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Archive for the minimal Category

Berenek- Sound of Danger LP

Posted in 1980s, 1981, berenek, minimal, minimal synth, new wave, norweigan on July 26, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Gonna wrap up this month with two more posts in quick succession today, so bear with me, ladies and gentlemen. I’ll be touring with Mark Burgess of the Chameleons UK over the course of a few east coast, so Systems of Romance will be dormant until mid-august. Consider these three posts a series of cold treats for the upcoming August heat wave.

Up first we have the coveted full length record by Berenek, a Norweigan based minimal synth project helmed by Espen Beranek Holm, also known locally for his weekly radio program.

I haven’t heard Berenek’s many releases throughout the 1980s, but this first record, released in 1981, is a gem for sure, and fetches some insane prices on the internet. You may have seen it over at Mutant Sounds, but I’ve supplied a higher quality/bit rip, fresh from the wax. Expect some killer minimal synth grooves and alienating electronics. You can also catch a remastered version of “Pictures and Paintings” on the Maskindans compilation, a must-hear for any fan of minimal synth and obscure new wave. Here’s the info.

Berenek- Sound of Danger LP
1. Sound Of Danger
2. Pictures And Paintings
3. Crystal Dream
4. How Could We Simply Die
5. Search
6. So Many Things
7. Doorway
8. A Prisoner In A Silent Way
9. Can’t Go To Sleep

*DOWNLOAD LINK REMOVED* – purchase the reissue via Dark Entries Records!

7 Comments »

New Buildings- Le Dernier Homme & Your Message 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1983, 1984, minimal, new buildings, post-punk, spain, spanish on July 24, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Second on the slab for this weekend are the first two 12”s by Spanish band New Buildings, who come across as a hybrid of minimal synth and dark, gloomy post-punk. Kind of reminds me a bit of Q4U, or perhaps a more subdued version of Xmal Deutschland. Not a lot of information to be found about the band, but I believe this original lineup parted ways in 1983, reforming four years later as simply Buildings. Three releases followed in 1987/8. Not sure if the change in name also signified a change in sound, so perhaps someone out there can shed a little light on the subject. With that in mind, here’s the two New Buildings releases for your listening pleasure.

New Buildings- Le Dernier Homme 12” (1983)
1. Le Dernier Homme
2. Humo
3. Longues Avenues

New Buildings- Your Message 12” (1984)
1. Your Message
2. Historias Para Largos Recorridos
3. New Buildings

*download both here*

5 Comments »

Johnny Analog- Agent Provocateur LP

Posted in 1980s, 1988, Johnny Analog, minimal, minimal synth, new wave on June 25, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s a cracking 6 song EP from Toronto-based musician Johnny Analog, released in 1988. The band, conceived by a former member of Digital Nation, consisted of Mr. Analog (clearly a pseudonym), Nathan Berman and Cathy Septembre. This was their only release, and strikes a middle ground between the dark synthpop of Fad Gadget and the shrill guitar freakouts of mid-period Chrome. Definitely a must for all minimal synth heads!

Johnny Analog- Agent Provocateur LP
1. Press!
2. Rhythmn Ruled
3. Agent Provocateur
4. Wet Electric
5. Uncut Video
6. Shaddup That Noise

*download it here*

3 Comments »

Belaboris- …Olipa Kerran 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1984, belaboris, compilations, finland, finnish, minimal, minimal synth on June 11, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

I’ve had this one kicking around for a while, but never paid too much attention to it aside from “Monsterbaari.” Total oversight on my part here, for this entire 12” is solid. What we have here is eight tracks of ALL-female minimal synth, hailing from Finland. This mini-LP, released in 1984, collects the band’s singles to date, including the Kuolleet Peilit 12” (1982) and the Odotus 7” (1983).

Astute readers might notice that the band’s name derives from two of horror’s biggest names, Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi. Vocalist Minna Soisalo was also well known for her roll in Klaani, a large film in the band’s homeland. Belaboris would release one final 7” before splitting, a cover of 60’s Scandinavian hit ‘Rakkauden Jälkeen,’ which can you nab from the excellent bx-59cppw blog. This should complete their discography!

Belaboris- …Olipa Kerran 12”
1. Kuolleet Peilit
2. Yö Vanhassa Talossa
3. Odotus
4. Kolme Askelta
5. Monsteribaari
6. Mitä Lapsille Tapahtui
7. Babypop*
8. Venus

*Serge Gainsbourg/France Gall cover!

DOWNLOAD LINK REMOVED— The always excellent Dark Entries label has just reissued the majority of Belaboris’ material on LP, while there’s a CD available of the complete sessions via Poko Records. Please support the bands and labels as you can!

17 Comments »

Q4U- Q2 1980-1983 CD

Posted in 1980s, 1982, 1996, icelandic, minimal, minimal synth, post-punk, punk, q4u, reunited on June 8, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s a long since out of print CD, containing dozens of tracks from Icelandic post-punk band Q4U. I wish I could say it’s the band’s entire discography, but there are so many tracks issued on their original 12” and K7 releases that it’s hard to include them all on one disc. In fact, the few copies I’ve seen of their original material fetch some of the highest prices on Discogs that I’ve ever seen!

This CD, released in 1996 via Icelandic label Norður & Niður, collects many of the band’s best tracks. You can expect, like many of the punk bands of the era, short blasts of female fronted energy, akin to the likes of X-Ray Spex and early Banshees. That said, the band’s use of drum machines and synths calls the early minimal synth movement to mind. An excellent hybrid, if you will. The catalyst for this disc included the resurgence of punk and interest in the Sex Pistols reunion, as the band reunited for a few local shows upon its release, playing exclusively older materal.

The band was rather famous in their native land, thanks to an appearance in the documentary Rokk i Reykjavic. Growing popularity and involvement with other bands led to the band’s first lineup shift in 1982, but not before recording dozens of leftover tracks for the Skaf I Dag K7, the band’s first release. The band would reunite some months later, employing a TR-808 drum machine dubbed Elizabeth II, though no tracks were released then (several demo recordings from this era are included here). Adding a few more additional members, the band would record their debut 12”, 1982’s Q1. Success from this release caused the band to drop the drum machine and focus on a more live sound, which led to opening slots for Classix Nouveaux in 1983. The band would split soon after, but not before recording a handful of tracks that would remain unreleased until this disc.

Phew, quite a mouthful there. Again, this disc does not contain the entire Q4U discography, but presents many of the band’s finest moments alongside some killer unreleased material. Curiously enough, only ONE track from the Q1 12” is missing here, not sure why it wasn’t included, but definitely gives extra incentive to track down the original 12”. Anyway, here’s the information:

Q4U- Q2 1980-1983 CD
1. Sigurinn
2. Draugasaga
3. Barbie
4. Miracle Man
5. Böring
6. PLO
7. Breiðabόlsstaður
8. AMDP
9. Tiskufrik
10. Why
11. Skemmtistaður
12. Plastic Vision
13. Family
14. Turninn
15. Þjόðlagið
16. Ekkert
17. Don’t
18. Creeps
19. Onward
20. Zoo
21. Walker
22. Pelagus-FFH
23. Romance La Paranoia
24. Þeir (Hverjir?)
25. Hoppland
26. Calígúla
27. Get You
28. Toys
29. Nacht Und Nebel
30. I Hate You
31. Má Ég Hjá Þér Borða
32. Judith The Savage Amazon
33. Jack The Skipper
34. Snjόhvit

DOWNLOAD LINK REMOVED: Most of Q4U’s discography can now be purchased on both CD and LP, via Wave Records and Dark Entries records, respectively! Please support the band!

6 Comments »

Second Decay- Killing Desire 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1989, 1990s, 2000s, Dark Entries Records, german, minimal, minimal synth, Second Decay on April 30, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

After all these years, this band should be a household name for synth afficianados. Dark Entries has been gracious enough to re-release the band’s debut record, La Décadence Électronique, but the Second Decay story began in 1989 with the Killing Desire 12”, which set the tone for their detached, yet incredibly catchy sound.

For those unfamiliar, Second Decay were a German duo, consisting of Andreas Michael Sippel and Christian Stephan Purwien. This 12” was, according to Discogs, the first and only 12” on Hit Wave Records, and the first of several killer releases by the band, whose last record appeared in 2001. Without any further delay, here’s the info:

Second Decay- Killing Desire 12”
1. Killing Desire
2. My Thoughts
3. No Time To Wait

*download it here*

Click here to purchase a copy of the band’s debut LP, released for the first time on vinyl!

1 Comment »

Bugger West- Don’t Say It LP

Posted in 1980s, 1984, bugger west, D. Phillips, minimal, minimal synth, new wave on March 30, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s a rare and quirky minimal synth gem. This one’s so obscure, in fact, that I can’t find a single stitch of information about it, except for what comes on the sleeve.

Bugger West seems to be a one man project, helmed by D. Phillips. Mr. Phillips is credited with writing all of the songs contained within. Steve Zero and Nick Madaloni contribute guitar to a handful of the tracks. This 1984 album was released on Llist records, which I’ve also never heard of. The only other relevant information is a message left by West/Phillips himself, which states that “this album is dedicated to Kathy (my wife) and Chelsea (my daughter) with all my love.”

Perhaps some more astute readers can shed some light on this project, and any other related work by D. Phillips? I reckon it’s not the same Swiss hardcore vocalist Dave Phillips…but stranger things have happened.

EDIT: There is a follow up 7” from 1987, but after having owned it for a short period of time, I sadly must report it’s not of the same vibe as this LP at all.

Anyway, here’s the album credits!

Bugger West- Don’t Say It LP
1. Water
2. Inside your mind
3. Don’t say it
4. Fine hine
5. Spiral
6. Superior man
7. Right between the lies
8. Broken hearts
9. 102752

*download it here* (RE-RIPPED 5.21.12)

18 Comments »

Performance- Performance 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1982, avant-garde, experimental, french, minimal, minimal synth, Performance on February 12, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

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!”

11 Comments »

Psychic Youth- Step In Time 7”

Posted in 1982, 7'', minimal, minimal synth, Psychic Youth, US on February 10, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

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!

4 Comments »

Svart Klovn- Knust Knekt 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1983, 7'', Kid Death, maskindans, minimal, minimal synth, norweigan, Svart Klovn on February 10, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

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)

2 Comments »

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