Today’s post features Scottish electronic music pioneer Robert Rental (real name: Robert Donnachie), who grew to prominence in the underground music scene in the late seventies/early eighties. Though he’s received a fair amount of credit for his live work with Daniel Miller (Mute Records, the Normal) and Thomas Leer (The Bridge LP, released in 1979 under Throbbing Gristle’s record label), he also recorded two 7” synth singles that are well worth a listen.
The Bridge was released on CD in 1992, but no further recordings appeared before or after. Robert Rental passed away from cancer in 2000.
Zipped up below are both of Robert’s 7” singles in one file. The details:
Robert Rental- Paralysis 7” (1978)
1. Paralysis
2. A.C.C.
Robert Rental- Double Heart 7” (1980)
1. Double Heart
2. On Location
Here’s an offshoot of this month’s post on Autumn. Ever-changing in both style and sound, Peter Bonne broke off from the Autumn project and briefly formed Linear Movement as an outlet for his newest material. These tracks are more song-oriented than the soundtrack-esque and experimental sound of Autumn’s early material, but are equally well-crafted. The record features both male and female vocals and contributions by Peter Koutstaal and Lieve Van Steerteghem.
This is the lone Linear Movement release, for the project spanned but two years before Peter re-joined with Geert Coppens to form Twilight Ritual. It was originally released on cassette in 1983 and re-released on CD through Micrart.com.
Without any further ado, here’s the details:
Linear Movement- Pulse Music LP
1. To Another Soul
2. Cytogenetic Movement
3. Five Faces
4. Due To You
5. Don’t Try To Trick Me
6. Way Out Of Living
7. You Won
8. The Linear Way
9. Magical Melody
10. The Other Way Round
*DOWNLOAD LINK REMOVED* Visit Micart to purchase these mp3s properly: Micrart dot com
A quick lazy Sunday post…I’ve had this one uploaded on divshare for a few months now, but forgot to post it here for everyone to enjoy. For a full writeup on Grauzone, see this post here, and otherwise, enjoy this classic Swiss minimal collection, released in 1998 and compiling Grauzone’s studio output.
Grauzone- Die Sunrise Tapes LP
1. Film 2
2. Eisbar
3. Hinter Den Bergen
4. Maikafer Flieg
5. Marmelade Und Himbeereis
6. Wutendes Glas
7. Kalte Kriecht
8. Kunstgewerbe
9. Der Weg Zu Zweit
10. In Der Nacht
11. Traume Mit Mir
12. Ich Und Du
13. Moskau
14. Ich Lieb Sie
15. Schlachtet
16. Raum
*DOWNLOAD LINK REMOVED*- Full Grauzone discography has been reissued as of 2010. Click here to grab a copy from CD Baby.
Today’s post features Belgian minimal wave band Autumn’s original 1982 cassette, Experiments With Environments. I’m unable to dig up a ton of information about the band, but the primarily two-piece outfit released countless underground cassette tapes documenting their pioneering and experimental synth work for five years throughout the early 1980s, many of which have only seen the light of day due to recent CD-r releases via collective label Micrart. Just before retiring the name to persue other projects, Autumn would record their own soundtrack to Fritz Lang’s silent classic Metropolis, which was occasionally performed alongside screening’s of the film before an ‘official’ score was made available.
As Autumn changed directions and laid their moniker to rest, members Geert Coppens and Peter Bonne would find some more success as members of Twilight Ritual, while Peter would also work as Linear Movement a short period of time.
Here are the details for the Experiments With Environments release:
Autumn- Experiments With Environments
1. Ocilado Q
2. Memories
3. Twilight World Part 1
4. Towards Tokio Part 1
5. Reach You From Behind My Walls
6. I Still Care
7. Gardens
8. Friday
9. Mystery Screen
10. Twilight World Part 2
11. My New Friend
12. PSI, A Destiny Experience
13. Metal Dream
14. The Posession L
15. 7.49
16. Towards Tokio Part 2
17. Experiments With Environments
18. Pale Mist Meditation
19. Delayed Mind Creation
*DOWNLOAD LINK REMOVED* Mp3s available via iTunes music store and Micart: Micrart dot com
Ruth were an incredibly short lived French synth/coldwave project, combining the efforts of solo artist Thierry Müller and members Philippe Doray and Ruth Ellyeri. The band formed in the mid-80s and released one full-length lp, 1985’s Polaroïd/Roman/Photo before parting ways. Müller would explore graphic arts and soon after would continue his solo work and form a new synth/experimental project entitled Ilitch, which is still active to this day.
In 2007, two early Ruth recordings were uncovered and released as a lone 7”, expanding their scant discography. Since its release, the title track has been compiled several times over on various French wave discs, bringing Ruth’s semi-obscurity to a head as a classic of the genre. A subsequent re-release of their debut album on CD through Fractal Records (sadly out of print at this point) compiled a handful of exclusive remixes, all of which are included with today’s download. Without any further ado, the details:
Ruth- Polaroïd/Roman/Photo LP
1. Thriller
2. Polaroïd/Roman/Photo
3. She Brings The Rain
4. Misty Mouse
5. Mabelle
6. Mots
7. Tu M’Ennuies
8. Polaroïd/Roman/Photo (Cotton Wool Mix, 1984)
9. Sans Mots (L’Orchestre Inachevé, Remix 2001)
10. Polaroïd/Roman/Photo (Instrumental First Mix, 1982)
I am frustratingly hard-pressed to find a sufficient amount of information about today’s artist, Christof Glowalla, a minimal synth/NDW outfit from Germany. I’m even having difficulty pinning down a proper image of the act, aside from various sketches in this vein. Though seemingly a one man outfit, the ‘official’ myspace page clues in on a few other collaborators, though their roles are undisclosed. Certain other records indicate one lone release, a 1980 7” single limited to 1000 copies, but I’ve unearthed and uploaded a one disc collection of completed works, which include a handful of other tracks recorded throughout the 1980s, which most likely appeared on other under-the-radar 7” singles.
That all said, if anyone has any further information on Christof, past OR present, please send it my way. Otherwise, without any further delay, the details:
Christof Glowalla- Complete Works LP
1. Erde 80
2. Technik
3. Science Fiction
4. Der Bose
5. Smog In Der Stadt
6. In Der Zukunft
7. Gift Fur Alle
8. Die Liebe
9. Armer Heino
10. Traum
11. Bauernkrieg
12. ABC
13. Delirium
Snowy Red is mainly a one-man minimal synth outfit from Belgium, active throughout the 1980s. Though occasionally a band here and there (and featuring scattered collaborators during their tenure), Snowy Red was primarily an outlet for Micky Mike (real name: Marcel Thiel, RIP), who released four records (and two cover records under his proper name) before seemingly disappearing from the music scene in the early nineties. Though seemingly a one-off reunion, Snowy Red reactivated for a Belgian music festival in 2004 as a two piece.
Though each of Snowy Red’s four records are synth classics, I’ve uploaded my favorite, 1982’s The Right to Die, which has a darker atmosphere and heavier synthetics than some of the other material. For more Snowy Red, revisit this post, as the Carol & Snowy Red ‘Breakdown’ 7” is included in the grab bag.
Details:
Snowy Red- The Right to Die LP (1982)
1. Euroshima (Wardance)
2. Nowhere
3. I’m Hurt
4. Never Alive
5. Relax
6. Opium
7. Lies In Your Eyes
8. Madman
9. The Right To Die
*DOWNLOAD LINK REMOVED*—> An official boxset containing all of Mike’s work has been reissued via OnderStrom records. NOT TO BE MISSED! RIP Micky…
After scouring youtube, I came up with several clips for Snowy Red, but none actually are videos or live performances, but instead are songs playing with a static image, while one consists of a digitally rendered Second Life character boogying to ‘Euroshima.’ I won’t link it here, but it’s amusing, for those who wish to seek it out.
Otherwise, I believe Snowy Red’s material is best hunted down through your local record shops and eBay, but there IS a seemingly fan-run myspace page, for more information and some digital accompaniment:
Thanks for all the requests over the past few weeks, ladies and gents…I’ve been uploading them slowly but surely over the past few posts, and ideally, I shall attend to each one of them in the very near future. Today’s request was for Camera Obscura’s Horizons of Suburbia LP, a synth/wave gem from 1983. Well…not quite. These ten tracks were recorded fifteen years ago but remained unreleased until 2005. Previously, the only documented Camera Obscura releases were a 7” single and a lone compilation appearance.
For the record, there seem to be several bands bearing the same name, including a rather prominent indie pop group. This particular Camera Obscura, however, consisted of Nigel James and Peter Oldroyd and hailed from the UK. The band formed in 1982 and soldiered through record label hardships until 1987, when the band when on indefinite hiatus. In 2005, however, Nigel and Peter dusted off their old material and took to playing shows throughout Europe, meanwhile releasing this lost classic as well as a live record and re-recorded single material. All recent Camera Obscura material has been released by German label Anna Louge Records.
Details:
Camera Obscura- Horizons of Suburbia LP (2005)
1. Escape From The City
2. Horizons Of Suburbia
3. The Mandarin Man
4. Fever Pitch
5. Vincent Van Gogh
6. Destitution
7. Circular Waves
8. Scarlet Vixen
9. Mystery Box
10. Race In Athens
*DOWNLOAD LINK REMOVED BY REQUEST*
To purchase Camera Obscura’s material through Anna Logue Records, please click below! Also, see the following link for the band’s official homepage:
Clair Obscur are a classic French minimal wave/synth act who began in 1981 as a three-piece collective. Throughout their expansive tenure, members have come and gone, though two core members, vocalist Christophe Demarthe and guitarist Nicholas Demarthe, have always been present.
In the 80s, Clair Obscur developed some success and a bit of cult following for mixing their blend of bleak minimal wave music with expansive visuals, and earned spots on prominent local festivals and an opening slot with Killing Joke. Though the band has gone through several lineup shifts over the years (and has recorded as CO2 during bouts of inactivity), Clair Obscur is still active to date, playing sporadic gigs throughout Europe.
I’ve uploaded the entirety of their full length, Play. Though the record was released in 1988, Play. comprises several earlier releases, including the 1984 Dansez 12” and the 1982 La Cassette Noir cassette release. When the record was pressed to CD, the tracklist was chronologically rearranged, resulting in the version I’ve uploaded. Also, four separate covers were issued with the original LP.
Details:
Clair Obscure- Play. LP
1. Sequence
2. The Last Encounter
3. Blume
4. K.G.
5. Pessimiste Combattif
6. Revol Dub
7. Vivant
8. Hibernation
9. Kriegs Opera
10. The Pilgrim’s Progress
11. Zeda
12. Die Kinder Sind Allein
13. Tremendous
For your viewing pleasure, here’s a clip of Clair Obscur performing ‘La Ballade des Gens Heureux ‘ in 1986. The song is originally featured on the 1986 Smurf In The Gulag 12”.
CD copies of Play. are available through Infrastition. Otherwise, for more on Clair Obscur, including full discography, bio, pictures, and fun facts, click below:
Thanks to Glenn, I just discovered today’s band, German wave/electro/boy band act Boytronic, this long weekend, and have acquired and uploaded their first record, 1983’s The Working Model, for your listening pleasure.
Boytronic formed in 1983 and released two seminal synthpop records (in the vein of Visage and early Depeche Mode) before running into troubles, as their label claimed ownership to the band’s name, and re-assembled Boytronic with a completely different lineup which lasted into the mid-90s. Funnily enough, the band reunited in 2002, but this incarnation featured HolgerWobker from the first lineup, and HayoPanarinfo from the second, and continues to this day, releasing records and performing live.
Systems of Romance was created in mid-2007 to serve as a dumping grounds for all great things coldwave, minimal synth, post-punk, synthpunk, industrial, synthpop, and various other combinations of these styles. Feel free to make requests, noodle around, and discuss all you like...
Otherwise, this blog is dedicated to showcasing material that has long since been out of print. If you are aware of any of these items being readily available from the artist or label, or take issue with these tracks being uploaded, please let me know so I can amend the post or remove the links.
Today’s post features Scottish electronic music pioneer Robert Rental (real name: Robert Donnachie), who grew to prominence in the underground music scene in the late seventies/early eighties. Though he’s received a fair amount of credit for his live work with Daniel Miller (Mute Records, the Normal) and Thomas Leer (The Bridge LP, released in 1979 under Throbbing Gristle’s record label), he also recorded two 7” synth singles that are well worth a listen.
