Nuit D’Octobre- Tempêtes CD

Posted in 1990s, 1992, coldwave, goth, nuit d'octobre, post-punk, swiss, switzerland on June 15, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s another great coldwave release from the 1990s. Technically, this band hails from Switzerland, but employ the French coldwave sound of the 80s and early 90s so very well that they almost had me fooled, mostly because of all the French titles and references. Highly recommended for fans of Gestalt, Résistance, Mémoires D’automne, Lucie Cries, etc.

This is the six piece band’s first LP, released in 1992. As far as I can tell, they have one more single (date unknown), a single-sided cassette, and a handful of VHS releases under their belt. Here’s the info for this gem:

Nuit D’Octobre- Tempêtes CD
1. La Ballade De Jones
2. Le Voile Des Années
3. Eclusiers De Brouillard
4. Pastel Et Poésie
5. Le Fanfaron Gris
6. Comme Un Orage
7. La Horde Noire
8. Récifs
9. La Valse Aux Adieux

*download it here*

Expect some more synthy/club oriented things to follow over the next few weeks!

4 Comments »

Dawn Fades- Fucking Face CD

Posted in 1990s, 1995, coldwave, dawn fades, goth, italian, post-punk on June 13, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

Now here’s one that I’ve loved since the first time I heard it many moons ago, during the early phase of the Wierd Records party. It’s since become a DJ favorite here as well, and never fails to kick things up a notch. Great driving Italian coldwave-styled post-punk here, four tracks long. Aggressive, hard hitting, and chock full of incisive guitars and moody synths, just the way I like it. Reminds me a bit of Lucie Cries, for anyone looking for comparisons/touchstones.

The four piece band formed in 1992, taking their name from the infamous Joy Division track, and this debut CD was released in 1995. It was followed by one full length LP in 1997, just before the band split. However, they can be found on Facebook, for all curious parties.

Here’s the info for this killer disc.

Dawn Fades- Fucking Face CD
1. Fucking Face
2. Sonic Head
3. Not My Life
4. Sixteen Days (Live)

*download it here* (Re-ripped @320kbps on 2.12.17)

Track four is indeed a live cover of the Modern English favorite!

7 Comments »

Lulabox- Lulabox CD

Posted in 1990s, 1992, alternative, goth, lulabox, shoegaze on June 9, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s another post that ties in with the last one, only this time I have a more nostalgic connection to this record, as I loved it way back when and have recently rediscovered it, so to speak. I actually first heard the single and leadoff track from this record as part of the Pet Sematary II soundtrack, a pretty rotten (but kind of a guilty pleasure) flick with several alternative/shoegaze/etc. songs backing it. I was hooked from the get-go, and also fell pretty hard for the Mary Chain’s “Reverence” as well. Nothing like a 10 year old singing “I wanna die just like Jesus Christ” around the house…

Most notably, this three piece project featured guitar contributions from Michael Cozzi, who was active in Shriekback and Lively Art mainstay Sky Cries Mary. I believe the band was based in the US, and had a sound similar to Lush, Curve, etc. Plenty of hooks and electronically driven fuzzed out bliss to be had here throughout the entire LP, which was released in 1992. Here’s the details:

Lulabox- Lulabox CD
1. Ride On
2. Love Street
3. I Believe
4. Ivory Hill
5. Prayer For Rain
6. Choked
7. Wild Cherry Bark
8. Giving It All Away
9. Precious Thing
10. Ava
11. Ride On (Velocity Mix)
12. I Believe (Below The Belt Mix)

*download it here*

The band seemed to have some major promotion behind them, as three videos exist for this album. You can click the embedded link for “Ride On,” the song that started my adolescent obsession with this LP. You can also catch the video for “Choke” here and “I Believe” here .

7 Comments »

Sunshot- Caughtintheactofenjoyingourselves LP

Posted in 1990s, 1992, goth, goth-rock, shoegaze, sunshot on June 7, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

Going to dip into the 1990s for a little bit here. Don’t be scared, gentle readers, it’s all going to be ok.

The 1990s may have been the breeding ground for a lot of awful, awful music (and a lot of stuff I can’t quite let go, considering it was the decade in which I spent my adolescence), but there are some excellent gems to be found, even if they’re more few and far between. A few that ring a bell are Derriere Le Miroir, Sunshine Blind, and the incredible Requiem In White, all worth a peek for those unfamiliar.

I have three posts lined up, all from the 1990s. One is a coldwave classic (we’ll get to that one very soon, I promise) and the other two flirt a bit more with shoegaze, by far the best genre to come out of the decade. Today’s band has already been featured on the excellent Return to the East blog, and here’s their full length LP from 1992, a continuation of some of the great sounds heard on the EPs. Quite a few of the tracks from those EPs also appear here, alongside a few other gems. Touchstones, as previously mentioned, include The Young Gods, Sisters of Mercy, and Curve. I can’t get enough of this record and I hope you all enjoy the slight change of pace.

Sunshot- Caughtintheactofenjoyingourselves LP
1. Nasties
2. She Says
3. Big Mistake
4. Stop Me
5. Baby Doll
6. Happy Ever After
7. Playtime
8. Twisting
9. Lose My Grip
10. Brainstorm
11. Tank

*download it here*

2 Comments »

Opéra De Nuit- Opéra De Nuit LP (Revisited)

Posted in 1988, coldwave, french, goth-rock, minimal synth, new wave, opera de nuit, synth on June 2, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

Another “looking back” entry. Re-ripped and cleaned up this particular French gem as well, vastly improved sound quality and fidelity to be found within! A few clicks and pops of course, but shouldn’t be too distracting and should serve as a definite improvement over the previous versions.

What else can I say about this record that hasn’t already been said before? Absolute masterpiece, every track here is a winner. I might go so far as to say it’s my favorite French LP, which is an awfully bold statement for a blog originally focused on the coldwave/touching pop movement.

I also have a copy of the scarce Amour Noir 12” coming in the mail, so if that copy sounds better than the previous upload, you can expect the same treatment to follow. In case you missed it the first time around, you can read more about the band here. Don’t let this one pass by!

Opéra De Nuit- Opéra De Nuit LP
1. Boris Transylvania Camp
2. L’appel du Froid
3. Larmes de Sang
4. Annabella
5. Invitation
5. Jeu Damné
6. Rebelle-Rebelle
7. Ami Amant

*download it here*

8 Comments »

Classified Info- Drug Called Love 7”

Posted in 1984, minimal, minimal synth, new wave, synth, synthpop, uk on May 31, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s a quirky little minimal synth/new wave gem from the UK, released in 1984. Reminiscent of Home Service/Tone Set. Virtually no information available, as even the label seems off the radar. So, with that in mind we’ll keep this one short and sweet! Here’s the details:

Classified Info- Drug Called Love 7”
1. Drug Called Love
2. Drug Called Love Dub

*download it here*

2 Comments »

End of Data REDUX

Posted in 1980s, 1984, 1985, coldwave, end of data, france, minimal synth, post-punk, synth on May 25, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

Sorry for the delay, folks. Expecting a few goodies that haven’t arrived in the mail yet. Will get to ripping those and posting them ASAP. In the interim, I’ve been digging back through the vinyl collection and making improved rips of some of the albums I’ve posted in the past, and figured I’d share the improved fidelity with all of you.

What better band to start with, then End of Data. I’ve had mixed results with every copy I’ve come across. Quality issues, a few glaring skips, etc. However, I’ve come across great sounding copies of both LPs, so with better source material come greater results. Of course, there’s still minor crackle and a pop or two that just wouldn’t scrub out, but that’s what we love about vinyl, isn’t it?

These are two bona-fide classics, two all time favorites from France and beyond. I listen to these albums just about every week, no small feat for me! In case you missed these the first time around, you can read all about them here and here. Hope you all enjoy the improvements!

End of Data- Sahrah LP (1984)
1. End Of Data I & II
2. If I’m Not A Killer
3. Follow Me And So
4. Like A Succession I & II
5. Trottodaf
6. Sahrah / Symphonie Inachevée

*download it here*

End of Data- Dans Votre Monde LP (1985)
1. Dans Votre Monde
2. Movie Drama
3. Quetzalcoatl
4. Symphonie
5. La Rive Asiatique
6. Atttrra (Vers Le Miroir)
7. Venice
8. D.M.C.

*download it here*

EDIT: to the 21 people who downloaded Dans Votre Monde when this post first appeared, please download the LP again— track 3 had an error in bouncing that has been rectified. Sorry for the trouble!

7 Comments »

Sequins and Spandex Parts VI & VII

Posted in 1980s, italian, italo, italo disco, mixes, sequins and spandex on May 18, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

So, it’s been just under a year since the last two installments of the Sequins and Spandex series, and since summer is just around the corner, I figure it’s due time to unveil the next two. Italo is very much summer music for me (and curiously, new beat gets the job done in wintertime, as far as the big beats are concerned), and though it’s raining here in New York, I figure everyone could use a little summer cheer. As always, I’ve had a hard time whittling down my choices, so you get two mixes for the price of one!

Before unveiling the tracklisting, I’d like to thank Shawn of Led Er Est/Further Reductions for the continuous crash course in italo, as well as Nick of Crispy Nuggets for lending me a handful of jams from his back pages. I’ve also re-included the 12” mix of Mad Matrix’s “Men Alone,” a Belgian track in the same vein, since it just works so well here. There’s also a UK artist in the mix, but the track was too good to pass on. Anyway, here’s the tracklisting, and I do hope you enjoy!

Sequins and Spandex Part VI
1. Fires In the Night- K-A-T-A
2. Dancing In the Dark- Mike Mareen
3. Queen of Discoteque- Sissy
4. Blue Room (Extended)- Kirlian Camera
5. Witch- Helen
6. I’d Like To Know- Randy Wiper
7. Girl of the 80s- Go To
8. Sing With Me Tonight- Fresh Color
9. You See- Helicon
10. Follow Me- Karl Olivas
11. Over and Over- Fantasy Life
12. Men Alone (Special 12” Club Mix)- Mad Matrix
13. Darkness- Aquarius

*download it here*

Sequins and Spandex Part VII
1. Don’t Be Cold (In the Summer of Love)- The Stupid Set
2. Black and White (Extended)- Bandeaux
3. Hesitation- Mya & The Mirror
4. Just a Story- Mike Rodgers
5. Hookey- Sylvi Foster
6. A Raving Night- Neurox
7. Right- Fake
8. You’ve Got the Night- Lame’
9. Boogie Tonight- M & G
10. Lucifer’s Friend- Vision
11. Waiting For Heaven- Diviacchi
12. Shoot Me (Extended)- Malcolm & the Bad Girls
13. Happy World (Extended)- Ranko

*download it here* (updated 6.12.18)

PS- I have a good chunk of leftovers for this one. However, in fear of it being overkill, I’ll wait for you kids to digest these one for a bit. Keep your eyes peeled for the next one!

9 Comments »

Neuer Frühling- Abendlos 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1982, austrian, minimal, minimal synth, NDW, new wave, post-punk on May 17, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s a minimal synth/NDW hybrid 7” from 1982. Nothing out of the ordinary for the genre, but two very good tracks indeed. The guitar driven a-side is the clear winner for me, while the b-side has a bit of a reggae feel to it.

This particular 7” was released on CBS Records (a surprising choice for a major label), and is the product of two Austrian musicians. Drummer Gerhart Walenta was also involved in an Austrian psych/prog band called Paternoster, who released one record in 1972.

Here’s the info:

Neuer Frühling- Abendlos 7”
1. Abendlos
2. Liebesversuch

*download it here*

For those who prefer to own an original copy of this record, you can easily score one on the web for a reasonable price, if you know where to look. Get it while the getting is good!

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Absolute- Demo K7

Posted in 1980s, absolute, demo, minimal synth, new wave, reset records, synth, synthpop on May 9, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s an extra special rarity in demo form. Here we have a series of cassette demos recorded by Absolute, known for their handful of tracks on Vince Clarke and Eric Radcliffe. You can hear their officially released tracks over yonder, as part of the Reset Records collection that has been unofficially compiled. A handful of those Reset Records tracks appear here in demo form, so it’s interesting to see how they differ from their studio counterparts. I’m also quite fond of the exclusive tracks here, especially “Take Her Away,” a killer synthpop gem that should feel right at home for fans of mid-period Depeche Mode.

That said, I still can’t seem to find much in the way of information about Absolute (aside from a little connection to the great John Fryer, who produced their second 7”), but someone uploaded what seems to be a promotional photo of the band on discogs. If the above image is correct, that might shed a skint of light on the subject. If there’s anyone out there that can chime in with more, please don’t hesitate! Otherwise, here’s the info:

Absolute- Demo K7
1. Take Her Away
2. Can’t You See
3. Does Anybody Want Me
4. T.V. Glare
5. Love In My Heart
6. Friend or Enemy
7. Club Boys
8. Only Time Can Tell
9. Doofa on 45
10. Merry Go Doofa

*download it here*

14 Comments »

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