Archive for the new wave Category

Richard Bone- The Real Swing 12”

Posted in 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, ambient, currently active, disco, experimental, new wave, richard bone, shox lumania, synthpop on July 20, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s a classic early Richard Bone 12” for your listening pleasure. Born in 1952, Bone is considered an influential figure in the New York music scene in the early 1980s, a huge pioneer of electronic music. He began exploring the early art of the synthesizer, driven by the works of Brian Eno and Harold Budd, before moving into more poppier territory. He was also a member of experimental electronic band Shox Lumania in 1981.

A good portion of Richard’s early singles were on Survival Records, the same label that brought you Drinking Electricty, Faith Global, Hard Corps, and Play, to name a few.

Though he ceased to make pop records as of the 1990s, he still creates ambient music to this day. This particular 12” hails from 1984, just a few years into his solo career. Here’s the information.

Richard Bone- The Real Swing 12”
1. The Real Swing (Extended 12″ Re-Mix)
2. The Real Swing (7″ Edit)
3. Heartache History

*download it here*

Pretty Poison- Laced 12” & Expiration 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1983, freestyle, new wave, pretty poison, synthpop on July 11, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s a pair of early releases by Philadelphia-based new wave band Pretty Poison. Many of you folks may remember this band from the freestyle hit “Catch Me I’m Falling,” but their earlier, less successful releases had a far darker edge, from the gloomy, yet danceable music to the stark black covers featuring gothic imagery. Though these tracks became minor college radio singles, it would take four years and a stylistic re-invention for the band to take off.

This pair of releases dropped in 1983. Dying to hear one of their first releases, a 1982 flexi cover of Tuxedomoon’s “No Tears.” If anyone has that one kicking around, please pass it our way! Otherwise, here’s the information for these two releases.

Pretty Poison- Laced 12”
1. Seal It With a Kiss
2. Let Freedom Ring
3. Expiration
4. Tempest Nightmare

Pretty Poison- Expiration 7”
1. Expiration
2. The Realm of Existence

*download it here* (RE-RIPPED @ 320kbps on 2.15.17)

For curious parties, the two versions of “Expiration” here are completely different. The band would go on to re-record “Let Freedom Ring” for their first full length record in 1987, with a far glossier edge.

Indochine- L’Aventurier MLP

Posted in 1980s, 1982, currently active, french, Indochine, minimal synth, new wave on July 2, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s something a little more fun and bright for your summer weekend. Here we have the first major release by French new wave connoisseurs Indochine, released in 1982. Bright rhythms, pulsing synths, and shameless hooks to be found on each of these seven tracks.

The Indochine story began in 1981, but the band is still going strong to date, though only one original member remains in the band. According to a few sources, Indochine are the top selling band in France, and earned quite a cult following throughout Europe and Latin America. Unfortunately, like most non-English speaking bands, their music failed to find a proper audience in the US, despite fitting into the musical climate at the time. Well, let’s see if we can’t help turn a few heads around these parts, eh? Here’s the info for this killer debut 12”.

Indochine- L’Aventurier MLP
1. L’Aventurier
2. L’Opportuniste
3. Leila
4. Docteur Love
5. Indochine (Les 7 Jours De Pékin)
6. Dizzidence Politik
7. Françoise (Qu’est-ce qui t’as pris?)

*download it here*

Been ages since we had a video, but thanks to this band’s relative success, here’s the promo clip for the title track!

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*

Sequins and Spandex Parts IV and V

Posted in 1980s, disco, hi nrg, italo disco, mixes, new wave, sequins and spandex, space disco, synth, wave on June 16, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Struck with the disco bug again, ladies and gentlemen, and what better way to celebrate the onslaught of summer than with a handful of killer jams. I know a lot of you enjoy this series of mixes, so to make up for its absence, I’ve constructed TWO full discs worth of classic space disco/italo/hi nrg etc. cuts for your listening pleasure. These are some of my all time favorite tracks these days, so I do hope you enjoy! Here’s the breakdown:

Sequins and Spandex: Part IV
1. Fog- Riccardo Cioni
2. Dark Silence- Art Fine
3. Domination- Flexi Cowboys
4. Spanish Run- Jaco
5. Valerie- Modem
6. My Love Won’t Let You Down- Nathalie
7. A Flash in the Night- Secret Service
8. N. 1,4/Magnetic Dance- Smiles
9. Driving- Sensitive
10. New Dream- Clay Pedrini
11. Eagles In the Night- Dario Dell’Aere
12. Heroes- Big Ben Tribe
13. Some Other Place, Some Other Time- Rockets

*download it here*

Sequins and Spandex: Part V
1. Let’s Dance Tonight- David Gray
2. I’m Looking For You- Ghibli
3. Escape From New York- John Carpenter
4. An English ’93- International Music System
5. Breakdown- Ray Cooper
6. Love’s Harmony- Paciscopi
7. Love & Magic (Dub Version)- Kristal
8. Secret Life- Clock On 5
9. Silent Smiles- Anthony’s Game
10. Future State- Future State
11. Main Theme (Remix)- Fabio Frizzi
12. Burn On the Flames- Paul Paul
13. Avventurieri- Jo Squillo Eletrix

*download it here*

Hope you kids enjoy! To download the previous installments, click here.

Man Klan- Flesh Machine LP

Posted in 1980s, 1987, goth-rock, man klan, new wave, post-punk, swedish on June 1, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Second on the slab we have Man Klan’s lone LP, released in 1987. Can’t seem to find much about these guys either, and their entire discography consists of two 12” releases in 1985, this LP, and a 12” single for “Wanting & Waiting.” I believe the band was Swedish, though this particular LP was released on a UK label and features vocals in English. Pretty fluent, to boot!

Some great female fronted gothic grooves on here, sort of reminiscent of Concrete Blonde, (Devils era) X-Mal Deustchland, or Missing Persons, with sexually ambiguous lyrics. Striking similarities to mid-period Siouxsie as well, though track six is not a cover of the Banshees hit.

Man Klan- Flesh Machine LP
1. Wanting & Waiting
2. Everytime
3. Love For Pleasure
4. No Time For Mercy
5. Redheads
6. Candyman
7. Getting Closer
8. Fisherman
9. Flesh Machine
10. Love Child

*download it here* (RE-RIPPED 4/2/22)

Up next: the highly coveted debut LP from Sanity Plexus! Just got a fresh copy in the mail!

Dave Ball- Rare Tempo 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1983, Dave Ball, Genesis P-Orridge, new wave, soft cell, synth, synthpop, uk on May 17, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

This one comes as a generous donation, and supplements Dave Ball’s full length LP, which you can nab over at Mutant Sounds.

For those unfamiliar, Dave Ball was most famous as the second half of Soft Cell, but also was a member of The Grid as well as an esteemed producer. Though Soft Cell didn’t split until 1984, Ball released a solo record and a string of 12” singles in 1983, collaborating with the likes of Gavin Friday (Virgin Prunes) and Genesis P-Orridge (Psychic TV, Throbbing Gristle, etc.). In fact, this particular 12” features each of the three collaborative tracks, with Friday on the first and P-Orridge on the remaining two. The version of “Man In the Man” on this 12” is slightly different from the LP version (mostly clipping ten seconds of strange sounds at the beginning), but it looks like the other two songs are identical to their album counterparts, but might be a bit cleaner and crisper than the album provided above. Either way, it’s a nice additional nugget to any self-respecting synth collection! Here’s the information:

Dave Ball- Rare Tempo 12”
1. Strict Tempo
2. Man in the Man
3. Sincerity

*download it here*

Fallout Club- Wonderlust 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1981, Fallout Club, Glenn Matlock, minimal synth, new wave, synthpop, Thomas Dolby, Thompson Twins on May 8, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

This particular minimal synth/new wave 12”, released in 1981, is a DJ staple of mine. Fallout Club were a short lived British band, who released just three 12” singles before splitting up.

After parting ways, most of the band went on to achieve success with other projects. Bassist Matthew Seligman joined the Thompson Twins, drummer Paul Simon paired up with former Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock, while keyboardist Thomas Dolby, who I presume needs no introduction, went on to have a commercially successful solo career. Unfortunately, vocalist Trevor Helion passed away in 1988, five years after the release of his solo record. However, the legacy of this 12” lives on. Aside from serving as a springboard for future pop acts, the a-side was featured on both the New Wave Complex and Tribute to Some Bizzare series, which collect dozens of obscure singles.

Fallout Club- Wonderlust 12”
1. Wonderlust
2. Desert Song

*download it here*

I haven’t heard the remaining Fallout Club releases, but I hope to track them down soon. If anyone has them kicking around, feel free to chime in!

Flue- Some-times in Arabia 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1987, Dutch, Flue, Mecano, netherlands, new wave, post-punk, synth on May 5, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s the final 12” from Dutch synth band Flue, released in 1987. The fantastic Phoenix Hairpins blog features the band’s two full-length LPs, so with the exception of any bonus tracks issued on the One and a Half CD reissue, this should complete their discography. You can get their debut LP here, and their second LP here.

For those unfamiliar with the Flue story, the band was one of the flagship artists on the Torso label, who issued several key LPs from The Cult, Sonic Youth, and The Residents. Several more obscure synth/wave acts such as Mekanik Kommando and Mecano also found their way on to the label. In fact, Flue guitarist Cor Bolten was active in Mecano before joining the band after the release of their 1981 debut. The band’s second LP, Vista was recorded with an entirely new lineup.

It would be another four years before the band released their final single, 1987’s Some-Times in Arabia, which featured two versions of the title track and one exclusive b-side. Here’s the information for the single:

Flue- Some-Times In Arabia 12”
1. Some-Times (In Arabia) (New Version)
2. Some-Times (In Arabia) (Single Version)
3. Legacy

*download it here*

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)