Archive for the new wave Category

« Older Entries

Typhoon Saturday – What Do I Do/Another Flight/I Have Love 7”s

Posted in 1980s, 1982, new wave, polydor, sheffield, typhoon saturday, uk on February 3, 2025 by Frankie Teardrop

Been meaning to post these singles for a year or so now, so I suppose now’s a good a time as any for something a bit more fun. Typhoon Saturday were a four-piece band from the UK (Sheffield, specifically) who released three singles on Polydor, all three which were released in 1982 and all three which feature bright, colorful artwork with their trademark red umbrella showing in some capacity. I probably should have posted this on a rainy Saturday afternoon, but here we are all the same…

The band, which formed out of the ashes of  post-punk band Red Zoo, never got to record a full-length LP to my knowledge, fading back into the ether from whence they came soon after these singles were released. Drummer Anthony Critchlow went on to form synth pop project Living In a Box, guitarist Nick Robinson would join excellent post-punk project They Must Be Russians (and is still active in music to date), while the other two members, including vocalist Elaine McLeod and Nigel Fitzpatrick dabbled a bit but don’t have many more credits to their name that I’m aware of.

As for the music on these singles, you can expect a bright, jangly new wave flavored brand of pop, very catchy and very infectious, with great rhythms, big choruses, a touch of melancholy in spots, and lots of sax in others. Touchstones might include the Jacqui Brooks-led Siam, Pinky Blue-era Altered Images, or perhaps even some of The Pretenders’ catchier (and better, I’m not a huge fan) moments. I love about half of the tracks here (I’ll let you guess which ones), while the others are certainly enjoyable enough to warrant a listen or two to complete the discography. Hope y’all enjoy!

Typhoon Satuday – What Do I Do? 7”
1. What Do I Do?
2. Fascination

Typhoon Saturday – Another Flight 7”
1. Another Flight
2. Let’s All Dance

Typhoon Saturday – I Have Love 7”
1. I Have Love
2. Social Insecurity

*download all three releases here*

PS – if anyone happens to know about additional Red Zoo recordings outside of “Help Me” from the recent Dreams to Fill the Vacuum compilation, please holler!

5 Comments »

A Popular History of Signs – Justice Not Vengeance 7” / Crowds 7” / Comrades LP

Posted in 1980, 1980s, 1981, 1984, a popular history of signs, london, minimal, minimal synth, new wave, post-punk on January 24, 2025 by Frankie Teardrop

Kicking off 2025 here with a bit of a nostalgic post, compiling the first two 7”s and debut LP from A Popular History of Signs, who I first covered back in 2008, in the first year or so of the blog (ahh, memories). I’m sure most folks into this music have heard these releases by now, but the rips of this material I’ve heard before haven’t been great, so figured I’d give it a quick pass for posterity’s sake…

A recap of the band is certainly in order, especially for those who might be unfamiliar with them. A Popular History of Signs formed in London in 1979. Their sound mixed minimal synth and new wave textures with nervous post-punk vigor and busy percussion, at times sounding like the British answer to Talking Heads (or perhaps a more restless and aggressive Blue Nile). I’m incredibly partial to the track “Crowds” in both forms – the early 7”s mix is a minimal synth gem while the re-recorded LP version retains much of the tension of the track but trades in the skittish energy for a more synth pop sheen. The band changed lineups a handful of times throughout the 1980s, and caught the attention of Ministry’s Al Jourgensen, who remixed two of the band’s tracks for a fledgling Wax Trax label in 1985. The band released eight singles, one full-length LP, and called it a day soon after the release of 1988’s England in the Rain Mini-LP.

As for band members, drummer John Luccibello also recorded with This Parade and The Tempest, two excellent obscure post-punk/goth bands. Singer Andrew Jarman was involved with psychedelic project Strange Fruit and more recently, Southern Arts Society . Christine Isherwood, who sang on Comrades, recorded with Salt Doll and The Jealous Lovers.

Here’s the info for these two releases – hope y’all enjoy:

A Popular History of Signs – Justice Not Vengeance 7” (1980)
1. Justice Not Vengeance
2. Possession

A Popular History of Signs – Crowds 7” (1981)
1. Crowds
2. Crossing the Border

A Popular History of Signs – Comrades LP (1984)
1. Body And Soul
2. Crowds
3. Tidy
4. Halcyon Days
5. Lenin
6. October Already
7. Father And Son
8. Five Towns
9. Land Of The Free
10. Comrades

*download all three releases here*

7 Comments »

The Silence Cries – Silent Eyes LP

Posted in 1980s, 1987, new wave, post-punk, swiss, switzerland, the silence cries on February 14, 2024 by Frankie Teardrop

Happy Hallmark Day, y’all! Better late than never with a new post. Here’s the debut album from Swiss post-punk/new wave band The Silence Cries, released in 1987. This three piece band reminds me quite a bit of Mecano, Svätsox, Razor Penguins, early Modern English, and other rickety, yet powerful post-punk bands from the early/mid 80s. There’s also quite a bit of sax, trumpet, and accordion throughout the LP, which adds a nice bit of tension. It’s quite an eclectic album – there’s a lot of variation and dynamic range across the album, and the band occasionally flirts with jangle pop, NDW, and more experimental shades, but still retains that gloomy post-punk sound I love so dearly.

The Silence Cries has a rather modest discography,  three albums and two singles, all of which were released on the Winterschatten label. I couldn’t say how their sound evolved on their second and third album, but I’d be curious to find out one of these days. As always, feel free to drop a line if you have any of their other releases, and perhaps you’ll find the band’s first 7” single here soon enough.

Until then…

The Silence Cries – Silent Eyes
1. Change
2. Emotions
3. Grieni Auge
4. Fische Nur
5. Silent Eyes
6. Violence Is Growing
7. Why Should I Dance
8. Slow Death
9. In My Brain
10. Another Beer
11. Frontiers
12. Killed By Unfeeling

*download it here*

6 Comments »

Eye Do It- I Lost My Mind 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1984, Eye Do It, new wave, post-punk on November 7, 2023 by Frankie Teardrop

A quick and dirty post today – the lone 7” from UK post-punk/new wave flavored band Eye Do It, who seem to have had a penchant for hieroglyphics judging from the record sleeve. This 7” was released in 1984 via N.R.O. Records, who also released a compilation titled A Night at the Flicks which features the third and final Eye Do It track (which I do not own and have not heard, but would love to if anyone has a copy of this compilation, which also features indie pop band Mighty Mighty).

Touchstones for this single include bands like Ex Post Facto, Repetition, Last Man In Europe, Pink Military, I’m So Hollow etc. I really dig both tracks here, and hope you do as well!

Eye Do It – I Lost My Mind 7”
1. I Lost My Mind
2. Hold Back

*download it here*

Quick housekeeping note – I’ve been receiving a few comments lately, some nice and others unnecessarily hostile (cut the crap), regarding downloads not working. They do, still, for every post that has a download link. If clicking the link does not work to download directly, try the classic right click – save link as trick. Thanks!

9 Comments »

Primitive Pleasure – The Vision 7”/Jupiter Remote LP

Posted in 1980s, 1985, 1987, indie, jangle, new wave, primitive pleasure on May 20, 2023 by Frankie Teardrop

Been seeing a lot of love for this one on the net since I ripped this, so figured it was due time to post it properly. Here we have 2/3rds of the discography by US-based jangle/new wave/indie rock band Primitive Pleasure. We’re missing the first 7” from 1984 here, but plenty of great tracks to pore over in the meantime. “The Vision” remains a standout, appearing on both the LP and the 7” in identical form, minus the synth blurbs at the beginning of the LP version. These segues feature throughout the entire LP, cementing the album as a pure hybrid of both new wave and jangle pop that’s a perfect listen for springtime.

Guitarist Pascal Tiger also played in a folkier project called Courtney & Western while Axel Kröll would go on to write and engineer with other bands such as The Blow Monkeys. Brook Thaler, who played organ/synth on “The Primetimes,” also recorded with new wave project Social Register, who released one 7” in 1981.

If anyone can contribute a rip of Love is a Nasty Girl from 1984, please give a shout. Otherwise, enjoy!

Primitive Pleasure – The Vision 7” (1985)
1. The Vision
2. Become a Target

Primitive Pleasure – Jupiter Remote LP (1987)
1. Your Carousel
2. Unspoken Words
3. Life In Between
4. Souls Will Shine
5. The Vision
6. Drifter Blues
7. Jupiter Remote
8. The Primetimes
9. Forever…
10. More Than Stars
11. Painting By Miro
12. Requiem

*download both here*

3 Comments »

Dream 286 – Scars 7”

Posted in 1983, new wave, ohio, post-punk, US on October 4, 2022 by Frankie Teardrop

Happy to share this one-off 7” from 1983 by Dream 286 – fresh off the needle and into your eardrums.  This four-piece band hails from Cincinnati, Ohio and has an excellent dark new wave/post-punk sound that I can never get enough of. On paper, the band reminds me quite a bit of UK-based punk band Action Pact!, but with more synthesizers in tow. Otherwise, from what I can tell, the band was fairly active throughout the midwest, playing a slew of shows throughout the area, including a prominent gig opening for Factual, whose track “Psychotic Romance” is worth hearing for those unfamiliar. Sadly, these three tracks are all that were released to the general public, but I hope there’s some more material floating around out there somewhere…

After Dream 286 called it a day, bassist Randy Cheek would also play in local band The Libertines (not the UK revival band) with drummer Joe Hamm. Cheek would go on to form indie rock stalwarts Ass Ponys, while synth player Doug Hallet remained a fixture in the scene, also performing with Latex Theatre, Danse Macabre, Ubu Roi, and Tesla Coil. He is currently active in The Science of Deduction. Vocalist/guitarist Janette Pierce Davis also performed with Latex Theatre.

Without any further ado, here’s the single:

Dream 286 – Scars 7”
1. Scars
2. End of the World
3. I Don’t Believe

*download it here*

6 Comments »

Front and Fantasy – Treatment 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1985, Danish, darkwave, Martin Hall, minimal synth, new wave on July 25, 2022 by Frankie Teardrop

It’s been a minute since we’ve had a post here – sorry about that, folks. Been a rough few months here. It’s ALSO been a minute since we’ve had a true dark synth/wave classic featured on these pages, so with that in mind, let’s highlight this lone 12” by Front and Fantasy, a Danish duo featuring a pair of Martins: Martin Krogh and the ever-prolific Martin Hall. This 12” is the only release by the duo, dropping in 1985, the same year Hall himself released his first non-cassette solo recording, the equally excellent Relief. Martin Krogh was in a handful of goth/post-punk bands, many of which only had a handful of tracks, and sadly, he passed away in 1987.

For those uninitiated, Hall and his many collaborators certainly had a knack for creating some of the most arrestingly powerful darkwave records, many of which could have been heard on a weekly basis at NYC’s Wierd party (and elsewhere across the globe, I’m sure). Tracks like SS-Say’s “Care,” Ballet Mécanique’s “Lied,” and Under For’s “Free-Force Structure” were staples in my own personal DJ sets, and it’s easy to decree the A-side from this 12” in as an instant classic in the same vein, from the moment the stabbing synth bass lines take hold. I can almost taste the fog now, as those warm synth pads kick in, while Hall’s deep croon cuts through the pulsing electronics.

The B-side is an interestingly deconstructed mix of the track- focusing primarily on the isolated vocals and empty spaces, with a distant beat and the otherwise minimal guitar line driving the second half of the piece. It’s a curious addition, worth a listen or two. Come for the icy dance floor smash, stay for the more experimental dub mix.

Enjoy! More posts to come soon!

Front and Fantasy- Treatment 12”
1. Treatment
2. Re-Treat

*download it here*

5 Comments »

The Myst- Nothing Can Stop Me 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1987, new wave, ohio, the myst, US on March 6, 2022 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s a very rare new wave-infused 7” from the US, one that’s been under-the-radar for me for some time now. I finally decided to spring for a copy just to quell my curiosity. The Myst were a trio from Ohio, and this is the only recording that I’m aware of. A single, lone 7” from 1987, when hair metal ruled the world.

Now, the original Discogs listing (since changed) is a bit misleading, as I wouldn’t really call this post-punk OR coldwave (especially by the American definition), though it’s not a completely unrelated genre trying to pass off as dark synth, which is a thing I’ve seen far too much out there (hint hint, sellers). That said, I’d say there’s a lot more of a new wave and light indie rock/jangle/power-pop flavor here, which is certainly a vibe I can hang with all the same. Some R.E.M. touchstones, though obviously not mysterious or esoteric as their earlier material. Both tracks could have appeared on a late 80s film soundtrack, especially the first song, with its uplifting chorus (get the girl, get the job, nothing can stop me, yeah!). I slightly prefer the b-side, myself. In general, I’m here for those guitar tones, and both tracks deliver in spades here. This might fit nicely in a playlist with The Psalms 7”.

After releasing this single, The Myst were never heard from again. Perhaps one of their members developed the popular 90s point-and-click computer game? 🤔 Bad jokes and associations aside, here’s the deets for this single. Let me know what you make of it!

The Myst- Nothing Can Stop Me 7”
1. Nothing Can Stop Me
2. Shattered Dreams

*download it here*

 

2 Comments »

Again & Again & Again – Dreams Are Never Enough / Forever 7”s

Posted in 1980s, 1982, 1983, new jersey, new wave, post-punk, US on October 20, 2021 by Frankie Teardrop

I’m going to attempt a DOUBLE post today, so bear with me, folks. Here we have two obscure 7”s from New Jersey-based post-punk band Again & Again & Again. Just you try and Google that name, I triple dog dare you…

This four piece released these two singles in 1982 and 1983 respectively. The first single has a bit of a power pop vibe for the first track, which may be appealing to some of y’all. I vastly prefer the b-side of this one overall, though your mileage may vary. The second single is my preferred offering from this band, as both tracks have that early, rickety post-punk sound I tend to go wild for in general.

Both singles were released on Public Records, who were based out of Pittsburgh, PA. In general, it’s always great to hear new US-based bands with this style/sound. With that in mind, here’s the download/rundown:

Again & Again & Again- Dreams Are Never Enough 7” (1982)
1. Dreams Are Never Enough
2. Hello Angel

Again & Again & Again- Forever 7” (1983)
1. Forever
2. A Cold Place

*download both here*

2 Comments »

Beatrain- Change the World 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1984, france, french, indie, new wave, post-punk on July 13, 2021 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s a French single from 1984 by Beatrain, who previously went under the name The Grave. Both tracks are sung in English, presumably to catch the ears and eyes of the UK scene. This is their only release, though the single caused enough of a splash to secure the band a spot on French 3 program “Avenue Du Rock.”

As for the sounds, both tracks are stellar bouncy post-punk tracks with a slightly rickety post-punk or early indie rock edge, a sweet spot for me that I think you will all enjoy as well. The A-side is strictly female vox, but there is some vocal interplay on the equally excellent B-side. You can check out the pantomimed performances of the tracks here and here respectively (lower quality, sadly).

Enjoy!

Beatrain- Change the World 7”
1. Change the World
2. Two Worlds “Time To Meet You”

*download it here*

Leave A Comment »

« Older Entries