Minutes After…- Minutes After… LP

Posted in 1980s, 1988, darkwave, minutes after..., new wave, philadelphia, post-punk, US on December 14, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Been meaning to post this one for a while, but finally got around to ripping it. Random purchase, made a few months ago for a few dollars, based on the year (1988) and the cover artwork (Francis Bacon!), and found it to be pleasant enough to rip and share with you all. Here we have the lone LP by a band called Minutes After…, a melodic darkwave/post-punk band from Philadelphia.

The closest touchstone I have for the band is a sadly defunct NYC band called Bell Hollow, who were in turn influenced by the likes of For Against, The Chameleons, and Sad Lovers and Giants. A few piano chords thrown in for good measure, as well as soaring vocals on every track. It’s a solid record for fans of the more dreamy/ethereal/wistful side of post-punk, especially the first (and best) Tears for Fears record, Sad Lovers and Gaints, and the second Fra Lippo Lippi record (a must listen).

Here’s the information:

Minutes After…- Minutes After… LP
1. Cracks Of Dawn
2. White Ceiling
3. Raining On Earth
4. Cradle To Crypt
5. Her ~ A Dream Without Sleep
6. The View From The Park

*download it here* (RE-RIPPED 3.16.17)

15 Comments »

Mad Matrix- Men Alone 7”

Posted in 1985, Belgian, disco, italo, italo disco, mad matrix, synthpop on December 13, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s a classic disco cut for fans of the genre. Belgian disco with italo leanings, released in 1985. Naturally, several versions of the a-side track exist. The 7” edit is present here, alongside an exclusive b-side not on any of the other singles. For those who can’t get enough of this jam, you can get the 12” extended mix (special club version) by clicking here. Beware the downtuned synth lines! Definitely a killer track in any incarnation.

Mad Matrix- Men Alone 7”
1. Men Alone
2. We Are Mad Matrix

*download it here*

and again, nab the Special Club Version of the track here!

5 Comments »

Ultimatum- Countdown 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1984, german, synth, synthpop on December 8, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s a killer German synthpop single, shameless and high energy as anything from the era. This 7” dates back to 1984, and features an infectious instrumental on side A. For those looking for vocals, there are plenty to be had on the darker and moodier flip-side. A pretty well balanced single, if you ask me.

The back of the sleeve claims that the band was primarily a two piece, but also features a handful of thank you credits for bass and programming work. Not much else to be found about these boys, so here’s the information:

Ultimatum- Countdown 7”
1. Countdown
2. Vorbei

*download it here*

1 Comment »

Various Artists- Unreleased Vol. II LP

Posted in 1980s, asylum party, coldwave, france, goth-rock, little nemo, mary goes round, neutral project, post-punk, unreleased on December 4, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Last, but not least, here’s a higher bitrate copy of the Unreleased Vol. II compilation, featuring a slew of classic coldwave cuts, at the time very scarce. You have some excellent work by many of the bands featured here in the past, including Mary Goes Round, Neutral Project, Little Nemo, and Asylum Party. The Wallenberg track is also a favorite.

This Unreleased series contained three volumes, the first of which I haven’t heard, and the third which took a more classical/instrumental approach.

Various Artists- Unreleased Volume II
1. Little Nemo- My Eternal Friend (1st Way)
2. Mary Goes Round – The Nightmare
3. Via Valvag – Au Rythme Des Jours
4. The Wait – Moving In
5. Kindergarten – Machines’Co
6. Asylum Party – The Desert
7. Wallenberg – Someone’s Changing (Helen Part 1)
8. Neutral Project – Enigmatic Dream
9. Close Cover – The Bomb
10. Les Tétines Noires – Marônium

*download it here* (RE-RIPPED 5.17.12 by sorrowvomit of Kentucky Fried Wave!)

4 Comments »

Mankinds Audio Development- Sunfeast 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1984, ebm, john fryer, look back in anger, play dead, post-punk, synth, synthpop on December 4, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Been meaning to post this one for some time- a recent purchase that’s lived in my DJ bag for some time now. Two track 12” from 1984, featuring members of Play Dead and Look Back in Anger. Also produced by John Fryer, notorious for his pioneering work with 4AD and various other post-punk bands. This is their only release, though more tracks were meant to be recorded.

The sound here sounds like a mixture of soulful vocals (a la Colourbox), post-punk bass grooves, all under the guise of a primitive EBM track. Lots to love here. Here’s the breakdown:

Mankinds Audio Development- Sunfeast 12”
1. Sunfeast
2. Craving

*download it here*

4 Comments »

Trash X- Perestroika 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1988, german, synth, synthpop, the twins, trash x on December 4, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Just found this killer big-beat synthpop single – a playful two track 12” from Trash X, released in 1988. It’s the band’s only release, and was engineered by Ronny Schreinzer of The Twins.

It seems as if this particular release was a collaboration between several esteemed writers and producers, including David Heilmann (Wire, Depeche Mode) and H+N (Holger Flesch & Norbert Endlich). While it sounds of Russian origin, the single was actually recorded and released in Germany.

Not much more to be said about this one, so here’s the information:

Trash X- Perestroika 12”
1. Perestroika
2. Rigormortis Everywhere

*download it here* (RE-RIPPED 1.4.19)

2 Comments »

X-Offender- Dreaming 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1986, italian, post-punk, synth, x-offender on December 1, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Another excellent Italian release from 1986 up on the slab today, a true gem and rarity. Absolutely no info to be found about these four mysterious fellows, but their label, Urgent Records, also issued early singles by Litfiba and Neon. The band only issued one futher track, called “Wehrmacht,” which appears on the 391 Umbria K7 with Aidons La Norvege, another Italian band.

You can expect some gloomy synth here, with excellent bass grooves and melodic vocals. Definitely essential, especially for fans of bands like Storung and Into a Circle. Two different sounds, I know, but let’s see what you all make of it… Here’s the details:

X-Offender- Dreaming 12”
1. Dreaming
2. What Is Smile?
3. Help To Helpless
4. The Stone Wood

*download it here*

As a brief aside, I’ve recently constructed two DJ mixes for various publications. The first, for VESSEL, features a more synth-driven sound while the second, for Zaptown mag, is of the coldwave/post-punk variety. Here they are, for your listening pleasure:

VESSEL playlist
Zaptown playlist

2 Comments »

The Arms of Someone New- Every Seventh Wave 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1988, darkwave, ethereal, synth, synthpop, the arms of someone new, US on November 29, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

This one, while potentially well known inside this circle, is a recent favorite of mine, and while the majority of their work appears elsewhere in the blogosphere, I haven’t seen this 12” around.

The Arms of Someone New (primarily a collaborative project between Mel Eberle and Steve Jones, also involved with Area) formed in Champaign, Illinois in 1983, releasing their first 7” the following year. At first, their sound had a biting, synth-driven edge to it, which eventually gave way to the growing ethereal scene into the late 1980s. I happen to dig the majority of their recordings in both spectrums, but this one falls more on the biting, danceable side of the band’s catalog. We have two remixes of the single here (both drastically different from the version that appeared on their 1984 12”), with two slower, but no less stellar tracks taking up the b-side. Here’s the breakdown:

The Arms of Someone New- Every Seventh Wave 12”
1. Every Seventh Wave (Intermix)
2. Every Seventh Wave (Album Mix)
3. The Sense of an Ending
4. Everything at Once

*download it here*

For those interested in the rest of the band’s discography, get it here, here, here, and here. Pretty sure this is the last piece of the puzzle!

2 Comments »

B-Movie- Early Singles

Posted in 1980, 1980s, 1981, 1982, b-movie, new wave, paul statham, post-punk, some bizzare, synthpop, uk on November 23, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

When I think of the best UK bands, few spring to mind quicker than B-Movie. I’ve covered them twice here before, once with their 1985 LP Forever Running and then a few years later with their unstoppable Nowhere Girl 12”. I’ve been meaning to upload their earlier singles for some time now, probably years, but it just slipped through the cracks. I hope you’ll forgive me, folks.

That said, contained within this zip file is the majority of B-Movie’s early works, starting from their first 12”s in 1980 and spanning until 1984. Quite a prolific period for the band, with most of their best songs being issued in this two year time period.  Here’s the rundown:

B-Movie- Take Three 7” (1980)
1. The Soldier Stood Alone
2. Drowning Man
3. Soundtrack

B-Movie- Nowhere Girl (1980)
1. Nowhere Girl
2. This Still Life
3. Institution Walls
4. Airplanes & Mountains
5. Left Out In The Cold
6. Remembrance Day

B-Movie- Remembrance Day 12” (1981)
1. Remembrance Day
2. Institution Walls (Remix)

B-Movie- Marilyn Dreams 7” (1981)
1. Marilyn Dreams
2. Film Music Part 1

B-Movie- Marilyn Dreams 12” (1981)
1. Marilyn Dreams

B-Movie- Nowhere Girl 7” (1982)
1. Nowhere Girl (Version)
2. Scare Some Life Into Me

B-Movie- Nowhere Girl 12”
1. Nowhere Girl (Version)
2. Remembrance Day
3. Nowhere Girl (Short Version)

B-Movie- A Letter From Afar (1984)
1. A Letter From Afar (Big Mix)
2. A Letter From Afar (Instrumental Mix)
3. A Letter From Afar (Small Mix)

*Download link removed* – digital reissues coming soon!

Again, in case you missed them the first time- here’s the full Nowhere Girl 12” (including the 12” extended mix) and their 1985 LP, Forever Running.

11 Comments »

Blue Siege- Ruins No Longer Remain 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1986, blue siege, paisley underground, post-punk on November 22, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s a virtually unknown 12” from UK post-punk band Blue Siege. Definitely a must for fans of Sad Lovers and Giants, For Against, The Chameleons, etc., and also for those who like something a little more jangly (Winter Hours, early R.E.M.). Melodic singing, driving post-punk tracks, and a nice, punchy atmosphere. Prominent use of organ on here, if that’s your thing!

Can’t find a ton of information about this one, though I do believe it’s from 1986. The band released a 7” just before via Pride Communications, the same label who issued this recording. The 7” features production from Chris Layhe of the Icicle Works, another decent touchstone for the band’s sound. As for obtaining a copy of this one, there’s a few kicking around on Ebay and various online record outlets, so snap one up!

Blue Siege- Ruins No Longer Remain 12”
1. Ruins No Longer Remain
2. Stolen Daylight
3. Like Red Rags To the Bull (Soweto)
4. Hollow Man
5. River Has Gone
6. Drifting Apart

*download it here* (Re-ripped 5/21/25)

1 Comment »

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