Jih- This Gift 12''

Here's a long lost 12'' from Jih, a new wave band from the UK. While their full length LP was shared here, there also are a few 12'' singles kicking around. This one was released in 1986, the same year as the LP.

In true 12'' fashion, the version of "This Gift" on this record is different than the LP version, extended by a few minutes or so. I do believe the version of "The Shadow to Fall" is identical, though. Here's the rundown:



Jih- This Gift 12''
1. This Gift
2. This Boy
3. Shadow to Fall

*download it here*

Hang the Dance- Ghost Bloody Country LP

February seems to be a very post-punk month for Systems of Romance thus far. With that in mind here's an excellent LP from the UK which I discovered in a local record bin for just a few dollars. A random purchase, selected on the strength of the cover and a quick turntable preview. Some awesome sounds here, reminiscent of Southern/Death Cult, but with clear, catchy synth lines on a handful of the tracks. Fans of bands such as Play Dead, Into A Circle, Snake Corps, and the Situation Two sound should really enjoy this one.

This appears to be the band's only full length LP, though three singles were released around the same time. While there isn't a lot of information about the band themselves, many gigographies include shows with the band over the years. Most notably, member Roman Remeynes sparked some controversy when calling in about the Ukranian John Peel Sessions performed by The Wedding Present. Fluent in Ukranian, Remeynes playfully stated that the band was 'bastardizing the music.' He was then invited to join in for the second peel session!

Here's the info:



Hang the Dance- Ghost Bloody Country LP
1. Enfold
2. On the Waterfront
3. Babysitter
4. Horseflesh
5. Ghost Bloody Country
6. Host
7. Mahogany Day
8. Slate Detail
9. Look At Heaven
10. Some Sacred Ground

*download it here*

Apologies for the crummy sleeve scan. Haven't had the chance to take my own photo. Will rectify this asap!

Oto- Purge An Urge & Mr Schumaker

Here's a series of releases that haven't been posted yet, to my knowledge, but are certainly worth hearing. Fans of dark synth music should be familiar with this French coldwave/synth band, for their track "Anyway" is a genre staple. The track also appeared on last year's Cold Waves and Minimal Electronics compilation, and the remaining 7'' tracks can be found here or here.

However, here's the band's other two releases- the 1986 Purge An Urge LP and the vocal version of the Mr Schumaker 7'', released in 1984. You can expect the same strange, yet danceable edge on all of these tracks. Here's the rundown:



Oto- Mr Schumaker 7'' (1984)
1. Mr Schumaker (Version Originale)



Oto- Purge An Urge LP (1986)
1. Discowar
2. Tequila
3. Kong
4. Evil Dance
5. Takomo
6. Estupefaction

*download it here*

Thierry Meyer- Paradoxe 7''

For those not as jazzed about the previous guitar-driven posts, here's something that should whet your appetite and offset the darkness a bit, courtesy of BX. I posted the a-side to this magnificent French minimal synth 7'' on the first Systems of Romance compilation, and suffice to say, the b-side is of similarly high quality. Also an instrumental, but some great grooves here.

This 1981 single is Theirry Meyer's only release, so not much more to tell about this one. Enjoy!



Thierry Meyer- Paradoxe 7''
1. Paradoxe
2. Trip

*download it here*

I'm not sure if this video is legit or not, but it's certainly an interesting addition!

Sanity Plexus- Redux

It's been a long eight months, but I've since tracked down the remaining Sanity Plexus discography, consisting of a 12'' and a full length LP. While the band taps into a little more production value here, there's still the raw, DIY aesthetic throughout both releases that appeals. Fans of raw post-punk and minimal synth should find lots to love here.

Both of these records were released on the same label as the debut 12'', which you can nab here if you missed it. Without any further ado, here's the info:



Sanity Plexus- Tough Guy Shell 12'' (1990)
1. Tough Guy Shell
2. Career Boys
3. Ambassador of Angst
4. The Pleasure Utensils



Sanity Plexus- Fidelity LP (1991)
1. It's Not What You Think
2. Fatty Takes A Flyer
3. You Never Can Tell
4. Malevolent Angel
5. Big Chill
6. Why I Don't Dance
7. Ozone-Friendly Boyfriend
8. Slice Of Life
9. Pop
10. Scandal In A Small Town

*download both here*

Claude Raines- Claude Raines LP

I've been meaning to post this LP for months now, don't know why it's taken me so long. Up on the slab is the lone LP by Claude Raines, a US based guitar-driven post-punk band from Rochester, NY. Rochester must've been a great breeding ground for awesome, underrated post-punk, between this LP and of course, Eleven Pond.

The closest touchstones for this 1987 LP include The Church, The Chameleons, Psychedelic Furs, and The Snake Corps, complete with the big guitar driven sound of all those bands. A little bit of background noise on side A of the rip- it seems as if my copy of this LP has seen better days, but nothing terribly distracting from this otherwise excellent LP. According to the band's Myspace page, run by an official member, they are hoping for a reissue and are looking for interested parties or labels who could make it happen. Hopefully this post here can bring this excellent LP to more widespread attention. Feel free to reach out to the band!



Claude Raines- Claude Raines LP
1. All Of The Days
2. No Talk
3. Stumbling Hard
4. Looking Around (Acoustic Mix)
5. Moving Through The Fields
6. Dancing
7. Looking Around
8. Going Under

*download it here*

Lots to post in the coming weeks, including a the full Thierry Meyer 7'', an uncovered gem from Jih, and more!

Troops For Tomorrow- Songs of Joy & Faith 7''

Here's a killer post-punk 7'' from 1982, released on Portion Control's Rhythmic Records. The band hailed from the UK and this is their only release, though Albie De Luca of Gene Loves Jezebel/Furyo was a member. Definitely a must for fans of (early) New Order and Modern English. Gloomy vox and punchy rhythms make this one a must for all fans of this kind of sound!



Troops For Tomorrow- Songs of Joy & Faith 7''
1. Songs Of Joy & Faith
2. The Prisoner

*download it here*

Parade Ground- Hollywood & Man In a Trance 12''

Fulfulling a quick request to kick off this week, here are the remaining two Parade Ground 12'' releases, both of which have not been shared to my knowledge. You can get the rest of their material here, here, and here respectively, where you can also read more about these Belgian EBM pioneers.



Parade Ground- Man In a Trance 12'' (1984)
1. Retired
2. This Luxury
3. The Net



Parade Ground- Hollywood 12'' (1988)
1. Hollywood
2. Hollywood (The Sexiest Fish)

*download both here*

DADA- 12'' Discography

Here's the full 12'' discography of DADA, another new wave band from New York City. Contained within are both of their releases, both which walk a fine line between catchy minimal synth and bouncy synthpop.

The first 12'' was discovered whilst record shopping with Goutroy, who recently relocated to NYC via San Francisco. I randomly ran into him at a lesser record store, after a rather unceremonious trip home. A little solo shopping therapy turned into an afternoon of bin-hopping around the village. Sometimes I shop with the intention of looking for things I know, love, and plan to DJ. Other times, an interesting cover or title catches my attention, which is how I find most of the records posted here. However, this record was plucked out by Goutroy at one of my favorite shops in the East Village, a place that keeps odd hours and specializes in new wave. After one brief listen (he had placed this record in the "maybe" pile), I quickly became obsessed (perhaps annoyingly so) with his purchase, and quickly hunted down a copy of my own, and we've both been spinning it regularly at the Wierd party since. Camaraderie at its finest! That's not to say there wasn't a bit of competitive edge between us that day, as there tends to be when two underground music collectors hunt in the same shop at the same time. I feel like I paid more attention to what he had in his stack as opposed to the bins in front of me. He found R.E.K.'s excellent 12'' (found here at Crispy Nuggets) and I seethed with jealousy. That said, we both found each other some excellent gems, and both walked away with some hefty purchases that day. The rest, you can say, was nerd history.

I was able to snag the second 12'' online for a relatively cheap price, and while I prefer the first release overall (especially the amazing a-side), the two sound very similar. Not surprising, given that they were released only one year apart. The band seemed to have a sense of humor, from their vocal delivery, lyrical content, and even the record label (presumably self-released under "A Major Recording Label," whose only releases are these two records). The band members even all shared the same last name, though they may very well be brothers. Slight tongue-in-cheek humor aside, these tracks are perfectly suited for a dancefloor, and are some of my favorite obscure gems.

Speaking of that sense of collector camaraderie, you can also find this same post over at Goutroy's awesome Viable Commercial blog, back up and running after a brief hiatus! Same rips, two blogs, at the SAME TIME for maximum listening pleasure! Here's the info:



DADA- Age of Confusion 12'' (1987)
1. Age of Confusion
2. Pursuits of Happiness



DADA- Right Men Tell Lies 12'' (1988)
1. Discussing Missile Size
2. As the Sun Races By
3. Separate Ways****
4. The World They Left Behind

*download both here*

****NOT a Journey cover, I promise!

You can also peep the video for "Pursuits of Happiness" here:

Perfect Jewish Couple- Ménage À Trois 7''

Here's another oddball minimal synth gem I've had sitting in the upload queue for some time now. A rare entry from the United States, Ohio to be exact, dating back to 1985. You have two mixes of the catchy and quirky single here, backed with a more atmospheric track on the flip. I personally prefer the b-side, but especially enjoy the duality of this release.

You can hear more from the band on a 2007 CD reissue, which features some unreleased gems and "The Fall." This release was prompted by several inquiries from fans and collectors over the years. Read more about the band's history (complete with a comprensive bio and gear-list) here, and be sure to pick up a copy of Time Capsule by clicking here!



Perfect Jewish Couple- Ménage À Trois 7''
1. Step Back (Extended Version)
2. Step Back
3. The Fall

*download it here*

Zerbrechlich- Am Strand Von Italien 7''

Here's a scarce minimal synth single from Austria. The a-side is an infectious little new wave gem, while the b-side is a manic piece of oddball synth- something for both sides of the minimal synth spectrum!

This is Zerbrechlich's only release, but the story doesn't end there. Zerbrechlich was the electronic side project of Dämmerattacke, who appear on the very first Systems of Romance compilation. The Zip Guns, who issued one LP in 1994, also consist of several Dämmerattacke members.

Here's the info:



Zerbrechlich- Am Strand Von Italien 7''
1. Am Strand Von Italien
2. Bei Den Beduinen

*download it here*

Dorian Gray- Promise of Love 7''

Picked this 7'' from 1985 up at one of my favorite NYC record shops, the newly unveiled Heaven Street Records in Greenpoint. Bears no relation to either the Dorian Gray posted here, or the Dorian Grey posted here, though both are worth checking out as well. Seems to be a popular name for those in the pre-Google age!

What we have here are two tracks from the UK wave scene that strike a balance between Into a Circle and Crocodiles-era Echo and the Bunnymen. Not shocking to hear the band once supported Gene Loves Jezebel, as there's a melodic post-punk vibe running through this single. The b-side is a more percussive and groove-oriented remix of the title track, for those who appreciate that sort of thing. Dig it:



Dorian Gray- Promise of Love 7''
1. Promise Of Love
2. Miles Away

*download it here*

There's another 12'' from 1986 out there, priced a little higher than this 7''. Hope to snag and share that one sometime soon, so stay tuned. There's also a video for 'Promise of Love' kicking around on YouTube, linked for your viewing pleasure:

Swiss Navy- Back to the Wall 12''

Rolling right along, here's a recent dollar bin snag that's every bit as good as I was hoping. Pulled this out of a bin based on the date (1983) and cover art alone, threw it on to preview, and was pleasantly surprised. It's nice to know there are still plenty of undiscovered (and affordable) gems out there!

Not much I can tell you about this one, though. I've been told that the label, Phonogram Ltd., was not a true label, but instead, a company responsible for licensing tracks to smaller labels. I have to take another glance at the sleeve to confirm, but a few listings claim that this record was released on Mercury in the UK. Either way, Swiss Navy had a mind to create a dancefloor smash all over the world, and they damn well succeeded with this one, in my book. I don't care much for the third track, a quirky earworm that while charming, can't hold a candle to the title track. However, the two mixes of "Back to the Wall" more than make up for it. Here's the details:



Swiss Navy- Back to the Wall 12''
1. Back to the Wall (Marine Mix)
2. Back to the Wall
3. Cool-De-Jack

*download it here*

Philippe Entre2mers- Quai D' Orient 12''

Apologies in advance for flooding your hard drives with music, folks. Two posts in store for today- mostly because I promised some Wierd party attendees I'd drop these records immediately for download!

First, we have some killer French synthpop, reminiscent of Depeche Mode with some slight italo leanings. The same track appears here twice in different forms, and I can't decide which one I like better. This 12'' appears on the Fan Club label, another Damned-inspired offshoot of New Rose records, which featured Taxi Girl, Metal Urbain, and Kas Product as well as some classic proto-punk material.

Not much else I can tell you about this one, so let's get right to it:



Philippe Entre2mers- Quai D'Orient 12''
1. Quai D'Orient (Version Club)
2. Quai D'Orient (Version Remixee)

*download it here*

Stay tuned for another post in just a few minutes!

Alan Shearer- Dark Is the Color LP

Sorry for the onslaught of posts, folks! Got ants in the pants, I guess- lots of cool things I'm excited about posting in the new year. This one was just sent to me this morning by Mr. BX, and since I've been dying to hear it for some time, I figured some of you might be anxious to hear it as well.

Contained within we have the second LP from French musician Alan Shearer, released in 1985. I included the final track on this LP in the recent Systems of Romance compilation post, so some of you may already be familiar with this album's general vibe. You can expect more of the same instrumental synth grooves here, some more melodic and ambient than others. Reminds me of a cross between Tangerine Dream and some of John Carpenter's more dancefloor electronic tracks. Definitely an interesting listen!



Alan Shearer- Dark Is the Color LP
1. The Heart Patrol
2. Dark Is The Color
3. Generation V
4. Chronomaster
5. Nocturnal March
6. The Flea Age
7. Tropical Terminal
8. Only For One Girl
9. Blackstone
10. Down Town
11. Sons Of The Snake

*download it here*

Goûts De Luxe- (Mostly Full) Discography

Hot on the heels of this morning's post, here's a very nearly complete discography of French synthpop band Goûts De Luxe. Some of you may already be familiar with the band, as a few of their a-sides were prominent, though now obscure, new wave hits- some of the best of the era. I also included one of the band's finest moments (the killer minimal synth-esque b-side "Last Train") on the most recent installments of the Systems of Romance loose tracks compilations. Since I haven't seen their work shared out there, I figured it was due time to organize it and sort it all out for everyone's enjoyment.

The band's origins date back to the mid 1980s in Brest, a city in northwestern France. The band's lineup changed a handful of times throughout their short time together. After recording (or, in actuality, NOT recording) on the first single, original guitarist Jean-Éric Montfort left the band and was replaced by Marianna Kliska, wife of vocalist Jacques le Honsec. They released two more singles before calling it a day.

With the exception of the instrumental version of "Les Yeux de Laura," and the promo mixes of the track, this zip file ocntains all the tracks recorded by Goûts De Luxe during their time together, including all three singles and respective b-sides. I hope you all don't mind missing out on the instrumental mix, as I've never found them to be very necessary, but I should be able to track it down (in time) if needed. However, as a consolation, I have included a different extended mix of "Omaha Beach" that I can't quite place on either single, with a different running time and everything! If anyone knows where it belongs, do chime in! Otherwise, let's get to the details:



Goûts De Luxe- Les Yeux de Laura 7'' (1986)
1. Les Yeux de Laura



Goûts De Luxe- Les Yeux de Laura 12'' (1986)
1. Les Yeux de Laura (Extended Mix)



Goûts De Luxe- Omaha Beach 7'' (1987)
1. Omaha Beach
2. Ubik (Mission Secréte)



Goûts De Luxe- Omaha Beach 12'' (1987)
1. Omaha Beach (Remix)
3. Fade to Grey (Visage cover)



Goûts De Luxe- Dans Un Autre Pays 7'' (1989)
1. Dans Un Autre Pays
2. Last Train



Goûts De Luxe- Dans Un Autre Pays 12'' (1989)
1. Dans Un Autre Pays (Maxi Version)

BONUS- Omaha Beach (Extended Mix)

*download it all here*

Since the band enjoyed some relative success throughout Europe, there are a few promo videos floating around. Here's a clip for "Omaha Beach."



Also, if your French is fluent, you can read more about the band (including lyrics, I believe) on their official website. There are also a slew of photos, and a demo recording hidden in the site, so be sure to explore:

Goûts De Luxe dot net


Coming soon: Glamatron, DADA, and more French synthpop. Stay tuned, and happy 2011!

Terminal Beach- Love on Auto 7''

Here's a killer 7'' from 1982 that I've been meaning to post for a while. Seems there isn't a lot of information to be had regarding this understated minimal synth/post-punk hybrid single, a private release on T.B. records. The band hailed from the UK, and naturally, this is their only release.

If anyone can fill in the blanks on this one, feel free to chime in. Otherwise, please do enjoy!



Terminal Beach- Love on Auto 7''
1. Love on Auto
2. Dark Words

*download it here*

Various Artists- Systems of Romance vol. 3 & 4

I was going to wait until early next week to post these, but I'm terrible with keeping secrets, so here's an early holiday treat for you all. Linked below are TWO new Systems of Romance loose tracks compilations, lovingly assembled and pieced together from various sources, private collections, and generous donations!

Before we get to the tracklistings, I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for a truly solid year here at Systems of Romance, probably the best we've had yet. I really appreciate all the support from artists, fellow bloggers, and readers alike. Here's to many more years and many more posts to come!

Warm fuzzies aside, let's get to the good stuff!



Various Artists- Systems of Romance Vol. 3
1. Movements- Pascal Wathelet
2. The Aesthete- Biokonstruktor
3. Attack Decade- The Toy Shop
4. Erosion- Teepee
5. Demain Peut-Etre- Clair Instant
6. Man in the Railings- Plain Characters
7. Fate/Hate- Nyam Nyam
8. Mass Media- Monty Cantsin
9. Binary- Kazino
10. Ik En Mezelf- Fred A.
11. On- Zana
12. Fussball- Seltsame Zustände
13. Flickan I Mitt Badkar- Finish Him
14. Marche Nuptiale- Anches Doo Too Cool
15. New Harbours- Movement
16. Can't Stop- Avantgarde De Luxe
17. Huge Box- The Bien
18. Paula- Nasa
19. Beautiful Lady- Hidden Pleasure

*download it here*



Various Artists- Systems of Romance Vol. 4
1. The Invitation- Portrait Bizarre
2. Robot Dynastie- Terminus B
3. Let's Call-Up- Forum
4. Marilyn En Jean- Tonic
5. Camera Room- Breathing Age
6. Sons of the Snake- Alan Shearer
7. Last Train- Goûts De Luxe
8. Let Me Out of Here- Fizik
9. Certain Words- Clair Instant
10. You Hurt Me (Original Version)- Shark Vegas
11. Changing- Siam
12. Never Seen- Second Thoughts
13. Soba 23- Denis & Denis
14. Chant D'Yxos- Pascal Wathelet
15. XYZ- Pat Sheedy
16. Some Other Day- Insanity
17. In Loving Memory- Steve Ainsworth
18. The Letter- D'Arc

*download it here*

In case you missed them, you can get vol. 1 here and vol. 2 here! Have a great holiday, everyone!

The Bridge- Love Dance 12''

I have one more thing to post today, so might as well drop it now, while the iron is hot. Here's a classic 12'' by The Bridge, a DJ favorite of mine for some time now, recently acquired on vinyl. I believe this synthpop outfit acted as a three piece, releasing several singles in the mid 1980s. This particular record was produced by Paul Bell, who then went on to form Zerra One.

There's a bit of discrepency between their first two singles, so let me try my best to explain. As listed online, there's both a 12'' for Love Dance (today's post) as well as a single release entitled Industrial Love Dance, but both feature the same tracklisting, more or less, with slightly tweaked titles. Maybe the label (Second Vision) thought it was best to steer clear of the 'industrial' tag? If anyone can shed some light on this situation, I would be most appreciative!

The versions on this 12'' also appear on the Industrial Love Dance single, alongside a shorter, more radio-friendly version of side A, which I've uploaded seperately for good measure. So with this post, you get all three versions of "Love Dance," an edgy synthpop track with excellent hooks and solid vocals. What more can you ask for?



The Bridge- Love Dance 12''
1. Love Dance (Love Mix)
2. Love Dance (Industrial Mix)

*download it here*

You can nab the 7'' version of the track from the Industrial Love Dance single by clicking here. Enjoy!

Minutes After...- Minutes After... LP

Been meaning to post this one for a while, but finally got around to ripping it. Random purchase, made a few months ago for a few dollars, based on the year (1988) and the cover artwork, and found it to be pleasant enough to rip and share with you all. Here we have the lone LP by a band called Minutes After..., a darkwave/post-punk band with a more melodic tone.

The closest touchtone I have for the band is a sadly defunct NYC band called Bell Hollow, who were in turn influenced by the likes of For Against, The Chameleons, and Sad Lovers and Giants. A few piano chords thrown in for good measure, as well as soaring vocals on every track. A few songs miss the mark here and there, but generally, a solid listen for fans of the more dreamy/ethereal side of post-punk. Here's the information:



Minutes After...- Minutes After... LP
1. Cracks Of Dawn
2. White Ceiling
3. Raining On Earth
4. Cradle To Crypt
5. Her ~ A Dream Without Sleep
6. The View From The Park

*download it here*