Sixtieth Parallel were an undersung US three piece from California, playing in the vein of early U2, The Chameleons, Mighty Lemon Drops, Sad Lovers and Giants, Blue Hollow, etc. (aka, some of my very favorite things). Tight rhythm section, guitars reminiscent of the alternative explosion of the mid-80s, and really catchy songwriting at every turn. This is their only documented release, dropped in 1988 on Dr. Dream records.
This 12” was highly recommended by my friend Teresa and I’ve been enjoying it for a few months now. It can be found easily and for relatively cheap prices if you’re into it, and rumor has it the band has reunited to record new versions of old demos, so keep an eye out for those!
Sixtieth Parallel- Into Bliss 12”
1. Over And Over
2. Passionately Deep
3. Like Dust
4. Trust
5. One Day
6. Into Bliss
This one may border conspicuously on 80s indie turf, but it’s been hitting the spot lately as the summer creeps on and my interests turn to more guitar driven tunes.
In all honesty, I’ve had this 1989 LP kicking around for a while now, purchased sealed for a dollar at an upstate NY record fair (other scores included Trisomie 21’s Playing the Pictures and the Winter Hours record I posted ages ago). It took a post over at Kentucky Fried Wave to remind me that I had it lying around, unopened and deserving of a rip.
You can read quite a bit about these guys via Kill Your Pet Puppy, where you can also find their first two 12” EPs and a slew of photos. Pretty much all you could ever want to know about them appears in their writeup, so check it out!
As far as touchstones are concerned, this album does fit in quite nicely with the likes of the 80s paisley underground. Fans of Rain Parade, Winter Hours, early R.E.M., and Game Theory should be familiar with the sounds, which with a female singer in tow, also remind me of Ghost Dance and latter-day Xmal Deutschland. For me, the LP starts pleasantly enough but ends on the stronger side, with tracks such as “If You Believe” and “Her Dreamworld” standing out and giving it a bit of that dark flavor I like so much. Don’t take my word for it, however. Here’s the info:
We Are Going to Eat You- Everywhen LP
1. Photograph
2. Heart In Hand
3. This Conspiracy
4. Each Life A Mystery
5. Glory
6. Ride Upon The Tide
7. Eye To Eye
8. On A Day Like This
9. Just Another One
10. Here Always
11. If You Believe
12. Her Dreamworld
This LP was released on TVT records, which had a series of successful LPs (The KLF, Nine Inch Nails) under their belt. With that in mind, this band earned a bit of commercial attention, and filmed a video for “Each Life a Mystery.” Peep it here:
Here’s a virtually unknown 12” from UK post-punk band Blue Siege. Definitely a must for fans of Sad Lovers and Giants, For Against, The Chameleons, etc., and also for those who like something a little more jangly (Winter Hours, early R.E.M.). Melodic singing, driving post-punk tracks, and a nice, punchy atmosphere. Prominent use of organ on here, if that’s your thing!
Can’t find a ton of information about this one, though I do believe it’s from 1986. The band released a 7” just before via Pride Communications, the same label who issued this recording. The 7” features production from Chris Layhe of the Icicle Works, another touchstone for the band’s sound. As for obtaining a copy of this one, there’s a few kicking around on ebay and various online record outlets, so snap one up!
Blue Siege- Ruins No Longer Remain 12”
1. Ruins No Longer Remain
2. Stolen Daylight
3. Like Red Rags To the Bull (Soweto)
4. Hollow Man
5. River Has Gone
6. Drifting Apart
Spent last night uploading several back entries, mostly the Baroque Bordello material and all entries back to June. Will be working more on the rest as soon as possible. Please be patient!
Moving forward, here’s a bit of a seasonal treat for you kids today, one of my very favorite autumnal records by New Jersey based post-punk/paisely underground act Winter Hours. A little deviation from the usual doom & gloom/electronic aesthetic, Winter Hours’ sound was far more delicate, melodic, and guitar-based, drawing more comparisons to R.E.M., who supported the band in their earlier days. Other sonic textures include bands like The Lucy Show, Mighty Lemon Drops, The Church, and of course The Byrds and similar 60s folk bands who inspired the C86 movement.
Otherwise, the five piece act earned a devout cult following throughout their tenure, releasing a handful of LPs and EPs over the course of the 1980s. The band split officially in 1991, though their last single was released in 1989. As for the record at hand, Wait Till the Morning was originally an EP for the band in 1986, but this CD reissue includes the equally excellent Churches 12” as an appendix.
Winter Hours- Wait Till the Morning Comes CD
1. Hyacinth Girl
2. Wait Till the Morning
3. Simple John
4. Island of Jewels
5. Incendiary
6. Churches
7. Walk Away
8. At A Turtle’s Pace
9. I Want
10. All Along the Watchtower (Bob Dylan cover)
Click below for the official video for ‘Wait Till the Morning!’
Guitarist Michael Carlucci has written a letter in tandem with the passing of singer Joseph Marques Rodriguez, which appears on a brief Winter Hours tribute page (linked below). He also has created a semi-official myspace page to celebrate the band’s legacy. Please direct your attention below:
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.
