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Combined Minds- 1984 K7

Posted in 1980s, 1983, american, arizona, minimal, minimal synth, new wave, US on July 19, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

This particular cassette was also donated by Ben, and features nine tracks from Combined Minds, a minimal synth band from Maryvale, Arizona.

The band operated as a three piece and recorded two cassettes for their own Multi-Purpose Musik label, an outlet for this project as well as prior releases dating back to 1979.

Always looking towards the future, this tape was released in 1983, and the follow up was released two years later. Lots of great sounds to be had here, especially for fans of Tone Set, League of Nations, (early) Soft Cell, and the more experimental side of the minimal synth spectrum. I can’t seem to get enough of “More Knobs Than Notes” and “Shop Town,” but this entire tape is a must hear for minimal synth fans big and small. Here’s the info:

Combined Minds- 1984 K7
1. Combined Minds
2. Feel The Beat
3. More Knobs Than Notes
4. Shop Town
5. Time To Relate
6. Nocturnal Nocturne
7. Comfortable
8. If I Don’t Move, I Can’t Dance
9. Sold American

*download link removed*

Sorry for the premature post, folks. I’ve just gotten word that this release (as well as several other Multi-Purpose Musik releases) are avaialbe from Shawn Helton, a member of Combined Minds who is still active in music today. Please click THIS link to read more about Helton and his projects, and to purchase these releases!

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Calculated X- Some Change/No Change 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1982, american, Calculated X, darkwave, minimal synth, new wave, post-punk, US on September 20, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Last but not least, we have the second 12” by Calculated X- released in 1983. Taking over where their first 12” (uploaded here, for those who missed it) left off, there’s more of the same infectious new wave/post-punk grooves present here, with a slightly poppier edge. Let’s dive right into this one, shall we?

Calculated X- Some Change/No Change 12”
1. Some Change No Change
2. Cool The Water
3. You Will Know Us
4. Don’t Look At You

*download it here*

Don’t forget- there is a CD-reissue of all these tracks available on X-Tracked records. You can grab a copy here, which I highly recommend if you enjoy these two 12” records as much as I do! There’s a few bonus tracks and live cuts as an extra incentive, so be sure to nab it while the getting is good!

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Klein & M.B.O.- First LP

Posted in 1980s, 1983, american, chicago house, house, italian, italo disco, Klein and M.B.O., minimal synth on May 21, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Second on the slab is this fantastic LP from Klein & M.B.O. It’s a little more disco-tinged than what I usually post around these parts, but there’s still some great minimal synth grooves kicking around here, combined with some classic italo production. As it stands, the project was not only successful in its native land, it also inspired the budding Chicago house movement.

The project was conceived by Tony Carrasco (USA) and Mario Boncaldo (Italy), two standout musicians in the disco scene. Vocals were performed by Italian jazz singer Roosanna Casal and a US singer named Naimy Hackett, while Davide Piatto lent a hand with some of the arrangements.

Despite the misleading title, this isn’t the band’s first release. However, it contains nearly all of the tracks released on various 12” singles, including the vocal version of “Dirty Talk” from 1982, their most famous track. In fact, it seems as if this release is simply a reissue of De-Ja-Vu, released a year prior on another label. I haven’t heard this LP, so I can’t be sure if the mixes are exactly the same, but my guess is that this LP is a clever reissue, released to capture the project’s growing influence in the US.

With that in mind, here’s the breakdown:

Klein & M.B.O.- First LP
1. The Big Apple
2. The MBO Theme
3. Wonderful
4. Dirty Talk
5. De-Ja-Vu
6. I Love You

*download it here*

10 Comments »

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*

17 Comments »

Doppler Effect- Hard At Work 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1988, american, doppler effect, minimal synth on May 26, 2009 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s the first of two short posts for the day. Uploaded below, we have the lone 12” by minimal wave/synthpop band Doppler Effect. As there were two bands who went by this name as early as the 1980s, there’s little information to be found on this particular act, but I do believe they’re a four/five piece American band, at the very least. Otherwise, this particular 12” features three hi-energy wave tracks, essential for any aspiring DJ. The final track on the 12”, “Four Day Romance” has been compiled and included among several classic minimal wave gems. Meanwhile, the band seems to have contributed two stand-alone tracks on the 1984 compilation Hit the Floor but the jury’s still out about the origin of these tracks.

If anyone has any further information about this band or the above noted release, feel free to drop a note. Otherwise, here’s the information for this particular 12”, released in 1988.

Doppler Effect- Hard At Work 12”
1. Hard At Work
2. I Don’t Wanna Be Your Man
3. Four Day Romance

*download link removed*

I received an email from Michael James Straight of Doppler Effect, who not only told me about the newly uploaded Doppler Effect collection on iTunes, but also filled in some of the blank spaces about the band. Here’s what he had to say:

A little backstory, We ended up having issues with another band called The Doppler Effect which were a garage rock band, they stole our artwork and a few other things to confuse the market so we decided to change our name to Workforce. The line-up of the band changed over the years as well. Workforce is in the process of working on Soundtrack music but have been back in the studio to work up an new electro project that we hope to release in the fall…

The iTunes collection also features a handful of bonus tracks- including demos, remixes, and a bonus track from the above mentioned Hit the Floor compilation. Not to be missed! CLICK here to purchase Doppler Effect via iTunes!

Xex- Group:Xex LP

Posted in 1970s, 1980, 1980s, american, experimental, minimal, new jersey, wave, xex on May 19, 2008 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s a request of sorts for a classic minimal synthpop gem. Xex were a more experimental wave band, formed in South River, New Jersey. They were a mysterious affair, releasing one record in 1980 and disappearing soon after. The band “began” as a high school kazoo trio. Member Waw Pierogi’s interest in science led to several unique delay and echo experiments in the early years, most of which were employed on the band’s debut. However, though outfit had little musical technique, their trials and experiments yielded several songs, and after their first performance, the original trio of Waw, Thumbalina Gugielmo, and Alex Zander brought in two of their friends/fans to round out the lineup. Thus, after several experiments and debates, Xex was officially born in 1978.

The band spent the next two years constructing several tracks utilizing minimal synth techniques, semi-conventional song structures, and male and female vocal experiments. Due to the nature of their project and the band’s limited abilities, live shows were often inconsistent and humanistic, and often featured performance art and video accompianments.

The original pressing of Group:Xex sold little over a thousand copies. Soon after its release, additional members David Anderson and Jon-Boy Diode departed as Xex completed work on a second record, which due to limited funding and a since-deteriorated master tape, has not yet seen the light of day, and may never will. The original trio continued to work together along with new member Cookie Ruggerio (who previous involvement with the band was limited to walking a stuffed cat during a performance of “Kitty”). Only a few tracks have surfaced, and mid 80s performances of the band did not include Waw Pierogi.

In 2004, cult interest in the band culminated in a proper reissue of Group:Xex, complete with several demo cuts from the band’s original sessions. Just a year before, Alex Zander passed away from a heart attack.

Here’s the information for the CD release of Group:Xex.

Xex- Group:Xex (reissue)
1. Fashion Hurts
2. You Think
3. Snga
4. Rome On $5 A Day
5. Party
6. Saint Vitus’ Dance
7. Svetlana
8. Don’t Blame Me
9. Holland Tunnel
10. Kitty
11. Cops
12. Delta Five
13. Fashion Hurts (Demo)
14. Svetlana (Demo)
15. Saint Vitus’ Dance (Demo)
16. Cops (Demo)
17. You Think (Demo)
18. Snga (Demo)

*DOWNLOAD LINK REMOVED- see below for official purchasing options*

This is one of the few available records I’ve posted as of late, so if you dig on these tracks, be sure to trash these mp3s post-haste and pick yourself up a copy of the cd reissue, which comes complete with extensive liner notes and further information about the band. Click below to order a copy!

Purchase Group:Xex from smackshire.com
further info and chronology

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ATTENTION, dear readers- 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!

2 Comments »

Einstürzende Neubauten- Thirsty Animal 12”

Posted in alexander von borsig, american, collaboration, Einstürzende Neubauten, german, industrial, no-wave on August 22, 2007 by Frankie Teardrop

Today’s writeup will feature a two track single, an exciting and stellar collaboration by two great experimental artists, both of which need no introduction to most.

Einstürzende Neubauten (translation: collapsing new buildings) formed in 1980 in West Berlin, the brainchild of several local avant-garde musicians. Since then, the band has deconstructed the face of popular music, remaining an active, prolific, and powerful force in industrial and experimental music.

Lydia Lunch is an American musician and poet. She was the former frontwoman of influential NYC no-wave act Teenage Jesus & the Jerks until the band disbanded in 1979. She then persued a solo career, offering up several classic records and collaborations, and has since explored film, poetry, and other creative disciplines.

In 1982, as the two were gaining steam and exploring the boundaries of music with their own respective acts, Einstürzende Neubauten would record but two tracks with Lydia Lunch, also featuring contributions from Birthday Party/Crime & the City Solution guitarist Rowland S. Howard. What resulted is a true masterpiece of experimental work, a frightening two track 12” single entitled Thirsty Animal. Combining the subtleties and talents of both units, these two pieces are among the most powerful and harrowing tracks that either would record.

…and here they are, for your listening ‘pleasure:’