Pardon the delay in posting, friends… Today’s band fulfills a request via email for French coldwave outfit Ellysgarden and their lone release, 1994’s Echoes. Their sound is more likens more to the shoegaze and dreampop movement as opposed to their country’s coldwave roots, most likely a product of the times. Further information about the three-piece band is scarce, though members of the band were previously active as Rosa Luxemburg, but if anyone has any more info regarding Ellysgarden’s whereabouts or history, feel free to send it my way. Otherwise, without any further ado, here’s the information for this gem of a record:
Ellysgarden- Echoes CD
1. Open Doors
2. Our Prayers
3. Over the Fancies
4. I’ll Know
5. Rise of Soul
6. Echoes
7. Muse (On My Own Face)
8. Velvet
9. King for a Day
10. A Boy Too Shy
11. Expiration
12. Her Face
I promise this isn’t intentional anymore, folks, but today’s band also happens to hail from France. It’s a request of sorts from a new reader, and the band is End of Data, a four piece Coldwave outfit who formed in 1983 and split just a few years later. Live setups for the band included ex-members of Tanit and Orchestre Rouge.
The band’s discography consists of two solid records, 1984’s Sahrah and 1985’s Dans Votre Monde. As I’m unable to scour up a copy of the latter in an “acceptable” bitrate (if anyone wants a 128kps rip of the record, holler and I’ll post it), I’ve only uploaded their incredible debut. Alternately, if anyone has a more sufficient copy of said record, feel free to send it my way.
Details:
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
During their tenure, the title track ‘Sahrah’ became a slightly prominent club hit, and has since been featured on several coldwave/French wave compilations. They made a video, to boot, and here it is:
This one is for Curious Guy over at Phoenix Hairpins… Opéra De Nuit (Opera of the Night) are another classic French coldwave act whose discography consists of one self-titled LP and two 12” singles, all of which I’ve uploaded for your perusal.
The four piece outfit formed in Valréas, France in 1982 and disbanded soon after releasing their seminal s/t record in 1988, enjoying a fair amount of hometown success in the meanwhile. The track “Ami-Amant” (featuring haunting female vocal contributions and driving synth/bass grooves) became a dance floor staple and has been included on the Transmission 81-89:The French Cold Wave compilation that Infrastition put out in 2005, responsible for many a Coldwave band’s second coming.
Details:
Opéra De Nuit are:
Erik Adrien (guitar, synths)
Jean-François Chaleyssin (bass)
Franck Adrien (drums, synths)
Richard Fekkar (synths)
Amour Noir 12” (1984)
1. Amour Noir
2. Karen Lloyd
3. Hors du Temps
Sourire de l’Ombre 12” (1986)
1. Sourire de l’Ombre
2. Ami-Amant
3. Invitation
3. Possession
Opéra De Nuit LP (1988)
1. Boris Transylvania Camp
2. L’appel du Froid
3. Larmes de Sang
4. Annabella
5. Invitation
5. Jeu Damné
6. Rebelle-Rebelle
7. Ami-Amant
Another French coldwave request fulfilled, as I’ve uploaded the first two releases by Baroque Bordello, who formed in 1981 and disbanded seven years later. The band was primarily female fronted, with a very driving keyboard and drum driven sound. Like most coldwave acts, Baroque Bordello sung in both French and English. Their discography consists of two full-length LPs and one 12” single (their debut produced by ex-Cure member/co-founder Lol Tolhurst). A two disc retrospective was released by Infrastition a few years back, which comprises their entire discography. A limited edition version was released which contains a bonus disc of demo recordings.
In 1988, the band signed to Polydoor records, shortened its name to Baroque, and released one 12” single before disbanding. Also, it seems as if there are a handful bands who’ve gone by the name Baroque Bordello, all unrelated. The latest has been active in the new millennium, but is not a reformed lineup of the band.
Without any further ado, details proper for their first two releases:
Baroque Bordello- Today 12” (1984)
1. Today
2. From Your Eyes
3. Les Algues
Baroque Bordello- Via LP (1985)
1. Voyageur
2. Marie Chinese
3. L’autre
4. Baby doll
5. I and I
6. Comme Toujours
7. Squares (Join the Room)
*download link removed*
For anyone interested in nabbing the official Baroque Bordello retrospective (and several other coldwave reissues), here’s Infrastition’s homepage.
Fulfilling a request for today with the first full length from late 80s coldwave band Mary Goes Round, released in 1989 on Lively Art Records. Mary Goes Round existed under various monikers as far back as 1986, supporting Sonic Youth on select tour dates. The band, consisting primarily of Jérôme Avril and CécileBalladino (with various other members coming and going throughout their career), released a handful of albums and a few singles before calling it quits in 1991. These days, Jérôme is involved with a new project, entitled Brachko.
Details:
Mary Goes Round- 70 Suns in the Sky
1. Mary’s Garden
2. On my Way Back Home
3. Useless Day
4. Clouds and Clouds
5. Who Believes in Better Days ?
6. Eagle
7. Any Mary I See
8. The Nile Song (Pink Floyd cover)
9. Nightfall
10. Kiss me Love
11. Pink Shadow
12. She Said
13. Doubts
Some more coldwave of the French variety for you folks today…The band is L’Enfance Éternelle, formed in 1983. The band rose to prominence in their home country, appearing on television and touring with similar bands Opera De Nuit and Babel 17, but hardly broke further than France, a plague that most of coldwave (and minimal) bands fell to. The band would release two short LPs during their tenure, and demoed material for their third record before splitting in 1990. Members formed their own bands, including the likes of Garlic Frog Diet, and Bob’s Your Uncle.
I’ve uploaded their first record, 1986’s Le Jour Des Fous, which was recorded live in concert, crowd noise and all.
Details:
L’Enfance Éternelle- Le Jour Des Fous LP
1. Violet Winter
2. Gaminas
3. The Smile Of An Clown
4. Behind The Beauty
5. Consumed Passion
6. Shine Of Passion
If anyone’s French is in working order, here’s links for both the band’s homepage and myspace profile. Also, the band has released their entire discography on a two-disc collection on Infrastition records complete with a ton of bonus tracks, so if you’ve got the money and means, pick it up!
KaS Product were a French coldwave duo from Nancy by way of Strasbourg, formed in 1980 by French musician Spatsz (aka Daniel Favre) on electronics and Mona Soyoc, a jazz singer from the United States on vocal duties, piano, and guitar. The band formed in 1980, were signed to RCA for a brief period, released a series of singles and three seminal electronic/coldwave records, and split neatly in 1990, though the band has recently reunited for a series of live performances in Europe. Other scattered sources claim Rowland S. Howard of Birthday Party and These Immortal Souls fame occasionally collaborated with the band in a live setting.
KaS Product’s sound is more tense, abrasive, and synth-driven than their contemporaries (akin to the likes of Suicide or Soft Cell’s darker material), partially due to Spatsz’s interest in classic analog synthetics and abrasive textures, the tension in their music seemingly a result of his working stint in a psychiatric ward. Meanwhile, a trickle of Mona’s jazz upbringing creeps into the band’s style, creating a rather unique hybrid of sharp melodies and icy electronics.
Though all four of their records make for solid listening, I’ve uploaded their debut album, 1982’s Try Out.
Details:
KaS Product- Try Out LP
1. One of the Kind
2. Man of Time
3. No Shame
4. Countdown
5. Never Come Back
6. Underground Movie
7. So Young But So Cold
8. Digging in a Hole
9. Sober
10. Breakloose
11. Pussy X
DOWNLOAD LINK REMOVED- both Try Out and By Pass have been reissued on CD/LP and digitally via iTunes. Feel free to update your copies! You can also visit the band at their official website.
To watch the classic video for ‘Never Come Back,’ click below:
Happy holidays, ladies and gentlemen! See you folks in a week’s time.
I believe I’ll stick to French coldwave classics for the remainder of this week, just in time for the holidays! Today’s post features Trisomie 21, an on again-off again act consisting of brothers Philippe and Hervé Lomprez. The band formed in the early 1980s and takes its name from the condition known as trisomy 21, an chromosome imbalance that causes down syndrome.
Though the band is still active to this day, I’ve always preferred their earlier wave material- especially their first two records, which have been previously uploaded by curious guy of Phoenix Hairpins. They can be found here, and here, and an early EP can also be downloaded here. However, it would be amiss not to mention their 1987 record Million Lights among their more classic material, though they pursued a more distinctive coldwave sound during this era, with slight EBM leanings (released on Play it Again Sam, mind you).
Without any further ado, here’s the details proper:
Trisomie 21- Million Lights LP
1. The Hazy Ridge
2. Sunken Lives
3. There’s A Strange Way This Morning?
4. Sharing Sensation
5. The Rickshaw
6. The Fairylike Show
7. Some Twenty One Miles From The Coast
8. Magnified Section Of Dreams
9. The Clencher
10. Million Lights
*download link removed* – most of the band’s releases are now available digitally! Please support them!
For more info on the band, including a comprehensive discography, videos, pictures, and some exclusive recordings, click below for the band’s webhub.
Little Nemo were among the best of the French coldwave acts, akin to the likes of Asylum Party and Trisomie 21, and unfortunately, just like the majority of their peers, they never quite broke outside of their homeland. However, the band earned a cult following after signing with Lively Art, a label notorious for releasing top-shelf coldwave records.
The band formed in 1983 and split in 1992 after several classic singles and three full length records. Their earlier material was more visceral and dark, while their pop-song sensibilities and interest in electric music evolved over the years. Upon their disbanding, vocalist Olivier Champeau took on the pseudonym Doctorolive to persue a more techno/house infused direction.
I’ve uploaded their 1990 Cadavres Exquis single- which includes three solid cuts, a cover of a classic Wire tune, and a synth-based instrumental to close.
Details:
Little Nemo- Cadavres Exquis 12”
1. Cadavres Exquis (Howard Song)
2. That Was No Martian
3. Anybody Home
4. The 15th (originally by Wire)
5. Sesordiulteiuq
My very first post in Systems of Romance featured French coldwave greats Asylum Party, formed in 1985, who released a duo of solid records and a series of captivating singles before their demise.
I’m fulfilling a request for today’s post- for I’ve uploaded the entirety of their second record, Mère complete with the Ticket to Ride 7” attached as a bonus. These two tracks appear on the CD reissue, also rather hard to get ahold of. With that in mind, happy Friday, ladies and gentlemen!
Asylum Party- Mère LP
1. Pure Joy in My Heart
2. Sur La Route
3. It’s Over (Dead Folls Damin)
4. Mother
5. Pas Très Loin
6. Someone Else
7. Un Sang d’Hier
8. Madhouse Grass
9. Euphoria
10. Le Temps des Serpents
11. Inner World Is Up (Jump)
12. Ticket to Ride
13. Beside
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.
Pardon the delay in posting, friends… Today’s band fulfills a request via email for French coldwave outfit Ellysgarden and their lone release, 1994’s Echoes. Their sound is more likens more to the shoegaze and dreampop movement as opposed to their country’s coldwave roots, most likely a product of the times. Further information about the three-piece band is scarce, though members of the band were previously active as Rosa Luxemburg, but if anyone has any more info regarding Ellysgarden’s whereabouts or history, feel free to send it my way. Otherwise, without any further ado, here’s the information for this gem of a record:
