Secondly, here’s a rare 1984 7” by Body Electric, which is essentially another name for Denmark’s Steen Gjerulff. You can expect classic italo disco sounds here- pounding percussion, bright synths, and of course, copious amounts of vocoder. A real gem!
Body Electric- Magic Electronic 7”
1. Magic Electronic
2. 5595
Yesterday’s posts focused on the darker edge of the post-punk/electronic spectrum, so today’s goal is to bring you two dancier recordings. First up, we have In Trance 95’s debut 7”, the elusive and hypnotic Desire to Desire. While the A-Side is a catchy piece of synthpop, it’s the B-side that especially grabs me, with its deep repetitive grooves. Both tracks have a bit of a Cabaret Voltaire vibe going for them, without being as abrasive.
The band formed in Greece and released this 7” in 1988 via Wipe Out! Records. In Trance 95 split for several years, but the main duo has reappeared as a band called Itenef, re-recording several of their classics and writing several new tracks with a female vocalist at the helm.
In Trance 95- Desire to Desire 7”
1. Desire to Desire
2. Brazilia
Here’s something from the other side of the K7 spectrum. Whereas my last post featured a rare post-punk/gothic cassette, this one contains a more experimental/minimal release from Ann Summer, a Swedish two piece.
The release contains several short bursts of experimental synths and cold, gloomy vocals, ending with the catchiest and longest of the lot. Definitely an out there release, but the final track does make for some great dance floor electronics. An interesting tidbit: this cassette was released in 1985 by Neuköln Records, the Swedish label also responsible for the majority of 18:e Oktober’s releases, as well as a pair by Glenn Winter. Both bands are like-minded peers to Ann Summer, combining experimental rhythms with catchy electronics.
With that in mind, here’s the info:
Ann Summer- Baby Doll – Play Suit K7
1. Ann Summer I
2. Gordisk Knut
3. Delirium
4. Ann Summer II
5. Hemisfären (Endymion)
6. Plastisk Population
7. Ann Summer III
Contained within this post is Dobri Isak’s lone record, released on cassette in 1986. This Serbian darkwave/post-punk band drew heavy inspiration from Joy Division, so this is definitely a must for fans of dark, furious, and somewhat lo-fi post-punk and goth rock.
There seems to be an abundance of information about the band, despite their relative obscurity. The band, whose name translates to “Kind Isaac,” originally formed in 1983. After three years and a handful of lineup shifts, they dropped their first and only release. The cassette (which translates to “We Cry Behind Dark Glasses) was limited to 100 copies, which quickly sold out. The record contains an Arnold Layne song, the band several members were active in alongside Dobri Isak.
Though the record came out in 1986, Dobri Isak remained together until 1996, playing their last gig with Arnold Layne and splitting soon after. In 2009, PMK Records re-released their cassette, tacking on a few extra bonus tracks at the end. However, here’s a rip of the original cassette, as donated by a generous last.fm user. Be sure to purchase the reissue if you dig these tracks!
Dobri Isak- Mi plačemo iza tamnih naočara K7
1. Ona Se Igra Nožem
2. Sinoć Si Sanjao Da Si Pas
3. Mi Plačemo Iza Tamnih Naočara
4. Čekamo Te (Na Istom Mestu)
5. Ja Znam Da Ću Propasti
6. Nepoznata
7. Feniks
8. Plakati Su Ikone
9. Dozvoli Mi Da Ostanem U Tvome Krevetu
10. Mrzim Te
11. Tu U Uglu (Tada Sam Te Poslednji Put Video)
Note: My upload of the cassette seems to have an extra track inserted in the middle, one which does not appear on the official discogs/reissue listing. According to the cassette artwork- “Nepoznata” does not appear on the release, but might very well be a hidden track. Any information welcome!
Here’s one quick little burst of minimal synth to kick off your weekend. Clocking in at ten minutes total, here’s the lone 12” from French band Performance, released in 1982. “Pilotes” is the real winner here, a great midtempo, female fronted synth track. Afterwards, the record hits more experimental territories, with gloomy male vocals and short instrumental bursts. Bringing things full circle, the 12” concludes with some midtempo female fronted synthpop.
Interestingly enough, this 12” was released on Celluloid, the same label responsible for a handful of releases by Material, Tuxedomoon, Can, Yello, and Soft Cell. Quite an eclectic mix, if you check their releases page, and definitely a fitting label for this release. Here’s the info.
Performance- Performance 12”
1. Pilotes
2. Ideal Prison
3. Tapage Nocturne
4. Sécurité
5. Idéal Présent
*download link removed* – new 2 x 7” release of “Pilotes” can be found here, alongside a reworked version of “Sécurité!”
For my third and final 7” for today, here’s Psychic Youth’s lone 1982 recording, two tracks of minimal synth bliss. Anna Logue was carrying the final copies of this 7”, unearthed after several years, but now they’re all gone, and all copies seem to be fetching a pretty penny on the internet. Otherwise, this is one of the best minimal synth obscurities around, and one of the few great US synth bands, hailing from Long Island/NY. Hope you enjoy it!
Psychic Youth- Step In Time 7”
1. Step In Time
2. The Future Now
*download it here* (RE-RIPPED 9.10.12)
EDIT: It seems like all copies of this single are a pretty poor quality pressing. Just obtained a near mint copy over here and re-ripped it and cleaned it up the best I could. Still not perfect, but hope you enjoy the updated version!
Have a few more 7” records to post over the next little while, so might as well keep them coming.
This particular post features a solid 7” by Belgian post-punk band Repetition, a five piece featuring an ex-member of Spizzenergi (Pete Petrol). The two tracks hail from 1981, and sound a bit Siouxsie-ish, a rather popular sound at the time.
After releasing this single, the band switched vocalists to Steve Musham, who would go on to form jangle-pop band The Corn Dollies in the mid 80s. Musham would sing on the 1981 follow up A Full Rotation and 1982’s A Will to Win. Sarah Osborne, vocalist for this single, also sang for Marine, KLINGONS and lastly and most prominently for new wave band Allez Allez. Osborne married the Heaven 17’s Glenn Gregory, the pair having met during bandmate Martyn Ware’s production work for Allez Allez’s second album Promises.
Otherwise, both tracks on this single are essential listening for that cold, early post-punk sound. Enjoy!
Repetition- The Still Reflex 7”
1. The Still Reflex
2. Fade Out
*download it here* (RE-RIPPED 5.31.13)
Here’s the 1983 debut single from Norweigan minimal synth artist Svart Klovn, otherwise known as Kid Death. The title track was also featured on the 1984 Burning the Midnight Sun compilation and later remastered for the fantastic Maskindans compilation that dropped last year, while the b-side is a fast and furious piece of minimal synth.
The only other Svart Klovn releases are the 1986 Queen Bitch 7” and the Kid D. & the Nightshades LP, both featured over at Crispy Nuggets with some additional information about Kid Death and Svart Klovn. Check it out.
Svart Klovn- Knust Knekt 7”
1. Knust Knekt
2. Macho Manifest
*download it here* (RE-RIPPED 3.3.13)
Sorry for the barrage, but here’s a second post for this weekend. Before I begin, might I draw your attention to the original Der Deutsche Adel post, which has been updated with a 320kpbs, clean-as-a-whistle rip, for any fans of that fantastic record.
With that in mind, here’s a pair of singles by Play. In a previous post, I had uploaded their Red Movies LP, which was donated with a few bonus tracks tacked on to the end. These extra remixes were ripped at low quality, so I’ve rectified that not once, but twice with these following two releases! Even the band’s initial 12” is represented here, so that should bring us up to speed with a complete discography!
Play- You Don’t Look the Same MLP
1. This Little Girl
2. Deeper Than Blue
3. You Don’t Look the Same (Remix)
4. Erase the Memory
5. Chasing the Sun
6. In My Mind (Remix)
7. Red Movies
Play- In My Mind 12”
1. In My Mind
2. Red Movies
3. In My Mind (Remix)
DOWNLOAD LINK REMOVED- at long last, Medical Records has reissued the entire Play discography (Red Movies LP + the extra remixes here) on LP. Order HERE on Bandcamp!
A quick post today, ladies and gents. Here’s a French 12” from a band called Ice°. Four tracks of killer coldwave (edit: with slight pop leanings), straight from 1984. Lead-off track “Le Grande Guerre” has been featured on a handful of compilations, including the excellent Des Jeunes Gens Mödernes, which features dozens of other frozen cold French gems.
Otherwise, the sleeve lists only two members for the band: Jérôme on guitar and Bruno on bass. Both are credited with vocal duties. The record was released on Caapare records, which according to discogs, this is their only release. Not much more I can tell you about the band, so let’s get to the tracks.
Ice°- Ice 12”
1. Le Grande Guerre
2. Le Visiteur Du Rêve
3. Listen To Them
4. Amandine’s Travel