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Q4U- Q2 1980-1983 CD

Posted in 1980s, 1982, 1996, icelandic, minimal, minimal synth, post-punk, punk, q4u, reunited on June 8, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop


Here’s a long since out of print CD, containing dozens of tracks from Icelandic post-punk band Q4U. I wish I could say it’s the band’s entire discography, but there are so many tracks issued on their original 12” and K7 releases that it’s hard to include them all on one disc. In fact, the few copies I’ve seen of their original material fetch some of the highest prices on Discogs that I’ve ever seen!

This CD, released in 1996 via Icelandic label Norður & Niður, collects many of the band’s best tracks. You can expect, like many of the punk bands of the era, short blasts of female fronted energy, akin to the likes of X-Ray Spex and early Banshees. That said, the band’s use of drum machines and synths calls the early minimal synth movement to mind. An excellent hybrid, if you will. The catalyst for this disc included the resurgence of punk and interest in the Sex Pistols reunion, as the band reunited for a few local shows upon its release, playing exclusively older materal.

The band was rather famous in their native land, thanks to an appearance in the documentary Rokk i Reykjavic. Growing popularity and involvement with other bands led to the band’s first lineup shift in 1982, but not before recording dozens of leftover tracks for the Skaf I Dag K7, the band’s first release. The band would reunite some months later, employing a TR-808 drum machine dubbed Elizabeth II, though no tracks were released then (several demo recordings from this era are included here). Adding a few more additional members, the band would record their debut 12”, 1982’s Q1. Success from this release caused the band to drop the drum machine and focus on a more live sound, which led to opening slots for Classix Nouveaux in 1983. The band would split soon after, but not before recording a handful of tracks that would remain unreleased until this disc.

Phew, quite a mouthful there. Again, this disc does not contain the entire Q4U discography, but presents many of the band’s finest moments alongside some killer unreleased material. Curiously enough, only ONE track from the Q1 12” is missing here, not sure why it wasn’t included, but definitely gives extra incentive to track down the original 12”. Anyway, here’s the information:

Q4U- Q2 1980-1983 CD
1. Sigurinn
2. Draugasaga
3. Barbie
4. Miracle Man
5. Böring
6. PLO
7. Breiðabόlsstaður
8. AMDP
9. Tiskufrik
10. Why
11. Skemmtistaður
12. Plastic Vision
13. Family
14. Turninn
15. Þjόðlagið
16. Ekkert
17. Don’t
18. Creeps
19. Onward
20. Zoo
21. Walker
22. Pelagus-FFH
23. Romance La Paranoia
24. Þeir (Hverjir?)
25. Hoppland
26. Calígúla
27. Get You
28. Toys
29. Nacht Und Nebel
30. I Hate You
31. Má Ég Hjá Þér Borða
32. Judith The Savage Amazon
33. Jack The Skipper
34. Snjόhvit

DOWNLOAD LINK REMOVED:  Most of Q4U’s discography can now be purchased on both CD and LP, via Wave Records and Dark Entries records, respectively!  Please support the band!

6 Comments »

Profil- Profil LP + Bonus

Posted in 1980s, 1981, 1982, 1983, german, NDW, post-punk on June 8, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s a handful of posts to get you through the week. First up, we have the lone LP (complete with bonus cuts) from German NDW band Profil. NDW isn’t usually my standard fare, but some of these tracks are certainly winners, including the first two tracks, and the majority of the bonus material. Expect some jerky,synth-driven rhythms, some perfect for the dancefloor while others a little more spastic, but entertaining all the same.

Not much else I can tell you about the band. According to discogs, they were a five piece outfit, and released a handful of singles on Welt-Rekord (owned by Peter Hein of Fehlfarben and also responsible for some key Grauzone releases).

Essentially, the LP alone consisted of 10 tracks, many of which were scattered across their earlier singles. Included in this upload, however, is the remaining b-sides from the debut Beruhren 12” (1981) and the band’s final release, the Leb Wohl Mein Schatz 12” (1983). Looks to be a complete discography, minus the shorter edit of “Leb Wohl Mein Schatz,” but including the Dub Mix not found on the previous Mutant Sounds post. Enjoy!

Profil- Profil LP + Bonus
1. Berühren
2. 1964
3. Schwimmen Im Geld
4. Regennacht
5. So Kühl
6. Ich Liebe Dich
7. In Form
8. C’Est La Vie
9. Lieber Gott
10. Toscana
11. Berühren (Long Version)
12. Immer Mehr
13. Leb Wohl Mein Schatz (Long Version)
14. Leb Wohl Mein Schatz (Dub Version)
15. Du Lügst

Tracks 1-10 from Profil LP (1982)
Tracks 11 and 12 from Berühren 12” (1981)
Tracks 13 and 14 from Leb Wohl Mein Schatz 12” (1983)
Track 15 from Leb Wohl Mein Schatz 7” (1983)

*DOWNLOAD LINK REMOVED* – this has been reissued by Genetic Music in 2016!

3 Comments »

Sanity Plexus- Devil’s Deception 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1989, manchester, post-punk, Sanity Plexus, Sexus, uk on June 3, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Almost had a heart attack when my freshly mailed copy of this had sibilance issues. Fortunately, it was just a brief turntable malfunction, and I’m able to bring you this stellar debut from England’s Sanity Plexus.

The two-piece band hailed from Manchester, home of some of the best post-punk bands in the world, so you can expect some fruitful gems here. Aggressive drum machines (most running a similar, but effective program), incisive guitar work, yet solid, danceable rhythms. A real treat!

It seems the band earned quite the following during their tenure, which lasted for three LPs. The band grew poppier and less aggressive with each release, which culminated in a name change. Sexus, as the band would then be known, grew in popularity into the early 1990s with a more acid house sound, typical of England at the time. Sexus released two LPs before disbanding.

You can fill in a few more details by visiting the band’s site, which appears to be run by a member. You can also download the title track from the band’s second release, the Tough Guy Shell 12”. Without any further ado, here’s the info for this killer release.

Sanity Plexus- Devil’s Deception 12”
1. Top
2. Masculine Mask
3. Squalor
4. A Boy Can Get Scared
5. Stains
6. Service With a Smile

*download it here* (reuploaded @320kbps)

6 Comments »

Man Klan- Flesh Machine LP

Posted in 1980s, 1987, goth-rock, man klan, new wave, post-punk, swedish on June 1, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Second on the slab we have Man Klan’s lone LP, released in 1987. Can’t seem to find much about these guys either, and their entire discography consists of two 12” releases in 1985, this LP, and a 12” single for “Wanting & Waiting.” I believe the band was Swedish, though this particular LP was released on a UK label and features vocals in English. Pretty fluent, to boot!

Some great female fronted gothic grooves on here, sort of reminiscent of Concrete Blonde, (Devils era) X-Mal Deustchland, or Missing Persons, with sexually ambiguous lyrics. Striking similarities to mid-period Siouxsie as well, though track six is not a cover of the Banshees hit.

Man Klan- Flesh Machine LP
1. Wanting & Waiting
2. Everytime
3. Love For Pleasure
4. No Time For Mercy
5. Redheads
6. Candyman
7. Getting Closer
8. Fisherman
9. Flesh Machine
10. Love Child

*download it here* (RE-RIPPED 4/2/22)

Up next: the highly coveted debut LP from Sanity Plexus! Just got a fresh copy in the mail!

4 Comments »

Soviet Sex- End of INRI LP

Posted in 1980s, 1984, coldwave, goth-rock, post-punk, Soviet Sex, swiss on June 1, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Last week, I left you kids with a trio of synth-based dance records. Now, to switch over to the guitar driven side of things for a few posts. Up on the slab for today we have the 1984 debut of Soviet Sex, a post-punk band based in Switzerland. There are also two other bands with this name- a band from the US and a band from the Netherlands (featured here), but according to a few pieces of info kicking around and the band members listed on the sleeve of this record (Beat Rohrer, Vico, Alwin Luschin, and Jost Baggenstos), I believe this is a completely separate entry.

According to the Swiss Punk Archive, the band’s roots lie in a band called Crazy, a more punk-driven outfit. Naturally, the sounds here are still fast and energetic, but there’s a bit more gloom and tension in these songs. Definitely recommended for fans of Ziyo and Siekiera. Here’s the info:

Soviet Sex- End of INRI LP
1. Sünde
2. Walpurgis Night
3. Immer Noch Das Leben
4. Trauer
5. Bare Bodies
6. Zwischen Wann Und Wirklichkeit
7. Rettet Uns!
8. Weisser Tod
9. Geschirr Zerbricht

*download it here*

The band would follow this LP up with the Blind Dogs 12” in 1985, just before disappearing. Would love to hear that one, if anyone has a copy kicking around!

4 Comments »

Abecedarians- Smiling Monarchs 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1985, abecedarians, coldwave, factory, LA, los angeles, post-punk on May 8, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Apologies for the overwhelming amount of posts today- feeling a bit productive, I suppose. Here’s the 1985 debut 12” by Los Angeles’ Abecedarians, one of the only American releases on Factory. Of course, the band would sign to Caroline to release the bulk of their material. You can nab the band’s posthumous early recordings collection here on these back pages, where you can read a bit more about the band as well. Without any further ado, here’s the info for this 12”:

Abecedarians- Smiling Monarchs 12”
1. Smiling Monarchs
2. Benway’s Carnival

*DOWNLOAD LINK REMOVED*

This 12” has just been reissued as part of Pylon’s 2xLP & CD reissue of Eureka.  Pick it up!

1 Comment »

Voices- Memories’ Floor 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1985, coldwave, Contempo Records, italian, post-punk, Voices on May 8, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s a 4 track EP from Italian post-punk band Voices, released in 1985. As far as I can tell, this is their only release, but bands such as Neon, Pankow, and DIaframma also appeared on Contempo Records. Contempo also served as distribution for 4AD bands such as Cocteau Twins and Dead Can Dance.

As for this EP, the first track is as dark as they come, while the others range from driving post-punk to sombre piano dirges. Definitely for fans of the dark Italian sound. Here’s the information:

Voices- Memories’ Floor 12”
1. Marble
2. Eucharistic Death
3. L’Idee Du Bien
4. Hands On My Soul

*download it here* *updated 6.5.12- new rip by bx59cppw!*

6 Comments »

Flue- Some-times in Arabia 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1987, Dutch, Flue, Mecano, netherlands, new wave, post-punk, synth on May 5, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s the final 12” from Dutch synth band Flue, released in 1987. The fantastic Phoenix Hairpins blog features the band’s two full-length LPs, so with the exception of any bonus tracks issued on the One and a Half CD reissue, this should complete their discography. You can get their debut LP here, and their second LP here.

For those unfamiliar with the Flue story, the band was one of the flagship artists on the Torso label, who issued several key LPs from The Cult, Sonic Youth, and The Residents. Several more obscure synth/wave acts such as Mekanik Kommando and Mecano also found their way on to the label. In fact, Flue guitarist Cor Bolten was active in Mecano before joining the band after the release of their 1981 debut. The band’s second LP, Vista was recorded with an entirely new lineup.

It would be another four years before the band released their final single, 1987’s Some-Times in Arabia, which featured two versions of the title track and one exclusive b-side. Here’s the information for the single:

Flue- Some-Times In Arabia 12”
1. Some-Times (In Arabia) (New Version)
2. Some-Times (In Arabia) (Single Version)
3. Legacy

*download it here*

8 Comments »

Echo Prism- Jade Flower 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1985, coldwave, echo prism, french, post-punk on April 16, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s a one off coldwave single dating back to 1985. Little is known about Echo Prism, but judging from the artwork, it’s safe to assume the band was a three piece, and self-released this without help from a label. You can expect some child-like synths, minimal drum machines, and some driving post-punk guitars from both sides of this 7”. Simple and primitive, but always effective. Enjoy!

Echo Prism- Jade Flower 7”
1. Jade Flower
2. Mere Albion

*download it here*

3 Comments »

Blue In Heaven REDUX

Posted in 1980s, 1984, 1986, 1988, blue in heaven, irish, post-punk on April 9, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

You guys asked for it, and here it is! Contained within this post are four releases by Irish post-punk band Blue In Heaven, including both their debut single and the elusive Rock ‘N’ Roll R.I.P. EP. You can nab their two full length records in these back pages: here and here.

According to Wikipedia, this doesn’t complete the entire Blue In Heaven discography (as much as I’d like it to0. Their 1983 debut single The Lights Go Out (the same track Bono praised upon its release) is nowhere to be found, and the site also lists a final single in 1988, simply entitled Track 01. I’m also looking for a live track entitled “Tell Me,” plucked from the Live For Ireland complilation, but that may just be a video only release, as a clip exists on Youtube. If anyone has any more information for these releases, feel free to chime in and sling them my way! Otherwise, here’s the information for the remaining discography.

Blue In Heaven- Across My Heart 12” (1984)
1. Across My Heart
2. A Whiter Day
3. Across My Heart (Martin Hannett Version)

Blue In Heaven- Julie Cries 12” (1984)
1. Julie Cries (12” Version)
2. The Message
3. In Your Eyes

Blue In Heaven- I Just Wanna 12” (1986)
1. I Just Wanna (12” Mix)
2. Beating In My Head (Little Flower)

Blue In Heaven- Rock ‘N’ Roll R.I.P. 12” (1988)
1. She Is Everything
2. Swinging
3. Feel So Good
4. Loose (live) [originally by The Stooges]
5. On and On

*download all four here* (1-3 RE-RIPPED 1/6/16)

16 Comments »

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