Archive for the synth Category

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Luxus- Smiling Daughters 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1982, luxus, minimal, minimal synth, new wave, ohio, synth, US with tags on May 21, 2013 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s a 7” recommended highly by a few collectors out there.  This one hails from 1982 and features a dirgey, drum heavy minimal synth sound very similar to Pink Industry (with vocals that sound like a pitched down/drugged out Bowie or John Foxx) on the a-side.  The B-side is a little more new wave-y by definition, but still a great listen.  Fans of Fallout Club may like this one as well.

This is the band’s second single on Stork Records.   I only have the A-side of that at 128, but if someone has this one and can rip both sides, feel free to chime in!  EDIT: Soul brotha Nick over at Crispy Nuggets just exhumed the first 7”, so head on over there to grab it.

Chuck from the band chimed in recently and had this to say about this excellent slice of synth goodness:

Recorded in a basement on a Dokordor Open Reel 4 track on the east side of Cleveland, Ohio. I know this because I played bass, some keys, and audio manipulations. Smiling Daughters took months to record, I’m So Confused(I’m A Mess) took a weekend.

You heard it from the source, kids!

Luxus- Bent to Scale 7”
1. Smiling Daughters
2. I’m So Confused (I’m In A Mess)

*download it here*

7 Comments »

A Love Sound- I Need 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1984, a love sound, Contempo Records, italian, minimal, minimal synth, synth on February 12, 2013 by Frankie Teardrop

Incredible Italian minimal synth from 1984, released on the always excellent Contempo Records (Death In Venice, Venus In Furs, Diaframma, Voices, as well as various 4AD distro in Italy).

Tracks 1 and 3 are the standouts for me here, the first being a club friendly slice of synth perfection, and “The Kind” being the epic masterpiece on this 12”, complete with an arpeggiated 808 solo, the first I’ve heard in this style for sure.  The other two tracks toss in some acoustic guitar with the electronics, and while they’re not as strong overall, they do a fine job of rounding out this excellent 12”.  While it’s not a musical touchstone, the singer reminds me a bit of Peter Murphy at times- less so the deep croon and more snide and biting. Seems like the band was very into the synth scene at the time, and listed all the gear used to make the record on the back sleeve.  Some very iconic gear there!

A Love Sound- I Need 12”
1. I Need
2. Sickness
3. The Kind
4. Pale Jade Eyes

*download it here*

If you dug this one, stay tuned for a few Italian donations over the next few weeks!

5 Comments »

Denial- California Dreaming 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1982, australia, australian, denial, m squared, minimal, minimal synth, new wave, synth on January 23, 2013 by Frankie Teardrop

Ever since I picked up an instrument, I have wanted to record a cover of infamous 60s pop hit “California Dreaming” and expose it for the haunting dirge it really is… While I’m sure it’s not a stretch to envision a darker world painted in the Mamas and Papas hit from 1965, the idea always appealed to me.  However, looks like the job was done already, thanks to Australian synth band Denial, who issued a stark, brutal cover of the tune in 1982, backed with an excellent original rickety post-punk track…

This lone 7” was released on the infamous M Squared label, who were responsible for Xero and Scattered Order as well…  This is the only release under the name Denial, but they were previously known as Aural Indifference, who appear most prominently on The Minimal Wave Tapes vol. 2 compilation from 2012 as well as a compilation on M Squared.

Denial- California Dreaming 7”
1. California Dreaming
2. The Weathermen

*download link removed*

This 7” has been reissued as of May 2016 on A Colorful Sound. Copies can be purchased on their official site, or through Juno‘s mailorder!

8 Comments »

City- City LP

Posted in 1980s, 1982, city, italian, post-punk, synth on November 20, 2012 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s a rare LP from the outskirts of the Italian wave scene.  Though this album was released on Mercury (Abc, Tears For Fears, Bon Jovi) in 1982, it is virtually unheard outside of its native country.  Can’t tell you a thing about this band, though they certainly wear their Bowie influence on their sleeve.  I get a bit of a Lodger/Scary Monsters vibe from this LP (especially in the guitar work), as well as a bit of Magazine circa Secondhand Daylight, Marquis De Sade’s Rue De Siam, and some Simple Minds-esque hooks here and there.  While nothing on this LP touches the sheer highs of any of those artists, there are still some excellent tracks here, and the LP is very enjoyable from start to finish.  A friend who recommended this record tells me the lyrics are much more bleak and clever than the music might suggest, though my Italian isn’t up to snuff.  There is a lyric sheet included though.  Maybe someday I’ll type ’em up.

If anyone can tell me more about this album, I’m all eyes.  Without any further ado:

City- City LP
1. Citycidio
2. Antagonista
3 Isolamento
4. Autobahn
5. Giungla Metropolitana
6. Telefoni
7. Cliche
8. Notte
9. Guerra Psicologica
10. Macchina

*download it here*

13 Comments »

Six Sed Red- Shake It Right 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1984, b-movie, cabaret voltaire, electro, Marc and the Mambas, soft cell, synth, synthpop on November 13, 2012 by Frankie Teardrop

This one goes out to Tamaryn, who’s currently touring behind Tender New Signs, my favorite record of 2012.  It’s been a while since we had anything club-friendly here, so here’s a fresh rip of one of my favorite WIERD DJ staples.  You may have seen this circulating around as bx-59cppw’s debut post, and there he sheds some light on this mysterious 12” from 1984.   Released on Sire, this single was produced by Cabaret Voltaire and features two tracks by the duo of Cindy Ecstasy (Soft Cell/Marc and the Mambas) and Rick Holliday (early B-Movie lineup).  It’s as good as it gets for club-ready, sex-dripping electro, and sounds to me like Prince and the girls from Strawberry Switchblade decided to record a cover of “Sensoria.”

Seriously.  You guys are going to love this one.

Six Sed Red- Shake It Right 12”
1. Shake It Right
2. Bang ‘Em Right

*download it here*

7 Comments »

The Laughing Apple- The Ha Ha Hee Hee! E.P.

Posted in 1980s, 1981, alan mcgee, creation records, new wave, post-punk, primal scream, synth on October 16, 2012 by Frankie Teardrop

Excellent minimal post-punk 7” from 1981, as donated by the great bx-59cppw.  Most notably, The Laughing Apples were the springboard for Creation Records’ Alan McGee.  After a handful of private releases, McGee and bandmate Andrew Innes would form both Biff Bang Pow! and Revolving Paint Dream, two early Creation staples.  The label would grow to prominence with bands such as Slowdive, Adorable, and My Bloody Valentine.  Innes is also a member of Primal Scream, one of the label’s most lucrative bands.

This 7” should appeal to fans of They Must Be Russians, Marquis De Sade, and Product of Reason, not to mention McGee’s garage rock fascination.  Be sure to listen carefully, or it’ll be over before you know it!

The Laughing Apple- The Ha Ha Hee Hee! E.P.
1. Sometimes I Wish
2. Chips For Tea
3. Upstairs Downstairs
4. I’m Okay

*download it here*

2 Comments »

The Trial- You and Darkness 7”

Posted in 1992, synth, synthpop, the trial on September 3, 2012 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s another entry from The Trial, the excellent Czechoslovakian synth band previously covered here and here.  This 7” completes their vinyl discography, and was released in 1992 to coincide with the band’s upcoming tour.   The a-side is very percussion-driven and the second features a fuller synth arrangement that almost borderlines on freestyle/new beat- but both tracks are very welcome additions to their discography.

Speaking of which, the band issued a free download of an entire LP’s worth of demo recordings from 1989/1990.  Really great stuff, as always.  You can grab that by clicking here.

The Trial- You and Darkness 7”
1. You and Darkness
2. Into the Night

*download it here*

Don’t forget to visit the band’s official page for more info, lyrics, photos, and more!

1 Comment »

New Age- Livin For Now 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1982, new age, post-punk, synth, uk on July 20, 2012 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s another New Age release, perfectly re-ripped/tagged and cleaned up by the almighty bx-59cppw. You can read more about these guys and grab their full length LP here. Both releases hail from 1982, while their debut 7” came out the year before.

The clear standout here is the closing track, dripping with synths and nervous energy, very akin to the likes of Magazine’s “The Light Pours Out of Me.” My kind of post-punk!

New Age- Livin For Now 12”
1. Livin For Now
2. Amazed
3. All I Want
4. First To Live First To Die

*download it here*

2 Comments »

Days of 29- Destination D-Day 12”

Posted in 12'', 1980s, new wave, scottish, synth, synthpop, uk with tags on July 10, 2012 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s another one you may have seen before on a few blogs, but freshly ripped from my own mint copy, so feel free to make your own comparisons.  Days of 29 were a UK/Scotland based quartet with an interesting press sheet and a penchant for New Order-tinged synthpop.  Feel those Peter Hook bass lines on “Destination D-Day,” a track that not only invokes the likes of “Blue Monday” and “Everything’s Gone Green,” but also bears a kinship to Secession’s classic “Touch,” Ministry’s “Effigy (I’m Not A),” & Hohokam’s “Harlequin Tears” by way of a Marc Almond sound-alike on vox.  A pretty irrefutable set of touchstones, highly recommended for fans of that big club sound.  There are two other tracks on this 12”, though while nice, don’t hold a candle to the 7-minute main attraction, a must for all self-respecting dance floors everywhere.  Hint: those of you who have hit the Wierd party in the past few years have likely heard this one blasting regularly through the fog…

Days of 29- Destination D-Day 12”
1. Destination D-Day
2. Guitars for Guns
3. Beat Squad

*download it here

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Acute Logic- Moroccan Nights 7”

Posted in 1980, 1981, post-punk, synth, uk with tags on June 13, 2012 by Frankie Teardrop

As promised, here’s the lone 7” from the UK’s Acute Logic, previously featured on the last Systems of Romance comp. Very rare single from 1981 on Illogical Records, with very little info out there on the web. The band’s lineup was:

Pete Collins – Vocals & Guitar
Curt B – Keyboards
Brett Giddings – Bass
David S – Drums

This single took me a dog’s age to track down, and mine came without a picture sleeve and a little crackle.  Hey, I’ll take what I can get.  What YOU get however, is three incredible tracks that walk a fine line between Seventeen Seconds-era Cure and The Names. Pretty amazing touchstones… Don’t pass this one up!

Acute Logic- Moroccan Nights 7”
1. Moroccan Nights
2. The Obsession
3. Balcony

*download it here*  (RE-RIPPED 7.15.12- passed through a record cleaner with amazing results)

7 Comments »

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