Oh Harry, You're Such a Drag!- compilation

A bit of a request for today, ladies and gentlemen, as I've uploaded a rather stellar mix of early synthpunk/new/minimal wave tunes. I can't take credit for creating it, as this mix was originally constructed by Miss Amy Sammartino, a friend of mine from California. It's both a great introduction to the wonderful synth-based rock world, offering a few choice cuts spanning the late seventies/early eighties. The name derives from the 1966 satircal comedy Lord Love a Duck, the dialogue which is sampled on one of this mixes' best tracks.

Some of these artists have been featured on these back pages (mostly in earlier days), while others are both favorites old and new, so be sure to give this mix a spin and let me know what you dig. I have full records by most bands on the mix, so I'd be happy to upload a few for curious parties. Here's the tracklisting, without any further ado:

1. People Like You- Nervous Gender
2. Uncircumsized Twin- Plastic Idols
3. Appeal to Them- Tone Set
4. Elevate (7'' Version)- Voice Farm
5. Alien Day- Radio Free Europe
6. Hold That Coed- Dow Jones and the Industrials
7. The Beat Goes On- The Screamers
8. Integrating Circuits- Standing Waves
9. The Politics of Ecstasy- Body Falling Downstairs
10. The Things That You Do- Bob
11. Breakout- Drinking Electricity
12. Microbes- Mekanik Commando
13. Out of Order- The Skinnies
14. Happy Funeral- Kitchen and the Plastic Spoons
15. G-Stalt- Scientific Americans
16. Lawnchairs (Remix)- Our Daughter's Wedding
17. Be A Zombie- Los Reactors
18. Shopping- Pink Section
19. 49 Second Romance (Disco Mix)- P1/E
20. Forever- Los Microwaves
21. We Need More Power- Geza X
22. Avorton- Edith Nylon
23. Nuclear Tofu- Amoebas in Chaos
24. Digital Stimulation- Units
25. Cardboard Lamb- Crash Course In Science
26. Chango- Devo

*download it here*

Oh Harry, You're Such a Drag!- compilation

A bit of a request for today, ladies and gentlemen, as I've uploaded a rather stellar mix of early synthpunk/new/minimal wave tunes. I can't take credit for creating it, as this mix was originally constructed by Miss Amy Sammartino, a friend of mine from California. It's both a great introduction to the wonderful synth-based rock world, offering a few choice cuts spanning the late seventies/early eighties. The name derives from the 1966 satircal comedy Lord Love a Duck, the dialogue which is sampled on one of this mixes' best tracks.

Some of these artists have been featured on these back pages (mostly in earlier days), while others are both favorites old and new, so be sure to give this mix a spin and let me know what you dig. I have full records by most bands on the mix, so I'd be happy to upload a few for curious parties. Here's the tracklisting, without any further ado:

1. People Like You- Nervous Gender
2. Uncircumsized Twin- Plastic Idols
3. Appeal to Them- Tone Set
4. Elevate (7'' Version)- Voice Farm
5. Alien Day- Radio Free Europe
6. Hold That Coed- Dow Jones and the Industrials
7. The Beat Goes On- The Screamers
8. Integrating Circuits- Standing Waves
9. The Politics of Ecstasy- Body Falling Downstairs
10. The Things That You Do- Bob
11. Breakout- Drinking Electricity
12. Microbes- Mekanik Commando
13. Out of Order- The Skinnies
14. Happy Funeral- Kitchen and the Plastic Spoons
15. G-Stalt- Scientific Americans
16. Lawnchairs (Remix)- Our Daughter's Wedding
17. Be A Zombie- Los Reactors
18. Shopping- Pink Section
19. 49 Second Romance (Disco Mix)- P1/E
20. Forever- Los Microwaves
21. We Need More Power- Geza X
22. Avorton- Edith Nylon
23. Nuclear Tofu- Amoebas in Chaos
24. Digital Stimulation- Units
25. Cardboard Lamb- Crash Course In Science
26. Chango- Devo

*download it here*

Units- Digital Stimulation LP

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

*download it here*

Units- Digital Stimulation LP

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

*download it here*

Units

Formed in San Francisco in 1978, today's band Units are among the very first of the synthpunk era, releasing a self-titled single in 1978. Pioneers through and through, the band abandoned the ferocity of the guitar and carried the harsh rhythms and fury of punk with a slew of synthesizers.

The band, featuring a revolving door lineup of musicians over the course of six years, managed to release a handful of singles and EPs, and one critically acclaimed album entitled Digital Stimulation. The band's momentum and passion secured opening slots for the likes of Sparks, Ultravox, Gary Numan, Dead Kennedys, Psychedelic Furs, and Soft Cell over their tenure, and their live performances often contained a variety of backdrops and film projections, adding a touch of performance art to their craft.

The band peaked with Billboard Dance Chart success with 'The Right Man,' an early MTv video for 'A Girl Like You,' and the band signed to Epic/CBS records, but were unable to keep it together, splitting after two failed attempts to record new material under the label. The two shelved recordings have yet to surface, though a compilation of Units material is slated to be released later this year.

Here's a trifecta of tracks from Units. The first, 'Digital Stimulation,' is featured on their 1980 record of the same name. The following two tracks hail from an early 7'' recording.

download Units- 'Digital Stimulation'
download Units- 'Warm Moving Bodies'
download Units- 'iNight'

I'm unable to embed the video for 'A Girl Like You' due to restraints on the only uploaded YouTube file, but if you're interested watching this silly, silly video, click here:

watch 'A Girl Like You' on YouTube.

Units material is rather hard to track down, aside form the occasional LP or single spotting. If you see any, snap it up! Otherwise, for a more full discography and other information on the band, here's a link for their site on synthpunk.org.

Units page