Fru Aut- Fru Aut K7 & LP

Posted in 1980s, 1985, 1988, goth, italian, post-punk on February 9, 2021 by Frankie Teardrop

Happy New Year, y’all! A bit of a new post here, and a bit of an update to an old post at the same time. If you visit this previous post on the incredible Italian post-punk band Fru Aut, you’ll find information about  their 1988 self-titled LP, a masterpiece of the Italian post-punk scene and a perfect listen for fans of dreamier post-punk, in the vein of things like Sad Lovers & Giants, Film Noir, Modern Eon, Xmal, Nico + Faction, etc. In the same post, there’s also an allusion to a previous 12”/cassette release from a long defunct (but wonderful) blog. So with that in mind, I thought I’d kick the year off lightly with an update of both of these releases.

If you aren’t already familiar with Fru Aut, the band was a five piece from northern Italy, more specifically Bassano del Grappa. They self-released this cassette in 1985, with a more limited 12” version appearing the same year. The LP appeared in 1988, also self-released. There was also a CD that came out in 1994, but sadly I haven’t heard it and I have an inkling it might veer more into rock territory, but if anyone could confirm or deny that, I’d gladly give it a listen! Lastly, there’s another cassette out there from the same era as these two releases I’m guessing, with very little info, no year or tracklisting to confirm if it’s exclusive material, or similar to what’s already released elsewhere… Any info on that one is even more welcome…

Even though I’ve updated the previous post, I’ll include both the LP and the cassette here to make things a little neater. With that in mind, here’s the info for both of these excellent releases:

Fru Aut- Fru Aut K7 (1985)
1. Tesò
2. Verderame
3. Sdies Nuzna Vainà
4. Glu Glu

Fru Aut- Fru Aut LP (1988)
1. Prova D’Orckestra
2. La TV Sensuale
3. Kabul
4. Bla Bla – Discorso Alla Finestra
5. Tesò
6. Indastria
7. Berber
8. Segnali
9. Freiherz
10. Superglu

*download both releases here*

7 Comments »

Jinx- Too Late 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1987, coldwave, france, french, minimal, minimal synth, new wave on December 28, 2020 by Frankie Teardrop

Hi friends. Hope everyone had a lovely holiday season. This will likely be my last post of the year at this rate, a final sweet synth sayonara to 2020 in hopes we all find better tidings in the new year. Here’s a single that I’ve both loved and forgotten in recent months. I can’t remember where I first heard this one a few years back, but a friend reminded me of it a few weeks ago, and I fell in love with it all over again, as if I were hearing it for the first time, but knew deep down this was a deeper obsession. The band, a French new wave act named Jinx (erroneously spelled Jynx on the inner label). This is their lone recording from 1987, and both tracks are pure wistful, romantic synth bliss. I’m reminded a bit of Ivy’s Day, Coldreams, Jane’s haunting “It’s a Fine Day,” and Rive Gauche across the span of both tracks. I can’t really choose a favorite, and even though it’s the b-side that might appeal more to most folks with it’s dual male/female vox, moody atmosphere, and beautiful high synth leads, the a-side is no slouch either once you get past the intro, which appears at first glance to be a bit more reggae/dub-inspired before it settles into a similarly great groove.

For those eager to find a copy of this single and don’t want to wait for it to pop up online, the b-side has been lovingly remastered and reissued by the excellent Camisole records, appearing on a split with the also stellar Madame Bovary (another single where I can’t choose my favorite track, but lean slightly towards the a-side). Anyway, I’m sure you’ve all skipped right to the download link for this one, with good reason. Let’s cut to the chase and get to the details:

Jinx- Too Late 7”
1. Too Late
2. Rêve Inconscient

*download it here*

Otherwise, hope you all have a lovely new year, and hope to see many of you in the digital space in 2021!

 

 

Quick note for those playing along at home: I even hate to end this post on this note, but it deserves to be said after a slew of interactions I’ve had recently that have left a poor taste in my mouth… I am not a lossless factory, and will not be publishing/replying to any further comments about providing lossless rips here or the demand for “free” music as such from punisher Discogs users out there. Please kindly keep those comments to yourself, as you will forever be whining into an abyss. I’m more than happy to share the music I am passionate about, but if you’re interested in making baseless demands please either have something to offer in exchange (I am *very* agreeable to digital trades) or feel free to press that Discogs button yourselves.

4 Comments »

Soft As Ghosts- Mystified 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1983, post-punk, soft as ghosts, uk on November 13, 2020 by Frankie Teardrop

I had a little bit of extra time this week, so that means you get an extra post! Thanks to Goutroy for sending this one over some time ago. Here we have two tracks of cold, moody post-punk that reminds me a bit of mid-period Adrian Borland recordings (Heads and Hearts, etc.), especially on the A-side. Nice chunky bass, airy synth, catchy chorus, and dreamy, if but a little nasally vocal. The B-side is a bit more frantic, but no less captivating.

So it goes, there’s not much information to share about the band. This is their only release, which came out in 1983 in the UK via Rondelet Music & Records. If anyone knows more about this band, feel free to fill in the gaps in the comments! Otherwise, enjoy!

Soft As Ghosts- Mystified 7”
1. Mystified
2. Facets of Love

*download it here*

4 Comments »

Fourwaycross- Fill the Sky/Home/Shimmer/Pendulum

Posted in 1980s, fourwaycross, post-punk on November 12, 2020 by Frankie Teardrop

In addition to tracking down some rare records these last few months, I’ve also been working slowly at re-ripping much of the old collection, improving rips for my own posterity, and upgrading things from the back pages here as well. It’s been an ongoing labor of love these last few years, and one of the few things keeping me sane during the pandemic. With that in mind, I wanted to make a quick post and share the remaining Fourwaycross LPs that I had in my collection, minus 1989’s On the Other Hand (which is already available on CD). You can read lots more about the band and check out their debut cassette here.

Otherwise, I’ve ripped their excellent second and third albums and cleaned them up considerably, also making sure to take care with the gaps between tracks to make sure they play as intended. I’m also including a fresh rip of the amazing Shimmer 12” from 1987, and 1993’s Pendulum 10+7”, which was released after the band split the first time around, but musically predates the first cassette. Here’s the full rundown:

Fourwaycross- Fill the Sky LP (1986)
1. Climate And Weather
2. Indy
3. Apologize
4. So For You
5. Losing
6. Dirty News
7. U.S.A.
8. Trench
9. Unconcerned
10. Dream

Fourwaycross- Home LP (1986)
1. Woke
2. Magazine And Blue
3. Moment Of Pain
4. We Talk
5. Metal From Daisies
6. Eyes
7. Valleys

Fourwaycross- Shimmer 12” (1987)
1. Shimmer
2. That’s All
3. Interstate
4. Peregrine

Fourwaycross- Pendulum 10”+7” (1993)
1. Woke
2. There’s No Place
3. Halloween
4. Num
5. Faded Flowers
6. Dead Moon
7. Hungry Souls
8. Original Dream
9. Pendulum

*download it all here*

Plenty of rare and unblogged treasures coming in the next few weeks, so stay tuned and be safe out there! <3

4 Comments »

The Psalms- A Story I Was Told 7”

Posted in 1982, arizona, gin blossoms, jangle, new wave, post-punk, US on October 22, 2020 by Frankie Teardrop

First things first I’d like to thank Bret Helm of the excellent post-punk band Audra and from the Life on This Planet blog for clueing me into this one, as well as for providing the rip to share with you all. This particular 7” is one of those rare nuggets that only pops up once in a blue moon, and goes for an extraordinary amount, but in my opinion, is totally worth the asking price.

The Psalms were a new wave/post-punk band from Tempe, Arizona. The biggest touchstone here is guitarist/synth player Doug Hopkins and bassist Bill Leen, both who would form the Gin Blossoms a few years later. I could probably get into a big rant here about how the Gin Blossoms were REM in the time of Hootie, unfortunate timing for an otherwise solid jangle pop band. I’ll defend them to my dying day, but that all being said, this single is its own beast, and certainly should find lots of love around these parts. The A-side has an excellent airy synth lead and some power pop overtones, while the B-side has a little bit of a darker and harder edge. Both songs are incredibly catchy, and fans of bands like The Lucy Show, Weeping Messerschmitts, and Wild Flowers. More info about the band (including some lineup change info) can be found here.

This single was released in 1982 on Reilly Records and is the only piece of wax The Psalms released. The band put out a cassette in 1983, the single-sided No Great Cathedrals, with four more tracks. I’ve heard one of them on Youtube, but if anyone out there has the cassette (or a nice rip of it), please do get in touch! Otherwise, here’s the details for this 7”:

The Psalms- A Story I Was Told 7”
1. A Story I Was Told
2. Christmas Island

*download it here*

10 Comments »

Faded Films- Faded Years 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1986, canadian, new wave, post-punk on September 23, 2020 by Frankie Teardrop

Hi folks. Hope you’re all keeping safe and well out there. Here’s a rare and semi-pricy four-track 7” from a five-piece band from Canada, which was self-released in 1986. Apologies in advance for the audio quality on some of these tracks, each side clocks in around 7-8 minutes, which usually scrapes away some of the low end by design.

That said, each track here is a great post-punk/new wave hybrid (perhaps a touch of power pop influence as well, if that’s your cup of tea), with bouncy, yet gloomy rhythms. Lots of guitars and high synths on each track, and quite a few of the songs are incredibly catchy. Reminded a bit of mid-era B-Movie, Blue in Heaven, or even A Drop in the Gray.

Not much else to tell you about this one, so hope y’all enjoy!

Faded Films- Faded Years 7”
1 Faded Years
2 East of the Asylum
3. The Top
4. Jack in the Box

*download it here*

2 Comments »

Lisa Lee- I’m Taken By You 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1984, synth, synthpop, US on August 20, 2020 by Frankie Teardrop

Hope everyone is keeping safe and well out there. Here’s a little slice of 7” synth pop bliss that should keep you cool on these hot summer nights (or vice versa if you’re in the Southern Hemisphere).

This 7” was released in 1984 and features vocalist Lisa Lee, a US-based singer. Both tracks were co-written by Lee and her band. According to Discogs, Lee released a separate 12” in 1990, produced by Ronald Burrell and featuring a more house/electro style, but I’m not at all convinced that this is the same Lisa Lee, based on a comparison of both tracks. Perhaps someone can shed a little light on this one (or update the dang Discogs entry, accordingly).

As for this single, both tracks hit the same sweet spot as early Berlin or SSQ/Stacey Q recordings – fast, high energy synths and catchy hooks galore. Not much more I can tell you about this one, so we’ll keep it brief – hope you all enjoy!

Lisa Lee- I’m Taken By You 7”
1. Taken By You
2. Goner

*download it here*

6 Comments »

Passion Theatre – Strange Desire/Mannequin 12”s

Posted in 1980s, 1986, passion theatre, US on July 14, 2020 by Frankie Teardrop

I’ve had this pair of singles kicking around the collection for years now, and I’m not sure why it’s taken so long to post them, but here we are all the same. Here we have the two 12” singles from Passion Theatre, a trio from the US. Passion Theatre would gain a fourth member for their second single, though it seems like they don’t credit the female vocals on their first single, so perhaps they were always a quartet?  The band released two singles of exclusive material and were never heard from again, sadly. So it goes… Strangely enough, these records were released on an electro/hip-hop label which might be why they didn’t get too much traction in the new wave market? Also, it appears that the executive producer for both singles also worked with Stacey Q. on “Two of Hearts.”

…A lot of questions to be answered here.

Based on the cover art and rarity of these singles, you might expect some tried and true minimal synth sound (that’s actually what I expected when I picked these singles up ages ago) but they’re a little more on the breezy new wave/synth pop tip, maybe even a little power-poppy in spots. The real winner of the bunch is “Mannequin,” (aka “In Love With a Mannequin”) the title track from their second 12”. It’s a playful song about being in love with an in-store display figure, and it’s really a shame they didn’t make a movie about this exact premise, as I’m sure it would have been a hit…

Here’s the details for both singles, which were both released in 1986:

Passion Theatre- Strange Desire 12”
1. Strange Desire
2. International Love Affair
3, Menage A Trois
4. No For Answers

Passion Theatre- Mannequin 12”
1. Mannequin (Fiesta Mix)
2. Vacation Day
3. In Love With a Mannequin

*download link removed* – check Spacetalk Records for a reissue of these two singles!

7 Comments »

Idle Rood- Tolerance Bride 7”

Posted in 1990s, 1992, florida, idle rood, post-punk, US on June 16, 2020 by Frankie Teardrop

Sorry for the delay, everyone… Easy enough to say the world’s been weird all around, and while everyone’s fine over here at SOR headquarters, it just hasn’t felt like a priority to post lately. That said, I’ve been spending a lot of time quietly ripping and cleaning up some of the more rare records in my collection, some as updates to previous posts, some for future posts, and some just for posterity. I’ll try to be a little more proactive about uploading, if you all are still out there and thirsty for more rare tunes.

With that in mind, here’s one that Goutroy originally turned me onto a few years back, and I’ve since tracked down myself. This is the lone 7” by Idle Rood, a post-punk band from Tampa, Florida. This 7” dropped on clear blue vinyl in 1992, an interesting time for such incisive synth and guitar-driven post-punk (remember, this is the same era where bands like Nirvana, Jane’s Addiction, and Lush were at the forefront). That said, this record definitely has much in common with early Modern English, Razor Penguins, and as my quarantine-mate puts it, Husker Du.

While the band formed in 1988, they released this 7” the same year they split up. The band briefly reunited a few years back to play some local gigs, and have issued a handful of additional recordings on their Soundcloud page. For those interested in following the band and checking out some older photos of the band in action, they have an extensive Facebook page as well! Otherwise, here’s the info for the 7”:

Idle Rood- Tolerance Bride 7”
1. Tolerance Bride
2. Manifest

*download it here*

6 Comments »

Living Links – Discography

Posted in 1980s, 1983, 1985, baton rouge, indie, living links, louisiana, post-punk, US on February 25, 2020 by Frankie Teardrop

To celebrate Mardi Gras- here’s another rare US entry from the post-punk pantheon, consisting of a two piece husband and wife duo from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Living Links originally started as a side outlet for Hans and Margie Van Brackle, who were first active in a band called Times (not to be confused with the Venus in Furs side project of the same name). Margie came from a background of opera, religious, and musical theatre, which can be heard in her playful, almost child-like soprano vocals. The pair recorded with a drum machine, layering overdubs for their debut single in 1983.

After picking up steam, the duo began occasionally performing live with a drummer, headlining regional shows and performing at the World’s Fair in 1984, which was held in New Orleans. This gig was followed up by their lone full-length record, 1985’s Gathering the Forces, which explored several styles outside of traditional post-punk. The duo would soon fade away, though allegedly the Van Brackles still play music together…

Fans of Talking Heads, The Wake, and more playful, yet still well-executed post-punk and indie pop will find much to love across these releases. I’ve included a fresh rip of the debut single (Every Sad Night) and the LP, and while it isn’t my personal rip, I’ve attached the a-side of their second single “Manger” just to sweeten the pot. I’d include the b-side, but it’s identical to the album version, so it’s a bit redundant to have here twice. The duo also released a final 7” in 1990, which also contained two repeat tracks from the LP.

So with that in mind, here’s the (pretty much) full discography for this excellent band. Enjoy!

Living Links- Every Sad Night 7” (1983)
1. Every Sad Night
2. You and the Unknown
3. I Stop Short

Living Links- Manger 7” (1983)
1. Manger
2. I’m Not Streetwise

Living Links- Gathering the Forces LP (1985)
1. I Live In Here
2. Gathering The Forces
3. I’m Awake When I Should Be Sleeping
4. Remember The Battle
5. For The Paramecium
6. Do You Dream In Color
7. Two Girls
8. Like An Animal
9. I’m Not Streetwise

Download all three here

8 Comments »

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