Archive for the power pop Category

RJ/8- Tomorrow Never Listens 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1981, post-punk, power pop, US on June 5, 2019 by Frankie Teardrop

I can never get enough of rickety, DIY post-punk from 1981. This 7” fits the bill perfectly, two razor sharp energetic tracks from US band RJ/8. This is their only release, one and done, the way these things often go. The band recorded these tracks in Virginia, where they were likely from, also home to Fresh Tracks, the label responsible for pressing this 7”.

Early Sad Lovers and Giants vibes here, mostly due to the copious use of saxophone and call-and-response echoes. Overall, a very UK sound mixed with a smidge of power-pop energy, very rare to hear in the States around this period of time.

Wish I could tell you more about this one, but hope y’all enjoy!

RJ/8- Tomorrow Never Listens 7”
1. Tomorrow Never Listens
2. The Game

*download it here*

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Various Artists- Young Blood LP

Posted in 1980s, 1984, minimal, minimal synth, peninsula records, post-punk, power pop, synthpop, uk, young blood on April 9, 2018 by Frankie Teardrop

Many, many thanks to Thomas for fulfilling one of my all-time top must-hear compilations. I’ve been obsessed with The Enter’s “The Contract” for many years now, working the song into early esoteric DJ sets. I’ve been dying to hear more from the project, and while sadly no other tracks seem to exist (please correct me if I am wrong), I’ll settle for hearing the rest of the compilation this minimal synth dirge hails from. This compilation was released in 1984 in the UK on Peninsula Records, who only released a handful of 7” singles, a prog rock LP, and another similarly themed (but less rare/expensive) compilation, if Discogs is to be believed…

Normally, synth gems like “The Contract” are often the only listenable track on a compilation, but I’m beyond ecstatic to find that this compilation is hit after hit after hit, with only a handful of lesser moments that even still, are enjoyable. Other favorites include the arpeggiated post-punk rave-up “Dance Feat,” the early Berlin-esque “Neon Nightlife,” the jangly/power-pop “Passion Call,” and the excellent post-punk track “Warrior.” With the exception of Hurt, these are the only known tracks by each of these bands. One and done, so they say…

Hope y’all enjoy, and thanks again to Thomas for providing this rip!

Various Artists- Young Blood LP
1. Passion Call- Colourtime
2. Warrior- If
3. Dance Feat- Gettysburg Address
4. Spring Comes Early- Oh! For 1821
5. In the Glade- Hurt
6. L’Espirit D’Avignon
7. Neon Nightlife- Urutu
8. The Contract- The Enter
9. It’s a Different Kind of Heaven- Vincent Vevil Vald
10. Soldier Sailor- John Brown
11. Catch the Wind- Turbo Chariot
12. Look Through a Window- Chris & Diane Jones

*download it here*

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Negatives In Colour- Caught In Possession 7”

Posted in 1982, negatives in colour, new wave, post-punk, power pop, uk on August 12, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s the lone 7” from Negatives In Colour, a new wave band from the UK. The single is a donation from the great bx59cppw, and comes complete with the blessing of Peter Fenwick, the band’s drummer.

Unlike many of the bands featured here at Systems of Romance, there’s actually quite a bit of information to be found about the band, thanks to a new website and reverbnation page, which features several unreleased tracks. To briefly paraphrase, this five piece outfit formed in 1982, enjoying some nice exposure thanks to a BBC Oxford Roadshow appearance alongside Duran Duran, at the peak of their powers in 1983. This particular single earned a bit of success on The Tube, a program on Channel 4. The band split after a brief lineup change, but I’m told that Peter and Roland Rands are still playing together in a covers band.

One other track was officially released on the One Giant Leap compilation in 1983, which fetches some pretty crazy prices when it appears. You can find that one on the first edition of the Crispy Nuggets various artists comps.. Peter also tells me that the BBC Oxford session tracks have been made available for download here, so be sure to snag those as well. I’m particularly fond of “Shadow Walk.”

Here’s the info for the 7”:

Negatives In Colour- Caught In Possession 7”
1. Caught In Possession
2. Every Man

*download it here*

In closing, there may be a one-off reunion appearance of the band in the works for the fall, so if you live in the UK, keep your eyes peeled!

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