Various Artists- Insane Music For Insane People Vol. 13

Posted in 1987, bene gesserit, compilations, experimental, Lelu lus, minimal on December 12, 2009 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s part 13 of a rather infamous collection of European oddities, with some involvement from Alain Neffe of Bene Gesserit, featured here in various incarnations in the past. Of course, that band is featured here, as well as a handful of others, including the elusive Lelu/Lu’s (featured previously), a rare demo version of Bill Pritchard’s most well known track, and experimental collection Human Flesh. The A-side is more pop-oriented, while the B-side is a far more experimental affair. Though there are 25 volumes in this series, this seems to be the only one that was ever released on wax, while the remaining 24 volumes are on cassette. Why this one is on vinyl is anyone’s guess, so wIthout any further ado, let’s get to the tracklisting, complete with each band’s country of origin.

Various Artists- Insane Music For Insane People Vol. 13 (1987)
1. Lelu/Lu’s- Down My Spine (England)
2. Bill Pritchard- Black Souls Under White Skies (England)
3. Thalassa Kollectif- Are You Beush (Belgium)
4. Jean-Louis Descloux- Les Fourmis (France)
5. Ninove- Mechante Souris (Belgium)
6. Human Dance- Magikal Hystery Sour (The Beatles Were Not So Bad, After All!) (Belgium)
7. D’Archangel II- Beautiful, Plastic (England/Holland)
8. Collectionism- Xsass (Germany)
9. Craig Burk + A.Neffe- Afternoon Improvisation (USA/Belgium)
10. Rik Rue- Voices From the Inner Ear (Australia)
11. Bene Gesserit- Evening Star (Belgium)
12. Kaoru Todoroki- Bobldg (Japan)
13. Human Flesh- (Only A) Human Being (Belgium)
14. Denis Mpunga & Paul K.- Terra Incognita (Belgium)

*download it here*

Tracks 1-6: Easy Side
Tracks 7-14: Strange Side

As always, more to come!

7 Comments »

Move- Move LP

Posted in 1986, goth-rock, italian, minimal, move, post-punk on December 8, 2009 by Frankie Teardrop

I’ve seen this one on several want lists across the blogosphere. Thanks to Pieter Schoolwerth of Wierd Records for originally lending me this one to rip for you all (though as of 1.2.13, I’ve come across my own copy and have re-ripped it for maximum enjoyment).  Very little information exists about this Italian post-punk/gothic band.  Their sound recalls early Christian Death with a few synth influences.  I was only familiar with “Cosa Domani,” a particularly excellent track that’s good for an aggressive dance floor.

Released in 1986, this is the band’s only proper full length release. Just a year later, however, the band released a split 12” with Gronge, which can be found via Kentucky Fried Wave.  There’s also a demo tape released shortly before this LP, which I’ve since found and uploaded here.

Move- Move LP
1. Any Move
2. Cosa Domani
3. Lei
4. Lo Scoglio
5. Still Smoking
6. When I’m With My Self
7. Quattro E Tre/Quarti

*DOWNLOAD LINK REMOVED* – pick up a reissue of this LP via Mannequin Records!

Happy listening!

11 Comments »

The Essence- Ecstasy LP

Posted in 1988, coldwave, netherlands, new wave, post-punk, sad lovers and giants, snake corps, The Essence on December 1, 2009 by Frankie Teardrop

Sorry for the repetition lately, but here’s another Ecstasy post by request. Keeping in chronological order, here’s the band’s third album, released in 1988. All information about the band can be found in the previous two posts, so let’s get to the upload, shall we?

The Essence- Ecstasy LP
1. Burned In Heaven
2. Only For You
3. Sleeping
4. Like Christ
5. Angelic
6. Jump And Fall
7. Ice
8. The Afterworld
9. So Gorgeously
10. Despair
11. Understand Why
12. One More Wasted Night

*download it here*

Naturally, we’ve got some bonus tracks here. Tracks 5 and 6 hail from the Only For You 12”, while “Ice” seems to be exclusive to this release, at least according to the band’s discogs listing. If anyone knows for sure, let me know. Otherwise, enjoy- and expect some more goodies to follow in the next few weeks.

Edit: I am currently in the process of updating all the divshare links from the first year of the blog, since I’ve heard that download limits are often exceeded. Kas Product should be live by the end of the afternoon, and the rest will follow as I have time. I also have a few zshare reuploads to handle, so stay tuned for that.

12 Comments »

Word Verification/Spam Filtering

Posted in Uncategorized on November 19, 2009 by Frankie Teardrop

As a brief aside, my apologies to all readers for the word verification system I’ve placed here on the blog. I’ve been getting far too many spam comments lately, and would like to put a right stop to it.

Now back to yr regularly scheduled programming…

3 Comments »

The Essence- A Monument of Trust CD

Posted in 1987, coldwave, netherlands, new wave, post-punk, sad lovers and giants, snake corps, The Essence on November 18, 2009 by Frankie Teardrop

Real quick post today, folks, but here’s the second Essence record, released in 1987 via Midnight Music. The band were still a three piece at this point in time, featuring the same lineup as their debut, so the sound doesn’t stray too far. I do happen to prefer this record to Purity though, by a hair!

Otherwise, this particular upload contains two bonus tracks plucked from the A Mirage 12” (the extended mix and “Lollipop”), as well as “The Happiness” another b-side from the This Cat 12”. Perhaps the band couldn’t fit these tracks on one LP record, but it’s nice to have them in a cleaner format, for sure! On that note, here’s the information for the record. Enjoy!

The Essence- A Monument of Trust CD
1. A Mirage
2. Drifting
3. In Tears
4. Nothing…
5. The Waves of Death
6. The Happiness
7. Lollipop
8. Years of Doubt
9. Fire
10. The Death Cell
11. A Monument of Trust
12. A Mirage (Extended Version)

*download it here*

8 Comments »

The Essence- Purity CD

Posted in 1985, coldwave, netherlands, new wave, post-punk, sad lovers and giants, snake corps, The Essence on November 17, 2009 by Frankie Teardrop


I’ve got a pair of early Essence records to upload for you folks. Here’s the first of the lot, the band’s 1985 debut, Purity. The band originally formed as a three piece in 1984, hailing from Rotterdam, a region in the Netherlands. Over the course of time, the band grew in both popularity and personnel, releasing four full length LPs and several 12” singles before their demise in the mid-nineties. Most of the band’s material was released on Midnight Music, the label who also were responsible for Sad Lovers and Giants and The Snake Corps, two of the band’s closest sonic peers.

Speaking of which, it’s difficult to avoid comparing The Essence to The Cure, as the band walk similar sonic territory, straight down to the melodies, lyrics, and even the chimes in the instrumentation. For those who can’t avoid the comparison, the touchstones are close enough to consider it a lost record from The Top/Head on the Door era! Otherwise, it’s a rather solid guitar record from the mid-80s, with a hint of gloom and doom thrown in for good measure.

A surprising fun fact about this record: It was recorded in Alaska, of all places! Perhaps it was the allure of the near darkness and hopes of bringing the state’s icy edge to the record. Did they succeed? You decide. Here’s the information below.

The Essence- Purity CD
1. The Last Preach
2. A Reflected Dream
3. The Cat
4. The Blind
5. Never Mine
6. Endless Lakes
7. Forever in Death
8. Salivation
9. The Waving Girl
10. Purity
11. Confusion*
12. From My Mouth**
13. The Swaying Wind**

*bonus track from The Cat 12”, 1986
**bonus track from Endless Lakes 12”, 1986
both bonus tracks included on the 1996 CD reissue of Purity.

*download it here*

Stay tuned for the band’s sophomore record, which I will be uploading shortly!

11 Comments »

Twice a Man- Works on Yellow CD

Posted in 1980s, 1986, 1990s, 2000s, swedish, synth, synthpop, twice a man, wave on November 10, 2009 by Frankie Teardrop

Yet another icy piece of Swedish minimal/coldwave for you, as this post features another solid Twice a Man record. We’ve already covered this glorious band several times over, so click here and here for more info and music. Otherwise, this particular LP sees the band experimenting with more atmospheric and ambient textures, all while keeping their signature synth-perfection intact. This particular record also features “Girl,” one of the band’s best known tunes, also featured on the Retronics compilation. Get that here, if you’re in need.

The LP was released in 1986, and was re-released on CD in 1993 with an extra bonus track added. This is the version uploaded below. Here’s the info:

Twice a Man- Works On Yellow CD
1. Brave New World
2. Happy Life
3. Lapwing Territory
4. Girl
5. Back On Venus
6. Left
7. Backward Mode
8. Time
9. Africa

*download it here*

6 Comments »

Cortex- Souvenir/Souvenirs K7

Posted in 1984, alain neffe, Belgian, cortex, experimental, minimal synth, synth on November 9, 2009 by Frankie Teardrop

For my second post of the day, I’ve tracked down a request from a few weeks ago. This particular post contains a rare cassette from Belgian experimental band Cortex, collecting their output from 1975-1982. The cassette was released on two different labels in 1984, and essentially contains electronic experiments with French poetry spoken over top.

Cortex is also one of many projects featuring contributions from experimental mastermind Alain Neffe, also active in Bene Gesserit, Human Flesh, and Pseudo Code. Vocalist Nadine Bal also worked with Neffe in Bene Gesserit, who formed after the Cortex project came to its end.

Without any further ado, the particulars:

Cortex- Souvenir/Souvenirs cassette
1. Cortex E
2. Cortex F
3. Cortex G
4. Cortex H
5. Cortex I
6. Cortex J
7. Cortex K
8. Cortex L
9. Cortex M
10. Cortex N
11. [Unidentified]
12. Cortex O

*download it here*

Though it’s not mentioned on either discogs listing, my particular rip of the cassette features an extra, unnamed track before the final 20+ minute piece. Not sure if it belongs there or not, but I’ve included it for your listening pleasure.

As for the remainder of their discography, Cortex have contributed many more tracks to various compilations over their tenure, most with similar alphabetical titles. Haven’t been able to track ’em down, but I will post them if I ever do!

5 Comments »

ExKurs- Fakten sind Terror LP

Posted in 1980s, 1981, exkurs, german, modern enterainment, New deutsche welle, p1/e, post-punk, synth on November 9, 2009 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s a particularly dark gem I stumbled upon in my travels. This post contains the lone LP from German post-punk band ExKurs, released in 1981. Though this is the band’s lone release, members of ExKurs have a rich history in the vast world of early 1980s synth. Michael Hirsch was previously active in Alexander Hacke’s P1/e, while Allan Rae Smith also released a record with Modern Entertainment, his previous punk outfit.

Otherwise, the sounds on this LP feature post-punk rhythms and buzzing electronics, chock full of energy. A true New Deutsch Welle gem, the opening track is a treat in and of itself. Let’s get to the details, shall we?

ExKurs- Fakten sind Terror LP
1. Warten
2. Fakten
3. Bewegung
4. Steril
5. Natur
6. Angst
7. Friedhof
8. Ausblick

*download it here*

The band also have a website, consisting of a disography and brief history, but it’s entirely in German. If you’re up to snuff on the language, feel free to click HERE and check it out.

Meanwhile, to make up for my absence, I have two more posts in store for today, as time allows, so stay tuned for a few requests!

2 Comments »

The Passage- Degenerates LP (Reissue)

Posted in 1982, experimental, minimal synth, post-punk, synthpop, the Fall, The Passage, uk on October 29, 2009 by Frankie Teardrop

I just had the pleasure of being turned on to this record at this week’s local Wierd Records party, and I’ve already spun it twice this morning. Why not upload it, n’est-ce pas?

The band in question is The Passage, a UK-based experimental synthpop band that formed in 1978. The band’s first two records are truly dark, minimal records, but for their third, 1982’s Degenerates, the band added a more polished synth shine to their shuffling experimental backdrop, a perfect marriage of both the catchy and the challenging. Some tracks remind me of Public Image Limited or latter-day Scott Walker (which makes sense, given that Tony Friel, founding member of The Fall, was a member), while other tracks are true synthpop masterpieces.

Though Degenerates was originally released by Cherry Red, this particular upload features several 7” bonus tracks added to the limited CD re-release, which dropped via LTM Publishing in 2003. I believe the CD version is also out of print.

There’s more to the Passage story kicking around online, so click here to check out an extensive tribute page to the band, complete with a full discography, lush bio, and a slew of goodies. Otherwise without any further ado, let’s get to the details.

The Passage- Degenerates CD
1. XOYO
2. Fleck
3. Revelation
4. Love Is As
5. Born Every Minute
6. (Ourselves)
7. Go To Seed
8. Armour
9. Time Will Tell
10. Empty Words
11. XOYO (7″)
12. Animal In Me
13. Born Every Minute (Flexi)
14. Taboos
15. Taboodub

*download it here*

Otherwise, I still have a few requests and donations to tackle, sorry for the delay! Otherwise, in case I don’t check back in beforehand, happy Halloween to those who celebrate!

11 Comments »

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