Archive for the new wave Category

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The Wild Flowers- The Joy of It All LP & Blue Hollow- Stealing a Whisper LP

Posted in 1980s, 1984, 1986, blue hollow, coldwave, dreampop, new wave, post-punk, the wild flowers, uk, US on January 28, 2013 by Frankie Teardrop

Hope you’ll all indulge me for a little two-for-one post here.  While these two records are generally unrelated, they sound incredibly complementary and it’s no stretch that if you love one, you’ll probably love the other.  Also, both LPs have been posted by other blogs in the past.  I only double dip today to offer fresh rips and hopefully to turn you guys on to two excellent, if but vastly under-appreciated post-punk masterpieces from the mid-80s.

First up is the debut LP from The Wild Flowers, which you may have heard via Curious Guy’s excellent post from 2006.  There, he mentions that the band was the original outlet of guitarist David Newton, who left soon after to form the also excellent Mighty Lemon Drops.   I’m on my second copy of this LP, between DJing and home listening, so that should speak highly of this particular record, which calls the lush majesty of bands like The Chameleons, Icicle Works, The Lucy Show, Breathless, The Sound, and of course, Echo & the Bunnymen’s Heaven Up Here to mind.  You can grab their first two 7”s here.  I do have the third LP, 1988’s Sometime Soon.  It’s been a while since I’ve heard it so I don’t remember how it stacks up, but I’m very interested in hearing 1987’s Dust.

The second LP is the one and only release by Blue Hollow, who rose from the ashes of Gluons, a darker and more dissonant band from Massachusetts.  Stealing a Whisper, which was released three years later, would shed much of the cacophony and offer up a record that sits comfortably alongside The Wild Flowers on sheer strength of songwriting.  Equally lush and romantic songs and catchy hooks, clearly pulling from the same set of influences and delivering a similarly striking album…

It’s a shame that neither of these records are more well known, even in these circles, so hopefully this post brings them to a wider audience.  Enjoy!

The Wild Flowers- The Joy of it All (1984)
1. Melt Like Ice
2. Beggar Man
3. The Promised Land
4. After All These Years
5. Dark Times
6. The Joy of it All
7. Bamboo
8. Hold the Torch
9. Things Have Changed
10. From the Sky

*download it here*

 

Blue Hollow- Stealing a Whisper (1986)
1. Color of Night
2. Inhale
3. Running Down
4. Blue Hollow
5. We Fall
6. Hearts Hang Souls
7. Wildskin
8. Stranger

*download it here*

Thanks for indulging me here today… For those who are looking for something new and unheard, hang tight- as the next few posts will feature very rare cassettes, demos, and more!  Thanks to all who have sent things over in the past few weeks- it’s always appreciated!

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Denial- California Dreaming 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1982, australia, australian, denial, m squared, minimal, minimal synth, new wave, synth on January 23, 2013 by Frankie Teardrop

Ever since I picked up an instrument, I have wanted to record a cover of infamous 60s pop hit “California Dreaming” and expose it for the haunting dirge it really is… While I’m sure it’s not a stretch to envision a darker world painted in the Mamas and Papas hit from 1965, the idea always appealed to me.  However, looks like the job was done already, thanks to Australian synth band Denial, who issued a stark, brutal cover of the tune in 1982, backed with an excellent original rickety post-punk track…

This lone 7” was released on the infamous M Squared label, who were responsible for Xero and Scattered Order as well…  This is the only release under the name Denial, but they were previously known as Aural Indifference, who appear most prominently on The Minimal Wave Tapes vol. 2 compilation from 2012 as well as a compilation on M Squared.

Denial- California Dreaming 7”
1. California Dreaming
2. The Weathermen

*download link removed*

This 7” has been reissued as of May 2016 on A Colorful Sound. Copies can be purchased on their official site, or through Juno‘s mailorder!

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The Laughing Apple- The Ha Ha Hee Hee! E.P.

Posted in 1980s, 1981, alan mcgee, creation records, new wave, post-punk, primal scream, synth on October 16, 2012 by Frankie Teardrop

Excellent minimal post-punk 7” from 1981, as donated by the great bx-59cppw.  Most notably, The Laughing Apples were the springboard for Creation Records’ Alan McGee.  After a handful of private releases, McGee and bandmate Andrew Innes would form both Biff Bang Pow! and Revolving Paint Dream, two early Creation staples.  The label would grow to prominence with bands such as Slowdive, Adorable, and My Bloody Valentine.  Innes is also a member of Primal Scream, one of the label’s most lucrative bands.

This 7” should appeal to fans of They Must Be Russians, Marquis De Sade, and Product of Reason, not to mention McGee’s garage rock fascination.  Be sure to listen carefully, or it’ll be over before you know it!

The Laughing Apple- The Ha Ha Hee Hee! E.P.
1. Sometimes I Wish
2. Chips For Tea
3. Upstairs Downstairs
4. I’m Okay

*download it here*

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Days of 29- Destination D-Day 12”

Posted in 12'', 1980s, new wave, scottish, synth, synthpop, uk with tags on July 10, 2012 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s another one you may have seen before on a few blogs, but freshly ripped from my own mint copy, so feel free to make your own comparisons.  Days of 29 were a UK/Scotland based quartet with an interesting press sheet and a penchant for New Order-tinged synthpop.  Feel those Peter Hook bass lines on “Destination D-Day,” a track that not only invokes the likes of “Blue Monday” and “Everything’s Gone Green,” but also bears a kinship to Secession’s classic “Touch,” Ministry’s “Effigy (I’m Not A),” & Hohokam’s “Harlequin Tears” by way of a Marc Almond sound-alike on vox.  A pretty irrefutable set of touchstones, highly recommended for fans of that big club sound.  There are two other tracks on this 12”, though while nice, don’t hold a candle to the 7-minute main attraction, a must for all self-respecting dance floors everywhere.  Hint: those of you who have hit the Wierd party in the past few years have likely heard this one blasting regularly through the fog…

Days of 29- Destination D-Day 12”
1. Destination D-Day
2. Guitars for Guns
3. Beat Squad

*download it here

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Nuvo West- Scary LP

Posted in 1980s, 1983, arizona, minimal, minimal synth, new wave, US with tags on June 26, 2012 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s a rare and obscure minimal synth LP from Phoenix, Arizona, perfect for fans of Bugger West, Tone Set, Combined Minds, etc (the latter two who also hailed from Arizona). Varying degrees of DIY desert-synth magic here, my favorite track being the closing instrumental “Shades of Yesterday,” which almost feels like a synth version of Angelo Badalamenti’s Twin Peaks score… I do believe there’s a tape out there somewhere that precedes this LP, but no info about that one, sorry!

Thanks to Bx-59cppw for the donation!

Nuvo West- Scary LP
1. Theme For Alienation
2. Accidents Don’t Happen In My World
3. Dogs Have Their Days
4. Little Yellow Pills
5. Androids Love
6. Shades Of Yesterday

*download it here*

8 Comments »

Jarvon Jol- The Dustcollector 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1984, darkwave, new wave, New York, new york city, synth, synthpop, US on April 17, 2012 by Frankie Teardrop

You may have seen this one over at Vinyl Obscurity in the past, but I’ve been playing this one out at the Wierd party for several years now with extremely positive results, so here’s a fresh rip from my own copy.  Speaking of which- for those who live nearby, be sure to check in at Home Sweet Home tomorrow night (4.18) for the US debut of UV Pop!  I’ll be on the decks with Caleb of Sacred Bones & Alessandro from Mannequin—-surely a night to remember!

An incredibly affordable synth/wave 12” from 1984, recorded and released here in New York.  The clear winner here is the title track, a dark and fast paced synth number with short stabs of guitar, a sinister refrain, and several references to London town.  The British references also carry over to the album cover, which depicts a photo of Shaftesbury Ave., the heart of London’s theatre district.  Perhaps the dustcollector is a player on the stage?

The flip is a more care-free pop tune with some shamelessly soulful female vocals in the background.  Not really my cup of tea but your mileage may vary.  However, the A-side more than does the trick for me, as this 12” never leaves my record bag.

Jarvon Jol- The Dustcollector 12”
1. The Dustcollector
2. It’s Time

*download it here* (RE-RIPPED 4.9.25)

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Ice The Falling Rain– Lifes Illusion 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1983, future records, ice the falling rain, minimal synth, new wave, synthpop on March 7, 2012 by Frankie Teardrop

By request, here’s a clean, fresh, and high quality rip of an old classic 7” that many of you may have heard before. If you haven’t, skip this text and download straight away. Do not pass go, do not collect $200.

This 1983 single is one of the most joyous, catchy, and danceable tracks in the entire new wave spectrum. It almost makes my teeth hurt, it’s so damn infectious. It was released on Future Records, who boast pretty impressive resume, including New OrderBlitz, Rhythm and Faith, Christian Death, Two, and The Wild Flowers 7” posted just recently. No info whatsoever about the band though, aside from four first names listed on the back sleeve, though likely it’s an offshoot from members of Violators. Otherwise, just another mysterious 7” floating around in the ether…

Ice The Falling Rain– Lifes Illusion 7”
1. Lifes Illusion
2. Illusions

*download it here*

I have a few rarities kicking around here that I’m working my way through, as well as more updated rips of bona-fide classics. Expect a few never-before-blogged releases next!

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The Alphabet- This Strange Love 7”

Posted in minimal synth, new wave, the alphabet, uk on January 30, 2012 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s an extremely rare and rather unknown 7” from the UK. Judging from the cover, you’d expect some dark post-punk, aggro hardcore sort of thing, but instead we’re treated to two emotive minimal synth gems. I had to triple check the record to make sure it wasn’t some mixup!

I know very little about this one. The band hails from the UK and this is their only release, despite some misinformation over at their discogs page (the split listed with Invisible Hands is a newer release from the US, band with the same name, apparently). As for this release, it’s private press and doesn’t have a year listed on it anywhere, though I did come across 2 reduced price coupons for a hometown gig the band played back in the day, included in my copy. No year listed on those either. Perhaps someone out there knows the real story about this one- don’t be shy.

Otherwise, as I mentioned, there are two great minimal synth/new wave tracks here, the standout being the B-side, at least to my ears. A little acoustic guitar tossed in there, with some comparisons to Psychedelic Furs at times but with a ton of catchy electronics. Check it out:

The Alphabet- This Strange Love 7”
1. This Strange Love
2. The Handsome Beast

*download it here*

EDIT: I have some reason to believe that these guys are connected to the second lineup of Zero Le Creche, judging from their discogs entry. Seems like both Richard Thorne and vocalist Jamie Lord were involved with both projects, which sounds likely given the vocal similarities between the two. With that in mind, that probably puts this around 1983-4, from my humble guessing.

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BALTIMORE GRAB BAG: Immortal- Paradigm 12” & Mission- When Thunder Comes LP

Posted in 1980s, 1986, 1988, baltimore, goth, goth-rock, new wave, post-punk, synth, US on January 24, 2012 by Frankie Teardrop

I’ve been hearing some rumblings about Mediafire as well, and though various articles claim that Mediafire won’t be changing its service plan, I’ve heard some contradictory reports and have seen some accounts deleted over the past few days. So with that in mind, I’m going to post a few things over the next few days to get them off my chest just in case something goes down between now and then. Call me paranoid, but why hoard this stuff!

Here we have two post-punk records from Baltimore, Maryland.

First up, we have an immaculate rip of Immortal’s Paradigm 12” from 1988, previously featured on the always excellent Return to the East blog. Very Danse Society/Killing Joke-esque tribal post-punk here, with plenty of ghosty hooks that make it an essential listen. Not to be confused with the Dutch band of the same name.

Immortal- Paradigm 12” (1988)
1. Scale
2. Solvent
3. Print
4. Morning

Secondly, here’s an LP that’s flown under the radar over the years, and is still rather affordable for those interested in acquiring a copy. I recently included the title track from this LP on Systems of Romance vol. 5, plucked from the 8 Essential Attitudes compilation, but I’ve since tracked down the LP of the same name, and it’s more impressive than I expected. Almost a more new wave/pop take on Bauhaus, or if that analogy doesn’t work for you, a harder-hitting version of the VHF album. You can get their first LP here, if the link is still up and running. Not to be confused with the post-Sisters of Mercy band of the same name! Apparently, the band changed its name to When Thunder Comes to avoid confusion with those guys, and are still active to date, with a more heavy sound. You can read more about that here.

Mission- When Thunder Comes LP (1986)
1. When Thunder Comes
2. Broken Promises
3. Underground
4. River
5. Long Way Back
6. Lost Religion
7. The Bell Tolls
8. We Were There
9. This Train
10. Make The Man

*download BOTH records here*

Stay tuned for more over the next few days!

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Various Artists- I’d Rather Be In Philadelphia LP

Posted in 1980s, 1983, bunnydrums, compilations, new wave, philadelphia, post-punk, pretty poison, synth on January 23, 2012 by Frankie Teardrop

Well, with megaupload’s recent demise, it’s no shock that the blog world is currently reeling. My condolences to those whose hard work was flushed down the drain in one fell swoop. Not sure if mediafire, my preferred hosting of choice, will be targeted in the near future, but with this in mind, I’d say now’s a good time to catch up on the archives of this blog and others, while the getting’s good! Also, lemme know if any of the zshare archives are outdated, and I’ll reupload as I can. I’d like to keep a tight ship here for as long as possible.

That said, I’m sure you’ve all noticed that there’s been some overlap posts here as of late. While I’m still dead set on unearthing long lost gems, the wantlist dwindles by the day. With that in mind, I’ve been acquiring copies of some all time favorites for the DJ bag and re-ripping them at solid bitrates and de-popping them as best as I can before playing them out. I’ve also passed a few clean rips over to A Viable Commercial (1, 2, and 3) and more shall be appearing throughout the blogosphere. I’ve also been revisiting some of my own posts from the past, the most recent being the first Sanity Plexus 12”, which I’ve cleaned up to the best of my ability (it’s still a rather poor pressing, so there’s only so much one can do). I’ll update at the end of new posts with any archival developments in lieu of making a new post. Don’t get me wrong, new and unheard material will still appear here as I get my hands on it, but I hope you guys enjoy the higher fidelity posts as well.

Ok, so all that aside, here’s another record that’s been shared before, though it appears to be offline at the moment. Here we have an elusive comp from 1983, featuring artists the Philadelphia area. Fantod’s original post hints at a poor quality pressing of this record, and while I had in my hands what appeared to be a near-mint copy, the same flaws existed. There’s a long-standing crackle throughout the entire record, very difficult to remove through standard means. I tried noise removal as per usual, but I was left with little audio to work with on the second track, even at lower settings, so I kept an even hand and did my best. I did go through and attempt a click-by-click removal, but I was only able to remove the major and isolated offenses before losing my mind completely. Also, it seems like some of the tracks were poorly recorded to begin with, most noticeable on the Sensory Fix track, which sounds foggy right off the needle.

Despite these flaws, this record is still surprisingly rare and worth checking out, as it features early and exclusive contributions from some of Philly’s finest. Pretty Poison appears here, in their earlier and more abrasive incarnation, and offer one of the best tracks on the comp. There’s also a transitional Book of Love track about dye, recorded soon after their stint as Head Cheese. It’s a curious track, nowhere near the synthpop smash of their debut LP, but more in line with the no wave-influenced Jungle Jam tracks. Another standout is Bunnydrums, the psychedelic post-punk band that’s been covered many times in the past, and who I believe are still active to date. While “Sleeping” also appeared on the PKD LP (same version for both releases), it’s one of their finest tracks. We also have a cut from Executive Slacks, who I presume need no introduction.

As with any compilation, there are a few tracks that aren’t too interesting to me, but your mileage may vary. For me, the real diamond on this comp. is the smoldering Girls Downstairs cut, an unsuspectingly nightmarish track with female vocals and steady percussion. Sadly, it appears to be the only thing they ever recorded. Story of my life.

I feel like I had more to say about this one, but since this is likely my longest post to date (tl;dr), I’ll end it here and offer up the tunes for anyone still with me. Here’s the info for this comp:

Various Artists- I’d Rather Be In Philadelphia LP
1. Bunnydrums- Sleeping
2. Pretty Poison- Secrets
3. Sensory Fix- Last Match
4. Impossible Years- Flower Girl
5. Mother May I- When Children Play
6. Book of Love- Henna
7. Red Buckets- Something Else Again
8. Stickmen- Duraflame Dog
9. Girls Downstairs- Steam Rises Off the Jungle Floor
10. Executive Slacks- Sexual Witchcraft

*download it here* (re-ripped 3.17.17)

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