Pink Military- 'Blood & Lipstick' 12'' / 'Did You See Her?' 7''

Today's band rose from the ashes of short lived and seminal anarcho-punk band Big In Japan. Following their breakup in 1978, vocalist Jayne Casey formed post-punk outfit Pink Military.

Originally named Pink Military Stand Alone, the outfit focused on dance rhythms under a somewhat thrashy and hypnotic post-punk aesthetic. The band's output consists of a few lone 12'' releases and one full length record, 1980's Do Animals Believe in God?. Though the core members of the group were Jayne Casey and guitar/keyboardist Nicky Cool, the band would revolve through a few different lineups before disbanding shortly after their full length saw the light of day. Jayne would continue on with another string of collaborators under the name Pink Industry.

For your listening pleasure, I've uploaded two single releases...Both the 1979 Blood & Lipstick 12'' and the slightly later Did You See Her? 7''.

Details:

Blood & Lipstick 12'': 1979
1. Spellbound
2. Blood and Lipstick
3. Clowntown
4. I Cry

*download it here*



Did You See Her? 7'': 1980
1. Did You See Her?
2. Every Day

*download it here*

Ceremony- 'Our Last Goodbye' EP

Very seldom can a stellar band split up and form two equal (if not better) bands in the wake of their demise. This is fortunately the case with Skywave, a since defunct noise-pop band from Virginia which yielded both previously covered A Place to Bury Strangers and today's band, Ceremony.

Whereas APTBS was formed in NYC by guitarist Oliver Ackermann, ex-Skywave members Paul Baker and John Fedowitz continued on as Ceremony in their hometown of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Though Ceremony also continues down a similarly apocalyptic path with their blend of harsh noise rock, they've taken added a more notable synthetic element to their songs, which splinter with distortion, hard-hitting drum machines, and whirring electronic melodies.

I've uploaded a single track from their newest offering, 2007's full length recording, Disappear. As a bonus, I've also zipped up an earlier EP for your listening pleasure.

download Ceremony- 'I Heard You Call My Name'



Ceremony- Our Last Goodbye EP
1. Our Last Goodbye
2. Someday
3. Marianne
4. Do You Love Me?

*download it here*

Lo and behold! For the first time in what feels like ages, I can effectively post purchasing links and live videos as additional treats, since Ceremony is a currently active band with easily available material. On that note, here's an appropriately glitchy video for the song 'You Never Stay,' also featured on Disappear.



and last but not least, a few web resources for more information and purchasing:
Myspace page
Purchase Disappear from Safranin Sound

Rhythm & Faith- 'Time to Run' 12''

Today's post is on one-shot UK act Rhythm & Faith. Another sparsely documented act, this female-fronted goth-rock band released but one 12'' single in 1983 on Future Records, an offshoot of seminal punk label No Future (also home to early incarnations of And Also the Trees and Christian Death).

Rhythm & Faith's sound is very reminiscent of Juju-era Siouxsie & the Banshees, so fans may want to especially check this one out.

Tracklist:
1. Time to Run
2. Young Too Young Girl
3. When the Wind Blows Love Will Die
4. Illusions

download Rhythm & Faith- Time to Run 12'' (zip file)

Starting tomorrow, I'll be off and away for the holidays, so expect some more treats early next week!

Look Back In Anger- 'Caprice' EP

Another zip file for you folks today... I've uploaded the entirety of Look Back In Anger's Caprice, a six-track female fronted goth-rock record produced by Billy Duffy (The Cult/Theatre of Hate).

The band hails from Southampton, and formed in 1981, quickly securing gigs with like-minded acts Brilliant and Death Cult. The band released a cassette recording and an initial single early on, and made two parting recordings for small-time label Criminal Damage in 1984, the Flowers single and the Caprice mini-album/EP. The band folded soon after.

Personnel:
Mich Ebeling (vocals)
Jim Newby (guitar)
Steve Butler (keyboards)
Simon Tuffnell (bass)
Chris Pickford (drums)

Track listing:
1. Grey Sky
2. Silent Partner
3. Executioner
4. Torment
5. The Dark
6. Inamorata

download Look Back In Anger- Caprice (zip file)

This record often appears on the net, fetching decent prices...Keep your eyes peeled for it and snap it up if and when you can...and happy weekend, kiddies!

Aimless Device- 'Hard to Be Nice'

Today's band is Aimless Device, a Belgian band mixing driving synthesizers and hard-hitting post-punk. I can't find much information on these gents, aside from a tidbit cluing in on latter-day bassist Ferre Baelen's previous involvement in similarly styled T.C. Matic. The band's scant (and scarce) discography consists of four EPs and repeated compilation appearances, and some of their material has since appeared on CD. The band's final single was released in 1987, and the band folded a few years later.

I've uploaded the entirety of their debut EP, 1985's Hard to Be Nice for your listening pleasure.

Tracklisting:
1. No Friend of Mine
2. Till the Rain Falls
3. Hyena
4. Heart of Gold
5. Waterloo Bound

download Aimless Device- Hard to Be Nice 12'' (zip file)

That said, I'm considering breaking format and uploading full-lengths from certain artists, depending on how little or much they released. I still may keep to a two-track preview for bands with expansive output (or current, supportable acts) but may begin uploading full length singles, EPs, and records by bands since defunct. Any reader opinions on the matter?

Pre Fix- 'Underneathica' 7''

Here's an incredibly rare treat to kick off your Monday, ladies and gentlemen. I have found scarce tidbits of information about today's band, Tuscon, AZ's Pre Fix. The band, whose credits consist of multi-instrumentalists Johnny Glenn and David Herbert, released but one curious and excitingly strange 45'' in 1981 on San Fransciso's Subterranean records.

Credits for the 'Underneathica' single also include production by Tommy Tadlock, more well known for his work with Tuxedomoon. Post-Pre Fix, Johnny Glenn formed The Ballad of Johnny Glenn.

For your listening pleasure, here's both sides of their lone single:

download Pre Fix- 'Underneathica'
download Pre Fix- 'Ectomorphine'

Asylum Party- 'Mère' LP

My very first post in Systems of Romance featured French coldwave greats Asylum Party, formed in 1985, who released a duo of solid records and a series of captivating singles before their demise.

I'm fullfilling a request for today's post- for I've uploaded the entirety of their second record, Mère complete with the Ticket to Ride 7'' attached as a bonus. These two tracks appear on the CD reissue, also rather hard to get ahold of. With that in mind, happy Friday, ladies and gentlemen!

Asylum Party- Mère LP
1. Pure Joy in My Heart
2. Sur La Route
3. It's Over (Dead Folls Damin)
4. Mother
5. Pas Très Loin
6. Someone Else
7. Un Sang d'Hier
8. Madhouse Grass
9. Euphoria
10. Le Temps des Serpents
11. Inner World Is Up (Jump)
12. Ticket to Ride
13. Beside

*download it here!*

Bell Hollow

I'm pleased to post about today's band, NYC local dreampop favorites Bell Hollow. Fresh off the release of their debut full-length, Foxgloves, the band shall be playing their cd release party in the heart of New York next Friday, November 16th, at Don Hills.

The band's origins date back to 2003, where like minded bassist Christopher Bollman and guitarist Greg Fasolino (both veterans of NYC deathrock outfit Naked & the Dead) formed Bell Hollow to explore and rekindle a love of all things dream-pop and post-punk. The band's lineup was fully realised with the inclusion of singer Nick Niles in 2005 and the addition of their second drummer, Todd Karasik, in 2006.

Bell Hollow's sound calls to the glory days of shimmering shoegaze and guitar-pop, swirling guitars, locked-in rhythms, and ethereal vocals, and the band's influences (Kitchens of Distinction, The Sound, Sad Lovers and Giants) are built upon with solid songwriting, clever arrangements, and admirable musicianship. The band has two releases under their belt, 2006's Sons of the Burgess Shale EP and 2007's Foxgloves, both released under indie label five03 (also home of the likeminded and equally captivating Prids). Both releases were recorded and produced by local NYC engineer Hillary Johnson, who also fills out the quartet's live sound with synthesizers. Acoustic guitar contributions on Foxgloves are also made by Josh Strawn, lead vocalist of fellow NYC outfit Blacklist.

For today's downloads, I've uploaded one track each from Bell Hollow's releases...the first, a favorite of mine from their debut EP and the second, the lead-off track from Foxgloves.

download Bell Hollow- 'Secret Key'
download Bell Hollow- 'Seven Sisters'

If you like what you hear, be sure to support these local darlings and pick up copies of their records, which are available through the iTunes music store, as well as straight from five03. Again, Bell Hollow will grace the stage on Friday, Nov. 16th at Don Hills here in New York City, so be sure to drop by if you're in the neighborhood! For more on the band, including purchase links, I entreat you to visit the following web-hubs:

Bell Hollow on myspace
purchase Bell Hollow records via five03

Bush Tetras

Today's band, Bush Tetras, formed in the heart of New York City soon after the initial wave of the punk rock explosion. A female fronted dance-groovin' post-punk band led by vocalist Cynthia Sley and complete with jerky rhythms and dissonant guitars, Bush Tetras first hit the scene in 1980 with a series of singles and EPs. Lead guitarist Pat Place's previous credits included co-founding James Chance's no-wave outfit the Contortions.

The band would achieve initial club success for their 'Too Many Creeps' single, a roaring, fiery, and jagged tune that helped draw attention to the budding post-punk and no-wave movements. The band would tour relentlessly during their initial tenure, forming a kinship with The Clash and experimenting with more Afro-rhythms and Caribbean influences.

After recording three proper EPs (Too Many Creeps, Boom In the Night, and Rituals), the band split up in 1983 upon the release of a live cassette entitled Wild Things. A further compilation of the band's material saw the light of day (albeit also on cassette) in 1989, and it wasn't until 1995, a year before the initial lineup would reform, that the band saw their first proper cd release, a compilation entitled Boom in the Night, which would collect all their previous efforts. In 1996, the band would record a new record entitled Beauty Lies, picking back up briefly from where they left off. After another decade of inactivity, the band released a combination compilation/record this year, entitled Very Very Happy, which features a handful of new tracks and a series of re-recorded tunes from their past, updating these songs and recording them as they were meant to be heard. The band is currently active and playing shows in East USA, so catch them if you can!

For your listening pleasure (and with the blessing of the Bush Tetra's promotions dept./label), I've uploaded a duo of Bush Tetras tracks: the first is the title track from their 1981 Boom In the Night EP and the second, the freshly re-recorded take on their initial breakthrough single, 'Too Many Creeps'- plucked from 2007's Very Very Happy.

download Bush Tetras- 'Things That Go Boom in the Night'
download Bush Tetras- 'Too Many Creeps (2007 version)'

and for your viewing pleasure...here's the band performing 'Too Many Creeps' live during NYC's Ladyfest*East festival in 2002.



To pick up some Bush Tetras material on CD, check out these links:
Roir Online
CD Baby dot com

Shox- 'No Turning Back' 7''

Sorry for the delay, ladies and gents...I've had computer trouble for a few days, and as of this morning (fingers crossed) I've gotten things back up and running, with only a few gigs of music completely lost. That said, here's a quick Friday treat.

Shox were a British wave trio comprising Mike Atkinson, Jaqui Brookes and John Peters. They released only two tracks in 1980, comprising one of the first four Axis 7'' singles, just before the label rechristened itself as 4AD that same year.

Not at all sure what happened to the three Shox members after this lone recording appearance...but without any further ado, here's both sides of the No Turning Back 7''.

download Shox- 'No Turning Back'
download Shox- 'Lying There'

These two tracks can also be purchased digitally via this link to 4AD's homepage:

Shox on 4AD dot com

Stay tuned next week for more resumed activity (*fingers crossed*), including an album request, a post on NYC locals Bell Hollow, and a bit of new material from the legendary Bush Tetras!