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!

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:

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*

Trash X- Perestroika 12''

Just found this killer synthpop single- a playful two track 12'' from Trash X, released in 1988. It's the band's only release, and was engineered by Ronny Schreinzer of The Twins.

It seems as if this particular release was a collaboration between several esteemed writers and producers, including David Heilmann (Wire, Depeche Mode) and H+N (Holger Flesch & Norbert Endlich). While it sounds of Russian origin, the single was actually recorded and released in Germany.

Not much more to be said about this one, so here's the information:



Trash X- Perestroika 12''
1. Perestroika
2. Rigormortis Everywhere

*download it here*

The Arms of Someone New- Every Seventh Wave 12''

This one, while potentially well known inside this circle, is a recent favorite of mine, and while the majority of their work appears elsewhere in the blogosphere, I haven't seen this 12'' around.

The Arms of Someone New (primarily a collaborative project between Mel Eberle and Steve Jones, also involved with Area) formed in Champaign, Illinois in 1983, releasing their first 7'' the following year. At first, their sound had a biting, synth-driven edge to it, which eventually gave way to the growing ethereal scene into the late 1980s. I happen to dig the majority of their recordings in both spectrums, but this one falls more on the biting, danceable side of the band's catalog. We have two remixes of the single here (both drastically different from the version that appeared on their 1984 12''), with two slower, but no less stellar tracks taking up the b-side. Here's the breakdown:



The Arms of Someone New- Every Seventh Wave 12''
1. Every Seventh Wave (Intermix)
2. Every Seventh Wave (Album Mix)
3. The Sense of an Ending
4. Everything at Once

*download it here*

For those interested in the rest of the band's discography, get it here, here, here, and here. Pretty sure this is the last piece of the puzzle!

Bildenzone- Autodafé LP

Taking a drastic turn for the second post today, with a little French post-punk LP from 1988. Expect some dark, thrashy tracks on this LP, mixed with the occasional dance groove for good measure. Lots of doom and gloom and guitar driven greatness to be found, so fans of Ziyo, Siekiera, and the darker side of La Vague Froide (coldwave) should feel right at home with this one.

Otherwise, there's not a lot of info about this record floating around, as it's the band's only LP. If anyone can shed some more light on the band, feel free. With that in mind, have at it!



Bildenzone- Autodafé LP
1. A Pig
2. Livre De Poèsie
3. Île De Pâques
4. Autodafé
5. Rhinocéros
6. Nineties Fright

*download it here*

Johnny Analog- Agent Provocateur LP

Here's a cracking 6 song EP from Toronto-based musician Johnny Analog, released in 1988. The band, conceived by a former member of Digital Nation, consisted of Mr. Analog (clearly a pseudonym), Nathan Berman and Cathy Septembre. This was their only release, and strikes a middle ground between the dark synthpop of Fad Gadget and the shrill guitar freakouts of mid-period Chrome. Definitely a must for all minimal synth heads!



Johnny Analog- Agent Provocateur LP
1. Press!
2. Rhythmn Ruled
3. Agent Provocateur
4. Wet Electric
5. Uncut Video
6. Shaddup That Noise

*download it here*

Heavenly Bodies- Rains On Me 12''

Just picked up a couple of copies of this killer dance/synth classic. Big beats, ethereal vocals, and a swirling chorus comprise this track, which appears in both remixed and edited form alongside an exclusive instrumental b-side.

Members of Heavenly Bodies were involved in several more established acts throughout the 1980s, including Dead Can Dance, Jesus and Mary Chain, and SPK. Cocteau Twins comparisons are also valid, considering Robin Guthrie recorded both versions of the title track. This 12'' appeared on C'Est La Mort in 1988, just after the band issued a full length debut. You can nab the full length record here at Totally Wired. Otherwise, here's the info for this 12''.



Heavenly Bodies- Rains On Me 12''
1. Rains On Me (Extended Mix)
2. Rains On Me (Short Mix)
3. Pure & Simple

*download it here*

Buzz- Kennedy / Marinetti / Sexe 12''

Here's a triple threat of 12'' recordings by Buzz, an underrated, synth driven act from the heart of France. The band released their first cassette in 1985, soon signing with Danceteria records (A Wedding Anniversary/In the Nursery, etc.) The band released four 12'' records over the course of the 1980s, splitting soon after. However, the band has since reactivated, re-releasing several older cuts and issuing new material during the latter half of this past decade.

I've included three of the band's 12'' records on Danceteria, leaving behind the 25th anniversary edition of "Kennedy," the band's best known track. For those who want a more complete snapshot of Buzz's '80s material, be sure to pick up their extremely limited CD compilation, entitled Buzz 1984 - 89. Not only does the compilation include superior quality versions of these recordings, it also tacks a few killer live tracks at the end. You can nab a copy here and listen the band's new sounds via their myspace page. Without any further ado, here's the details for these releases:



Buzz- Kennedy 12'' (1986)
1. Kennedy
2. Picaso



Buzz- Marinetti 12'' (1987)
1. Marinetti
2. Lo Sai
3. Marinetti (Extended Mix)

*My rip of this 12'' has the more sparse intro to "Lo Sai" separated from the main track, most likely done for DJ purposes.



Buzz- Sexe 12''
1. Sexe
2. Berlin
3. 12 Inch Allah
4. Sexe (Fire Mix)

*download all four releases 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*

In Trance 95- Desire to Desire 7''

Yesterday's posts focused on the darker edge of the post-punk/electronic spectrum, so today's goal is to bring you two dancier recordings. First up, we have In Trance 95's debut 7'', the elusive and hypnotic Desire to Desire. While the A-Side is a catchy piece of synthpop, it's the B-side that especially grabs me, with its deep repetitive grooves. Both tracks have a bit of a Cabaret Voltaire vibe going for them, without being as abrasive.

The band formed in Greece and released this 7'' in 1988 via Wipe Out! Records. In Trance 95 split for several years, but the main duo has reappeared as a band called Itenef, re-recording several of their classics and writing several new tracks with a female vocalist at the helm.



In Trance 95- Desire to Desire 7''
1. Desire to Desire
2. Brazilia

*download it here*



PS- Trying out this Mediafire thing. Might eventually migrate everything over there, but it will take time.

Lars Falk- Solo Discography

Readers of this blog might have noticed several posts featuring Twice a Man, the Swedish synth group still active to date. Not only is the duo's expansive discography rather solid (and rather genre hopping) from start to finish, one time contributor Lars Falk's solo discography is just as captivating.

While Lars Falk was only a contributing member to Twice a Man, his three solo releases prove he's an equally driving force in the Swedish wave scene. A great mix of gloomy synths, icy vocals, and jagged guitars calls both John Foxx and Fad Gadget to mind. Tracks such as "Hello Hello" and "See My Friend Fall" are dj staple around these parts, while the latter also been featured on the fantastic Retronics compilation, which collects several other Swedish acts including Lustans Lakejer, Samedi, and of course, Twice a Man.

That all said, here's Lars Falk's three solo releases, all wrapped up for your listening pleasure.



Lars Falk- Through K7 (1983)
1. Let Tomorrow Take Over
2. Hello Hello
3. Rainy Days
4. In The City
5. Through
6. Smell Of Chaos



Lars Falk- TV Eye 7'' (1985)
1. TV Eye
2. Doors



Lars Falk- Lars Falk LP (1988)
1. In The Night
2. Kings And Queens
3. Nothing Is The Same
4. Painting Pictures
5. Elmer
6. Dum Dum Boy
7. See My Friend Fall
8. It's Here Again

*download all three here*

The Essence- Ecstasy LP

Sorry for the repetition lately, but here's another Ecstasy post by request. Keeping in chronological order, here's the band's third album, released in 1988. All information about the band can be found in the previous two posts, so let's get to the upload, shall we?



The Essence- Ecstasy LP
1. Burned In Heaven
2. Only For You
3. Sleeping
4. Like Christ
5. Angelic
6. Jump And Fall
7. Ice
8. The Afterworld
9. So Gorgeously
10. Despair
11. Understand Why
12. One More Wasted Night

*download it here*

Naturally, we've got some bonus tracks here. Tracks 5 and 6 hail from the Only For You 12'', while "Ice" seems to be exclusive to this release, at least according to the band's discogs listing. If anyone knows for sure, let me know. Otherwise, enjoy- and expect some more goodies to follow in the next few weeks.

Edit: I am currently in the process of updating all the divshare links from the first year of the blog, since I've heard that download limits are often exceeded. Kas Product should be live by the end of the afternoon, and the rest will follow as I have time. I also have a few zshare reuploads to handle, so stay tuned for that.

Teenage Brain Surgeon- Fatal Day 7''

I don't tend to buy into the whole "holy grail" aspect of the minimal synth/new wave genre, but I'm tempted to make an exception for today's post. In short, I was first clued in to Teenage Brain Surgeon's existence by fantastic fashion guru and DJ Jeralyn, who runs I'll Wear Any Color as Long as It's Black. We were only able to track down 2/3rds of their sparse discography, but I was fortunate enough to stumble upon the final, elusive track in my late-night travels. Huzzah!

There's virtually no information available about this German band, as this is their lone release. The limited edition 7'' (1,000 copies are said to be in existence) was self-released in 1988. Extremely rare, but extremely solid, all three of these tracks are ripe for the dance floor, chock full of infectious electronics and a stomping beat. The title track is especially choice, and never fails me in a DJ set.

If anyone out there has any information whatsoever regarding this band, feel free to chime in! Otherwise, let's get to the good stuff, shall we?



Teenage Brain Surgeon- Fatal Day 7''
1. Fatal Day
2. Years Gone By
3. Cold

*download it here*

Next up, we have a rare compilation of Zwischenfall as well as another generous donation from Jeff! Stay tuned for more over the next few days.

Doppler Effect- Hard At Work 12''

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

*download it here*

Turning Shrines- Cinnibar & Porcelain LP

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!

Velodrome- Au Velodrome 141 12''

Pardon the double post, ladies and gents, but here's a rather solid 12'' by German EBM act Velodrome. Though this is their only release, each member of the duo had been previously active in other similar bands. Previous to Velodrome, Jorge Guber played in both Lineas Aereas and Metro Pakt while vocalist Krishna Goineau was a member of the famous Liaisons Dangereuses, who resumed activity soon after this 12'' release.

Without any further ado, here's the information for their lone 12'', released in 1988.



Velodrome- Au Velodrome 141 12''
1. Au Velodrome 141
2. Glasfabrik
3. Capataz

*download it here*

Velodrome- Au Velodrome 141 12''

Pardon the double post, ladies and gents, but here's a rather solid 12'' by German EBM act Velodrome. Though this is their only release, each member of the duo had been previously active in other similar bands. Previous to Velodrome, Jorge Guber played in both Lineas Aereas and Metro Pakt while vocalist Krishna Goineau was a member of the famous Liaisons Dangereuses, who resumed activity soon after this 12'' release.

Without any further ado, here's the information for their lone 12'', released in 1988.



Velodrome- Au Velodrome 141 12''
1. Au Velodrome 141
2. Glasfabrik
3. Capataz

*download it here*

7/12'' grab bag #3

Last year, I made a point to upload a few rare 7'' recordings in one post, offering a few new sounds for folks to pick up on. These proved to be rather popular, so I've decided to bring the series back. Here's a blurb about each of the following releases:



Land of Giants- Cannibal Dolls/Seven Men 12''
Land of Giants were a Candian minimal wave band who released this one 12'' single in 1982. The single topped the college charts in its day, and was praised by John Peel. No further release would appear until recently, when the band issued a CD featuring several new and unheard demo tracks recorded between 1982 and 1985, which can be purchased via paypal here.

1. Cannibal Dolls
2. Seven Men



Chromagain- Any Colour You Like Mini-LP
Once uploaded by Peter at the sadly defunct 7'' From the Underground blog, this particular gem is one of the best wave recordings of its time. The three piece band hailed from Italy, and released this one five track record in 1985. "Satisfied" is easily one of my favorite tunes from the entire wave spectrum, so be sure to give this one a spin.

1. Satisfied
2. Spot
3. Killing Dome
4. After The Clouds
5. Season of Steel



Body 11- Mind 7''
Lone 1988 release by this German industrial/minimal collective. Nice and hard-hitting, with a few dance grooves thrown in for good measure. If anyone has any further information about this German duo's whereabouts, feel free to pass it along!

1. Wasteland II
2. Fire
3. Hearts
4. Attack



Kuruki- Such a Liar 12''
Belgian minimal duo known for their underground hit "Crocodile Tears," released as a one-off single in 1981. That particular track also appears on this particular 12'', released just a few months later. A handful of singles followed over the next few years, and a full length appeared in 1984. Currently, vocalist Gerry D'Haeyer is in cahoots with Roland Van Campenhout, a Belgian blues artist.

The full length, TV Scape is available on Mutant Sounds, while 7'' From the Underground has featured their debut single.

1. Such a Liar
2. Crocodile Tears
3. Yack Yack



*DOWNLOAD ALL FOUR RELEASES HERE*