Quadrascope- Baby Won't Phone 7''

Last but not least, thanks to a generous donation, we have a killer synthpop/minimal 7'' from Quadrascope, an obscure French band. Not much to be said about this 1983 release, as there's not a lot of information available, so the music will have to speak for itself. While the a-side is a catchy wave number in its own right, the b-side is truly the gem here. Those handclaps slay me every time! I'll let you decide for yourselves:



Quadrascope- Baby Won't Phone 7''
1. Baby Won't Phone
2. Love Times Love

*download it here*

Didi und die Herzschrittmacher- Wenn Dein Herz 7''

Here's a one off 7'' by Didi und Die Herzschrittmach, a collaboration between a German post-punk band and an unknown chanteuse. This 1982 flexi-7'' is their only known release two killer tracks of upbeat synth-influenced post-punk that sort of walk a fine line between minimal synth and Jacques Brel. You may recognize "Modern" from the Tribute to Flexi-Pop compilations, and while it's the clear winner here, the A-side is equally catchy and fun. Here's the info:



Didi und die Herzschrittmacher- Wenn Dein Herz 7''
1. Wenn Dein Herz...
2. Modern

*download it here*

Psychic Youth- Step In Time 7''

For my third and final 7'' for today, here's Psychic Youth's lone 1982 recording, two tracks of minimal synth bliss. Anna Logue was carrying the final copies of this 7'', unearthed after several years, but now they're all gone, and all copies seem to be fetching a pretty penny on the internet. Otherwise, this is one of the best minimal synth obscurities around, and one of the few great US synth bands, hailing from Long Island/NY. Hope you enjoy it!



Psychic Youth- Step In Time 7''
1. Step In Time
2. The Future Now

*download it here*

Repetition- The Still Reflex 7''

Have a few more 7'' records to post over the next little while, so might as well keep them coming. This particular post features a solid 7'' by Belgian post-punk band Repetition, a five piece featuring an ex-member of Spizzenergi (Pete Petrol). The two tracks hail from 1981, and sound a bit Siouxsie-ish, a rather popular sound at the time.

The band released one other 7'' in 1981 before switching vocalists. Their final release featured a male singer and dropped in 1981. Sarah Osburn, vocalist for the first two releases, married the Heaven 17's Glenn Gregory after he produced her follow-up band, Allez Allez.



Repetition- The Still Reflex 7''
1. The Still Light
2. Fade Out

*download it here*

Svart Klovn- Knust Knekt 7''

Here's the 1983 debut single from Norweigan minimal synth artist Svart Klovn, otherwise known as Kid Death. The title track was featured on the fantastic Maskindans compilation that dropped last year, while the b-side is a fast and furious piece of minimal synth.

The only other Svart Klovn release is the 1986 Queen Bitch 7'', featured over at Crispy Nuggets, with some additional information about Kid Death and Svart Klovn. Check it out.



Svart Klovn- Knust Knekt 7''
1. Knust Knekt
2. Macho Manifest

*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*

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*

7'' grab bag no. 2

Sorry for the delay here, folks...but to make up for it, here's another one of those 7'' grab bag posts, in which i've zipped up four singles for your listening pleasure, including one request from an Australian chum. Here's the information and a quick blurb about each 7''.



SPK- No More 7'' (1979)
1. No More
2. Contact
3. Germanik

This is the very first release by Australian industrial collective SPK, and certainly one of their most primitive and direct. This one was a limited run of 200 copies, and the a-side has yet to appear on a proper CD release, though both 'Contact' and 'Germanik' are featured on their Auto-Da-Fé LP.



Metal Urbain- Panik 7'' (1977)
1. Panik
2. Lady Coca Cola

One of the very first synthpunk bands...French origins. This is their first 7'' single, but most of their earlier work has since been collected on the Anarchy In Paris compilation.



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

Lars Falk is one of the ex-contributing members of Swedish coldwave act Twice a Man, who's previously featured here. Though it shares the name with the Stooges classic, the a-side is an original number.



Where's Lisse?- Talk Takes Too Long 7'' (1981)
1. Talk Takes Too Long
2. You Stole My Gun

There's something charming about this otherwise rickety and rough record from this British four piece. This is one of two releases (they followed this with an equally scarce 12'' single), and is chock full of early post-punk energy. EDIT: cover scan provied by Rudeboy Noah! Thanks a ton!

*download all four here*

7'' grab bag

A bit of an experiment to kick off the week, as I've uploaded four 7'' records in one zip file. A few of these artists have next to nothing in their discography, so don't necessarily justify they're own unique post or have much information available, but these are excellent releases all the same. A brief blurb about each:



Après Demain- Arpakuutio 7''
1. Arpakuutio
2. Dans La Nuit

French post-punk band, release from 1983. The band sounds like a female-fronted (Dirk Wears White Sox era) Adam & the Ants or a similar sounding Au Pairs, singing entirely in their native tongue. Funky, jerky, and abrasive.



Carol & Snowy Red- Breakdown 7''
1. Breakdown
2. So Low

Early Snowy Red release from 1981, collaborating with a mysterious singer named Carol. Smooth sounding minimal wave from Belgium. Though Snowy Red was a one-man project that split in 1989, it seems as if the band reunited in 2004 as a duo for a few select shows in their home country.



Das Kabinette- The Cabinet 7''
1. The Cabinet
2. Fudge It

Synthpop of the classic variety- a three piece band from the UK whose only release was this Cabinet of Dr. Caligari inspired 7'' in 1983, a classic slice of energetic wave music. The flip is a remix of the respective A-side.



Martin Dupont- Your Passion 7''
1. Your Passion
2. Lost And Late

First release by French electronic/coldwave act Martin Dupont, from 1982. The three piece band would release three full lengths and one rare cassette before disbanding towards the end of the eighties. The A-side is an atmospheric female/male fronted jam, whilst the flip is an energetic, bass driven electro-punk song, documenting the band's split personality.


*download all four releases here*