Archive for the 1990s Category

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Algebra Suicide- The Secret Like Crazy LP

Posted in 1980s, 1988, 1990s, algebra suicide, chicago, minimal, poetry, spoken word on June 20, 2008 by Frankie Teardrop

Today’s band is a curios anomaly that walks the line between minimal synth and beat poetry. Algebra Suicide formed in Chicago in the early 1980s. Essentially a two piece affair, the band combined the analog electronic sounds and thin, direct guitarwork of Don Hedeker with the beat-inspired poetry of Lydia Tomkiw, a published poet at the time of the band’s formation. The band’s unique style earned them some critical acclaim during their tenure.

The band’s discography consists of several EPs and a few full length records (mostly compilations) throughout the eighties and early nineties. The band seldom performed live, but often incorporated multimedia visuals for a trifecta of literary, visual, and musical approach. The band presumably split in 1994, and both Don and Lydia pursued solo ventures. However, in 2007, Lydia Tomkiw passed away in her home in Phoenix, Arizona at the age of 48…

Here’s the information for the band’s first full-length record, 1988’s The Secret Like Crazy. The album originally appeared on vinyl and cassette, but was reprinted on CD in limited capacity in 1992 via RRRecords.

Algebra Suicide- The Secret Like Crazy LP
1. Little Dead Bodies
2. Somewhat Bleecker Street
3. Gist
4. Why No Action Is Taken
5. Father’s By The Door
6. Tractor Pull
7. Tuesday Tastes Good
8. In Bed With Boys
9. Sinister
10. True Romance At The World’s Fair
11. Tonight
12. Please Respect Our Decadence
13. Heat Wave
14. No War Bride
15. Let’s Transact
16. Lethargy
17. Amusing One’s Self
18. Recalling The Last Encounter
19. Seasonal Zombies
20. Agitation

*download it here*

Dark Entries records has just reissued a compilation of Algebra Suicide material, four tracks of which were sourced from this LP.  Well worth picking up if you want to hear more and support the band!
For a more suitable discography and proper biography of Algebra Suicide, click below:
Algebra Suicide on Trouserpress dot com
official page via Clive Barker’s website (a little outdated)

4 Comments »

Sleep Chamber- Musik For Mannequins K7

Posted in 1980s, 1984, 1990s, boston, experimental, industrial, musique concrete on June 2, 2008 by Frankie Teardrop

Sleep Chamber are an early 80s industrial collective consisting solely of John Zewizz and an otherwise revolving door lineup. The outfit formed in 1980 in Boston and was experimental in nature, yet as time passed the outfit shifted in styles several times over.

The late 80s saw a more EBM/synthpop direction, while Sleep Chamber began creating dark ambient music into the nineties, shifting between those two styles for the remainder of the decade. The band dropped from most radars in the new millennium as Zewiss’ personal troubles caused the project to self destruct, and it’s unclear whether Zewiss plans to record after a hiatus. However, a few collections of unreleased material has appeared and rumors hint at new material in 2008.

I’ve uploaded what seems to be Sleep Chamber’s third cassette release, entitled Musik For Mannequins, a more experimental/musique concrete release from 1984. Without any further ado, here’s the information:

Sleep Chamber- Musik For Mannequins K7
1. Victmm
2. Jungle Disease
3. The Lantern
4. A Distant Cry
5. Conversations In Between Walls
6. Left Side Of The Tomb
7. Twenty Three
8. The Last Fantasy
9. Rite To Death

*download it here*

This fan-run myspace page comes complete with a brief interview with John Zewiss, an interesting read for more information about the band’s whereabouts and future plans. Click below to take a peek:

Sleep Chamber on myspace

2 Comments »

De Press- Product LP

Posted in 1980s, 1982, 1990s, 2000s, de press, new wave, norweigan, polish, post-punk on May 23, 2008 by Frankie Teardrop

De Press were a gloom-ridden post punk act formed in Norway during the late seventies. Their music would tread similar sonic territories as contemporaries Joy Division and the Sound, while Andrej Nebb’s vocals walked the line between unintelligible English and fluent Polish. Andrej’s history as a Polish refugee blended their gloomy sound with a series of eastern European influences, a distinguishing feature that made De Press one of the biggest bands in their homeland, even if they didn’t catch fire elsewhere.

The band’s first record Block to Block is a classic, as their sophomore effort, uploaded below. Product was released shortly after the original lineup of the band split. De Press reunited in 1991, however, and continues to release new material to this day, with Andrej Nebb remaining the only original member to date.

Here’s the info and download link for 1982’s Product:

De Press- Product LP
1. The Fatal Day
2. In a Position to Know
3. Passages
4. In a Crowded Room
5. Signals
6. Product
7. Another Man’s Sin
8. Heaven
9. Total Corruption
10. Swienty Pokoj

*download it here*

20 Comments »

The Neon Judgement- Mafu Cage LP

Posted in 1980s, 1986, 1990s, 2000s, Belgian, industrial, synth, the neon judgement on May 12, 2008 by Frankie Teardrop

I’ve already done a brief overlook on the Neon Judgement, a Belgian based wave act, but since their seminal 1986 record Mafu Cage seems to be out of print, I’ve uploaded it for your listening pleasure. Otherwise, I’ll cut and paste what I said about them last October:

The Neon Judgement formed in a town outside of Brussels in 1981, and since then the duo of TB Frank and Dirk Da Davo have been creating synth driven music with a dash of electronic violence and a sprinkle of rock and roll ideology. Neon Judgement would release several records and remixes before briefly disbanding in 1998. However, as the two reunited in 2004 to promote an upcoming remix collection in Europe, the band was also reactivated as a creative unit. In 2005, the band also released The Box, a 2cd set comprising live tracks and rarities alongside classic cuts.

On the side, member Dirk Da Davo also spearheads the Neon Electronics side project, composing new material and reworking old tracks.

The Neon Judgement- Mafu Cage LP
1. Awfull Day
2. The Man
3. He’s Gonna Drop
4. Be Nice To Me
5. Rise (I Hope One Day)
6. 1958
7. Voodoo Nipplefield
8. Dead Friends Body
9. Tomorrow In the Papers*
10. Antoine*
11. Tv Treated*
12. The Man (Remix)*

*cd release bonus tracks

*download it here*

For all other info on the Neon Judgement, please click below:
Neon Judgement homepage

5 Comments »

Twilight Ritual- Rituals LP

Posted in 1980s, 1986, 1990s, 2000s, autumn, Belgian, linear movement, minimal, minimal synth, twilight ritual on May 5, 2008 by Frankie Teardrop

To complete the trifecta and fulfill an older request, here’s a reissue of Twilight Ritual’s Rituals LP, originally released in 1986. This is the “latest” project of Geert Coppens and Peter Bonne, also known for their work in Autumn and Linear Movement, two equally captivating Belgian wave outfits. The project originally formed in 1982 and has been an on again, off again focus for the pair.

Twilight Ritual seems to be active to this date. Micrart, responsible for the cataloging and reissuing of releases new and old, alludes to two new studio records, one of which is available as of last year and one of which is on the way. In the meanwhile, Geert Coppens keeps himself occupied with two side projects; Das Cabinett (not the same previously featured in these back pages) and Gerardus Le Monk.

Twilight Ritual- Rituals LP
1. Amorphous Materials
2. I Never Called You A Dream
3. Message
4. What Are Rooms For?
5. Strength For Me
6. He Is Ice
7. Means Of Heath
8. Closed Circuit
9. Tears On The Wall

*DOWNLOAD LINK REMOVED*—- See below for official downloads via Micrart and iTunes

Micrart
Twilight Ritual on myspace dot com

3 Comments »

Borghesia- Ljubav Je Hladnija Od Smrti LP

Posted in 1980s, 1985, 1990s, borghesia, ebm, minimal, slovenia on April 16, 2008 by Frankie Teardrop

Borghesia were a Slovenic electronic/wave band, formed from an existing theatre group in 1982. Both their performances and music touched on repressed themes and taboo subjects, combining this content with a dark synthetic backdrop. They were lumped in with the budding EBM (electronic body music) movement, yet their first record has more in common with the minimal wave sound.

Over the course of thirteen years, Borghesia developed a substantial cult following in Europe, appearing on festival bills and obtaining distribution through Wax Trax records. The original five piece outfit would shift lineups before splitting in 1995, with around/over a dozen releases under their belt. Uploaded here today, is the debut record, 1985’s Ljubav Je Hladnija Od Smrti

Borghesia- Ljubav Je Hladnija Od Smrti LP
1. Ljubav Je Hladnija Od Smrti
2. A.R.
3. Kdo Je Ugasnil Luc
4. Brisk Vomit
5. Jaz (Pesem B)
6. On
7. Nocne Setnje
8. Previse Tenzije
9. Tako Mladi
10. Ljubav Je Hladnija Od Smrti II

*DOWNLOAD LINK REMOVED* – you can now get a remastered copy of this LP via the always excellent DARK ENTRIES label, an awesome reissue label based out of the west coast. Click here for more info!

For your viewing pleasure, the promotional video for ‘A.R.’:

For more info on Borghesia, click the following two links:

discography
myspace

4 Comments »

Babel 17- Shades LP

Posted in 1990s, 1991, babel 17, coldwave, france on April 3, 2008 by Frankie Teardrop

Today’s post features hard-edged French coldwave act Babel 17, who officially formed in 1989. Members of the band had been playing together under various names since 1983, scrapping, rewriting, and experimenting with songs and ideas before settling upon their official name and sound. The first incarnation’s drummer would go on to join Little Nemo, who helped the newly formed Babel 17 land a record contract with the prestigious Lively Art label.

The band released two albums and a series of singles before splitting in 1993, just as their peers were folding and Lively Art closed its doors. The band was rumored to have a third album all ready for release before Lively Art folded. However, though the band has the tracklisting and a few songs up on their official page, I’ve been unable to track it down in any medium. Instead, I’ve uploaded the band’s seminal sophomore record, 1991’s Shades for your listening pleasure, complete with CD only bonus tracks. I believe this release was originally upgraded from an EP, though both shared the same name. The details:

Babel 17- Shades LP
1. Shades of a Dream
2. XVI – XVII – XVIII
3. La Curee
4. Bittersweetness
5. Nohm-Bo
6. Madness Strides Along
7. Lo-Hi
8. A Prayer
9. Bittermixness
10. In Distress

*download link removed—-> album re-released on Infrastition in 2009! see below for links for purchase*

Here’s a clip of the band performing the title track live in 1990:

Last but not least, here’s some further information on Babel 17, including a link to purchase their first record, 1990’s Celeano Fragments through Infrastition.com:

Babel 17 official page
Infrastition.com

5 Comments »

Ellysgarden- Echoes CD

Posted in 1990s, 1994, coldwave, ellysgarden, french, post-punk, shoegaze on February 19, 2008 by Frankie Teardrop

Pardon the delay in posting, friends… Today’s band fulfills a request via email for French coldwave outfit Ellysgarden and their lone release, 1994’s Echoes. Their sound is more likens more to the shoegaze and dreampop movement as opposed to their country’s coldwave roots, most likely a product of the times. Further information about the three-piece band is scarce, though members of the band were previously active as Rosa Luxemburg, but if anyone has any more info regarding Ellysgarden’s whereabouts or history, feel free to send it my way. Otherwise, without any further ado, here’s the information for this gem of a record:

Ellysgarden- Echoes CD
1. Open Doors
2. Our Prayers
3. Over the Fancies
4. I’ll Know
5. Rise of Soul
6. Echoes
7. Muse (On My Own Face)
8. Velvet
9. King for a Day
10. A Boy Too Shy
11. Expiration
12. Her Face

*download it here*

18 Comments »

Clair Obscur – Play. LP

Posted in 1980s, 1988, 1990s, 2000s, french, minimal, synth on February 6, 2008 by Frankie Teardrop

Clair Obscur are a classic French minimal wave/synth act who began in 1981 as a three-piece collective. Throughout their expansive tenure, members have come and gone, though two core members, vocalist Christophe Demarthe and guitarist Nicholas Demarthe, have always been present.

In the 80s, Clair Obscur developed some success and a bit of cult following for mixing their blend of bleak minimal wave music with expansive visuals, and earned spots on prominent local festivals and an opening slot with Killing Joke. Though the band has gone through several lineup shifts over the years (and has recorded as CO2 during bouts of inactivity), Clair Obscur is still active to date, playing sporadic gigs throughout Europe.

I’ve uploaded the entirety of their full length, Play. Though the record was released in 1988, Play. comprises several earlier releases, including the 1984 Dansez 12” and the 1982 La Cassette Noir cassette release. When the record was pressed to CD, the tracklist was chronologically rearranged, resulting in the version I’ve uploaded. Also, four separate covers were issued with the original LP.

Details:

Clair Obscure- Play. LP
1. Sequence
2. The Last Encounter
3. Blume
4. K.G.
5. Pessimiste Combattif
6. Revol Dub
7. Vivant
8. Hibernation
9. Kriegs Opera
10. The Pilgrim’s Progress
11. Zeda
12. Die Kinder Sind Allein
13. Tremendous

*download it here*

For your viewing pleasure, here’s a clip of Clair Obscur performing ‘La Ballade des Gens Heureux ‘ in 1986. The song is originally featured on the 1986 Smurf In The Gulag 12”.

CD copies of Play. are available through Infrastition. Otherwise, for more on Clair Obscur, including full discography, bio, pictures, and fun facts, click below:

Clair Obscur dot net

2 Comments »

Mary Goes Round- 70 Suns in the Sky LP

Posted in 1980s, 1989, 1990s, coldwave, france, mary goes round on January 18, 2008 by Frankie Teardrop

Fulfilling a request for today with the first full length from late 80s coldwave band Mary Goes Round, released in 1989 on Lively Art Records. Mary Goes Round existed under various monikers as far back as 1986, supporting Sonic Youth on select tour dates. The band, consisting primarily of Jérôme Avril and Cécile Balladino (with various other members coming and going throughout their career), released a handful of albums and a few singles before calling it quits in 1991. These days, Jérôme is involved with a new project, entitled Brachko.

Details:

Mary Goes Round- 70 Suns in the Sky
1. Mary’s Garden
2. On my Way Back Home
3. Useless Day
4. Clouds and Clouds
5. Who Believes in Better Days ?
6. Eagle
7. Any Mary I See
8. The Nile Song (Pink Floyd cover)
9. Nightfall
10. Kiss me Love
11. Pink Shadow
12. She Said
13. Doubts

*download it here*

I’ve also stumbled upon the video for ‘Mary’s Garden,’ a very colorful and psychedelic affair. Watch below!

Mary Goes Round dot com, for anyone interested in more images, a full discography, and selected tidbits of information…

9 Comments »

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