Opus Finis- Opus Finis CD-R

Opus Finis is a currently active two man minimal wave outfit hailing from Miami Beach, Florida. They are part of the recent upsurge and rekindling of the minimal wave movement, and in cahoots with NYC's Wierd Records. Other information is hard to come by, as the band seems relatively new and underground. Perhaps their shroud of mystery is intentional...

The band's discography consists of one recent 7'' single, two tracks on the vinyl-only Wierd Compilation, and one extremely limited CD-R from 2006, the latter which I've uploaded for your listening pleasure.

Details:


Opus Finis- Opus Finis CD-R

1. Fortress
2. Ad Pondus Omnium
3. Psychological Carousels
4. Adjust
5. Malacoda
6. Scrying Formation

*download it here*

Here's a clip of the band performing 'Scrying Formation' live in 2006:



If you're of the myspace generation, drop the band a note:
Opus Finis on myspace

Clint Ruin & Lydia Lunch- Stinkfist 12''/(Don't Fear) the Reaper 12''

Today's post features two collaborative 12'' singles from two of NYC no-wave's greatest. Clint Ruin (a.k.a. Foetus, Jim Thirwell) and Lydia Lunch (ex-Teenage Jesus and the Jerks) dated a spell in the late eighties/early nineties, and during the scuzz-punk romance of the century, cut two 12'' singles. Aside from the covers that grace the second single, the original material is as dissonant and heavy-hitting as each of the pair's own work.

Details:


Clint Ruin & Lydia Lunch- Stinkfist 12'' (1987)
1. Stinkfist
2. Meltdown Oratorio
3. Son of Stink
4. The Crumb*

*feat. Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth on guitar.



Clint Ruin & Lydia Lunch- (Don't Fear) The Reaper 12'' (1991)
1. (Don't Fear) The Reaper (orig. by Blue Oyster Cult)
2. Clinch
3. Serpentine
4. Why Don't We Do It In the Road? (orig. by the Beatles)

*download both here*

Though no proper recording of this exists, here's the pair performing the Stones' 'Sympathy for the Devil' at a concert in 2001.

Baroque Bordello- Today 12'' / Via LP

Another French coldwave request fulfilled, as I've uploaded the first two releases by Baroque Bordello, who formed in 1981 and disbanded seven years later. The band was primarily female fronted, with a very driving keyboard and drum driven sound. Like most coldwave acts, Baroque Bordello sung in both French and English. Their discography consists of two full-length LPs and one 12'' single (their debut produced by ex-Cure member/co-founder Lol Tolhurst). A two disc retrospective was released by Infrastition a few years back, which comprises their entire discography. A limited edition version was released which contains a bonus disc of demo recordings.

In 1988, the band signed to Polydoor records, shortened its name to Baroque, and released one 12'' single before disbanding. Also, it seems as if there are a handful bands who've gone by the name Baroque Bordello, all unrelated. The latest has been active in the new millennium, but is not a reformed lineup of the band.

Without any further ado, details proper for their first two releases:



Baroque Bordello- Today 12'' (1984)
1. Today
2. From Your Eyes
3. Les Algues



Baroque Bordello- Via LP (1985)
1. Voyageur
2. Marie Chinese
3. L'autre
4. Baby doll
5. I and I
6. Comme Toujours
7. Squares (Join the Room)

*download both here*

For anyone interested in nabbing the official Baroque Bordello retrospective (and several other coldwave reissues), here's Infrastition's homepage.

Infrastition dot com

Boytronic- The Working Model LP

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 Holger Wobker from the first lineup, and Hayo Panarinfo from the second, and continues to this day, releasing records and performing live.

Details:

Boytronic- The Working Model LP

1. Recycled

2. Luna Square

3. Diamonds and Loving Arms

4. Red Chips

5. You

6. (I Want To Live) In Harmony

7. My Baby Lost Its Way

8. You're the One Who Stays

9. At Last

*download it here*

Here's the video for 'Diamonds and Loving Arms':

For any curious parties:
Boytronic dot com

Mary Goes Round- 70 Suns in the Sky LP

Fulfilling a request for today with the first full length from late 80s coldwave band Mary Goes Round, released in 1989 on Lively Art Records. Mary Goes Round existed under various monikers as far back as 1986, supporting Sonic Youth on select tour dates. The band, consisting primarily ofJérôme Avril and Cécile Balladino (with various other members coming and going throughout their career), released a handful of albums and a few singles before calling it quits in 1991. These days, Jérôme is involved with a new project, entitled Brachko.

Details:


Mary Goes Round- 70 Suns in the Sky
1. Mary's Garden
2. On my Way Back Home
3. Useless Day
4. Clouds and Clouds
5. Who Believes in Better Days ?
6. Eagle
7. Any Mary I See
8. The Nile Song (Pink Floyd cover)
9. Nightfall
10. Kiss me Love
11. Pink Shadow
12. She Said
13. Doubts

*download it here*

I've also stumbled upon the video for 'Mary's Garden,' a very colorful and psychedelic affair. Watch below!



Mary Goes Round dot com, for anyone interested in more images, a full discography, and selected tidbits of information...

Zero Le Crêche- Falling 12/7'' and Last Year's Wife 12''

Today's band is Zero Le Creche, a UK-based post-punk/deathrock outfit whose sound bridged a gap between the catchy drawl of Psychedelic Furs and the atmosphere of Bauhaus. The band appeared during the legendary Batcave era in the Britian's early 80s scene and released only two singles during their tenure, each with a different singer (the second does resemble the Furs' Richard Butler a fair amount.) They disbanded lickety-split, and for ages these two singles became sparse and cherished classics. However, there's recently been rumors of a potential reunion, and the band is releasing both these singles and various outtakes on CD in the very near future.

I've uploaded both 1984's Last Year's Wife 12'' and 1985's Falling 12'' for your listening pleasure. There also exists a 7'' version of Last Year's Wife with a slightly different recording of the title track, so I've included that too, to complete their original discography.

Details:


Zero Le Crêche- Last Year's Wife 12''
1. Last Year's Wife (12'' version)
2. Women Say
3. Fall to Dust



Zero Le Crêche- Falling 12''
1. Falling
2. Beyond Westworld
3. Terminal Tracks

*download them here*

You can nab a CD-R version of various tracks through the band's website, though as mentioned above, a proper collection should appear shortly. Here's the band's home page, for curious parties:

Zero Le Crêche dot com

7'' grab bag

A bit of an experiment to kick off the week, as I've uploaded four 7'' records in one zip file. A few of these artists have next to nothing in their discography, so don't necessarily justify they're own unique post or have much information available, but these are excellent releases all the same. A brief blurb about each:



Après Demain- Arpakuutio 7''
1. Arpakuutio
2. Dans La Nuit

French post-punk band, release from 1983. The band sounds like a female-fronted (Dirk Wears White Sox era) Adam & the Ants or a similar sounding Au Pairs, singing entirely in their native tongue. Funky, jerky, and abrasive.



Carol & Snowy Red- Breakdown 7''
1. Breakdown
2. So Low

Early Snowy Red release from 1981, collaborating with a mysterious singer named Carol. Smooth sounding minimal wave from Belgium. Though Snowy Red was a one-man project that split in 1989, it seems as if the band reunited in 2004 as a duo for a few select shows in their home country.



Das Kabinette- The Cabinet 7''
1. The Cabinet
2. Fudge It

Synthpop of the classic variety- a three piece band from the UK whose only release was this Cabinet of Dr. Caligari inspired 7'' in 1983, a classic slice of energetic wave music. The flip is a remix of the respective A-side.



Martin Dupont- Your Passion 7''
1. Your Passion
2. Lost And Late

First release by French electronic/coldwave act Martin Dupont, from 1982. The three piece band would release three full lengths and one rare cassette before disbanding towards the end of the eighties. The A-side is an atmospheric female/male fronted jam, whilst the flip is an energetic, bass driven electro-punk song, documenting the band's split personality.


*download all four releases here*

L'Enfance Éternelle- Le Jour Des Fous LP

Some more coldwave of the French variety for you folks today...The band is L'Enfance Éternelle, formed in 1983. The band rose to prominence in their home country, appearing on television and touring with similar bands Opera De Nuit and Babel 17, but hardly broke further than France, a plague that most of coldwave (and minimal) bands fell to. The band would release two short LPs during their tenure, and demoed material for their third record before splitting in 1990. Members formed their own bands, including the likes of Garlic Frog Diet, and Bob's Your Uncle.

I've uploaded their first record, 1986's Le Jour Des Fous, which was recorded live in concert, crowd noise and all.

Details:


L'Enfance Éternelle- Le Jour Des Fous LP
1. Violet Winter
2. Gaminas
3. The Smile Of An Clown
4. Behind The Beauty
5. Consumed Passion
6. Shine Of Passion

*download it here*

If anyone's French is in working order, here's links for both the band's homepage and myspace profile. Also, the band has released their entire discography on a two-disc collection on Infrastition records (notorious for their re-releases of classic coldwave records), so if you've got the money and means, pick it up!

homepage
myspace fan profile
Infrastition dot com

Radio Free Europe- Laughoncue LP

Ladies and gentlemen, I present you today with Radio Free Europe's lone LP, Laughoncue. Though a synthpunk/minimal wave band in theory, this US-based act has more in common with the strange art-experimentations of Bene Gesserit or Throbbing Gristle than say, The Screamers or Units, but all the same, this record is an interesting and captivating release.

Little is known about the band, as their discography begins with a few 7'' singles in 1979, and ends with this record, released in 1980. If anyone has any further information about the band, feel free to pass it on!

Details:


Radio Free Europe- Laughoncue LP
1. Shock Corridor
2. It Likes You
3. Suggested Re-entry
4. Occupation of France
5. Fulda Gap
6. Adada
7. Falling Million Years
8. Whore of Babylon
9. A Couple Screams
10. Time between Seconds
11. Heart of the Matter

*download it here*

Silicon Teens- Music For Parties LP

Today's artist is Silicon Teens, a fictional UK outfit spearheaded by the infamous Daniel Miller, head of independent wave label Mute Records. After two releases under The Normal (both the famous 'Warm Leatherette' 7'' and an experimental live recording with Robert Rental), Miller took to his synths to record a series of updated (and somewhat campy) 50s/60s rock n'roll tunes (alongside two originals), adopting a false 'teen' band to handle any budding press. Fad Gadget's Frank Tovey would act as lead vocalist during interviews as the remainder of the 'band' was portrayed by various actors, however, every note and vocal take was recorded by Miller himself.

Though one track from the Silicon Teens' lone release appeared on the soundtrack for Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, the 1980 record had little impact or chart success, and rumour claims that Mute would sign Depeche Mode soon after blowing the lid off the project in attempts to successfully market a true teen wave act.

Details:


Silicon Teens- Music For Parties LP
1. Memphis, Tennessee
2. Yesterday Man
3. Doo-Wah-Diddy-Diddy
4. T.V. Playtime
5. You Really Got Me
6. Chip N' Roll
7. Do You Love Me?
8. Let's Dance
9. Oh Boy
10. Sweet Little Sixteen
11. State of Shock (Pt. 2)
12. Just Like Eddie
13. Red River Rock
14. Judy In Disguise
15. Let's Dance
16. Sun Flight

*download it here*

...and for your viewing pleasure, here's the promotional video for 'Memphis, Tennessee,' feat. Frank Tovey as the leader of the band:

join: the podcast set

I've always wanted to try my hand at podcasting, even with no more than basic knowledge of the Audacity program, so I've spent this otherwise sickly day creating my very first, and I've decided to upload it here for any interested parties. Feedback welcome! More to come in the future!



Systems of Romance: Podcast 1

1. Lives of Angels- 'Pavilion'
2. Adult.- 'Hand to Phone (Cordless Mix)'
3. Cabaret Voltaire- 'Why Kill Time When You Can Kill Yourself'
4. Jeff & Jane Hudson- 'Pound Pound'
5. De Press- 'The Fatal Day'
6. Silent Signals- 'Banshee Girl'
7. Ciccone Youth- 'Into the Groove(y)'
8. Colin Newman- 'Order For Order'
9. Dandi Wind- 'Monster Dinosaur'
10. The Ecstasy of Saint Theresa- 'Fluidum'
11. Charles de Goal- 'Synchro'
12. The Chameleons- 'Dali's Picture'
13. Deutsch-Amerikanische Freundschaft- 'Kebab Traume'
14. Pluramon- 'Hello Shadow'
15. For Against- 'Shine'
16. The Knife- 'Girls Night Out'
17. Crass- 'Our Wedding'

*download it here*

Screamers- Demos '77-'78 LP

Today's band may not need much introduction, for even having not released a single full length record, their impact is immeasurable. Arguably the first synthpunk band (though perhaps Suicide and Devo may deserve further pioneering credit), Screamers hailed from the inner recesses of LA, and were among the first wave of the initial punk explosion. Unusually (especially at the time), the band incorporated tape loops, electric pianos, and synthesizers into their sound, mixing with the usual manic antics of the punk movement.

Screamers initially formed in 1975 as The Tupperwares, but were forced to change their name in lieu of legal action. From 1977 until their demise in 1979, the band became a LA sensation, selling out various clubs in California. Their trademark spiked hair and manic demon faces (both as their logo and part of the band's image) became highly recognized symbols of the era. The band split before recording a proper full length (though they attempted to record a video record release, as their sound was arguably aided more by their visual presence), with Paul Roessler joining LA's second synthpunk act, Nervous Gender soon after. Not much is known about the other member's whereabouts, though singer Tomata du Plenty passed away in 2000.

Several bootleg releases comprised of live tapes or rehearsal demos were released in the band's aftermath, as interest in Screamers rose as their followers (such as the Dead Kennedys, whose vocalist Jello Biafra sung their praises) gained more notoriety. I've uploaded one of these releases, the Demos 77-78 LP.

Details:


Screamers- Demos 77-78 LP
1. The Beat Goes On
2. Thru the Flames
3. Sex Boy
4. If I Can't Have What I Want (I Don't Want Anything)
5. She's the Girl
6. I Wanna Hurt
7. 122 Hours of Fear (Part 1)
8. 122 Hours of Fear (Part 2)
9. Punish Or Be Damned
10. Government Love Affair
11. Peer Pressure
12. In a Better World
13. Vertigo
14. Magazine Love
15. It's a Violent World

*download it here*

...and for your viewing pleasure, here's live footage of the band performing 'I'm Going Steady With Twiggy' in 1977:

Zshare

Zshare link for the Basking Sharks record now live and well! Download away!

Basking Sharks- Shark Island LP

A request fulfillment for my first of the year, folks... This is UK wave act Basking Shark's full length record Shark Island, released in 1983. Upon second look, I am still unable to find information about this band aside from a scant discography, but if you want to hear more from them, check my previous post on the Diamond Age 7'' here.

Details:


Basking Sharks- Shark Island LP
1. Red Rose
2. Starusfa
3. Friends Of Bill
4. Charm
5. View From The Hill
6. Back To Africa
7. Forget
8. Blue Cross
9. The Dive
10. Put It Off
11. Croatia
12. Little Death

*download it here*

To purchase the band's best of, Back in the Deep Water, according to a comment left in my last Basking Sharks post, feel free to email baskingsharksnet@hotmail.com for more info. Also, though it hasn't launched yet, seems as if there will be an official web-hub coming soon at baskingsharks.net.