Archive for the post-punk Category

« Older Entries

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 »

Third Circle- Last Night Was the Best Night of My Life 7 & 12”s

Posted in 1980s, 1986, industrial, jangle, Leeds, post-punk, uk on October 11, 2024 by Frankie Teardrop

Third Circle are a name that may be familiar to some, as they’re one of the infamous Leeds bands, the same scene who brought us The March Violets, The Lorries, Three Johns, and Sisters of Mercy. While not as well known as those bands, they had a three single run on Rouska Records, also home to early Cassandra Complex and Dustdevils releases. They sound similar, to my ears, to Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, with a similar drum machine pummel and forlorn, sung/shouted vocals. However, despite the intense, mechanical drum programming, I find there to be some excellent pop songwriting on their best known track, “Last Night Was the Best Night of My Life.” With the hooks, jangly guitars, and vocal melodies, it almost reminds me of a Smiths song, buried underneath a cold, industrial, city.

Some of y’all might be familiar with this excellent track already. I can’t say I’ve heard their second and third singles, but will have to inspect them sometime in the future. It’s worth noting that Martin Kelly joined up with W.M.T.I.D. (an EBM/industrial project that formed to support Cassandra Complex), while Tim Daly, a performance poet in his own regard, was a member of Bazooka Joe, and most interestingly, was a lyrical consultant for Pink Floyd’s post-Waters album A Momentary Lapse of Reason. Wild!

Speaking of wild, here’s the details for both the 7” and 12” version of this most excellent single from 1986, both which have exclusive b-sides and different versions of the single track. The 7” version is a little janglier (note: the dip early on is a pressing flaw, present on multiple copies) while the 12” is a little heavier/more industrial, if you will. Enjoy!

Third Circle – Last Night Was the Best Night of My Life 12”
1. Last Night Was the Best Night of My Life
2. Real Eyes
3. Silent For Too Long (live)

Third Circle – Last Night Was the Best Night of My Life 7”
1. Last Night Was the Best Night of My Life
2. The Man Who Fell Apart

*download both here*

Check out the band’s lyrics, hosted by Third Circle member Dennis O’Driscoll here!

3 Comments »

Scarecrow Tiggy – Worth/Mute 7” + Passing For Human 7” (plus bonus)

Posted in 1980s, 1990, 1990s, 1991, australia, australian, indie, post-punk on September 16, 2024 by Frankie Teardrop

Let it be known that I am a sucker for a good rickety, yet powerful post-punk/indie band, especially one with female vocals. Bands like Asmodi Bizarr, Phantom Forth, and even more indie bands like Velocity Girl and Talulah Gosh etc. are a sweet spot that I cannot pass up, not ever.

With that in mind, Scarecrow Tiggy were a four-piece band from Melbourne, Australia. The lineup originally consisted of Alex and Michael Szkutenko (bass & drums, respectively), vocalist Perri Kenrick, and guitarist Mark Johnston. This lineup of the band released two 7”s in 1990 and 1991 and contributed to several Melbourne-based compilations around that time. Soon after, the band released their lone full length album, 1993’s Ghostfish, before calling it a day. Ghostfish featured additional bass from Andrew Gunn and additional drums (and machines) by Simon Ayton, though not sure if they replaced previous members or just filled out the sound – I’ll let you know when my copy of the CD comes in the mail in a few weeks!

Until then, happy to share the band’s first two 7” recordings and the only compilation track I was able to dig up, from 1994’s The Woozy Couch Finder cassette. This compilation track was the band’s final release, whereas the rest of their compilation material dates from 1988-1994. Each of these tracks are exclusive to their respective releases, so please feel free to reach out if you own any of these compilations, or even if you have digital copies of some of them. There will be a follow-up post one of these days, and I’d personally love to hear the rest of their discography.

Without any further ado, here are these tracks. Last, but not least, much love to Matt from Kentucky Fried Wave for putting this band on my radar a few weeks ago!

Scarecrow Tiggy – Worth/Mute (1990)
1. Worth
2. Mute

Scarecrow Tiggy – Passing For Human 7” (1991)
1. Passing For Human
2. Edge of Your Smile

The Woozy Couch Finder K7 (1994)
A5. Tiger

*download all three releases here*

4 Comments »

Fem Snabba- Pupiller LP & Sinnesplats 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1986, 1988, ethereal, fem snabba, post-punk, swedish on June 26, 2024 by Frankie Teardrop

This one has been a favorite from the moment I first heard it, a front-to-back excellent LP that’s all killer, no filler. As always, many thanks to Goutroy for originally ripping this LP, which was originally released in 1988 on Parabellum Records. Fem Snabba were a five piece post-punk band from Sweden whose discography consists of two LPs and three singles. Their sound is reminiscent of bands like All About Eve, Tinderbox-era Siouxsie, Asmodi Bizarr, latter-period Xmal Deutschland, a lil Cocteau Twins, and all the other great bands in this vein. A nice blend of ethereal gothic sounds, which is certainly a sweet spot around these parts…

As a bonus, I’ve included the band’s first 12” from 1986, which features different recordings of “I Ditt Land” and “Saknad” but is as equally dark and engaging as the LP.

Fem Snabba- Sinnesplats 12” (1986)
1. Vårda Ditt Skrik
2. Saknad
3. I Ditt Land
4.  Sinnesplats

Fem Snabba- Pupiller LP (1988)
1. Saknad
2. Dagar Som Pupiller
3. Jord Och Stad
4. Gnistrande
5. Under
6. Kurragömma
7. Bårar Över Eld
8. Tinder
9. I Ditt Land
10. Nattfjärilen

*download both here*

6 Comments »

Passing Smiles- Life 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1981, minimal, minimal synth, post-punk on May 10, 2024 by Frankie Teardrop

Fresh from the needle to the internet – it’s been a while since we’ve had a bonafide minimal synth record, so here’s one from 1981 that features all the great touchstones – rickety, loud synths, some post-punk guitars, and DIY vibes through and through. Passing Smiles were a US-based project that only released this 7” to my knowledge. John Ross, pictured on the back of the sleeve, is the main musician, playing all guitars and synths, while Bill Miles played drums and Brian Leech played piano on side B. Based on this, I might go so far as to say that this was a one-man project with help from some friends…

The A-side is the “hit” so to speak, while the B-side offers a more reflective, somber mood. Both tracks are excellent and certainly touch on the frailty of existence and the balance of life and death, even going so far as to feature a biblical quote (Philippians 2:8) on the back cover.

Without any further ado, enjoy!

Passing Smiles – Life 7”
1. Life
2. Death

*download it here*

6 Comments »

Les Fleurs D’Hiver – Fleurs D’Hiver 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1984, les fleurs d'hiver, post-punk, swiss on March 1, 2024 by Frankie Teardrop

Quick and dirty post for your Friday enjoyment… Here’s another single from Swiss label Winterschatten (also home to The Silence Cries), released in 1984. This is the five piece (or four piece with a different bassist on each track) band’s only single which comes housed in an oversized picture sleeve. The songs are sung in a mix of English and French and are equally gloomy and catchy, definitely a great single for fans of Look Back In Anger, Cry of the Innocent, Send No Flowers etc.

Enjoy!

Les Fleurs D’Hiver- Fleurs D’Hiver 
1. Fleurs D’Hiver
2. Association in White

*download it here*

4 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 »

October 8- October 8 LP

Posted in 1980s, 1987, indie, jangle, post-punk, US on August 4, 2023 by Frankie Teardrop

Sorry for the delay, folks. Hope everyone’s having a lovely summer (or winter, if you’re in a different hemisphere!). Here’s a recent favorite, chock full of summertime jangle pop/indie rock vibes. This LP was released in 1987 on the E Pluribus Unim imprint. The band was a four (sometimes five) piece from Dallas, Texas, and this is their only LP, and what a humdinger it is… Dreamy, melodic guitars reminiscent of early R.E.M, Grapes of Wrath, Winter Hours,  Ups and Downs, etc. – heavier on the jangly side, but just gloomy enough to catch my interest. Amy Farrington provides vocals on a few tracks and serves as an excellent ethereal counterpoint to Bruce Gregory Dickenson’s more grounded vocals. Dickenson would join power pop band Pop Poppins shortly after recording this LP.

Hope y’all enjoy this LP as much as I do… I can’t seem to get enough of it lately.

October 8- October 8 LP
1. Capitalism
2. Tomorrow’s World
3. The Love I Want
4. A Place To Go
5. Corrupt Means
6. Killing Time

*download it here*

3 Comments »

Theme – Conflict/Sacred 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1982, band, post-punk, scotland, scottish, theme on April 26, 2023 by Frankie Teardrop

This literally just arrived in the mail a few hours ago, and went straight to the turntable to be digitized. Here we have the lone single from Scottish post-punk band Theme from 1982. A double A-side if you will. “Conflict” has a bit of a B-Movie/The Sound vibe (it’s the classic Roland string synth that always kills me), while “Sacred” has a very early Echo & the Bunnymen sound. Classic post-punk, through and through!

Not much more to say about this one other than…Enjoy!


Theme – Conflict/Sacred 7”
1. Conflict
2. Sacred

*download it here*

3 Comments »

« Older Entries