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*

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*

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!

Mankinds Audio Development- Sunfeast 12''

Been meaning to post this one for some time- a recent purchase that's lived in my DJ bag for some time now. Two track 12'' from 1984, featuring members of Play Dead and Look Back in Anger. Also produced by John Fryer, notorious for his pioneering work with 4AD and various other post-punk bands. This is their only release, though more tracks were meant to be recorded.

The sound here sounds like a mixture of soulful vocals (a la Colourbox), post-punk bass grooves, all under the guise of an early EBM track. Lots to love here. Here's the breakdown:



Mankinds Audio Development- Sunfeast 12''
1. Sunfeast
2. Craving

*download it here*

John Carpenter- Christine 12''

Glad to hear you're all enjoying the last few posts so much! Moving right along, I have two posts slated for today, so bear with me. The first is something a little more well known, but no less fantastic. Actually, while this 12'' isn't exactly rare, I haven't seen either of these mixes floating around in circulation before, so I'm pleased to offer them here.

There's so much to be said about John Carpenter that I don't quite know where to begin. Responsible for some of the best films in the horror genre, his scores also have earned huge notoriety over the years, influencing both ambient and electro music. While the score to Christine (based on Stephen King's novel of the same name) is a more haunting, delicate affair, it's the disco tracks and pulsing beats that really stand out to me. I included a mix of this track on the second Sequins and Spandex comp., a three minute mix that's over before it truly begins, and has the unfortunate sound of a car engine revving throughout. Until I got this 12'', I never knew a car-less mix existed, let alone one that's nearly double the length! The second mix is the one in question, while the first is an extended mix of the Sequins track... Without any further ado, here's the info:



John Carpenter- Christine 12''
1. Christine (Part 1)
2. Christine (Part 2)

*download it here*

VHF- 1st Impressions LP

I was going to wait until Monday came to post this one up, but news travels fast, and a few people are already asking for it. Up on the slab we have one of the rarest new wave records in existence, the elusive VHF LP. Not to be confused with the heavy metal band of the same name (though the logo looks conspicuously like Van Halen), this particular EP has more in common with Speak and Spell era Depeche Mode, Erasure, and soulful synthpop in that vein.

This LP was released in the UK in 1984 on Pennine Records. A power pop single by Any Trouble was the label's only other release. Coincidentally, VHF has a bit of a power pop vibe going for it, instead employing a slew of synth leads and drum machines in that minimal style we all love to get the job done. A curious mix, which generally works.

This doesn't complete the VHF saga though... There's a 7'' out there for the title track, which I believe features an exclusive b-side. Maybe we'll hear that one some day, but in the interim, here's the info for this 'holy grail' of rare wave records:



VHF- 1st Impressions LP
1. The Peril Of Passion
2. Let Me Fall
3. Smile On Demand
4. No Surprise
5. I Know You Wanna Say Goodbye
6. Don't Call Me
7. First Impressions
8. Key To My Heart
9. Our Love Is Undecided
10. Mirage
11. Counting The Days
12. Replacement Heart

*download it here*

Hohokam- King 12''

I've been keen on this band for some time, but never acquired more than a handful of tracks until picking up their debut 12'' the other day. However, unlike most bands here on this site, there's more info around about this one than most.

Named after an ancient archeological culture, Hohokam was first brought to attention by Gary Numan's Numa records, formed as his popularity began to dwindle. While some may debate that Numan's own material at this time was stagnant, the artists he was cultivating under Numa offered some fresh synthpop/new wave talent, including these scamps, who released three singles on the label. Numan would generally preside over the recordings, acting as producer and occasional contributor.

Rumor has it that these four lads trespassed onto Numan's property with a demo tape that inspired him to create the label, and subsequently became the third release on the label. Their most succesful single, however, was a track called "Harlequin Tears," which appears in both 12'' and razormaid form, both which you can still hear in some more well-informed clubs to date.

The band supposedly recorded a full length, but it has never seen the light of day. After splitting up, drummer/keyboardist Tony Alum formed Aquilia with DJ Steve Andrews and continued on in a synthpop/techno vein.

Here's the details for this 12'':



Hohokam- King 12''
1. King (Extended Mix)
2. The American Way
3. King (Radio Edit)

*download it here*

Fun fact: The name Hohokam apparently translates as "the ones who vanished." Rather fitting for the blog! Read more about the band and this single here and here. Lyrics included!

Also, as many of you may have noticed, I've added a little facebook tab on the right side of the page here. Feel free to get in touch there, I know Facebook is a little more interactive for some than the Blogspot comments system, so I'd love to hear from you kids over there. That's all for this month- have a happy Halloween!

Steven Grandell- Animal Angst LP

You may have seen this one over at Mutant Sounds in the past, but here's a rather clean and fresh rip of this classic minimal synth LP by Steven Grandell, self-releaed in 1984. A little more experimental than most minimal synth recordings, complete with jerky rhythms, strange instrumentation (violins, xylophones, etc.), and detached vocals, but still quite catchy in the end.

A few copies of the LP were once sale via Venus DeMars, but I do believe they've since sold out. Currently, the artist is releasing music as Venus DeMars and All the Pretty Horses, which you can check out here. Here's the info for this LP:



Steven Grandell- Animal Angst LP
1. Burn My Eyes
2. There's Got To Be Something
3. Confession Of An Innocent
4. Lead
5. Fear
6. Isn't It Time
7. Flight At The End
8. Great Big Earth
9. I Am Human
10. Radio Sleep

*download it here*

Cathedral of Tears- Cathedral of Tears 12''

Moving right along, here we have a 12'' by Cathedral of Tears, a US-based darkwave band with a danceable edge. This is the band's only record, released in 1984 on Enigma Records, which was generally known for dark, sleazy punk (The Cramps, Dead Milkmen, TSOL etc.).

Though the record does flirt around with a more new wave sound, the project was primarily an outlet for Jack Grisham, of TSOL, which explains the 'odd man out' style of this record. Either way, expect some good darkwave grooves here.

Also, I believe there were several muscians involved with the project, including Mike Patton (Adolescents/Middle Class) on bass. I've stumbled upon some choice words about this 12'' from Jack himself:

"This is one of those mistakes you make that you can't take back. My dad died, I was going through a lot of shit...I stole the tapes. We had a record...we wrote a bunch of new songs, went in the studio & I stole the tapes. Our record company had said, 'There's no song here that will get radio play,' & I was like 'Bullshit, there is.' So I stole the tapes from the record company, took it to the radio station, & they were playing our song (Black Emotion) while I was driving away. (laughs) & it turned out to be the number four requested song on the station that year. With no record out. & then Enigma finally put it out. They finally put it out, but it was too late. I had already done the damage by the time it came out."

Neat, though I must disagree that this record is a mistake! Don't take my word for it, though- here's the info for 12''.



Cathedral of Tears- Cathedral of Tears 12''
1. Trap
2. A Situation Of...
3. Calm Storm
4. Black Emotion
5. Ballet
6. Whisper From The Deadland

*download it here*

Aaah...!- Input:Output 7''

Next up, thanks to a generous donation, we have the highly coveted second 7'' by UK minimal synth project Aaah...!, released in 1984. Many may be familiar with the band via their debut 7'', posted over at Crispy Nuggets. You can also hear the band's material at various DJ nights and clubs, especially those that focus on minimal/post-punk obscurities.

Here's the info for this highly coveted gem:



Aaah...!- Input:Output 7''
1. Input:Output
2. Neon Nylon

*download it here*

New Buildings- Discography

Second on the slab for this weekened is the complete discography of Spanish band New Buildings, who come across as a hybrid of minimal synth and dark, gloomy post-punk. Kind of reminds me a bit of Q4U, or perhaps a more subdued version of Xmal Deutschland. Not a lot of information to be found about the band, but I believe this original lineup parted ways in 1983, reforming four years later as simply Buildings. Three releases followed in 1987/8. Not sure if the change in name also signified a change in sound, so perhaps someone out there can shed a little light on the subject. With that in mind, here's the two New Buildings releases for your listening pleasure.



New Buildings- Le Dernier Homme 12'' (1983)
1. Le Dernier Homme
2. Humo
3. Longues Avenues



New Buildings- Your Message 12'' (1984)
1. Your Message
2. Historias Para Largos Recorridos
3. New Buildings

*download both here*

New Buildings- Discography

Second on the slab for this weekened is the complete discography of Spanish band New Buildings, who come across as a hybrid of minimal synth and dark, gloomy post-punk. Kind of reminds me a bit of Q4U, or perhaps a more subdued version of Xmal Deutschland. Not a lot of information to be found about the band, but I believe this original lineup parted ways in 1983, reforming four years later as simply Buildings. Three releases followed in 1987/8. Not sure if the change in name also signified a change in sound, so perhaps someone out there can shed a little light on the subject. With that in mind, here's the two New Buildings releases for your listening pleasure.



New Buildings- Le Dernier Homme 12'' (1983)
1. Le Dernier Homme
2. Humo
3. Longues Avenues



New Buildings- Your Message 12'' (1984)
1. Your Message
2. Historias Para Largos Recorridos
3. New Buildings

*download both here*

Belaboris- ...Olipa Kerran 12''

I've had this one kicking around for a while, but never paid too much attention to it aside from "Monsterbaari." Total oversight on my part here, for this entire 12'' is solid. What we have here is eight tracks of ALL-female minimal synth, hailing from Finland. This mini-LP, released in 1984, collects the band's singles to date, including the Kuolleet Peilit 12'' (1982) and the Odotus 7'' (1983).

Astute readers might notice that the band's name derives from two of horror's biggest names, Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi. Vocalist Minna Soisalo was also well known for her roll in Klaani, a large film in the band's homeland. Belaboris would release one final 7'' before splitting, a cover of 60's Scandinavian hit 'Rakkauden Jälkeen,' which can you nab from the excellent bx-59cppw blog. This should complete their discography!



Belaboris- ...Olipa Kerran 12''
1. Kuolleet Peilit
2. Yö Vanhassa Talossa
3. Odotus
4. Kolme Askelta
5. Monsteribaari
6. Mitä Lapsille Tapahtui
7. Babypop*
8. Venus

*Serge Gainsbourg/France Gall cover!

*download it here*

Soviet Sex- End of INRI LP

Last week, I left you kids with a trio of synth-based dance records. Now, to switch over to the guitar driven side of things for a few posts. Up on the slab for today we have the 1984 debut of Soviet Sex, a post-punk band based in Switzerland. There are also two other bands with this name- a band from the US and a band from the Netherlands (featured here), but according to a few pieces of info kicking around and the band members listed on the sleeve of this record (Beat Rohrer, Vico, Alwin Luschin, and Jost Baggenstos), I believe this is a completely separate entry.

According to the Swiss Punk Archive, the band's roots lie in a band called Crazy, a more punk-driven outfit. Naturally, the sounds here are still fast and energetic, but there's a bit more gloom and tension in these songs. Definitely recommended for fans of Ziyo and Siekiera. Here's the info:



Soviet Sex- End of INRI LP
1. Sünde
2. Walpurgis Night
3. Immer Noch Das Leben
4. Trauer
5. Bare Bodies
6. Zwischen Wann Und Wirklichkeit
7. Rettet Uns!
8. Weisser Tod
9. Geschirr Zerbricht

*download it here*

The band would follow this LP up with the Blind Dogs 12'' in 1985, just before disappearing. Would love to hear that one, if anyone has a copy kicking around!

Nightmoves- Transdance 12'' & Remixes

Going to be stepping away from the blog for a week, so I plan to leave you all with not one, but TWO stellar releases of the dancier, club-oriented variety. First on the slab, I've uploaded several different issues of Nightmoves' (a.k.a. Night Moves) classic "Transdance"- a killer darkwave dance track that many should recognize. Unfortunately, this song never received the credit it was due, but is easily one of the best tracks of the '80s. I've attached several different versions of the track, one under the guise of the reissued 1984 12'' Robot Rock release (including a handful of alternate tracks) and a remixes 12'', which might just be a fan-made collection of mixes. If you're not completely sick of the song by the time you're through listening, I've also included the significantly shorter edit of the song, plucked from the 7'' and included on the None Night of Flexipop Vol. 4 comp.

The UK-based project formed in the wake of Gary Numan's chart breakthrough in 1979, when vocalist Michael Guihen placed an ad in NME looking for synth players. The original three piece lineup (known then as Oblong Mauve) folded after a few practice sessions, leaving Michael to form a new band. He struck an interesting partnership in 1980, meeting and developing tracks with Denis Haines, Gary Numan's keyboard player. In exchange for providing the backing track for Numan' "Love Needs No Disguise," Michael received help in developing "Transdance," the standout track from the original lineup's demos. It was recorded in 1981, and since then, has seen several different versions as lineups changed and technology improved. The infamous UK mix even featured backing vocals from Eve Goddard, Adam Ant's wife. The band eventually called it a day in 1984, as public tastes shifted dramatically.

Of course, this is only part of the Nightmoves story. The rest is viewable (along with some amazing photos) on the band's official Myspace page, so click for the full story and some additional visuals. Without any further ado, here's the info for this zip.



Nightmoves- Transdance 12'' (1984)
1. Transdance (UK Club Mix)
2. Transdance (New York Disco Mix)*
3. You Can Take My Love
4. Beat This
5. Nightdrive

Nightmoves- Transdance Mixes 12''
1. Transdance (Edit)
2. Transdance (NYC Mix)
3. Transdance (UK Mix) --> same as UK Club Mix
4. Transdance
5. Transdance
6. Transdance (Remix)

bonus track- Transdance (7'' Version)
*not on original 12''.

*download the lot here*

Blue In Heaven REDUX

You guys asked for it, and here it is! Contained within this post are four releases by Irish post-punk band Blue In Heaven, including both their debut single and the elusive Rock 'N' Roll R.I.P. EP. You can nab their two full length records in these back pages: here and here.

According to Wikipedia, this doesn't complete the entire Blue In Heaven discography (as much as I'd like it to0. Their 1983 debut single The Lights Go Out (the same track Bono praised upon its release) is nowhere to be found, and the site also lists a final single in 1988, simply entitled Track 01. I'm also looking for a live track entitled "Tell Me," plucked from the Live For Ireland complilation, but that may just be a video only release, as a clip exists on Youtube. If anyone has any more information for these releases, feel free to chime in and sling them my way! Otherwise, here's the information for the remaining discography.



Blue In Heaven- Julie Cries 12'' (1984)
1. Julie Cries (12'' Version)
2. The Message



Blue In Heaven- Across My Heart 12'' (1984)
1. Across My Heart
2. A Whiter Day
3. Across My Heart (Martin Hannett Version)



Blue In Heaven- I Just Wanna 12'' (1986)
1. I Just Wanna (12'' Mix)
2. Beating In My Head (Little Flower)



Blue In Heaven- Rock 'N' Roll R.I.P. 12'' (1988)
1. She Is Everything
2. Swinging
3. Feel So Good
4. Loose (live) [originally by The Stooges]
5. On and On

*download all four here*

Bugger West- Don't Say It LP

Here's a rare and quirky minimal synth gem. This one's so obscure, in fact, that I can't find a single stitch of information about it, except for what comes on the sleeve.

Bugger West seems to be a one man project, helmed by D. Phillips. Mr. Phillips is credited with writing all of the songs contained within. Steve Zero and Nick Madaloni contribute guitar to a handful of the tracks. This 1984 album was released on Llist records, which I've also never heard of. The only other relevant information is a message left by West/Phillips himself, which states that "this album is dedicated to Kathy (my wife) and Chelsea (my daughter) with all my love."

Perhaps some more astute readers can shed some light on this project, and any other related work by D. Phillips? I reckon it's not the same Swiss hardcore vocalist Dave Phillips...but stranger things have happened. Anyway, here's the album credits!



Bugger West- Don't Say It LP
1. Water
2. Inside your mind
3. Don't say it
4. Fine hine
5. Spiral
6. Superior man
7. Right between the lies
8. Broken hearts
9. 102752

*download it here*

Eyes of God- Eyes of God 12''

A few months ago, a friend and fellow DJ turned me on to Eyes of God, a four piece San Franciso-based darkwave band, filled with catchy electronics, blaring saxophones, and religious lyrics. Little information was available on the net, and at the time, it seemed as if the band only had the one release. The 12'' I was given has also been uploaded on A Viable Commercial, one of the best blogs around these parts. That particular 12'' was released in two formats, with different covers but the same basic tracklisting.

However, I stumbled upon what I believe to be the band's only other release, a 12'' dating from 1984 and containing four proper studio tracks (not remixes). Naturally, I freed it from the confines of the dollar bin and am pleased to upload it for your listening pleasure.



Eyes of God- Eyes of God 12''
1. Love Letters
2. Secret Life
3. Sin Twist
4. Cruel Party

*download it here*

Body Electric- Magic Electronic 7''

Secondly, here's a rare 1984 7'' by Body Electronic, which is essentially another name for Steen Gjerulff. You can expect classic disco sounds here- pounding percussion, bright synths, and of course, copious amounts of vocoder. A real gem!



Body Electric- Magic Electronic 7''
1. Magic Electronic
2. 5595

*download it here*

Play- You Don't Look The Same/In My Mind 12''

Sorry for the barrage, but here's a second post for this weekend. Before I begin, might I draw your attention to the original Der Deutsche Adel post, which has been updated with a 320kpbs, clean-as-a-whistle rip, for any fans of that fantastic record.

With that in mind, here's a pair of singles by Play. In a previous post, I had uploaded their Red Movies LP, which was donated with a few bonus tracks tacked on to the end. These extra remixes were ripped at low quality, so I've rectified that not once, but twice with these following two releases! Even the band's initial 12'' is represented here, so that should bring us up to speed with a complete discography!



Play- You Don't Look the Same 12''/MLP
1. This Little Girl
2. Deeper Than Blue
3. You Don't Look the Same (Remix)
4. Erase the Memory
5. Chasing the Sun
6. In My Mind (Remix)
7. Red Movies



Play- In My Mind 12''
1. In My Mind
2. Red Movies
3. In My Mind (Remix)

*download both here*