The Limp- Marked Man 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1981, australia, australian, m squared, minimal, pel mel, post-punk, scattered order, the limp on August 4, 2014 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s an excellent and incredibly rare post-punk 7” from 1981.  The Limp were from Australia and have ties to Scattered Order and Pel Mel, sharing many of the same members including guitarist Craig Robertson and drummer Dave Weston.  Vocalist/saxophonist Judy McGee was also in Pel Mel, splitting vocal duties with Graeme Dunne.  There’s some personnel differences between both Pel Mel and The Limp, but both bands sound very similar, the result of McGee’s moody vocals and otherwise post-punk aesthetics, though The Limp appear to be a little darker and moodier in contrast to Pel Mel’s angular and energetic take.  Both bands have played a handful of shows in 2012 as the Pel Mel Organisation, performing songs by both bands.

This is the Limp’s second 7”, the first being even more difficult to track down, self-released in a run of 100 copies with no picture sleeve.  “Marked Man” appeared on Primate Records, which also released the first Pel Mel 7” in the same year.  Otherwise, a handful of Limp tracks appeared on various compilations, including the One Stop Shopping K7 and the infamous M Squared studio/label compilation A Selection.  “Pony Club” was re-compiled on the excellent Can’t Stop It! compilation, which spans Australia’s fertile post-punk scene from 1979-1982.  The title track (my favorite on this 7”) also appears on the 5th CD-R tribute to Some Bizarre, which as with the Tribute to Flexi-pop bootlegs, is an excellent gateway to many obscure relics.

The Limp- Marked Man 7”
1. Marked Man
2. Ghost Train
3. Humans Beware

*download it here*

6 Comments »

Landscape of Sound- Live Forever 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1983, abecedarians, drowning pool, LA, landscape of sound, los angeles, new wave, post-punk on July 23, 2014 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s a rather obscure new wave/post-punk tinged single from the West Coast.  Los Angeles to be exact.  While this is the only known release by Landscape of Sound (released in 1983), the band has direct ties to like-minded post-punk band Drowning Pool, who formed soon after this 7” was released.  Before the band would become Drowning Pool (who put out some rather excellent and delightfully easy to find LPs in the mid-80s), this single served as a respectable point of entry for Brett Smith and Adam Elesh.  The project evolved from a basic partnership to include other Los Angeles area musicians.  According to the Drowning Pool biography, the band came together while hanging out at Pier Records (managed by Chris Maneke of Abecedarians, covered here in the past).  Maneke would also produce several Drowning Pool recordings.

The real gem on this 7” is the b-side, a rickety, but excellent post-punk track with jangly chorus-heavy guitar and those synth strings we all know and love. Definitely a winner if I’ve ever heard one…  The a-side is a little more new wave, reminiscent of the UK synth scene, but with a more organic touch.  There’s still a similar vibe running through it, so it’s not a night and day sort of affair.  Either way, it’s an excellent single that deserves a listen or twenty, so without any further ado…

Landscape of Sound- Live Forever 7”
1. Live Forever
2. On the Edge

*download it here*

5 Comments »

Indifferent Dance Centre- Flight & Pursuit 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1981, indifferent dance centre, uk on July 11, 2014 by Frankie Teardrop

This is another 7” that I’ve seen posted in the past, but I’ve cleaned up a donated rip here for maximum listening pleasure.  Very lo-fi female-fronted post-punk here, two tracks that are as interesting as they are classic.   Very minimal arrangements, steady drum machine rhythms, mellotron, and well-anchored bass make up the center of both tracks.  Fans of the indie side of Factory (The Wake, Durutti Column) as well as bands like Marine Girls and Dolly Mixture should love this otherwise obscure single from 1981.

We know that the band hailed from the small cathedral town of Chichester, UK, but otherwise there isn’t much of a back story to this one.  The sleeve itself is as minimal and DIY as the band’s sound, complete with what appears to be a hand-printed cover.  There is reportedly an insert which reads “We’ve no Scotland, Martin Hannett, Paul Morley, Postcard or Factory to lend credibility to this record,” but you can tell their heart was in the right place with this one.  Here’s the rundown:

Indifferent Dance Centre- Flight & Pursuit 7”
1. Flight & Pursuit
2. Release

*download it here*

9 Comments »

Eirin Peryglus- Bronson 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1987, eirin peryglus, minimal, minimal synth, synth, synthpop, uk, wales, welsh on June 27, 2014 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s an old favorite that the postman just dropped off at my door the other day, so I thought I’d celebrate with a fresh rip of this Welsh synthpop classic.  Released in 1987, this is the first of five releases by the band, and my favorite that I’ve heard to date.   Seriously, the A-side is the perfect mix of powerful female vocals, chorus-heavy guitars, and a rollicking beat, which plenty of synth hooks to keep you coming back for more.  It’s been a regular in my DJ sets for some time, and I’d honestly rank it as one of my all-time favorites, through and through.  The flip is no slouch, either!

Vocalist Fiona Owen was also a member of Plant Bach Ofnus (translation- Timid Little Children), who were a little more on the esoteric side, but no less delightful.  Her husband, Gorwel, was also a member of the project, and the two still make music together to date.

Eirin Peryglus- Bronson 7”
1. Bronson
2. Y Dyn Newydd

*download it here*

4 Comments »

Shark Vegas- You Hurt Me 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1984, 1986, die ubekannten, factory, new order, shark vegas on June 16, 2014 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s one on the synthpop side of things, a mild obscurity on the otherwise popular Factory imprint.  Some may be familiar with this tune via the club circuit, where it enjoyed massive success in The States and Berlin, despite a relatively cool reception in the UK.

Shark Vegas was a German supergroup of sorts, featuring ex-Die Unbekannten members Mark Reeder on synths/tapes/guitar and Alistair Gray on vocals with two other members of pop band Soif de la Vie.  The original version of this 12” was recorded in 1984 and released on Totenkopf Records (Abwärts, Die Toten Hosen).  After a tour with New Order in 1984, the band decided to rerecord and remix the single with Bernard Summer in to assist on the decks (a very common practice at the time, if you consider New Order’s involvement with Section 25, Thick Pigeon/Stanton Miranda, etc.).  Sumner would also play guitar at the end of the track, while co-producer Donald Johnson (A Certain Ratio) sang backup.  A real family affair!  The Factory version of the 12” (complete with an iconic message on the cover) became a dance club hit overseas.

These two singles would make up the majority of Shark Vegas’ discography, though the band would contribute a handful of tracks to soundtracks and compilations, most notably the track “Pretenders of Love,” which appears on Young, Popular, and Sexy (1987) and was reissued on the FAC.DANCE compilation in 2011.  I just now discovered “Love Habit” on Youtube, and it continues to push the band’s slightly ironic sound to the extreme, with some rather of-the-time synth lines…  If anyone has an mp3 of that one that isn’t sourced from YouTube, feel free to send it my way.  I’m also interested in hearing “11th March”- which apparently hails from an independent film called The Party.  With that in mind, here’s both versions of this excellent 12” for your listening pleasure.

Shark Vegas- You Hurt Me 12” (1984)
1. You Hurt Me
2. You Hurt Me For the First Time
3. You Hurt Me For the Last Time

Shark Vegas- You Hurt Me 12” (1986)
1. You Hurt Me
2. You Hurt Me Version
3. But Now Your Flesh Lies Rotting In Hell

*download both here*

…and here’s some rare footage of the band performing the track in Berlin in the mid-1980s!  Enjoy!

7 Comments »

Madame Edwarda- Illuminé K7

Posted in 1980s, 1986, goth, goth-rock, japan, japanese, post-punk on June 2, 2014 by Frankie Teardrop

Happy Monday, folks!  Here’s a generous donation of a very special Japanese cassette, courtesy of Elias, who runs an excellent Facebook page on the Japanese goth movement.  Until now, I hadn’t heard much about Madame Edwarda, just some passing familiarity with the name, but I’m psyched to offer this release from 1986.  Fans of Japanese post-punk/goth bands such as G-Schmitt and D-Day should find lots to love here.

This is one of five releases from Madame Edwarda, a four piece band who, even at first glance, seemed very influenced by The Damned, Bauhaus, etc.  The band formed in 1980 and took their name from a Georges Bataille’s novel of the same name. Their earlier releases are more straightforward goth-rock affairs, while this cassette combines those influences with an experimental, almost neo-classical approach (see also In the Nursery for a suitable reference point).  There are several killer goth tunes here, including “Honey,” “La Nuit,” and “Marionette,” while other tracks are a bit more esoteric, mixing carnival-esque melodies, synth choir patches, and what sounds like cellos from time to time (though may very well be synth patches as well).  All in all, it’s an incredibly interesting listen from front to back.

The cassette box itself is a rather curious affair, with a larger box and book with rather intricate designs inspired by Aubrey Beardsley and Art Nouveau designs, which more or less sets the stage for the aural treats on this tape.

Ps- for anyone looking to hear their other releases, Elias has provided me a few links to share as well… They aren’t his own, nor mine, but if anyone would like to hear more and can’t find them elsewhere, please leave a note and I’ll upload them soon.  That said, you can still get a copy of the Lorelei 12” from the band’s official site.  With that in mind, here’s the information for this excellent cassette, with embedded English translations courtesy of Elias as well!

Madame Edwarda- Illuminé K7
1. 混声合唱 (Mixed Choir)
2. Carnival
3. 夜間飛行 (Night Flight)
4. 夜想曲～ノクターン～ (Nocturne)
5. 幻惑 (Enchanting)
6. 回転木馬～メリーゴーラウンド～ (Carousel～Merry-Go-Round～)
7. 青い悪魔 (Blue Devil)
8. 大観覧車 (Ferris Wheel)
9. サーカス (Circus)
10. 恋歌～ロマンス～ (Love Song～Romance～)
11. Le Château
12. Honey
13. コクトーの剣 (Sword of Cocteau)
14. Marionette
15. La Nuit
16. 夢想 (Reverie)
17. Emeralde

*download it here*

3 Comments »

Crux Ansata- I Feel the Atmosphere 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1990, crux ansata, darkwave, endraum, german, goth, goth-rock, neutral project, post-punk on May 22, 2014 by Frankie Teardrop

Happy world goth day, everyone!  Figured I’d chime in and celebrate with an updated version of one of my favorite darkwave/goth classics, the lone 12” from Germany’s Crux Ansata.  You may have seen this one on Dreams and Voices in the past, but here’s a fresh rip I made of the record early last year.  The opening epic, “Remembrances” is one of my favorite cold, gloomy tracks, perfect for this rainy, foggy day in NYC and beyond.

This record was released in 1989, and while it’s their only release, both members were active in other bands.  Both Hovi Miskovics and Roman Rütten continued in Endraum after this 12”, and also released one song as A Foamy Project In Neutral Days, a supergroup of sorts with Neutral Project.  You can find the one track they recorded together on the infamous Supercherie compilation from 1991.

Crux Ansata- I Feel the Atmosphere 12”
1. Remembrance
2. No Time For Lies
3. Imprinted In My Mind
4. This Night of Memories

*download it here*

Stay tuned over the next few weeks for some more dancefloor-ready 12”s, some unheard discoveries, even more new and improved rips of old classics, and one of these days, a new VA comp. coming down the pipeline!

5 Comments »

Asmodi Bizarr- Sunsierra LP+12”

Posted in 1980s, 1986, asmodi bizarr, cathedral of tears, german, Glenn Matlock, goth-rock, post-punk on May 15, 2014 by Frankie Teardrop

Asmodi+Bizarr+ab1

A few notes of housekeeping before today’s post— I’ve re-ripped and reuploaded a few things, mainly upgrading bitrates of Epitaphe, De Press, Boytronic, and Bushido from a while back.  I’ve also re-ripped a few more things that I’m slowly working through, so there should be a few more of these upgrades to come, as well as a lot of new, unheard stuff that I can’t wait to share with you…

Here we have Asmodi Bizarr’s classic Sunsierra LP, a landmark in female fronted post-punk in the veins of Xmal Deutschland, Stimmen Der Stille, Cry of the Innocent, etc.   The band hailed from Düsseldorf, Germany and released three albums and one demo 7” (would love to hear this!) before calling it a day in the early 90s.   Members of the band also recorded a 7” compilation track under the name Aspirin.  Fortunately, the band can be found on Facebook, and has since reunited to play shows in 2011 and 2014, respectively.  They’re playing this year’s Wave-Gotik-Treffen festival, so I hope those headed out that way can check them out and report back!

This is their first LP, released in 1986 as an LP+12” package, featuring two of the band’s best songs as the bonus LP cuts.  Some of you may have seen this posted elsewhere, but this particular copy is freshly ripped and cleaned up for maximum listening enjoyment.  To those who haven’t heard it yet, it’s one of my all time favorites.  Either way, hope you enjoy it!

Asmodi Bizarr- Sunsierra LP+12”
1. Spin the Wheel
2. Liebeslied
3. The Bride
4. Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte
5. Memories
6. The Dreamvision Song
–
7. Traumland
8. Grüne Augen
9. Dorian

*download it here*

9 Comments »

Azile- La Sainte 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1988, azile, coldwave, france, french, lyon, post-punk on April 29, 2014 by Frankie Teardrop

It’s been a dog’s age, ladies and gents- or at least it feels like it’s been some time since my last post.  Life’s been a bit crazy here, but all is well, and I’m hoping to resume regular activity here soon.  With that in mind, here’s a new acquisition originally introduced to me by the always astute Stéphane B. of coldwave.fr.  Olivier, the singer and guitarist of the band was kind enough to send me a copy and to lend his permission to share the single here with you all.

This is the lone release by Azile, a French coldwave band from Lyon, home of some of the best bands of the era, including Gestalt, L’Enfance Éternelle, Opéra De Nuit, etc.  The latter is actually an excellent touchstone, as I find some sonic similarities between the A-side of this single and ODN tracks such as “Inviation” and “Karen Lloyd.”   It’s a short blast of excellent coldwave that I’m glad exists in this world, no matter how obscure.  The flip is no slouch either, combining acoustic guitar and churning synth stabs.

This 7” was self-funded and self-released by the band in 1988, though Olivier mentioned that the band recorded a few more tracks around the same time.  I hope to be able to share those with you soon, but in the meantime, here’s the details for this excellent single.

Azile- La Sainte 7”
1. La Sainte
2. L’Homme Qui Tombe

*download it here*

4 Comments »

Hymn- Coming Home & Too Many Lies K7s

Posted in 1980s, 1983, 1984, coldwave, hymn, minimal, minimal synth, post-punk on April 2, 2014 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s a generous donation of two rare cassette releases from Hymn, a French coldwave band who released a more well known 12” on Nova Express in 1984.  These two cassettes were recorded shortly before that record, the first of which was self-released in 1983, while the other appeared on Autoproduit a few months before the 12”.  While the band’s trademark Joy Division influence can still be heard here, the instrumentation is more on the minimal synth side of the spectrum, with the classic TR606 providing the backbone to the gloomy, Ian Curtis-esque vocals.  I believe the band was originally a trio, and added a drummer just before recording the 12”.

That said, don’t let the sparse instrumentation and the shorter track length fool you, these tracks are still as cold as ever, and there are just enough guitars in the mix to make things interesting.  Without any further adieu, here’s the info for these two gems:

hymn--coming-home

Hymn- Coming Home K7 (1983)
1. Danger
2. Die For You
3. I Guess
4. I Am The Absolute
5. Shock Of The Dates
6. Comin’ Home
7. Nos Pieds et Nos Têtes

hymn--too-many-lies

Hymn- Too Many Lies K7 (1984)
1. Never Show Me
2. Too Many Lies
3. I Can
4. Give Me
5. Like In My Dreams
6. Surch Me
7. Hymn
8. Hope I Dream
9. Lost World

*download both tapes here*

10 Comments »

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