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Aptit – Han Vågar Inte 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1982, aptit, goth, post-punk, swedish on March 2, 2023 by Frankie Teardrop

While we’re on a Swedish groove, here’s a darker, more visceral post-punk single by Aptit, a sextet from Gothenburg, released in 1982. Fans of bands such as Asmodi Bizarr, Stimmen Der Stille, Cry of the Innocent, etc. will find much to love on both tracks, which have always been favorites, especially the driving b-side “Som Vatten.”

Three of the members of Aptit would continue to make waves in Sweden’s new wave/post-punk scene. Bassist Elisabeth Johnson would also play with Camouflage (not the synth pop stars we know and love, but the gloomier, synth-driven post-punk band who would change their name to Tapirena). Guitarist Tinna Möller would also play in Camouflage/Tapriena and sing backing vocals on Lars Falk of Twice a Man’s excellent solo LP. Synth player Ruby Berner would go on to perform with Abcess Exil.

Hope y’all enjoy!

Aptit – Han Vågar Inte 7”
1. Han Vågar Inte
2. Som Vatten

*download it here*

1 Comment »

Crashing Plastic – Gretchen 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1989, goth, synth, synthpunk, US on December 8, 2022 by Frankie Teardrop

Thanks to Goutroy as always for turning me on to this one and making the original rip. A Viable Romance!

Here we have three icy guitar-wave tracks from Crashing Plastic, self-released in 1989. There’s a touch of deathrock/synthpunk flavor in both Gwen Alyson’s vocals and synth melodies and Chris Daya’s musicianship, with razor-sharp guitars, punchy drum programming, and synths galore to round out their sound. I’m reminded of the early Pretty Poison releases, before they went freestyle. This tracks in a sense, as this duo also appears to be from Philadelphia, PA. As always, if anyone has anything more to share about this band, please do.

Otherwise, hope y’all enjoy!

Crashing Plastic – Gretchen 12”.
1. Gretchen
2. Time Tunnel
3. Take Me Away

*download it here*

 

 

4 Comments »

The Nevermen- Monitor LP

Posted in 1980s, 1988, canadian, goth, goth-rock, goutroy, post-punk on April 3, 2022 by Frankie Teardrop

This record might tick boxes for fans of late 80s alternative. The band is The Nevermen, a four piece from Canada. This is their lone LP, which was released on Amok Records (Courage of Lassie, Psyche, Preison’s Shade) in 1988. While all the late 80s goth touchstones are here – the reverb drenched drum machines, the thick bass grooves, and the gloomy guitar, I sometimes find the vocal melodies to be somewhat close to Alice in Chains or bands from that era – even though naturally this record predates the band for a few years. Producer Michael Wojewoda provides backing vocals, which complement the main vocals with a similar kind of dual attack. I also get some early Faith No More vibes throughout with the soaring synths and bass tones.

Now don’t get me wrong folks, there are still plenty of familiar sounds here to keep all us 80s lovers interested – I also hear traces of Simple Minds, Midnight Oil, Big Country throughout this LP, if these bands ditched their stadium sounds and leaned darker overall. This record would definitely have picked up some 120 Minutes airplay if they made a video. Maybe they did?

Either way, if I haven’t scared you away with all this rawk talk, here’s the details for this LP:

The Nevermen- Monitor LP
1. Real Life
2. Across The Room
3. The Waltz
4. Waiting For Rain
5. Living In The Past
6. She’s Got Me
7. Burning
8. Cacophony And Dance (Silver Crown Cement Mix)

*download it here*

(thanks as always to Goutroy for ripping this one initially – keeping A Viable Commercial alive and well!)

1 Comment »

Fru Aut- Fru Aut K7 & LP

Posted in 1980s, 1985, 1988, goth, italian, post-punk on February 9, 2021 by Frankie Teardrop

Happy New Year, y’all! A bit of a new post here, and a bit of an update to an old post at the same time. If you visit this previous post on the incredible Italian post-punk band Fru Aut, you’ll find information about  their 1988 self-titled LP, a masterpiece of the Italian post-punk scene and a perfect listen for fans of dreamier post-punk, in the vein of things like Sad Lovers & Giants, Film Noir, Modern Eon, Xmal, Nico + Faction, etc. In the same post, there’s also an allusion to a previous 12”/cassette release from a long defunct (but wonderful) blog. So with that in mind, I thought I’d kick the year off lightly with an update of both of these releases.

If you aren’t already familiar with Fru Aut, the band was a five piece from northern Italy, more specifically Bassano del Grappa. They self-released this cassette in 1985, with a more limited 12” version appearing the same year. The LP appeared in 1988, also self-released. There was also a CD that came out in 1994, but sadly I haven’t heard it and I have an inkling it might veer more into rock territory, but if anyone could confirm or deny that, I’d gladly give it a listen! Lastly, there’s another cassette out there from the same era as these two releases I’m guessing, with very little info, no year or tracklisting to confirm if it’s exclusive material, or similar to what’s already released elsewhere… Any info on that one is even more welcome…

Even though I’ve updated the previous post, I’ll include both the LP and the cassette here to make things a little neater. With that in mind, here’s the info for both of these excellent releases:

Fru Aut- Fru Aut K7 (1985)
1. Tesò
2. Verderame
3. Sdies Nuzna Vainà
4. Glu Glu

Fru Aut- Fru Aut LP (1988)
1. Prova D’Orckestra
2. La TV Sensuale
3. Kabul
4. Bla Bla – Discorso Alla Finestra
5. Tesò
6. Indastria
7. Berber
8. Segnali
9. Freiherz
10. Superglu

*download both releases here*

7 Comments »

Nebraska- The House of Strangeness LP

Posted in 1989, goth, goth-rock, New York, new york city, post-punk, US on December 31, 2019 by Frankie Teardrop

Happy New Year, everyone! Been a minute again, and with that in mind, here’s an extremely rare post-punk/goth LP from a NY-based four-piece band curiously named…Nebraska, released in 1989. I’ve been on the hunt for this one for some time now and just now picked up a copy for myself, but deep thanks to Ilya for lending his copy for ripping it some time ago.

According to a comment left on the Discogs entry, this LP was recorded in Staten Island, and the cover photo is of an old abandoned hospital nearby the studio. Very curious to hear these kind of sounds coming from Staten Island, but always nice to hear a local gem.

As for touchstones, this LP sits nicely alongside some of the more anthemic, yet darker guitar driven records – think along the lines of Into Paradise, Blue In Heaven, Beg For Eden, etc. A little more primitive and razor sharp as far as the production is concerned, but a lot of top notch post-punk churning to be found. Hope y’all enjoy, and see you in 2020!



Nebraska- The House of Strangeness LP
1. Georgia
2. Whipping Wind
3. Love Is Hate
4. It’s A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood
5. So This Is The Real World
6. Twilight Zone
7. A Thought Of Your Own
8. She Could Be A Bride

*download it here*

6 Comments »

The Smoking Mirror- EP 12”

Posted in 1988, deathrock, goth, goth-rock, post-punk, the smoking mirror on July 17, 2019 by Frankie Teardrop

Keep forgetting about this record, which I originally borrowed from Goutroy for a rip and then picked up my own copy shortly thereafter. Thanks to Saul for the request/reminder in my last post!

Here we have an excellent slice of 1988 goth from the UK, right from the era of Red Lorry Yellow Lorry and March Violets. It’s actually a pretty fair blend of the two bands, in simplest form – the churn and energy of early Lorries (by way of pounding drum patterns and guitar textures of “Beating My Head” or “Monkeys on Juice”) vs the dual male/female vocals of the Violets. Either way, this EP features four excellent tracks of UK goth, a welcome addition for any fans of the genre.

The band is a three peace, and as far as wax is concerned, this is their only release. They were likely from Birmingham, as their label, Sonic Death Records, was stationed there.  There apparently is a demo tape floating around in the ether somewhere, though I can’t seem to find any information about it online outside of a mere mention on their discogs entry. It appears as if the band were planning on a US tour in 1989, though not sure if that ever came to pass before the band called it quits. Aside from the regular lyric/iinfo insert, here’s also apparently an extra 16 page insert with more info and color photographs, but my copy did not come with it, so I can’t offer much else for y’all, other than the download.

With that in mind, here’s the rundown:

The Smoking Mirror- EP 12”
1. Siren Girl
2. Dead Man’s Shirt
3. Prostitute
4. Acid Filth

*download it here*

6 Comments »

Black September- Rainbow Kiss 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1986, goth, indie, post-punk, uk on February 22, 2019 by Frankie Teardrop

Let’s get some guitars into the mix, shall we? Here’s a relatively cheap, but nonetheless obscure single from UK band Black September, who released this one slab of wax in 1986 via Lost Moment Records (Jesus Couldn’t Drum, Skin Side Out, B-Z Party, etc.).

The band were a four piece, led by Ian Hunter. While most folks might recognize the name from Mott the Hoople, though I’m not familiar enough with their catalog to confirm if this is indeed the same Ian Hunter, or someone with the same name. Otherwise, the music sounds suspiciously close to Death Cult, with a slightly more indie/commercial vibe. Other touchstones might include early Gene Loves Jezebel, Zero Le Creche, or Into a Circle – slightly anthemic, guitar-driven tracks with sweeping synths, through and through. I tend to prefer the b-side, but both tracks aim to please.

As of now, the single is a couple of bucks through the usual channels, so if you dig it, it’s well worth picking up!

Black September- Rainbow Kiss 12”
1. Rainbow Kiss
2. David

*download it here*

 

2 Comments »

Dead Neighbours- Strangedays : Strangeways LP

Posted in 1980s, 1985, dead neighbours, goth, goth-rock, lowlife, post-punk on August 30, 2018 by Frankie Teardrop

 

Here’s a fresh rip of a forever classic, hot off the needle to soothe your end-of-summer anxiety. Here we have the second (and final) LP by Scotland’s Dead Neighbours, released in 1985 and featuring eight tracks of driving post-punk bliss.

For those unfamiliar, Dead Neighbours began as a Cramps-inspired psychobilly band, featuring the powerful baritone vocals of Craig Lorentson (RIP) at the forefront of their sound. The band was managed by Brian Guthrie, brother of Cocteau Twins guitarist Robin Guthrie, who helped develop the band’s cult following.

During the recording of their second LP, bassist David Steele departed the band, and the Guthries encouraged Will Heggie to join to complete the record. Heggie, freshly departed from the Cocteau Twins after a tumultuous tour supporting Garlands, was happy to oblige, and completed the record and stayed on to work on new material. Heggie’s incredibly charismatic playing instantly changed the dynamic of the band, and after swapping guitarists for Stuart Everest, the band decided to rechristen themselves as Lowlife, who would go on to release five highly acclaimed albums and a handful of EPs until their breakup in the mid-90s.

With that in mind, the shift in sound is already present on this LP, a clear shade of difference from their 1984 debut Harmony In Hell. Heggie’s energy can already be felt, and the songs appear harder, faster, and stronger, despite shirking much of their psychobilly roots. There’s still a little of that sound present, but just enough to keep things interesting. Lyrically, the album is very focused on mental illness and suicide, especially apparent on opening track “Wreckage of Your Mind” and the final track. Also worthy of note: closing track “The Cowards Way” [sic] was re-recorded by Lowlife and a more lush, dreamier version kicks off their 1986 debut record Permanent Sleep.

If you HAVE heard this one before, hope you enjoy a fresh 320kbps rip of this classic. I don’t happen to have their first album Harmony In Hell NOR the 1985 compilation Wild Women Vs Rubber Fish! in my collection to provide new rips, but hope this one satiates your ears for now. Either way, feel free to pull this down and crank it loud!

Dead Neighbours- Strangedays : Strangeways LP
1. Wreckage Of Your Mind
2. Turmoil
3. Terror Eyes
4. The Survivor
5. The Ultimate Goal
6. Beauty and the Beast
7. Tell Me Why
8. The Cowards Way

*download it here*

6 Comments »

Royal Depeche- Reality 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1987, german, goth, post-punk, royal depeche on June 5, 2018 by Frankie Teardrop

This one is FRESH off the needle, ladies and gentlemen. Just got home to find this waiting in my mailbox, and couldn’t wait to rip and share it with y’all.

Some folks may recall hearing the guitar and hook driven b-side on a previous Systems of Romance compilation, but I’ve always wanted to hear the lead track. I feared the worst, for usually when only one track surfaces from a highly coveted single, chances are that the other track isn’t really worth it. Happy to report that the a-side might be even better, though the two tracks are very similar sounding overall. Chances are the b-side originated from this excellent compilation of German goth and post-punk tracks, as this single appears to be extremely rare.

If you’re not already familiar with this band, Royal Depeche were a German post-punk band who released this one single in 1987, and were never heard from again. Though it was released much later, there are definitely 81-84 vibes all over this one, especially in the Chameleons-esque guitar lines that can be heard throughout both tracks. There are hooks galore and strong female vocals to bring the tracks home. With that in mind, hope you enjoy this one as much as I do!

Royal Depeche- Reality 7”
1. Reality
2. Your Return

*download it here*

2 Comments »

Nervous Germans- Summer of Love LP

Posted in 1980s, 1983, german, goth, goth-rock, nervous germans, post-punk on September 27, 2017 by Frankie Teardrop

Much to my bitter chagrin, there’s a heatwave in NYC at the moment, so here’s an aptly titled record for those who aren’t ready to say farewell to the summer.

Loose weather-related connections aside, I picked this LP up earlier this year and somehow tossed it in the get-rid-of pile on the same day. Fortunately, I don’t move quickly when it comes to purging, for occasions like these. Some pals were over this past weekend and we picked through the pile, dropped the needle, and were all suitably impressed with the sounds we heard from the speakers. Let’s just say that if I had a nickel for every time I snap judged something, I’d be able to afford the scarcest of minimal synth classics…

That all said, this is the second LP by this German quartet, who were able to score some cult success outside of their native country thanks to a Peel Session in 1980. Their early material flirts with some art-punk leanings, but this LP lands more squarely on the post-punk spectrum, with some new wave-esque synths added for good measure. Definite shades of early Gene Loves Jezebel and some of the percussion-heavy moments on The Cure’s Pornography (especially in penultimate track “No Will to Resist”) as well.

The LP was released in 1983 and was the last release by the band for 30 years. The band has since reunited and has released two records, both of which can be heard on streaming media services, if that’s your bag. In the interim, here’s the deets:

Nervous Germans- Summer of Love LP
1. Summer of Love
2. Water Into Wine
3. When I Look Into Your Eyes
4. European Heart
5. Unconditional Surrender
6. The End of the Affair
7. Blood and Lace
8. No Will to Resist
9. Vanishing Point

*download it here*

Brief note- The ending of “European Heart” is meant to end abruptly, as the beat continues into the dead wax!

2 Comments »

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