When I think of the best UK bands, few spring to mind quicker than B-Movie. I've covered them twice here before, once with their 1985 LP Forever Running and then a few years later with their unstoppable Nowhere Girl 12''. I've been meaning to upload their earlier singles for some time now, probably years, but it just slipped through the cracks. I hope you'll forgive me, folks.
That said, contained within this zip file is the majority of B-Movie's early works, starting from their first 12''s in 1980 and spanning until 1982. Quite a prolific period for the band, with most of their best songs being issued in this two year time period. I've left out the original 12'' I covered, which you can get here, but I have included the b-side to the 7'' and certain 12'' editions. Here's the rundown:
B-Movie- Take Three 7'' (1980) 1. The Soldier Stood Alone 2. Drowning Man 3. Soundtrack
B-Movie- Nowhere Girl (1980) 1. Nowhere Girl 2. This Still Life 3. Institution Walls 4. Airplanes & Mountains 5. Left Out In The Cold 6. Remembrance Day
B-Movie- Remembrance Day 12'' (1981) 1. Remembrance Day 2. Institution Walls (Remix)
B-Movie- Marilyn Dreams 7'' (1981) 1. Marilyn Dreams 2. Film Music Part 1 bonus- Marilyn Dreams (Extended Version)- from 12''
B-Movie- Nowhere Girl 7'' (1982) 1. Nowhere Girl (Short Version) 2. Scare Some Life Into Me
Here's the entire discography for Beograd, a killer Serbian minimal synth project formed in 1981. Beginning as a four piece, the band would most often appear as a trio, who recorded the majority of the band's output, including one 7'' and one full length LP. Surprised I haven't seen either of these posted through the usual channels, as each of these releases are essential, in my opinion.
The band didn't stay together very long, splitting up in 1983. One of the members would then release a 12'' with Haj'mo, which I'd love to hear if anyone has a copy kicking around. That all said, here's both of the band's releases, zipped up for yr enjoyment!
Beograd- Sanjaš Li U Boji? 7'' (1981)* 1. Sanjaš Li U Boji? 2. T.V.
*My donated copy has the a-side and the b-side switched, with T.V. as the a-side. Hope you kids don't mind too much...
Beograd- Remek Depo LP (1983) 1. Opasne Igre 2. Ulice Su Noćas 3. Ko Si 4. Japan (Made In East) 5. Mrak 6. Kontrolori 7. Modni Kroj 8. Soba 9. Beg
I have a few more posts lined up for the week, but a lot on the slate. Maybe I'll toss another one or two up today to keep you all satiated for now! Either way, stay tuned for more goodies to come follow.
Today's artist should need no introduction, as he's a member of several pioneering electronic acts including the likes of Throbbing Gristle and Chris and Cosey/Carter Tutti. Though Chris Carter lent his skills primarily to these outfits, the English musician recorded several of his own more electronic and less abrasive pieces on the side.
This particular release, Carter's first solo outing, consists of several synth/wave instrumental recordings made in the legendary Throbbing Gristle studio. Though it's been re-released several times over (never on vinyl), The Space Between originally appeared in cassette form, with little information and no tracklisting. The original pressing was released on TG's Industrial Records, while subsequent CD reissues appeared on Elektra and The Grey Area.
Without any further ado, here's the information for the record, and the link for your perusal:
Chris Carter- The Space Between Cassette 1. Beat 2. Outreach 3. Electrodub 1 4. Clouds 5. Reprise 6. Electrodub 2 7. Poptone 8. Slomo 9. Walkabout 10. Maybe 11. Falling 12. Solidit 13. Snap 14. Interloop 15. Resonance
Thanks to a generous donation from Kevin Crow, I am pleased to offer the long lost I'm So Hollow peel session, recorded on the 13th of August, 1980. Two of the tracks are exclusive to this release, not recorded or released in any other form. The first two, however, appear on their debut 7'', 1980's Dreams to Fill the Vacuum and their 1981 full length, Emotion/Sound/Motion, respectively. You can download their entire discography here!
Here's the Peel Session info:
I'm So Hollow- Peel Session 8.13.80 1. Dreams to Fill the Vacuum 2. Which Way? 3. Monotony 4. Fashion
I've compressed the FLAC files to 192 kpbs for those less picky, but will also make the original files available for anyone interested in superior quality. Granted, these sessions are sourced from a cassette tape, but every little bit counts, eh?
Thanks to a generous donation from Kevin Crow, I am pleased to offer the long lost I'm So Hollow peel session, recorded on the 13th of August, 1980. Two of the tracks are exclusive to this release, not recorded or released in any other form. The first two, however, appear on their debut 7'', 1980's Dreams to Fill the Vacuum and their 1981 full length, Emotion/Sound/Motion, respectively. You can download their entire discography here!
Here's the Peel Session info:
I'm So Hollow- Peel Session 8.13.80 1. Dreams to Fill the Vacuum 2. Which Way? 3. Monotony 4. Fashion
I've compressed the FLAC files to 192 kpbs for those less picky, but will also make the original files available for anyone interested in superior quality. Granted, these sessions are sourced from a cassette tape, but every little bit counts, eh?
I originally touched on San Francisco synthpunk legends Units back in July 2006, so let's flesh that post out a little bit with their lone full length release, 1980's Digital Stimulation, which features a rerecorded version of 'Warm Moving Bodies.' The original version can be nabbed from the 2006 overview post, alongside a more detailed profile of the band. Otherwise, here's the info proper:
1. High Pressure Days 2. Digital Stimulation 3. Warm Moving Bodies 4. Go 5. Mission 6. Cannibals 7. Bugboy 8. Tight Fit 9. Passion Or Patterns 10. Town By The River 11. Cowboy
I originally touched on San Francisco synthpunk legends Units back in July 2006, so let's flesh that post out a little bit with their lone full length release, 1980's Digital Stimulation, which features a rerecorded version of 'Warm Moving Bodies.' The original version can be nabbed from the 2006 overview post, alongside a more detailed profile of the band. Otherwise, here's the info proper:
1. High Pressure Days 2. Digital Stimulation 3. Warm Moving Bodies 4. Go 5. Mission 6. Cannibals 7. Bugboy 8. Tight Fit 9. Passion Or Patterns 10. Town By The River 11. Cowboy
Here's a fun little gem for you folks today... Below lies the first album by Family Fodder, an idiosyncratic London-based synth band active from 1979-1983 (though they officially formed in 1975). The four piece act consisted of Media Fodder and her three brothers Tod, Rod, and God, obviously a clever lot of pseudonyms, as their discogs.com page reveals a sizeable lot of collaborative members, far more than four, with Alig Pearce being the only consistant member.
Family Fodder released two full lengths and several quirky 7'' singles to a sizable cult following. Their fellowship with experimental post-punk act This Heat also helped bring the band to a bit of underground prominence.
Their music was generally playful, a hint of dub and reggae mixed with absurd, blissful pop, with synthpunk and sometimes experimental instrumentation. Most of the lyrics were also sung in French, courtesy of original vocalist Dominique Levillain, a combination rumored to be of some significant influence over Stereolab. Over the years, the band reformed several times over, recording and releasing sporadically since their initial demise in 1983. A handful of greatest hits collections have also appeared over the years, attempting to collect the band's initial singles and best moments.
I've uploaded their first proper LP, 1980's Monkey Banana Kitchen, which features 'Savior Faire,' an infectious little tune I can't get enough of these days. Here's the details and download information for the LP:
Family Fodder- Monkey Banana Kitchen LP 1. Darling 2. Symbols 3. Savoir Faire 4. Cold Wars 5. Monkey 6. Wrong 7. Organ Grinder 8. Love Song 9. Bass Adds Bass 10. Philosophy 11. Cerf Volant 12. Banana
The only in-print Family Fodder disc seems to be one of the more recent compilations, a 42 track anthology that seems to include several of the band's hits, including alternate versions and more recent recordings. A definite must-have for fans of the band! Here's a link to purchase the collection, entitled More Great Hits!
Seems to be a myspace page available as well...Is it official? I can't tell you at the moment due to work-related securities, but take a peek and decide for yourselves:
Today calls for a little French electro-pop/minimal wave/whatever tag you want to put on these guys. It's hard to classify, as some songs are cheery as sin, while there's a hint of ice cold electronics throughout.
The band is Moderne, a French four piece formed in a town just south of Paris in 1979. Moderne released but two albums and a few 7''s, but each record featured a different vocalist. This is the first of the pair, a 1980 self-titled affair.
Moderne split soon after their second album L'Espionne Aimait La Musique was released, but have enjoyed some cult success with 'Switched on Bach,' a single pulled from their swan song, also featured on 2004's So Young But So Cold compilation.
Without any further ado, here's the info for Moderne's first record:
Moderne- Moderne LP 1. Indicatif 2. Séduction 3. Histoire Ordinaire 4. Electronique 5. Vers l'Est 6. Rock'n Roll Stars 7. Sans Signalement
*download link removed*
Minimal Wave, the fantastic NYC-based label known for collecting and reissuing obscure synth and wave gems has just recently released a double LP/CD, which contains both of Moderne's groundbreaking records! Click here to nab your copy while the getting is good!
Here's a request of sorts for a classic minimal synthpop gem. Xex were a more experimental wave band, formed in South River, New Jersey. They were a mysterious affair, releasing one record in 1980 and disappearing soon after. The band "began" as a high school kazoo trio. Member Waw Pierogi's interest in science led to several unique delay and echo experiments in the early years, most of which were employed on the band's debut. However, though outfit had little musical technique, their trials and experiments yielded several songs, and after their first performance, the original trio of Waw, Thumbalina Gugielmo, and Alex Zander brought in two of their friends/fans to round out the lineup. Thus, after several experiments and debates, Xex was officially born in 1978.
The band spent the next two years constructing several tracks utilizing minimal synth techniques, semi-conventional song structures, and male and female vocal experiments. Due to the nature of their project and the band's limited abilities, live shows were often inconsistent and humanistic, and often featured performance art and video accompianments.
The original pressing of Group:Xex sold little over a thousand copies. Soon after its release, additional members David Anderson and Jon-Boy Diode departed as Xex completed work on a second record, which due to limited funding and a since-deteriorated master tape, has not yet seen the light of day, and may never will. The original trio continued to work together along with new member Cookie Ruggerio (who previous involvement with the band was limited to walking a stuffed cat during a performance of 'Kitty'). Only a few tracks have surfaced, and mid 80s performances of the band did not include Waw Pierogi.
In 2004, cult interest in the band culminated in a proper reissue of Group:Xex, complete with several demo cuts from the band's original sessions. Just a year before, Alex Zander passed away from a heart attack.
Here's the information for the CD release of Group:Xex.
Xex- Group:Xex (reissue) 1. Fashion Hurts 2. You Think 3. Snga 4. Rome On $5 A Day 5. Party 6. Saint Vitus' Dance 7. Svetlana 8. Don't Blame Me 9. Holland Tunnel 10. Kitty 11. Cops 12. Delta Five 13. Fashion Hurts (Demo) 14. Svetlana (Demo) 15. Saint Vitus' Dance (Demo) 16. Cops (Demo) 17. You Think (Demo) 18. Snga (Demo)
I'm not sure how official this is, but a youtube search comes up with a clipped together video for 'Kitty,' so take a peek below:
This is one of the few available records I've posted as of late, so if you dig on these tracks, be sure to trash these mp3s post-haste and pick yourself up a copy of the cd reissue, which comes complete with extensive liner notes and further information about the band. Click below to order a copy!
Sorry for the duplicate post here, ladies and gentlemen. If you happened to download the I'm So Hollow zip file yesterday, delete it! I've since uncovered a vastly superior rip of the Emotion/Sound/Motion LP with all bass intact. If you happened to nab this record from Mutant Sounds in the past, delete that version too, as it's a similar rip to the one I posted yesterday. This one's the way to go. Otherwise, I also neglected to include the band's exclusive appearance on the Hicks In the Sticks compilation, so the lone track, 'I Don't Know' has also been included in the new zip file to complete the discography!
For today's post, I've uploaded the entire discography for Sheffield post-punk band I'm So Hollow, which is admittedly not a whole lot. The four piece band formed in 1978 and only lasted three years, splitting up after recording one 7'' single and one full length record. The band wet their feet opening up for the likes of Clock DVA, and have since developed a bit of a cult following due to their involvement in the Sheffield music scene, their peers including the Human League and Artery, among others. I'm So Hollow also managed to cut a John Peel session before disbanding. One exclusive song, also included below, has been compiled several times over since the band's demise.
I'm So Hollow- Dreams to Fill the Vacuum 7'' (1980) 1. Dreams To Fill The Vacuum 2. Distraction
I'm So Hollow- Emotion/Sound/Motion LP (1981) 1. Entrance 2. Which Way..? 3. Unbroken Line 4. Touch 5. Collisions 6. Excitement = Change 7. The Triangular Hour 8. Emotion / Sound / Motion 9. Nosferatu/Distraction
Various Artists: Hicks In the Sticks Compilation(1980) 13. I Don't Know
For your viewing pleasure, here's a live performance of 'Touch' taken from the Made In Sheffield DVD:
Lastly, a request for the peanut gallery: if anyone has a recording of the I'm So Hollow Peel Session, please send it my way! Pretty please with cherries?
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
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
Many pardons for the brief break. Many thanks to friends and readers for their support and encouragement this year! For the last post of 2007, I've uploaded an old favorite, a more experimental yet classic EP by UK outfit Rema-Rema.
Rema-Rema was a short lived 4AD outfit whose lone EP (4AD's 5th release) served as a post-punk/experimental classic, and kicked off the careers of several other seminal acts. The band consisted of Marco Pirroni (ex-original Banshee), Gary Asquith, Mick Allen, Mark Cox, and Max. Wheel In the Roses appeared in 1980, a four track EP with one side's worth of studio tracks and another consisting of live material.
Rema-Rema quickly disbanded, and most of the band's members found success shortly. Marco Pirroni would join up with Adam & the Ants, Max would become a full time member of Psychic Tv under her real name Dorothy, and Asquith, Allen, and Cox would form heavy-handed 4AD act Mass. Upon Mass' demise, Cox and Allen would form the legendary Wolfgang Press, who became a signature post-punk act throughout the 80s and early 90s. Meanwhile, This Mortal Coil (4AD head Ivo-Watts Russel's pet project) would recreate 'Fond Affections' for their debut record It'll End in Tears, which featured several contributions by Rema-Rema's original lineup. Big Black would also cover 'Rema-Rema', further cementing the band's original impact.
Details:
Rema-Rema- Wheel in the Roses EP 1. Feedback Song 2. Rema-Rema 3. Instrumental 4. Fond Affections
If you dig it, there are several ways to purchase the recording proper. It can be tricky to track down the vinyl release, but 4AD's official site features digital purchasing links as well as a handful of CD copies available through their online catalog.
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
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''.
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!
Some classic minimal wave for you today, ladies and gentlemen... Today's band is the Fast Set, a one man synth project who's first and only 7'' recording was also the very first release on what is now known as 4AD.
The Fast Set is comprised of avant-artist David Knight, who signed with with Axis records upon its inception in 1980, just before label-head Ivo Watts-Russel was forced to change the label's name to 4AD. As a one man project, the Fast Set recorded just one 7'' single for the song 'Junction One' in 1980. The b-side of the single was a synthetic dirge rendition of 'Children of the Revolution' by T.Rex.
The band's only other recorded moment was a cover of T.Rex's 'King of the Rumbling Spires,' released on a Some Bizzare compilation in 1981. Afterwards, David disbanded his project and went on to work with the likes of Danielle Dax and the Shockheaded Peters.
Here's that lone single for your listening and downloading pleasure:
Though the single has not been pressed onto a proper CD, one can digitally purchase these two tracks if they were so inclined by following this link to 4AD's page:
