Archive for the synth Category

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New Music Showcase- Rainbow Body Records/Night Gallery

Posted in 2000s, currently active, italo disco, Konnichiwa, new music, Night Gallery, Pendu Disco, Rainbow Body Records, synth, synthpop on September 24, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

I know you folks are probably still digesting this week’s onslaught of music, but I’d like to bring your attention to a fresh new record label on the horizon. I know I don’t really touch on a lot of new music here, but I’m definitely an advocate of new and interesting sounds building upon a lot of the material posted. That said, Rainbow Body Records, based out of Chicago, has dropped only a handful of releases since their inception, but have quite an impressive roster under their belt. Acts associated with the label include the quirky and playful Konnichiwa, the darkly intense White Car, the lush Golden Birthday, and the hypnotic Robert A.A. Low (whose 2009 release should feel right at home for fans of Tangerine Dream and Conrad Schnitzler).

The label’s latest release is a 8 track LP from Night Gallery, a italo-inspired act from Chicago, feautirng members of Gatekeeper and Golden Birthday. Recorded over the span of two years, these tracks combine warm synths, catchy hooks, and dark, yet soulful vocals. Definitely for fans of the Sequins and Spandex compilations as well as the Pet Shop Boys and Boytronic. You can nab a few tracks here:

—> Constant Struggle
—> Too Many Men

For those in the NYC area, Rainbow Body Records is putting on a showcase tomorrow (Saturday) night at Secret Project Robot, in Williamsburg/Brooklyn. Featured on the bill are all five of the aforementioned artists, playing one after another, with DJs Vernoica Vasicka (Minimal Wave/2vm), Beau Wanzer, and DJ Harrison dropping sets in between. The night is being put together by Todd Pendu, of Pendu Disco, who is also stirring up quite a string of local shows, not to mention the killer NY Eye and Ear Festivals, which I’ve had both the honor of playing and DJing for. Going to be a pretty killer night, so hope all you local peeps can make it! Otherwise, be sure to keep an eye out on Rainbow Body Records!

3 Comments »

Fatidic Seconde- Le Drakkar (Sidonie) 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1985, fatidic seconde, france, french, minimal synth, new wave, synth, synthpop on September 16, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Been dying to hear this one for quite some time, so a million thanks to bx59cppw for finally tracking it down. Killer French new wave hear, one of the best singles of the era, hailing from 1985. Both tracks are unstoppable, though the b-side has a more romantic edge.

The band released three more singles before disbanding in 1988. You can get the equally captivating Métropolis 7” over at Dreams and Voices. Without any further ado, here’s the info for this one:

Fatidic Seconde- Le Drakkar (Sidonie) 7”
1. Le Drakkar (Sidonie)
2. Le Chemin D’Un Rêve

*download it here* (RE-RIPPED 6.3.13)

Still have tons of goodies coming up, so expect a flurry of posts over the next few days!

5 Comments »

Figures on a Beach- Swimming 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1983, figures on a beach, future bible heroes, new romantic, new wave, synth, synthpop on September 8, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s the debut 12” by new wave/new romantic band Figures on a Beach, released in 1983. A little more poppy than I usually go for, but there’s tons of great hooks and melodies here, especially in the title track.

The band formed in Michigan (relocating to Boston) and released three LPs and a handful of singles before splitting in 1991. Their tracks are generally cult staples of the era, and can still be heard in some clubs to date. After splitting, Chris Ewen went on to play with Stephin Merrit in the Future Bible Heroes project, a more new wave offshoot of The Magnetic Fields. Ewan provided the new wave/disco backdrop for the band.

Though I do enjoy the majority of the band’s discography (including the Don Was-produced track- “Breathless“), this 12” is by far my favorite. Here’s the information:

Figures on a Beach- Swimming 12”
1. Swimming
2. Feel Like Glass
3. Decay
4. Everything But Heaven

*download it here*

4 Comments »

Candidate- Side By Side LP

Posted in 1980s, 1987, candidate, french, minimal synth, synth, synthpop on September 5, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s the lone LP by French synthsters Candidate, released in 1987. There’s very little to be found about this two piece (though they have a website).  There are a few other releases of theirs kicking around, including a split K7 and a split 7” with Gangrène. Would love to hear them, should anyone out there have a copy kicking around!

Otherwise, you can expect some killer minimal synth grooves, with a little bit of edgy guitar thrown in for good measure. a nice mix of tension and melody here, best for fans of Pink Industry, Kas Product, Strawberry Switchblade, etc. Here’s the info:

Candidate- Side By Side LP
1. Strange Girl
2. Starway
3. On The Ice
4. Subterrateen
5. On//Off
6. Last Day
7. The Wound

*download it here* (re-ripped 2015)

3 Comments »

Chrisma- Discography

Posted in 1970s, 1980s, Chrisma, italian, Krisma, minimal synth, synth, synthpop, synthpunk, vangelis on August 27, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s one of two posts lined up to get you through the weekend. First, we have what I believe to be the complete discography of Italian band Chrisma, a synthpunk outfit active in the late 1970s. The band combined a Marlene Dietrich kind of vibe with krautrock, Chrome-esque guitar lines, disco rhythms, and primitive synthesizers for a futuristic and incredibly eclectic sound. Very ahead of their time, as far as I’m concerned, especially when you hear the drastic jump in styles between the first 7” and the debut LP.

The band takes its name from combining the first names of members Christina Moser and Maurizio Arcieri. Their earliest recordings were made in Vangelis’ home studio, which more than likely explains their futuristic sound. There’s even a rumor kicking around that Vangelis himself performed on Chinese Restaurant, but he is not listed in the album credits.

While the band was formed in Italy, they sang the majority of their songs in English, which helped earn the band a few fans stateside. You can still hear “Black Silk Stockings” (IMO, the band’s best track) in various clubs to date. In 1980, the band changed their name to Krisma and took a more synthpop turn, releasing five LPs and a slew of singles. Perhaps I’ll cover them someday in the future, but otherwise, here’s the full Chrisma output- two LPs and two 7” records. I didn’t include a few of the other 7”s, as the band would double up on album cuts for b-sides. Here’s the rundown:

Chrisma- Amore 7” (1976)
1. Amore
2. Sweet Baby Sue

Chrisma- Chinese Restaurant LP (1977)
1. Thank You
2. Black Silk Stocking
3. Lola
4. C-Rock
5. What For
6. Wanderlust
7. Lycee
8. Mandoia
9. Thank You

Chrisma- U 12” (1977)
1. U Part I
2. U Part II

Chrisma- Hibernation LP (1979)
1. Calling
2. Aurora B.
3. Rush ’79
4. Hibernated Nazi
5. Gott Gott Electron
6. We R.
7. So You Don’t
8. Lover
9. Vera Platz

*download all four here*

In case you’re not sold on downloading this discography, peep a performance of “Black Silk Stocking/Lola” here, complete with a latter day interview with the band, for those fluent in Italian. Awesome.

If you dig on these records, feel free to purchase the excellent reissues from Medical Records!

16 Comments »

Home Service- Discography

Posted in 1970s, 1980s, david motion, home service, minimal synth, post-punk, strawberry switchblade, synth, synthpop on August 15, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Hey kids, I’m back! Got a few treats lined up over the next few days, but first we have the entire discography from UK band Home Service.

There’s an unfortunate discrepancy in the band’s discogs bio, which claims they have roots in the UK folk rock scene, but I believe there may have been more than one band masquerading with that name. However, a little digging has revealed that this particular project consists of only two members, David Motion and David Fraser. Many may be more familiar with David Motion’s work as both a film/jingle composer and the producer for Strawberry Switchblade from 1984-1991. Behind the scenes, he was responsible for some of the band’s best tracks, including “Since Yesterday” and “Little River.”

That said, Home Service’s own music was a bit of a curious anomaly in the new wave spectrum. The band mostly toys with a more quirky sound, seen more famously in bands like Units, Tone Set, Silicon Teens, and Devo. Their first two singles were released on Motion’s own Crystal Groove records, while their final 12” was picked up by Situation Two/Beggar’s Banquet. There’s a definite progression in style between the three singles (starting with more guitars and changing over to a mostly synth-based sound), all unified by the band’s unique voice. My favorite tracks across the three are “Wake-Up!,” “The New Age Elite Corps” and “O.M.F.I.L.,” respectively!

Here’s the breakdown.

Home Service- Wake-Up! 7” (1979)
1. Wake-Up!
2. Foreplay
3. Automatic Daydream

Home Service- Thin Hours 7” (1980)
1. Thin Hours
2. The New Age Elite Corps

Home Service- Only Men Fall In Love 12” (1981)
1. Only Men Fall In Love
2. O.M.F.I.L.
3. Only Men Fall In Love (Special Club Version)

*download it all here* (RE-RIPPED 10.9.7)

For curious parties, check out a lengthy interview with David Motion here!

2 Comments »

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.

9 Comments »

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*

5 Comments »

Heavenly Bodies- Rains On Me 12”

Posted in 1980s, 1988, coldwave, Dead Can Dance, ethereal, heavenly bodies, Robin Guthrie, spk, synth, synthpop on May 8, 2010 by Frankie Teardrop

Just picked up a couple of copies of this killer dance/synth classic. Big beats, ethereal vocals, and a swirling chorus comprise this track, which appears in both remixed and edited form alongside an exclusive instrumental b-side.

Members of Heavenly Bodies were involved in several more established acts throughout the 1980s, including Dead Can Dance, Jesus and Mary Chain, and SPK. Cocteau Twins comparisons are also valid, considering Robin Guthrie recorded both versions of the title track. This 12” appeared on C’Est La Mort in 1988, just after the band issued a full length debut. You can nab the full length record here at Totally Wired. Otherwise, here’s the info for this 12”.

Heavenly Bodies- Rains On Me 12”
1. Rains On Me (Extended Mix)
2. Rains On Me (Short Mix)
3. Pure & Simple

*download it here* (RE-RIPPED 10.9.17)

3 Comments »

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*

8 Comments »

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