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Shoc Corridor- Train of Events LP

Posted in 1980s, 1985, british, darkwave, minimal, shoc corridor, synth, uk on July 21, 2008 by Frankie Teardrop

While scouring the local record bins this past week, I came across the final Shoc Corridor LP tucked away in the ‘new arrivals’ section. Naturally, I clutched it tight and brought it to the register, and am pleased to be able to share it with you after giving it the digital transfer treatment.

See last week’s post for the band’s first LP. This one is a different creature…The same template is retained, yet the sound is infinitely brighter and less gloom-ridden, a rather incredible progression in just two years time. I do like this record less than their debut, but there are some gems hidden on this one, especially during the latter half of the record.

Without any further ado…

Shoc Corridor- Train of Events LP
1. Garden Of Eden
2. The Legendary Gertie
3. My Secret In The East
4. Nightshift Moves
5. Holding Treasure
6. Green Silence
7. Almost In Walking Distance
8. Fever

*download it here* (Re-ripped 8.13.17)

12 Comments »

Shoc Corridor- Experiments In Incest LP

Posted in 1980s, 1983, british, darkwave, minimal, minimal synth, shoc corridor on July 11, 2008 by Frankie Teardrop

Shoc Corridor are a very recent discovery of mine, and a pretty damn enjoyable listen. The band is a London based darkwave/minimal synth outfit who formed in 1982 and split only two years later, leaving behind two LPs and a handful of 12” singles.

Though the band had several rotating members, it was mainly a studio project, core consisting of Andy Garnham and Paul O’Carroll. Original members Nogi Prass and Chris Davis left the band after their first 12” due to visa problems. However, tracks these two recorded appeared on their first proper LP, 1983’s Experiments in Incest (6 tracks long, it could be argued that it’s a mini-LP, though each track is on the long size). The band would record one more LP in 1984, but split soon after the suicide of then current bassist Paul Humphries. An anthology of the band’s material appeared on CD in 1993, but all of the band’s output seems to be very much out of print.

Without any further ado, here’s the information for the Experiments in Incest LP:

Shoc Corridor- Experiments in Incest LP
1. Khartoum
2. On Reflexion
3. Artificial Horizon
4. Iceberg
5. In A Empty Room
6. Travelling By Hand

*download link removed* – this LP has been reissued by Dark Entries! Click here to purchase.

Click below for a semi-official myspace page:
Shoc Corridor on myspace

8 Comments »

Testcard F- complete discography

Posted in 1980s, 1983, 1984, british, minimal, synth, testcard f, wave on July 9, 2008 by Frankie Teardrop

I’ve had several requests this year for the remaining discography of Norwich minimal band Testcard F. Firstly, here’s my previously quoted entry on the band, with download information following:

“Testcard F formed in 1981, and reconstructed and built their own synthesizers throughout their tenure. Unlike some synth-punk and minimal wave acts of the time, this band near-completely utilized electronic instruments, drum machines, and backing tapes; the only organic instrumentation appearing in the form of trash cans, coat racks, and other assorted bits of debris. Oftentimes, their live performances would be slagged viciously by heckling attendees, anxious for guitars. One particular gig in their hometown of Norwich ended in a small riot.

The band split immediately on the brink of success after winning a Norwich battle of the bands and recording their two singles and Peel Session in 1984.”

Testcard F- Bandwagon Tango 7”
1. Bandwagon Tango
2. Unfamiliar Room

Testcard F- Third Stroke 7”
1. Third Stroke
2. If Only It Wasn’t

Testcard F- Peel Session (12.18.1982)
1. Bandwagon Tango
2. Blanket Expression
3. If Only It Wasn’t
4. Unfamiliar Room

*download it all here*

13 Comments »

Moderne- L’Espionne Aimait La Musique LP

Posted in 1980s, 1981, coldwave, french, minimal, new wave on June 23, 2008 by Frankie Teardrop

Fulfilling a quick request for the second Moderne LP today, so look for a proper writeup on these guys and their first record here. Otherwise, here’s the info for the band’s second LP, 1981’s L’Espionne Aimait La Musique, which featured new vocalist Dominique Marchetti.

Moderne- L’Espionne Aimait La Musique LP
1. Switch On Bach
2. Mercenaire Solitaire
3. Judo-O-Dojo
4. La Romance
5. Qu’Elle Me Caresse
6. Eldorado
7. Video Idéale
8. L’Homme D’Affaires
9. Dilemma
10. Mode

*download link removed*

Minimal Wave, the fantastic NYC-based label known for collecting and reissuing obscure synth and wave gems has just recently released a double LP/CD, which contains both of Moderne’s groundbreaking records! Click here to nab your copy while the getting is good!

8 Comments »

Algebra Suicide- The Secret Like Crazy LP

Posted in 1980s, 1988, 1990s, algebra suicide, chicago, minimal, poetry, spoken word on June 20, 2008 by Frankie Teardrop

Today’s band is a curios anomaly that walks the line between minimal synth and beat poetry. Algebra Suicide formed in Chicago in the early 1980s. Essentially a two piece affair, the band combined the analog electronic sounds and thin, direct guitarwork of Don Hedeker with the beat-inspired poetry of Lydia Tomkiw, a published poet at the time of the band’s formation. The band’s unique style earned them some critical acclaim during their tenure.

The band’s discography consists of several EPs and a few full length records (mostly compilations) throughout the eighties and early nineties. The band seldom performed live, but often incorporated multimedia visuals for a trifecta of literary, visual, and musical approach. The band presumably split in 1994, and both Don and Lydia pursued solo ventures. However, in 2007, Lydia Tomkiw passed away in her home in Phoenix, Arizona at the age of 48…

Here’s the information for the band’s first full-length record, 1988’s The Secret Like Crazy. The album originally appeared on vinyl and cassette, but was reprinted on CD in limited capacity in 1992 via RRRecords.

Algebra Suicide- The Secret Like Crazy LP
1. Little Dead Bodies
2. Somewhat Bleecker Street
3. Gist
4. Why No Action Is Taken
5. Father’s By The Door
6. Tractor Pull
7. Tuesday Tastes Good
8. In Bed With Boys
9. Sinister
10. True Romance At The World’s Fair
11. Tonight
12. Please Respect Our Decadence
13. Heat Wave
14. No War Bride
15. Let’s Transact
16. Lethargy
17. Amusing One’s Self
18. Recalling The Last Encounter
19. Seasonal Zombies
20. Agitation

*download it here*

Dark Entries records has just reissued a compilation of Algebra Suicide material, four tracks of which were sourced from this LP. Well worth picking up if you want to hear more and support the band!
For a more suitable discography and proper biography of Algebra Suicide, click below:
Algebra Suicide on Trouserpress dot com
official page via Clive Barker’s website (a little outdated)

4 Comments »

Moderne- Moderne LP

Posted in 1980, 1980s, coldwave, french, minimal, new wave on June 19, 2008 by Frankie Teardrop

Today calls for a little French electro-pop/minimal wave/whatever tag you want to put on these guys. It’s hard to classify, as some songs are cheery as sin, while there’s a hint of ice cold electronics throughout.

The band is Moderne, a French four piece formed in a town just south of Paris in 1979. Moderne released but two albums and a few 7”s, but each record featured a different vocalist. This is the first of the pair, a 1980 self-titled affair.

Moderne split soon after their second album L’Espionne Aimait La Musique was released, but have enjoyed some cult success with “Switched on Bach,” a single pulled from their swan song, also featured on 2004’s So Young But So Cold compilation.

Without any further ado, here’s the info for Moderne’s first record:

Moderne- Moderne LP
1. Indicatif
2. Séduction
3. Histoire Ordinaire
4. Electronique
5. Vers l’Est
6. Rock’n Roll Stars
7. Sans Signalement

*download link removed*

5 Comments »

Xex- Group:Xex LP

Posted in 1970s, 1980, 1980s, american, experimental, minimal, new jersey, wave, xex on May 19, 2008 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s a request of sorts for a classic minimal synthpop gem. Xex were a more experimental wave band, formed in South River, New Jersey. They were a mysterious affair, releasing one record in 1980 and disappearing soon after. The band “began” as a high school kazoo trio. Member Waw Pierogi’s interest in science led to several unique delay and echo experiments in the early years, most of which were employed on the band’s debut. However, though outfit had little musical technique, their trials and experiments yielded several songs, and after their first performance, the original trio of Waw, Thumbalina Gugielmo, and Alex Zander brought in two of their friends/fans to round out the lineup. Thus, after several experiments and debates, Xex was officially born in 1978.

The band spent the next two years constructing several tracks utilizing minimal synth techniques, semi-conventional song structures, and male and female vocal experiments. Due to the nature of their project and the band’s limited abilities, live shows were often inconsistent and humanistic, and often featured performance art and video accompianments.

The original pressing of Group:Xex sold little over a thousand copies. Soon after its release, additional members David Anderson and Jon-Boy Diode departed as Xex completed work on a second record, which due to limited funding and a since-deteriorated master tape, has not yet seen the light of day, and may never will. The original trio continued to work together along with new member Cookie Ruggerio (who previous involvement with the band was limited to walking a stuffed cat during a performance of “Kitty”). Only a few tracks have surfaced, and mid 80s performances of the band did not include Waw Pierogi.

In 2004, cult interest in the band culminated in a proper reissue of Group:Xex, complete with several demo cuts from the band’s original sessions. Just a year before, Alex Zander passed away from a heart attack.

Here’s the information for the CD release of Group:Xex.

Xex- Group:Xex (reissue)
1. Fashion Hurts
2. You Think
3. Snga
4. Rome On $5 A Day
5. Party
6. Saint Vitus’ Dance
7. Svetlana
8. Don’t Blame Me
9. Holland Tunnel
10. Kitty
11. Cops
12. Delta Five
13. Fashion Hurts (Demo)
14. Svetlana (Demo)
15. Saint Vitus’ Dance (Demo)
16. Cops (Demo)
17. You Think (Demo)
18. Snga (Demo)

*DOWNLOAD LINK REMOVED- see below for official purchasing options*

This is one of the few available records I’ve posted as of late, so if you dig on these tracks, be sure to trash these mp3s post-haste and pick yourself up a copy of the cd reissue, which comes complete with extensive liner notes and further information about the band. Click below to order a copy!

Purchase Group:Xex from smackshire.com
further info and chronology

————-

ATTENTION, dear readers- you can now get a remastered copy of this LP via the always excellent DARK ENTRIES label, an awesome reissue label based out of the west coast. Click here for more info!

2 Comments »

Twilight Ritual- Rituals LP

Posted in 1980s, 1986, 1990s, 2000s, autumn, Belgian, linear movement, minimal, minimal synth, twilight ritual on May 5, 2008 by Frankie Teardrop

To complete the trifecta and fulfill an older request, here’s a reissue of Twilight Ritual’s Rituals LP, originally released in 1986. This is the “latest” project of Geert Coppens and Peter Bonne, also known for their work in Autumn and Linear Movement, two equally captivating Belgian wave outfits. The project originally formed in 1982 and has been an on again, off again focus for the pair.

Twilight Ritual seems to be active to this date. Micrart, responsible for the cataloging and reissuing of releases new and old, alludes to two new studio records, one of which is available as of last year and one of which is on the way. In the meanwhile, Geert Coppens keeps himself occupied with two side projects; Das Cabinett (not the same previously featured in these back pages) and Gerardus Le Monk.

Twilight Ritual- Rituals LP
1. Amorphous Materials
2. I Never Called You A Dream
3. Message
4. What Are Rooms For?
5. Strength For Me
6. He Is Ice
7. Means Of Heath
8. Closed Circuit
9. Tears On The Wall

*DOWNLOAD LINK REMOVED*—- See below for official downloads via Micrart and iTunes

Micrart
Twilight Ritual on myspace dot com

3 Comments »

Nine Circles- Nine Circle CD

Posted in 1980s, 1982, 1996, minimal, netherlands, synth, wave on April 24, 2008 by Frankie Teardrop

Some of you may have seen this one on Mutant Sounds*, but if not, here’s some classic female-fronted minimal synth for you folks, the lone release by Netherlands based band Nine Circles. The self-titled disc was released in 1996 but is comprised of tracks recorded in 1982. Though the band’s material scattered across various compilation appearances, it took 14 years for this collection to surface, and there’s little information about this band to be found otherwise.

I have two more tracks by Nine Circles kicking around; ‘How About the Aims in Life?’ and ‘Once In a While’ respectively. I know the former dates from a Dutch compilation cassette entitled Colonial Vipers, but not sure about the latter. For now, here’s the information for the self-titled collection:

Nine Circles- Nine Circles CD
1. When I Dance
2. Twinkling Stars
3. Here Come I
4. The Rose
5. Something Between You And Me
6. Miss Love
7. What’s There Left
8. I’m Deeply Touched

*download it here*

In other news, a few folks have been kind and generous to donate hard-to-find releases over the past few days, so if you’re keen, I’ll work on posting them up here with all the appropriate information soon. If you’re impatient, feel free to scour the comments from the last few entries and pluck ’em out!

*I am admittedly crap about checking every blog to see what’s been posted, but in all fairness, Mutant Sounds is a vast ocean, so I didn’t realise they tossed this same compilation up until after I uploaded it. Nuts!

16 Comments »

Robert Rental- Paralysis 7” & Double Heart 7”

Posted in 1970s, 1978, daniel miller, minimal, mute, robert rental, scottish, synth, the normal, thomas leer on April 21, 2008 by Frankie Teardrop

Today’s post features Scottish electronic music pioneer Robert Rental (real name: Robert Donnachie), who grew to prominence in the underground music scene in the late seventies/early eighties. Though he’s received a fair amount of credit for his live work with Daniel Miller (Mute Records, the Normal) and Thomas Leer (The Bridge LP, released in 1979 under Throbbing Gristle’s record label), he also recorded two 7” synth singles that are well worth a listen.

The Bridge was released on CD in 1992, but no further recordings appeared before or after. Robert Rental passed away from cancer in 2000.

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