Here's a rare cassette release by a band from the Netherlands called Das Ding, one of many in a line of fantastic European minimal synth bands. Not a ton of information to be gathered about these guys, but the cassette is one of three releases, their first appearing in 1982 and the final in 1985. Not sure when this one hails from, but if anyone in the peanut gallery knows, feel free to chime in. Otherwise, here's the information proper:
Das Ding- Highly Sophisticated Technological Achievement Cassette 1. Oradour Sur Glane 2. Sad But True 3. Parental Malpractice 4. H.S.T.A. 5. Jazz 6. Reassurance Ritual
DOWNLOAD LINK REMOVED: Click HERE to purchase the reissue LP from Minimal Wave!
Stay tuned next week for a slew of donated materials!
Meanwhile, thanks to a generous donation and a quick home conversion this morning, I am pleased to offer the final piece in November Group's discography, the oft-coveted NG89 Cassette, released only in this format in 1989, shortly before the group disbanded.
I was only able to take a photo of the tape's cover before leaving this morning, but I will add further images over the next day or so. In the interim, here's the information for this last piece of the November Group puzzle!
November Group- NG89 Cassette 1. Ahoy Ivan 2. Hardtimes 3. This is Not Heaven
Here's the first of two short posts for the day. Uploaded below, we have the lone 12'' by minimal wave/synthpop band Doppler Effect. As there were two bands who went by this name as early as the 1980s, there's little information to be found on this particular act, but I do believe they're a four/five piece American band, at the very least. Otherwise, this particular 12'' features three hi-energy wave tracks, essential for any aspiring DJ. The final track on the 12'', "Four Day Romance" has been compiled and included among several classic minimal wave gems. Meanwhile, the band seems to have contributed two stand-alone tracks on the 1984 compilation Hit the Floor but the jury's still out about the origin of these tracks.
If anyone has any further information about this band or the above noted release, feel free to drop a note. Otherwise, here's the information for this particular 12'', released in 1988.
Doppler Effect- Hard At Work 12'' 1. Hard At Work 2. I Don't Wanna Be Your Man 3. Four Day Romance
Thanks to all the great donations as of late! There's some good stuff kicking around in comments lately, some of which I'll be re-zipping up over the next week or so, but in the meanwhile, here's a generous email donation from Craig, containing a vast majority of UK post-punk band Airstrip 1's material. Little info is available on these guys, though they did change their name from Airstrip 1 to Airstrip One (I know, not much difference) over the course of their short existence on Polydor Records. According to discogs, the uploaded collection contains a majority of their 12'' vinyl releases, but is missing a few rare promo-only remixes. Here's what's contained below:
(cassette images by Craig)
Airstrip 1- Collection 1. Nothing is Forever 2. Fiction 3. Vodka Cola 4. New Messiah 5. Nothing is Forever (Remix) 6. Longer to Live 7. English Guns 8. Crime 9. Social Fools (Extended Version) 10. All Fall Down 11. Satellite (12'' Remix)
The first four tracks hail from a very rare cassette, released, to my understanding, with a xerox sleeve and DIY hand-written label. Meanwhile, the rest of the tracks hail from 12'' releases. Tracks 6-8 hail from the Longer to Live 12'', released in 1981, while tracks 10 and 11 hail from the Satellite 12''. Track 9 is plucked from the respective 12''. Aside from the Longer to Live 12'', the other 12'' tracks hail from 1982.
What's missing: "Satellite" (7'', if there is a difference between the two) and various promo-only remixes of "Social Fools," but this looks to be the lot. If anyone has these remixes, feel free to drop a note below!
Craig has been kind enough to upload the two missing Airstrip 1 promo remixes of Social Fools, so here they are via Mediafire! A million thanks to Craig for the donations!
Just a brief bit here to address something. I have removed my email address from the side bars and profiles due to an overwhelming amount of inappropriate emails from band managers and promoters. In short, I am all for discovering and promoting new music, but the amount of emails coming in promoting music that is in no way appropriate for this blog has been overwhelming and downright annoying.
I used to try giving each a whirl, and it's not that the majority of them are bad (though some are), it's just not what this blog is meant for. Any new artist I promote on these pages is at my own discretion and at my own discovery, and are truly new artists I believe in 100%. So if you see this, please think twice about sending an email with an EPK, myspace profile, links, or lengthy review poaching, because chances are, it will end up in the digital trash box.
To those eager to send a more appropriate email about bands in question, requests, and the sort, I apologise for cutting off the most direct form of communication, but should you need to be in touch, please leave comments in the blog and I will get back to you posthaste.
Kisses, ~FT
PS- Stay tuned over the next day or two for some rare Airstrip 1 material!
Sorry for the burp in the system. Not quite ready to close the doors here just yet, despite the one post takedown. I understand the reasons behind it, and many thanks to the bands who have been cordial and asked to have their links removed graciously. I've always been more than happy to comply, especially with reissues becoming more and more commonplace. The sad truth remains, there's still a slew of out-of-print wave and post-punk music that's sadly been forgotten, save the efforts of passionate fans, so let's try to keep that focus running here for as long as possible.
That said, today's post features a rather curious experimental gem. After hearing one tune by Turning Shrines, I found it difficult to track down any further material from the band. I was lucky enough to find the band's one full length record, 1988's Cinnabar & Porcelain, in a local record bin, so I snapped it up and ripped it. The band is essentially the brainchild of Boston musician Fred Giannelli, who was involved in various incarnations of Psychic TV, among several pioneering techno acts throughout the nineties. Turning Shrines lone 12'' and album were released on Temple Records, the independent label run by Genesis P-Orridge as an outlet for a decade's worth of PTV material.
Meanwhile, Cinnibar & Porcelain is a curious effort. The first side is made up of experimental song fragments, few of which run over 2 minutes long. The second side of the LP is a 23 minute long eponymous track, composed of several similar sound experiments held together by a thread. There's a bit of confusion between both the record's sleeve, the discogs listing (which my record completely contradicts), and the music itself, so I've done my best to stick to the sleeve's tracklist, though there is still a few minutes worth of uncataloged music on the rip below. Every note is still in place, however, so if anyone has any proper information as to the names and identities of the handful of fragments, feel free to share. Otherwise, here's the information for this fantastic experimental LP:
Turning Shrines- Cinnibar & Porcelain LP 1. Are You Experienced? 2. Wonderful Gift 3. Mystification 4. 23 Stillings St 5. Iron Nights 6. The Process 7. Cinnabar & Porcelain
*download link removed by request*
I'm not sure if the link is still good, but there's a more informative post on Turning Shrines and Giannelli on Small Room Reverb blog. Also, take a peek at Gianelli's wikipedia page for more information on his various other projects!
Stay tuned for more from Systems of Romance, including a few rare Airstrip 1 donations!
Just ripped this one up this morning for a chum and figured I'd post it here for you folks to enjoy as well. I've already covered B-Movie in the past, but that particular record doesn't hold much of a candle to most of their earlier single work, even though both tracks on this particular 12'' appear in re-recorded form on Forever Running. In fact, the two featured tracks have been re-recorded countless times, and I've lost track of just how many versions of these two songs exist. Fortunately, they're both fantastic slices of synth-based post-punk.
This particular single has also been re-released several times over, via original label Some Bizzare and various other labels since its original appearance in 1980. This particular one was issued on Sire in 1982, but my copy still boasts the Some Bizzare logo. Curious. Anyway, without any further ado, here's the information.
I may have the previous versions of the single (most with exclusive b-sides and alternate versions) kicking around in digital form, for any interested parties.
I'm pleased to offer this generous donation, a complete (audio only) Fiat Lux concert stripped lovingly from a VHS cassette and passed my way just a few days back. Entitled Commercial Breakdown, the show dates back to 1985, featuring a nine song set, with the studio version of "Secrets" being played both before and after, in video form.
The entire show is viewable in three parts on youtube, by searching for "Fiat Lux- Commercial Breakdown," but for those interested in the audio, here's the breakdown:
Fiat Lux- Commercial Breakdown VHS 1. Intro 2. Secrets (Video) 3. Blue Emotion 4. Photography 5. No More Proud 6. Sleepless Nightmare 7. The Moment 8. Comfortable Life 9. Embers 10. Splurge 11. House of Thorns 12. Secrets (Reprise)
Here's a little something different for any more open-minded readers of the blog. I've flirted with ambient and neofolk-esque material before on these back pages (mainly by way of Les Joyaux de la Princesse), but haven't develed in completely. But here's a rare pioneering gem from a band that predates the movement, and serves as a huge inspiration to any future projects, especially Current 93.
Comus formed in England, taking their name from both a Greek God and respective John Milton piece. The band received an early boost from David Bowie, who picked the band to open for the singer back in 1969. Two years later, the Comus' debut album,First Utterance appeared. Blending psychedelic music with folk rock, and adding a bit of dark edge, the band has since inspired the likes of Current 93 (who covered the album's opener and single) as well as a legion of Black Metal bands.
Comus released one more record before disbanding. Released three years later, it was a far more commercial, yet still captivating affair. However, the band has since reunited in 2009, and are planning to release a new record as soon as it is completed.
With that said, here's the information for the band's haunting 1971 debut.
Comus- First Utterance LP 1. Diana 2. The Herald 3. Drip Drip 4. Song to Comus 5. The Bite 6. Bitten 7. The Prisoner
I've been enamored with UK synthpop/new wave band Fiat Lux's killer track "Secrets," which was lovingly deposited into my collection a few weeks back. Since then, I've been trying to track down the band's complete discography, piecing together extended mixes, 7'' recordings, and as many unreleased tracks as I could muster, and I'm finally able to offer what I believe to be the complete discography of Fiat Lux. Though no track is as gloomy and delicious as "Secrets," there are still quite a few obscure new wave cuts ripe for the discovery.
Fiat Lux, firstly, translates from Latin as "Let There Be Light," originally a Biblical quotation. The three piece band formed in 1982, releasing a handful of Polydor singles along a three year period before disbanding in 1985. Though a few of these singles were collected as a mini-LP, Fiat Lux never issued a full-length album proper. Upon disbanding, vocalist Steve Wright joined Camera Obscura and formed Hoi Poloi. Meanwhile, multi-instrumentalist Dave Crickmore is currently a member of Durbervilles. Unfortunately however, saxophonist/keyboardist Ian Nelson (brother of be-bop musician Bill Nelson), died in his sleep in 2006.
Anyway, according to HiredHistory, a comprehensive fan made page, the following is Fiat Lux's entire discography collected. There's a few tracks that overlap, so please forgive the occasional dose of redundancy. Otherwise, I've also tracked down a handful of unreleased tracks, demoed over the years but never officially released. I'm on the hunt for more and will keep everyone posted if they turn up. Otherwise, without any further ado, here's the rundown:
Feels Like Winter Again 7'' (1982) 1. Feels Like Winter Again 2. This Illness
Photography 7'' (1983) 1. Photography 2. Aqua Vitae
Photography 12'' (1983) 1. Photography (Extended) 2. Aqua Vitae (Extended)
Secrets 12''* (1983) 1. Secrets 2. Comfortable Life 3. Aqua Vitae (Extended)
*there exists a 7'' of "Secrets," but the A and B side are the same as the 12''.
Blue Emotion 7'' (1984) 1. Blue Emotion 2. Sleepless Nightmare
Blue Emotion 12'' (1984) 1. Blue Emotion (Extended) 2. Sleepless Nightmare (Extended)
Hired History Mini-LP (1984) 1. Secrets 2. Photography (Extended) 3. Blue Emotion (Extended) 4. Comfortable Life 5. Sleepless Nightmare (Extended) 6. Aqua Vitae
House of Thorns 7'' (1984) 1. House of Thorns 2. Three's Company
House of Thorns 12'' (1984) 1. House of Thorns (Extended) 2. Three's Company (Extended) 3. Sally Free and Easy
Solitary Lovers 7'' (1984) 1. Solitary Lovers 2. No More Proud
Solitary Lovers 12'' (1984) 1. Solitary Lovers (Extended) 2. No More Proud (Proud Mix) 3. No More Proud (Dub Mix)
Unreleased Traxx: 1. Breaking the Boundary 2. The Moment 3. Solitary Lovers (Alt.) 4. Splurge
All of these tracks are sorely out of print, but perhaps the remaining members of the band can clean 'em up for a proper reissue. Otherwise, if you catch wind of any of these releases, snap them up! Otherwise, thanks again to HiredHistory for all their dedicated efforts in cataloging this band's brief stint. Visit for more on the band, including press photos, gigography, and more information than you can shake a stick at! Otherwise, I'll leave you with one final treat, a playful video performance (studio cut) of "Blue Emotion."
Here's a little something different for any more open-minded readers of the blog. I've flirted with ambient and neofolk-esque material before on these back pages (mainly by way of Les Joyaux de la Princesse), but haven't develed in completely. But here's a rare pioneering gem from a band that predates the movement, and serves as a huge inspiration to any future projects, especially Current 93. 
I've been enamored with UK synthpop/new wave band Fiat Lux's killer track "Secrets," which was lovingly deposited into my collection a few weeks back. Since then, I've been trying to track down the band's complete discography, piecing together extended mixes, 7'' recordings, and as many unreleased tracks as I could muster, and I'm finally able to offer what I believe to be the complete discography of Fiat Lux. Though no track is as gloomy and delicious as "Secrets," there are still quite a few obscure new wave cuts ripe for the discovery.
