Today’s artist should need no introduction, as he’s a member of several pioneering electronic acts including the likes of Throbbing Gristle and Chris and Cosey/Carter Tutti. Though Chris Carter lent his skills primarily to these outfits, the English musician recorded several of his own more electronic and less abrasive pieces on the side.
This particular release, Carter’s first solo outing, consists of several synth/wave instrumental recordings made in the legendary Throbbing Gristle studio. Though it’s been re-released several times over (never on vinyl), The Space Between originally appeared in cassette form, with little information and no tracklisting. The original pressing was released on TG’s Industrial Records, while subsequent CD reissues appeared on Elektra and The Grey Area.
Without any further ado, here’s the information for the record, and the link for your perusal:
Chris Carter- The Space Between Cassette
1. Beat
2. Outreach
3. Electrodub 1
4. Clouds
5. Reprise
6. Electrodub 2
7. Poptone
8. Slomo
9. Walkabout
10. Maybe
11. Falling
12. Solidit
13. Snap
14. Interloop
15. Resonance
As mentioned in a post just over a year ago, French post-punk band Marc Seberg formed out of the ashes of Marquis de Sade, a similarly styled band who released two records in the late ’70s/early ’80s. After their split, vocalist Philippe Pascal and guitarist Anzia formed Marc Seberg, who released four albums (and one posthumous live record) the Virgin France label before dissolving as the nineties took hold.
Marc Seberg’s style continued with the same jangly, yet gloomy guitar driven sound developed by Marquis de Sade, with more glamorous synth production at the helm. For your listening pleasure, here’s the band’s sophomore effort, 1985’s Le Chant Des Terres LP, which was re-released on CD with the 1984 L’Eclaircie 7” attached. Here’s the info:
Marc Seberg- Le Chant Des Terres LP
1. L’Eclaircie
2. Le Chant Des Terres
3. Don’t Fail Me
4. Si J’Avais Su Te Dire
5. Aurore
6. Recueillement
7. E. Rope
8. Les Ailes De Verre
9. L’Eclaircie (Version Maxi)
10. Une Dernière Fois
Fun fact: The lyrics to “Recueillement” stem from a poem written by French poet Charles Baudelaire.
After scouring youtube, I’ve discovered an interview with the band attached to the promotional video for “L’Eclaircie,” so click below and give it a whirl if yr French is up to snuff:
Here’s a horse of a different color compared to the usual sounds posted here as of late. Screams For Tina formed in Los Angeles in 1985, a twisted, dark post-punk band consisting of four like-minded members. They released one 12” mini-album (uploaded below) just a year after their formation, generating a bit of college buzz with their heavy, glam-infused brand of twisted, dark rock. The band toured for four years straight, playing with the likes of Human Drama, Ex-Voto, and various other players in the late eighties post-punk scene.
However, the original lineup of Screams for Tina split in 1990, but while various members departed, others quickly joined the ranks and the band soldiered on, attracting the attention of Cleopatra records, who released a full-length record in 1993. The band split once more in 1997, however, significant re-exposure and the continued friendship of members Warren Mansfield and Billy Budd led to a reformation of Screams For Tina in 2007. They are currently working on a full length record! In the interim, give a spin to the record that started it all, 1986’s Strobelight Funeral 12”. Fun fact: This particular record inspired Strobelight Records, home to Frank the Baptist, the reformed Pink Turns Blue, Black Ice, and The Last Days of Jesus, to name a few
The reformed Screams For Tina has a new website up, with t-shirts available for purchase. If you’re a fan of the shirt, nab one and support the band’s reactivation! Keep your eyes peeled for a new record in the works.
Here’s a fun synthpop/wave record for the excellent weather at work here in the northern hemisphere. The band in question is Jo Lemaire + Flouze, primarily a two piece project formed as an outlet for Belgian singer Jo Lemaire and musician Philippe Depireux, who were married at the time. The band released a handful of records in the late seventies/early eighties, splitting soon after this record, released in 1981. Jo Lemaire divorced Depireux and began a solo career to some fanfare in Europe, recording new wave records sung in both French and English.
It was their final record, 1981’s Pigmy World that set the stage for Lemaire’s solo career, with the strong support of “Je Suis Venue Te Dire Que Je M’en Vais,” a synthpop treatment of a prominent Serge Gainsbourg number. Though it is easily the highlight of the record, the remaining tracks keep the same summery synthpop vibe alive. Without any further ado, here’s the information for Pigmy World.
Jo Lemaire + Flouze- Pigmy World LP
1. Shades Of Night
2. Je Suis Venue Te Dire Que Je Mén Vais
3. Satellites
4. Siamese Sister
5. Chameleon
6. Voices In The Silence
7. Inner Void
8. Escape
9. Outside The Hole
10. Claustrophobia
Pardon the double post, ladies and gents, but here’s a rather solid 12” by German EBM act Velodrome. Though this is their only release, each member of the duo had been previously active in other similar bands. Previous to Velodrome, Jorge Guber played in both Lineas Aereas and Metropakt while vocalist Krishna Goineau was a member of the famous Liaisons Dangereuses, who resumed activity soon after this 12” release.
Without any further ado, here’s the information for their lone 12”, released in 1988.
Velodrome- Au Velodrome 141 12”
1. Au Velodrome 141
2. Glasfabrik
3. Capataz
Ages ago, I uploaded Swedish minimal synth duo Twice a Man’s first 12”, one of the best releases of its time. Without repeating any information, click here for the original post, chock full of info and links to keep on Twice a Man’s current output.
Meanwhile, here’s the information for their debut full length, 1982’s Music For Girls, which though released on CD in 1994, remains curiously out of print to date.
Twice a Man- Music For Girls LP
1. Move
2. Breathe The Air
3. Boy
4. Battle
5. Russian Tractors
6. Decay
7. In My Mind
8. Dance
9. Gentlemen
10. Threat
Posted in Uncategorized on April 6, 2009 by Frankie Teardrop
Based in Montreal, Xavier Paradis has been a forerunner of the recent North American resurgence of minimal synth music since his days as Arnaud Lazlaud, active since the 1990s.Under new moniker Automelodi, Paradis has once more unveiled a succinct handful of ice cold, yet infectious tunes ripe for the masses.
The freshly released Fait ses Courses EP, available via Wierd Records, is heavily influenced by the original French coldwave movement.The EP shares a deliciously similar aesthetic once explored by the likes of Martin Dupont, Babel 17, and Trisomie 21, while injecting the moody atmosphere with fun and fancy-free dance grooves and minimal electronics that call some of the best Italo Disco to mind. Despite these touchstones, Fait ses Courses is remarkably transcendent, flirting with a sound that will both shed light on past triumphs and influence many to come.
Paradis’ vocals, primarily recorded in French, still convey emotion even at the lightest, spoken whisper. The result is a highly romantic, fresh, and imaginative offering that not only swells the heart, but stimulates the body. It’s damn near impossible to sit still while listening to Faitses Courses, as each of the EP’s main tracks are polished and primed for even the grittiest of dance floors. For those paying attention, there’s even a hidden track nestled between a few moments of ambient street noise, a classic instrumental interlude in its own right, and a welcome addition to an otherwise short, but sickly sweet collection.
On the wake of this tremendous release, Automelodi is gracing New York’s own underground minimal synth and coldwave scene, and aims to take the city by storm for two performances this week. The first takes place this Wednesday at Home Sweet Home, an East Village haven for Wierd Records’ own weekly minimal gathering. As previously mentioned, Wierd Records founder Pieter Schoolwerth continues to cultivate and educate in the ways of cold, analog electronics, and many of the bands on the Wierd roster have worked wonders for the necessary fostering and rebirth of the genre. Wednesday’s heavily anticipated recital begins at the stroke of midnight, but Automelodi will also be offering a repeat performance at The Annex this Saturday, joined by Xeno and Oaklander, one of the very best acts this city has to offer. Not convinced yet? Take a listen to “Schéma Corporal,” one of Automelodi’s most striking tracks:
There’s very little information to be found on this particular artist, one John Ruth from New York, whose lone 1981 release, I Am a Model sits comfortably with the likes of OMD and John Foxx-era Ultravox, with a little Talking Heads quirk thrown in for good measure. Without any further ado, here’s the information for this fantastic synth gem.
1. Goodbye
2. Stalk The Wild Animal
3. Kick Me In The Bed
4. Rhonda La Boo
5. I Am A Model
6. Summer Commuter
7. 50 Mile Radius
8. Ordinary Mood
9. Restaurant
10. Polyclimate Is Here
*download link removed. see comments for purchasing link*
Sorry for the delay, ladies and gents, but I’ve returned and look forward to resuming regular activity on this blog. To kick things off, I have two posts lined up for this afternoon. The first is Belgian minimal wave/synthpop band Pas De Deux, who formed in the early eighties. Taking their name from a popular French dance step, the band’s first appearance was a legendary performance at the Eurovision Song Contest, where the band debuted their mainstay “Rendez-Vous” to a misunderstanding crowd. Despite it’s lukewarm reception (the band placed third to last in the competition), “Rendez-Vous” became a rather prominent Belgian single in the summer of 1983.
The band released one mini-LP, and surrounded its release with a handful of singles. The Des Tailles LP, released in 1983, has been reissued a handful of times, each with slightly different tracklistings encompassing further b-sides and single tracks. However, here’s the information for the original Belgian pressing, released on Parsley Records.
Pas De Deux- Des Tailles Mini-LP
1. Rendez-Vous
2. Mani Meme
3. Lits Jumeaux
4. Take A Cigarette
5. Instant Karma (John Lennon cover)
6. Cold Turkey/Axe Ends (Medley)
*download link removed by request*
For your viewing pleasure, here’s the infamous Eurovision Song performance of “Rendez-Vous”, complete with alternate instrumentation. Oh, the internet!
Before we begin, I’m headed to London and Paris for the next week and change, so please excuse my absence in advance. I’m leaving you with a fantastic seminal synthpop record, released in 1990 and cherished to date. The band is Anything Box, a three-piece synthpop band based out of Caliornia, who are still active to date.
Anything Box began their recordings in 1989, based out of a small New Jersey town (fun fact- the band played some of their first gigs at Passaic’s Loop Lounge, a stage I played on just a few years ago). The band signed to Epic Records and relocated to Orange County, California, immediately beginning work on their first album (uploaded below). Since then, the band has released several EPs, singles, and records over the years, and the last dates to 2008. However, Peace, their stunning debut, remains one of their most popular, and boasts the single “Living In Oblivion,” their biggest chart success. The record’s success, as well as all subsequent releases, helped keep synthpop alive in the 1990s.
Without any further ado, here’s the info:
Anything Box- Peace LP
1. Living In Oblivion
2. When We Lie
3. Kiss Of Love
4. Jubilation
5. Soul On Fire
6. Our Dreams
7. Carmen
8. Lady In Waiting
9. I Felt The Pain
10. Hypocrites
11. Just One Day
12. All These Days Undone
It seems both youtube copies of the video have embedding disabled by request, but click here to give it a spin. Otherwise, catch you kids when I’m back on home soil, and perhaps I’ll have found some rare minimal records to rip and share whilst I’m abroad!
Edit: Since this stellar debut, each Anything Box record has been self-released on the band’s own label. Click below to visit their site and purchase more Anything Box records!
Systems of Romance was created in mid-2007 to serve as a dumping grounds for all great things coldwave, minimal synth, post-punk, synthpunk, industrial, synthpop, and various other combinations of these styles. Feel free to make requests, noodle around, and discuss all you like...
Otherwise, this blog is dedicated to showcasing material that has long since been out of print. If you are aware of any of these items being readily available from the artist or label, or take issue with these tracks being uploaded, please let me know so I can amend the post or remove the links.
Today’s artist should need no introduction, as he’s a member of several pioneering electronic acts including the likes of Throbbing Gristle and Chris and Cosey/Carter Tutti. Though Chris Carter lent his skills primarily to these outfits, the English musician recorded several of his own more electronic and less abrasive pieces on the side.
