Outer Circle- My Mona Lisa 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1984, minimal, minimal synth, new wave, nth, outer circle, post-punk, US on February 2, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

This particular post comes as a generous donation from band member Brad Bechtel, and features the follow up 12” from Outer Circle, released in 1984. At this point in time, guitarist Cole Coonce joined the band’s lineup, solidifying the band as a six piece. The remaining band members, being Steve Spingola (vocals), Pat Collison (synth), Paul Santos (bass), Lee Howell (drums), and of course Bechtel on lap steel guitar are still intact, returning with more of their distinctive edge.

The 12” features three original tracks and two remixes of “My Mona Lisa,” as done by Gary Otto. Here’s the details:

Outer Circle- My Mona Lisa 12”
1. My Mona Lisa
2. Building Dreams
3. Warm Gun
4. My Mona Lisa (Gary Otto Mix)
5. My Mona Lisa (Instrumental)

*download it here*

In case you missed it, nab the first Outer Circle 12” here!

Orchestre Rouge- Yellow Laugher LP + Soon Come Violence 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1982, coldwave, end of data, french, martin hannett, Orchestre Rouge, passion fodder, post-punk, tanit on February 2, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

I was just reminded about this killer album through a video posting on ye ol’ Facebook, perpetual time waster and otherwise social networking site. With that in mind, I’ve uploaded a killer full length by French coldwave band Orchestre Rouge. Attached is their debut record, 1982’s Yellow Laughter, a particularly driving guitar record released on RCA. The record was lovingly produced by Martin Hannett, famed producer for Joy Divison, Blue In Heaven, and a slew of other Factory Records bands.

As for membership, the band was a five piece, featuring Pascal Normal, who worked with both Tanit and End of Data after Orchestre Rouge’s disbandment. Théo Hakola and Denis Goulag went on to form Passion Fodder, taking their name from Orchestre Rouge’s second LP. As a quick aside, Passion Fodder also featured bassist Pascal Humbert, formerly of Tanit, now known for his work in both 16 Horsepower and Wovenhand. Pretty small world!

Anyway, I’ve also included the the 7” of “Soon Come Violence,” the band’s first single, featuring an exclusive b-side. Without any further ado, here’s the information:

Orchestre Rouge- Yellow Laughter LP
1. Soon Come Violence
2. Je Cherche Une Drogue (Qui Ne Fait Pas Mal)
3. Soft Kiss
4. Red Orange Blue
5. Hole In His Thigh
6. The Consul
7. Speakerine
8. Slugs
9. Crows

Orchestre Rouge- Soon Come Violence 7”
1. Soon Come Violence
2. Kazettlers Zeks

*download both here*

Kym Amps- You Don’t Know My Name 7”

Posted in 1980s, kym amps, minimal, minimal synth, wierd records, xeno and oaklander on January 26, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Minimal synth has been getting an awful lot of press these days, and it’s rather refreshing to see. The latest efforts by Led Er Est and Xeno and Oaklander are eating up the blogosphere, while both Wierd Records and Minimal Wave have been thriving with a series of new releases. Up next, via Wierd Records is the Cold Waves and Minimal Electronics compilation, which will be released on Angular Records on February 22nd. The compilation is a perfect starting point for new enthusiasts, and includes classic tracks by The Neon Judgement, End of Data, Absolute Body Control, and many more. Additionally, Pieter Schoolwerth has chosen ten of his very favorite releases for Dusted Magazine Online, records which essentially sparked the creation of Wierd Records. Peep it here.

Also, Veronika Vasicka has just curated an equally excellent compilation entitled Minimal Wave Tapes Vol. 1, which collects several of the classic releases reissued by Veronica’s label, including tracks by Ohama, Tara Cross, Das Ding, and many more. You can pick up a copy here, and view Veronica’s top 20 minimal wave recordings here.

Which brings us to my next post. Astute readers may have spotted several of Pieter and Veronica’s favorites here on these back pages, including Nagamatzu, Oppenheimer Analysis, End of Data, Borghesia, and tons more. With that in mind, I’ve uploaded one of the few I was previously unfamiliar with, a one off 7” by Kym Amps. Not much information about the release, so let’s let Veronica’s blurb on the record speak for itself:

This one is a melancholy minimal synth track with female vocals. It’s dark and mysterious, and pretty much sounds like what the cover looks like. The bassline is simple and solid, and the melodies create a nice atmospheric mood for the vocals, “You don’t know my name (but I know you)”. It’s a sad love song about loneliness and obsession. There’s a 120bpm TR808 kick drum through out the track, and never a snare or hi hat. That sparse rhythm section creates a nice build-up of tension.

Here’s the info:

Kym Amps- You Don’t Know My Name 7”
1. You Don’t Know My Name (But I Know You)
2. You Love Me

*download it here*

Expect more goodies to come, but don’t forget to support both of these incredible labels as often as possible!

Calculated X- Four Windows 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1982, american, Calculated X, darkwave, minimal synth, new wave, post-punk, US on January 23, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Not much is known about Calculated X, aside from their American (Tennessee) origins, and contributions by the late Bobby Bowie (no relation to David, I’m afraid). That said, this particular 12”, released in 1982, is one of the very best dark synth records of all time. All three tracks are pure class, especially the driving “Dream Affair,” one of my favorite tracks to spin here in New York.

It seems as if the band has also released a full length record, but I can’t seem to find much information on it. That all said, if anyone’s able to fill in the gaps and tell more of the Calculated X story, feel free. Otherwise, here’s the info for this killer 12”.

Calculated X- Four Windows 12”
1. Four Windows
2. Girl Like You
3. Dream Affair

*download it here*

Belfegore- A Dog is Born LP

Posted in 1980s, 1983, Belfegore, german, NDW, new wave, post-punk, synth on January 23, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s a classic German post-punk record, one of the highlights of the NDW movement that swept the country throughout the 1980s. Combing dark synths, aggressive guitars, experimental tendencies, and deep grooves, this record has it all.

Formed in 1982, the members of Belfegore had their roots in equally stellar projects, including Nichts and Die Krupps. This record was the first of two released by the band. Their second record, released on Elektra, earned a bit more attention and exposure, while this first record was self funded and released by local independent label Pure Freude, also responsible for S.Y.P.H. and a handful of Mekons releases. Their second (self-titled) record also featured the hit “All That I Wanted,” which earned sporadic airplay on MTv and VH1.

The band opened up for U2’s Unforgettable Fire European tour in 1985, shifting members and splitting up soon after. Vocalist Meikel Clauss would leave the music business entirely, practicing medicine.

Here’s the information for the band’s debut record, released in 1983.

Belfegore- A Dog Is Born LP
1. Mensch Oder Gott
2. Glashaus
3. Herz Atmet Echos
4. Deutsche Mark´n Bein
5. Ridiculous
6. A Dog Is Born
7. WOW!
8. Schattenwelt
9. Der Fall Des IQ
10. Tod Durch Die Blume

*download it here*

Ziyo- Ziyo LP

Posted in 1980s, 1989, 1990s, 200s, coldwave, polish, post-punk, Ziyo on January 22, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s a classic post-punk record, the first of many from Polish act Ziyo, who formed in 1984. Though it took five years for the band to release their debut, the wait was well worth it, as this s/t record is a quintessential slice of coldwave music from the Eastern Block.

Ziyo are still together to date, and just released their eighth studio record in 2009. As it stands, they are just as vital and powerful as Siekiera and De Press, two of their shorter-lived peers. Perhaps the key to the band’s longevity is their more eclectic sound? Either way, let’s get to the details.

Ziyo- Ziyo LP
1. Nr 1
2. Poza Tym Miejscem
3. Graffiti
4. Obwarowany
5. Idziemy Wytrwale
6. Panie Prezydencie
7. Pod Jednym Niebem
8. Nowe Krajobrazy

*download it here*

Nagamatzu- 1986-1988 CD-R

Posted in 1980s, 1986, coldwave, minimal, minimal synth, Nagamatzu, uk on January 15, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Today’s post contains a handful of selected tracks by British darkwave act Nagamatzu, essentially a two piece featuring Andrew Lagowski (Legion, Terror Against Terror) on synths, guitar, and drum machines and Stephen Jarvis (aka Terraform) on bass, synth, and projections. Andrew Fleck also contributed keyboards from 1982-1983.

A good portion of these tracks appear on the band’s debut cassette release, 1986’s Sacred Islands of the Mad, a true minimal synth classic. In fact, all of the tracks are represented here, except “Lift Off,” the first track on the cassette. To make up for it, this collection contains three other tracks, including “Crackle Black,” “Op-Dead Post A,” and “Shroud,” only one whose origin is known. All tracks sound nice and crisp, as loud and clear as can be.

Without any further ado, here’s the info:

Nagamatzu- 1986-1998 CD-R
1. 150 Murderous Passions
2. Carmine
3. Crackle Black
4. Der Gute Kamerad
5. Ioneso
6. Magic
7. Op-Dead Post A
8. Roma Distruta
9. Schlaggefahr
10. Shakedown
11. Shroud
12. Taraiky
13. Watch + Waste

Tracks 1, 2, 4-6, 8-10, 12, and 13 from Sacred Islands of the Mad K7
Track 7 from Total Recess 3 comp.

*download removed by request*

You can also nab the killer Space Shuttle Shuffle 12” (which also features the missing K7 tape) as high quality AIFF files via The Nagmatazu Archive, a collection of free tracks Lagowski made available online. Here’s direct links to the tracks (which are about 70-80mb each), for your downloading pleasure! Just right click and “save as.”

1. The Sunlight Home
2. Lift Off
3. Schlaggefahr

————-

ATTENTION, dear readers- you can now get a remastered copy Sacred Islands of the Mad via the always excellent DARK ENTRIES label, an awesome reissue label based out of the west coast. Click here for more info!

Various Artists- Mea Pulpa K7

Posted in 1980s, 1989, asylum party, coldwave, compilations, little nemo, pavillon 7b on January 8, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

As promised, here’s the Mea Pulpa cassette, released two years before Passage Du Trou Marin and featuring more of the same great coldwave sound! Lots of familiar faces and a few rare treats, as always. Here’s the info:

Various Artists- Mea Pulpa K7
1. Persona- J’Attends
2. Collection D’Arnell-Andrea- Aux Mortes Saisons
3. Bunkerstrasse- Tears
4. Vox Populi- La Grande Plante Fibreuse
5. Dazibao- Sherguei
6. Little Nemo- Cloudy Sky
7. De Medicis- 1944
8. Complot Bronswick- Another Blue World
9. Pavillon 7B- Les Révoltés
10. Lucie Cries- The Fatal Message
11. L’Avis G821- Enemy
12. Asylum Party- Pigs Are Still Alive
13. Neva- Le Clown Est Mort
14. Tuatha De Danann- De Rerum Natura
15. No Words- Cent Masques Sans Illusions
16. Lost Desert- Sunrise
17. The Grief- Something Wild
18. Les Enfants De L’Ombre- Geste Pâle

Tracks 1-8: Pulpae Corpus
Tracks 9-18: La Mort Du Poulpe

*download it here*

Various Artists- Passage Du Trou Marin K7

Posted in 1980s, 1990s, 1991, babel 17, coldwave, compilations, l'enfance eternelle, little nemo, norma loy, passage du trou marin, resistance on January 5, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

It’s been quite some time since I’ve posted some classic coldwave, so here’s a rare cassette compilation for you folks to kick off 2010. Released in 1991, this compilation collects a slew of classic coldwave artists, with a few more obscure gems thrown in for good measure. Many of the bands on this tape have been featured earlier on this blog, including Little Nemo, Babel 17, L’Enfance Éternelle, Norma Loy, and Résistance. Otherwise, this compilation collects a series of exclusive tracks (b-sides, non-album cuts, live performances), making this release a necessity for coldwave collectors everywhere.

Dépendance Continue, the French label who released this cassette, also released a similar cassette two years prior, entitled Mea Pulpa (featuring rare tracks by Asylum Party, Vox Dei, and Complot Bronswick). I’m happy to post that soon if anyone’s interested. That said, here’s the info for this release.

Various Artists- Passage Du Trou Marin K7
1. Palo Alto- Cible Sans Cils
2. Tuatha De Danann- Mesta In Telessa
3. Norma Loy- We Shall Win
4. Nervous Twitch- Nothing At All
5. Lucie Cries- Clara
6. Mazerno- Marteau Pilique
7. Résistance- Out Of The Body
8. Kafkha- Soleil Sur Rivière
9. Noise Gate- No Thank You
10. Alméria- Finambule
11. Little Nemo- Old Age
12. No Speak- Fire Song
13. Scalpel Humain- Death Angel
14. Babel 17- Low High
15. Die Bunker- Alone With Somebody
16. Wunderlich Ausgang- Train
17. Zorn- Prières
18. L’Enfance Éternelle- Plaisirs Acides
19. Modèle Martial- L’Amour Froid
20. Les Frères Straforelli- Tentatives

Tracks 1-11: Side 1 (Début…)
Tracks 12-20: Side 2 (…Fin)

*download it here*

Various Artists- SNX (4LP + 7”)

Posted in 1985, compilations, experimental, minimal, minimal synth, SNX on December 24, 2009 by Frankie Teardrop

Happy Holidays, dear readers! As a gift for the holidays and to close this year of Systems of Romance, I’ve freshly ripped the elusive SNX boxset, a four LP and one 7” epic collection of experimental music and minimal synth released on French label Hawaii in 1985. All sorts of gems on this one, from more familiar names (Ohama, Mark Lane, Stratis, Twice a Man), and tons of extremely rare and extremely obscure goodies.

For your downloading pleasure, I’ve uploaded it as one large zip file via zshare. There’s lots of info regarding the release, so let’s cut this short and get right to the nitty gritty. Again, happy holidays, ladies and gents, and see you all in 2010!

Various Artists- SNX: The Entomology of Tomorrow’s Popular Music

LP 1
1 The Tom & Marty Band- Algiers
2. Metropakt- Neuen Strassen
3. Marina La Palma- Hong-Kong Shoes
4. Influenza Prods.- Pretty City
5. Oksana Linde- Mariposas Acuaticas
6. Kastrierte Philosophen- Gun Beat Babes I
7. Short Term Memory- Go Home
8. Unknowmix- Ronnie Boy
9. Club Dada- Emprisioned Flesh
10. Danny Alias- Civil Defense: The War Dance
11. Les Objets Insolites- To Separate…

Tracks 1-5: FACE ABRUPTE
Tracks 6-11: FACE BAIONETTE

LP 2
1. Hans Hendrickx- Berlin Johnson
2. Albert Ret’s Police Rip- Lonely Vigils At The Morgue
3. Space Negroes- The Eight Sea
4. Asmus Tietchens- Deformhaus
5. Walls Of Genius- House Of Horrors
6. Ampzilla’s Delight- Landscape III
7. La 1919- Nervi
8. Zarfati Bund- Moyde Ani
9. Tara Cross/Unovidual- Touch Me Here, Touch Me There
10. Frieder Butzmann- N’GA
11. Human Flesh- First Aid (38th Human Attempt)
12. Renaldo & The Loaf- Here’s To The Oblong Boys
13. Rainer Linz- Colour TV Song

Tracks 1-7: FACE CATHOLIQUE
Tracks 8-13: FACE DEPRESSIVE

LP 3
1. Suyama Kumiko- Dance
2. Twipi Twipa- Bad Dream
3. Wadya Want- Snapshot
4. Kid Montana- Rico Apollo
5. Stabat Stable- Bubble
6. Hypnobeat- Can God Rewind? Close The Fridge! (Part 2/Remix)
7. Autopsia- Lebensherrgabe
8. BP. Service- Enervated Tiny Dranghts
9. Primitive Products- Don’t Do That
10. Pekka Airaksinen- Kashyapa
11. Randy-Raine Reusch- Pelan Pelan
12. Strafe Fur Rebellion- Kamerun

Tracks 1-6: FACE ERUPTIVE
Tracks 7-12: FACE FINALE

LP 4
1. 3 Musketeers- New Brass
2. Gheneral Thi Et Les Fourmis- Prima Dona
3. Twice A Man- Happy Life
4. The Pool- Burn The Bride
5. Peter Kaminski- Compudrive
6. Bill Rhea- Incarna
7. Denis Mpunga & Paul K.- Fuanyaka
8. 96 Eyes- Schneepalast
9. Ohama- The Drum
10. Carlos R. Arcaute- Psique

Tracks 1-5: FACE GLYCOSE
Tracks 6-10: FACE HETEROCLITE

7”
1. Mark Lane- Pushing And Pulling
2. Stratis- Herzlos
3. Vo Ese- Rike’s Birthday

*download it ALL here!*