally, I had the best meal of our trip in Florence, but that’s a story for another time.

Yalta were a four-piece who began under the name Quasars, changing their name to Yalta in 1985. They released just this one single in 1986, but allegedly stayed together until 1990, by which time they had swapped drummers and keyboardists. Aside from this single (the A-side which appears on a compilation in 1987), they also contributed an exclusive track to the Spittle Records 391 compilation series for the Toscana region.

I’m sure there exist more recordings out there, perhaps some cassette demos? Look at me trying to will them into existence. Anyway, here’s the details for this killer 7”:

Yalta – Your Games 7”
1. Your Games
2. Frontiers

*download it here*

Please note – the occasional clipping/ducking issues you hear on the drums on the A-side are burned into the production/recording here, not a rip issue – you can hear them in YouTube rips of the track as well, unfortunately. Gotta love the DIY post-punk scene <3.

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Slurpy Gloop – I Heard It In A Bathtub In Ohio LP

Posted in 1980s, 1986, experimental, industrial, minimal, minimal synth, scotland, scottish, uk on April 1, 2026 by Frankie Teardrop

Just a quick post today to share an updated rip of this minimal synth/experimental/psychedelic classic from 1986. Slurpy Gloop were a four-piece band from the UK (Scotland, specifically)  that were inspired by many of the great early electronic and industrial artists from 75-81, an extremely exciting and fertile time period in music. The band recorded this LP in Dunfermline, Scotland, and the record features collaborations from musicians in the local scene.

Shades of Throbbing Gristle, Klaus Schulze, early Cabaret Voltaire, early Human League, Faust, and more can be heard throughout this wild and haunting eleven-track LP. Lots to love on these grooves – it almost sounds as if this band recorded this in 1979, not in the mid-80s. Some sounds are just timeless in that way, and this LP certainly captures my imagination in a similar manner as their influences. Tracks here would have been right at home on some of Alain Neffe’s Insane Music series as well…

You can read quite a bit more about Slurpy Gloop via Kinemagigz – where they also note that the band briefly reunited in 2010 for some shows and recordings. I’d be curious to hear what came of that, if anyone from the band finds this post and can shed some light on the last sixteen years!

Without any further ado…

Slurpy Gloop – I Heard It In A Bathtub In Ohio LP

1. Don’t Let Your Touch Die
2. Feelings (The Outsider)
3. Let Go
4. Come Wake Me
5. Slurpout
6. Victory Beat
7. In Little Ones
8. Power Of Lies
9. Ribbons Of The Heart
10. Good Magnetism (Babe)
11. An End To A Start

*download it here*

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Under a Glass Bell – Over The Moon 7” + compilation tracks

Posted in 1980s, 1986, dreampop, goth, goth-rock, post-punk, uk, under a glass bell on February 26, 2026 by Frankie Teardrop

Doing it – four posts today! Hope y’all are enjoying everything so far – I’ll be back before too long…

Last, but not least, we have what is probably my favorite of the lot here, the lone 7” from UK band Under a Glass Bell. I first heard this band via a compilation that Goutroy sent my way, and immediately had to hear more. This is one of my sweet spots, female-fronted post-punk with a dreamier, romantic side. An immediate touchstone for this band would be All About Eve, but of course, bands like Asmodi Bizarr, Stimmen Der Stille, Cry of the Innocent, etc. come to mind here as well.

In addition to this excellent 7”, I’m including Goutroy’s rip of the Last Tango EP track from 1986 as well as their final compilation track from 1987, courtesy of the fantastic Lost But Not Forgotten 80’s YouTube channel, who sent me this track to include here. Many thanks to both of you for helping to complete their discography! <3

Under a Glass Bell – Over the Moon 7” (1986)
1. Over the Moon
2. Sweethead

Various Artists – Last Tango 7” (1986)
2. The Key to Salem

Various Artists – Vanity! 7 Deadly Sins 15 Deadly Songs (From The Artists Of Norwich) (1987)
3. Love Me to Death

*download it all here*

 

Speaking of Goutroy and I – we’ll be DJing together at Treasure Club in NYC next Friday, March 6th, playing ONLY 7” records – including this one. If you’re in NYC, feel free to stop by and say hi! <3

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The New Day – Voices LP

Posted in 1980s, 1986, post-punk, US on June 18, 2025 by Frankie Teardrop

Something I often admit in conversation is that many of the obscure bands I champion as a DJ/blogger/overall nerd often sound remarkably similar to the bigger, more commercially successful ones. For every true original (whatever that means) there are arguably twenty other bands who tap into the same set of influences and wind up in the same ballpark. Then, of course there are bands where the influences are so strong, it’s uncanny.While my tolerance for new bands doing this is extremely low in 2025, I still have a big soft spot for bands from the 80s and 90s who wore their influences on their sleeves, especially if they’re evoking a particular band whose vocalist sports big floppy hair and copious amounts of lipstick.

With that in mind, here’s the best Cure album you may not have heard from a band from Houston, Texas. Similar to bands like The Essence, Crimson Ivy, and Silent Creatures, The New Day simply adore The Cure from top to bottom, so much so that their name even references one of the best Cure b-sides from The Head on the Door era. Not only that, but this album plays like a series of tracks from that era (as well as Three Imaginary Boys, Seventeen Seconds, and Faith), full of jangly guitar, big hooks, cold synths, similar lyrical themes, and of course, that voice, complete with some yelps here and there.

This is the band’s only album, released on Morning Glory Records in 1986. Of course, you could argue that this album hits too close for comfort, but the truth of is that, for me, the songs are great and there’s some true DIY magic at play here that makes this an instant favorite. I love this album, through and through. Maybe you will as well?

The New Day – Voices LP
1. Sharp Object
2. Flames of Colours
3. The Words
4. Breathing Walls
5. That Noise
6. Scratch
7. Alone
8. Change
9. Pictures R Vague
10. The Voices

*download it here*

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A Special Night – The Big Noise and the Lone Silence 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1986, A Special Night, italian, post-punk on April 29, 2025 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s…for lack of a better word…a special one. The Big Noise and the Lone Silence is the first and only release by Italian post-punk quartet A Special Night. This four-track single was released in 1986 via Cave Canem, who also released the excellent Still Life EP, the previous incarnation of Selena Moor, as well as releases by The Gift. You can expect similar sounds here – delightfully dreamy, femme-fronted post-punk in the vein of Repetition, Asmodi Bizarr, etc.

This is such a sweet spot for me, I can never get enough of this sound, personally…

A Special Night – The Big Noise and the Lone Silence 12”
1. Winter Song
2. To Find and Find
3. Kill My Love
4. The Dark

*download it here*

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Silent Windfall – And We Have Our Dreams LP

Posted in 1980s, 1986, Danish, ethereal, minimal, minimal synth, new wave, post-punk, Silent Windfall on March 20, 2025 by Frankie Teardrop

I’ve been meaning to post this for a long time now. While many may already be familiar with this classic, this is a very special LP, one that has been soothing the savage beast these last few days. I hope this updated rip does the same for you all out there in this crazy world.

And We Have Our Dreams was released in 1986 via Skylight Records, and is the lone LP by Danish project Silent Windfall, who was primarily composed of bassist Lars Ranek and singer/multi-instrumentalist Bo Vess. Pernille Bøcker provides vocals on the first and the last track as well, adding a nice bit of feminine energy to this otherwise gorgeous LP, which is a mix of minimal new wave, post-punk, and ethereal. Some touchstones include early Black Tape for a Blue Girl, Tangerine Dream/Popul Vuh, Felt, This Mortal Coil, and maybe even a little of the mellower, folkier Pink Floyd tracks from the early 70s. There are two tracks with percussion on the first side that lean more post-punk, while the second side is a gentler affair, with expansive piano passages and ambient suites.

I really adore the range and delicacy of this album, and I hope you enjoy it as well…

Silent Windfall – And We Have Our Dreams LP
1. Here I Come
2. She’ll Be My Doom
3. Clouds Are Forever
4 And We Have Our Dreams
5. White Room
6. Float Like A Boat
7. Lifeline

*download it here*

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Third Circle- Last Night Was the Best Night of My Life 7 & 12”s

Posted in 1980s, 1986, industrial, jangle, Leeds, post-punk, uk on October 11, 2024 by Frankie Teardrop

Third Circle are a name that may be familiar to some, as they’re one of the infamous Leeds bands, the same scene who brought us The March Violets, The Lorries, Three Johns, and Sisters of Mercy. While not as well known as those bands, they had a three single run on Rouska Records, also home to early Cassandra Complex and Dustdevils releases. They sound similar, to my ears, to Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, with a similar drum machine pummel and forlorn, sung/shouted vocals. However, despite the intense, mechanical drum programming, I find there to be some excellent pop songwriting on their best known track, “Last Night Was the Best Night of My Life.” With the hooks, jangly guitars, and vocal melodies, it almost reminds me of a Smiths song, buried underneath a cold, industrial, city.

Some of y’all might be familiar with this excellent track already. I can’t say I’ve heard their second and third singles, but will have to inspect them sometime in the future. It’s worth noting that Martin Kelly joined up with W.M.T.I.D. (an EBM/industrial project that formed to support Cassandra Complex), while Tim Daly, a performance poet in his own regard, was a member of Bazooka Joe, and most interestingly, was a lyrical consultant for Pink Floyd’s post-Waters album A Momentary Lapse of Reason. Wild!

Speaking of wild, here’s the details for both the 7” and 12” version of this most excellent single from 1986, both which have exclusive b-sides and different versions of the single track. The 7” version is a little janglier (note: the dip early on is a pressing flaw, present on multiple copies) while the 12” is a little heavier/more industrial, if you will. Enjoy!

Third Circle – Last Night Was the Best Night of My Life 12”
1. Last Night Was the Best Night of My Life
2. Real Eyes
3. Silent For Too Long (live)

Third Circle – Last Night Was the Best Night of My Life 7”
1. Last Night Was the Best Night of My Life
2. The Man Who Fell Apart

*download both here*

Check out the band’s lyrics, hosted by Third Circle member Dennis O’Driscoll here!

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Fem Snabba- Pupiller LP & Sinnesplats 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1986, 1988, ethereal, fem snabba, post-punk, swedish on June 26, 2024 by Frankie Teardrop

This one has been a favorite from the moment I first heard it, a front-to-back excellent LP that’s all killer, no filler. As always, many thanks to Goutroy for originally ripping this LP, which was originally released in 1988 on Parabellum Records. Fem Snabba were a five piece post-punk band from Sweden whose discography consists of two LPs and three singles. Their sound is reminiscent of bands like All About Eve, Tinderbox-era Siouxsie, Asmodi Bizarr, latter-period Xmal Deutschland, a lil Cocteau Twins, and all the other great bands in this vein. A nice blend of ethereal gothic sounds, which is certainly a sweet spot around these parts…

As a bonus, I’ve included the band’s first 12” from 1986, which features different recordings of “I Ditt Land” and “Saknad” but is as equally dark and engaging as the LP.

Fem Snabba- Sinnesplats 12” (1986)
1. Vårda Ditt Skrik
2. Saknad
3. I Ditt Land
4.  Sinnesplats

Fem Snabba- Pupiller LP (1988)
1. Saknad
2. Dagar Som Pupiller
3. Jord Och Stad
4. Gnistrande
5. Under
6. Kurragömma
7. Bårar Över Eld
8. Tinder
9. I Ditt Land
10. Nattfjärilen

*download both here*

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Ultime Possibilité- Ultime Possibilité K7 & Compilation Tracks

Posted in 1980s, 1986, 1987, 1988, coldwave, france, post-punk, ultime possibilité on April 3, 2023 by Frankie Teardrop

I recently had the pleasure of meeting with Gérald Page, rhythm guitarist of French post-punk/coldwave band Ultime Possibilité during a brief birthday visit to NYC. He was kind enough to pass along a copy of the band’s first cassette, self-released in 1986, two years before their excellent 7”. I also have his blessing to share the recording here with you all. You can expect the same powerful, yet-catchy sounds throughout this tape, including an earlier version of b-side “No More Lies.” The rest of the tracks are unheard, exclusive to this release, and as incredible as the single that follows.

As a bonus, I’m also including two additional tracks the band recorded, both released on cassette compilations in 1987 and 1988 respectively.

Hope y’all enjoy!

Ultime Possibilité- Ultime Possibilité K7
1. Would You Smile
2. Sea of Faces
3. No More Lies
4. La Chambre Vide
5. Gardian Angel
6. Pensees Nocturnes

Compilation tracks:
1. Coute Que Coute (from The Unknown 4 – 1987)
1. What Was Your Mission (from The Unknown 4 – 1987)
2. Coute Que Coute (alternate recording, from Orcades Machinales Volume 1 – 1988)

*download it all here*

Also, please enjoy this amazing TV appearance of the band performing the fiery “Coute Que Coute” on the ZAP program:

Much love to Gérald for his generosity and for all the music! <3

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Magic Dragon – Emotional Landscape / Courage of Lassie – The Temptation to Exist LPs

Posted in 1980s, 1981, 1986, canadian, courage of lassie, magic dragon, minimal, minimal synth, neo-folk, neoclassical on March 6, 2023 by Frankie Teardrop

Canada seems like an unlikely haven for a minimal synth/neofolk project with a very European-style sound, but that said, here are two of my favorite LPs from up north.

Magic Dragon formed from the wake of Private School, a punk band who released one single in 1979. Members Maddy Schenkel and Ron Nelson quickly formed Magic Dragon, enlisting bassist Rachel Melas to record their lone LP  Emotional Landscape, which was released in 1981 on Friends Records. The album combined the folky interplay of bands such as Steeleye Span and Mellow Candle with minimal electronics, skittering drum machines, and experimental passages, creating a singular sound that few bands, especially on the western hemisphere, were flirting with. Some other touchstones I can think in this vein are UV Pop, Mekanik Kommando, Solid Space, Les Joyaux De La Princesse, Collection D’arnell~Andrea, and Modern Art, all of which flirted with folkier and experimental influences over their tenure.

Magic Dragon soon evolved, adding violin player Rod Booth. The band changed their name in 1983 to Courage of Lassie (keeping the nostalgic/childhood magic and wonder alive in name), and self-released a cassette in 1984 that featured, amongst new material, the first track from the Magic Dragon LP. Their core folky/minimal synth hybrid sound remained intact, and the band soon recorded The Temptation to Exist, which consisted of a handful of songs from the cassette, a couple of new tracks, and a haunting cover of Pete Seger’s “Where Have All the Flowers Gone,” done in Marlene Deitrich’s German-vocal style. This LP was originally released in 1986 via Amok Records, but has been re-released in 1987 and 1991, respectively. The band would release two more albums (1988’s Sing or Die and 1994’s This Side of Heaven) before calling it a day.

While folks may have heard both of these records before, I’m happy to provide newly digitized versions. Hope y’all enjoy!

Magic Dragon – Emotional Landscape (1981)
1. Objet Du Desire
2. Memories
3. Egyptian Radio
4. Once Upon a Time
5. (White Monkey) Under the Volcano

Courage of Lassie – The Temptation to Exist (1986)
1. All That I Know
2. Iron
3. Hiroshima
4. The Rose
5. Hopes & Fears
6. La Notte
7. Sag Mir Wo Die Blumen Sind
8. Air Du Temps

*download both LPs here*

Be sure to visit the band on Facebook.

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