Glamatron!- Only The Heart Beats.......Inside The Silence 12''

Thanks to the Museum of Canadian Music for the information and rip on this one, here's the scarce 12'' from Glamatron, released in 1981. Some excellent minimal synth tracks combined with organic touches, sometimes reminiscent of John Foxx-era Ultravox. Either way, a true gem. Kurt Laporte, credited as a songwriter on this release, went on to write songs for Niagara, a more commercial synthpop band from France.

Here's the info for this killer 12''. Enjoy!



Glamatron!- Only The Heart Beats.......Inside The Silence
1. Passport
2. Facial Saviour
3. Factor 2-2-2
4. The Word (Death In September)
5. Continentals
6. Porcelain Doll

*download it here!*

Trans-X- Living on Video CD

Trans-X were a two piece disco/synth outfit from Canada, who made quite the name for themselves in their home country with a handful of catchy electro-pop singles. Laurie Ann Gill (formerly a backup vocalist for Nudimension) and ambient musician Pascal Languirand comprised the duo for their first (and most prolific) run, which concluded in 1986 due to frustrations and lack of success outside of Canada.

Languirand returned in 1994 with a revamped version of the band, reissuing and re-recording several key singles with new vocalist Nadia Sohaei. As of 2010, Languirand has been living in Mexico, hard at work on the next Trans-X release.

Without any further ado, here's the information for the band's Living on Video LP, released in 1983. A compilation of sorts, the LP collected many of the band's earliest singles and b-sides. This particular rip hails from the CD issue, which dropped ten years later and featured a handful of appropriate bonus tracks. Here's the details:



Trans-X- Living on Video CD
1. Living On Video
2. Message On The Radio
3. Nitelife
4. 21st Century
5. Josee
6. Digital World
7. Eyes Of Desire
8. 3D-Dance
9. Monkey Dance
10. Through The Eyes Of The 90's
11. Ich Liebe Dich (I Love You)
12. Living On Video (Re-Recorded)
13. Message On The Radio (Remix)
14. Vivre Sur Video

*download it here*

For your viewing pleasure, here's the video for the title track, released in 1981:

Ohama- I Fear What I Might Hear LP

Today's post features the 1984 debut LP from Ohama, essentially a one man minimal wave project helmed by Canadian musician Tona W. Ohama, with occasional lyrical contributions by Johannes Halbertsma.

Over the course of three years, Ohama released two LPs and three singles. All of these releases (and more, including the 1986 Ohama Meets Dania LP) have been collected in an impressive 9xCD boxset, which may very well still be available by contact with Minimal Wave's site. Should you dig this release, and should it still be available, I encourage you folks to snap up a copy of the set posthaste! Otherwise, here's the info for the record.



Ohama- I Fear What I Might Hear LP
1. Of Whales
2. Sometimes
3. Feelings
4. Midnite News IV
5. Where Do You Call Home?
6. Midnite News II
7. Body Of Vagrant Waves
8. Part In Peace

*download it here*

Bolero Lava- Inevitable 12'' (+Bonus Materials)

Here's another generous donated post from Jeff/Uberbelly, who was involved in this particular band during their later incarnation. Otherwise, the band in question is Vancouver based Bolero Lava, who began life as an all-female post-punk band. Their sound reminds me personally of a cross between 4AD's Colourbox and The Au Pairs, with both a soulful croon and a funky post-punk edge to them.

The original lineup of the band lasted through 1983-1988, releasing the Inevitable 12'' in 1984. Original members Barbara Bernath and Laurel Thackeray departed in 1988, replaced briefly by Andy Graffiti and Linda McRae. Jeff Sawatsky (our gracious donator, also involved with Voice and Sarah McLachlan) and Sherri Leigh replaced Andy and Linda, and Mallory Temple was the final member of Bolero Lava's lineup, replacing Leigh after her short stint. The band officially called it quits in 1991.

Uploaded below, we have three separate releases. Firstly, we have Bolero Lava's original 12'' record, released on Mo-Da-Mu records in 1984. The second 12'' below was a one off-single recorded in by guitarist Phaedra Struss, featuring contributions by Adrian Sherwood, Jah Wobble, David Harrow, and Bolero Lava bandmate Vanessa Richards. Last but not least, we have a rather impressive stack of Bolero Lava demos, recorded between the years of 1988-1991, with the various lineup changes in tow.

For more information and images from the Inevitable 12'', check out the Discogs.com listing I just submitted. Otherwise, let's get to the information, shall we?



Bolero Lava- Inevitable 12'' (1984)
1. Inevitable
2. Click of the Clock



Phaedra- Jesus Lives in Vegas 12'' (1990)
1. Jesus Lives in Vegas
2. Telephone Operator [Buzzcocks cover]



Bolero Lava- Demos
1. Swim to Me
2. A Road and a Car
3. Easy
4. My Old Friend
5. News For You
6. Prey
7. Protection

*download it here*

Otherwise, thanks again to Jeff for the fantastic rips, photos, scans, and donations! For more information on the band and some previewed tracks, click below for their Myspace page.

Bolero Lava on Myspace

Iko- '83 LP/CD-R Bootleg

I see this one was one hosted on 7'' From the Underground but has since expired. Otherwise, here's the entire discography of Canadian minimal synth outfit Iko. The band released one LP and one 12'' record, both in 1982, before disbanding.

This particular CD-R bootleg features two extra tracks not originally pressed on the LP, though one of the tracks made its way onto the Tribute to Some Bizzare series. Otherwise, there's little info available outside of what Peter has dug up, so click there to read the proper credits, and otherwise, here's the tracklisting and artwork:



Iko- '83 LP/CD-R
1. Elevator
2. Gonadotropic Synthesis
3. Subway 49
4. Communication Off
5. Approach On Tokyo
6. Digital Delight
7. Model Type A
8. Radio Active Mist
9. Military Service
10. Surrender To The Dream

*download it here*

Supposedly, there are only 500 or so LP copies of this record kicking around, so if you spy it, pick it up posthaste! Otherwise, I have a few more donations from a few weeks back to upload, so stay tuned for more posts over the next few days!

Voice- Anno Di Voce 12'' (+Bonus Tracks)

Apologies for the disappearance, ladies and gents, been off the radar for most of last week. To make up for it, here's a generous donation from a contributing member, which collects rare tracks and one 12'' by Canadian synthpop act Voice. There's little information to be found about the band (as it tends to be in matters like this), but otherwise, Voice featured contributions from Dwayne Goettel, who would join Skinny Puppy soon after their demise in 1986. Goettel also played keyboards in likeminded act Psyche, who would open for Skinny Puppy's earlier incarnations.

Otherwise, seven tracks can be found in the file below. Four hail from the band's 1985 Anno Di Voce 12'', released on Switch Records. The other three hail from an 1983 cassette release. An alternate version of "Lime" exists on this release, but the other two tracks are exclusive. The lineup on the cassette release was Malcolm Swann, Dwayne Goettel, Sherri Iwaschuk, and Jeff Sawatzky. Jeff would depart before the recording of the 12'' single.

Without any further ado, here's the info!



Voice- Anno Di Voce 12''
1. Lime
2. Business As Usual In Beirut
3. Wake Up Dreaming
4. I Am the Walrus [Beatles cover]

Bonus Tracks:
1. Holiday
2. Lime [Alt.]
3. Smile

*download it here*

Jeff has also been kind enough to include two bootlegs recorded in 1983 with the original lineup. The info:

Voice- Live @ Primetime
1. Awake
2. Birthright
3. Smiling
4. Broken Chains
5. Lime
6. Mellow Yellow
7. Holiday
8. Dangerous

*download it here*

Voice- Primetime Again
1. Awake
2. Birthright
3. Dangerous
4. Holiday 1
5. Holiday 2
6. Kaleidoscope

*download it here*

Thanks again to Jeff for all the information and donations!

Moev- Zimmerkampf LP

Moev were a successful Canadian synthpop band formed in 1981 by Tom Ferris and Cal Stephenson. Though initial demos primarily featured the duo, the band would expand to a four piece before recording their debut, 1982's Zimmerkampf.

Original vocalist Madelaine Morris (featured on today's upload) would depart in 1984, just as the remaining band members formed Nettwerk Records to release the 12'' single "Toulyev." Moev would continue to shift members over the remainder of their tenure, peaking in 1989 with Yeah Whatever. The album's biggest single, the THX 1138 sample driven track "Crucify Me" placed at no. 4 in Rolling Stone's Top Dance Tracks.

Their follow up record, 1990's Head Down, would feature then budding Sarah McLachlan on backup vocals. At this point in time, Dean Russell was vocalist, but his death in 1994 ceased all Moev work for the next five years, as members pursued other musical projects until their reformation and subsequent reactivation in 1999.

Nettwerk Records, though originally formed as an outlet for Moev's releases, has also released records by Sarah McLachlan, Skinny Puppy, Delerium, Chris & Cosey, Severed Heads, and most recently, Ladytron.



Moev- Zimmerkampf LP
1. In Your Head
2. Madhatter
3. M.T. M.T. N.M.E.
4. Rotting Germaniums
5. 90 Minutes
6. Remembrance Day
7. Cocoon
8. Feline Frauline
9. Common House

*download it here*

For more detailed information about Moev, please direct your attention to the links below:

Moev.net
Unofficial Moev page

Moev- Zimmerkampf LP

Moev were a successful Canadian synthpop band formed in 1981 by Tom Ferris and Cal Stephenson. Though initial demos primarily featured the duo, the band would expand to a four piece before recording their debut, 1982's Zimmerkampf.

Original vocalist Madelaine Morris (featured on today's upload) would depart in 1984, just as the remaining band members formed Nettwerk Records to release the 12'' single "Toulyev." Moev would continue to shift members over the remainder of their tenure, peaking in 1989 with Yeah Whatever. The album's biggest single, the THX 1138 sample driven track "Crucify Me" placed at no. 4 in Rolling Stone's Top Dance Tracks.

Their follow up record, 1990's Head Down, would feature then budding Sarah McLachlan on backup vocals. At this point in time, Dean Russell was vocalist, but his death in 1994 ceased all Moev work for the next five years, as members pursued other musical projects until their reformation and subsequent reactivation in 1999.

Nettwerk Records, though originally formed as an outlet for Moev's releases, has also released records by Sarah McLachlan, Skinny Puppy, Delerium, Chris & Cosey, Severed Heads, and most recently, Ladytron.



Moev- Zimmerkampf LP
1. In Your Head
2. Madhatter
3. M.T. M.T. N.M.E.
4. Rotting Germaniums
5. 90 Minutes
6. Remembrance Day
7. Cocoon
8. Feline Frauline
9. Common House

*download it here*

For more detailed information about Moev, please direct your attention to the links below:

Moev.net
Unofficial Moev page

Rational Youth- Cold War Night Life LP

Second post for today, ladies and gents. Feeling a bit productive today. Below lies a recent favorite of mine, making its way into my latest DJ sets.

The Canadian synthpop/minimal wave band Rational Youth began in 1981 as a duo. Members Tracy Howe (ex-Heaven 17/Men Without Hats) and Bill Vorn released several singles and their debut record, Cold War Night Life in 1982. Soon after the record was released, Bill Vorn departed, marking the beginning of several lineup shifts that would occur over the following years. Several EPs and one more full length (1985's Heredity, more of a Howe solo record under label intervention) followed before Howe retired the name for almost a decade.

In 1997, Howe reactivated Rational Youth, releasing one more record and touring for four years before playing their final show in 2001. Bill Vorn would join Tracy for the very first show, but could not return to the band full time, instead choosing to persue his interactive robotic work.

Uploaded below is the original Rational Youth LP, Cold War Night Life, released in 1982 by the original two-man lineup. This album was re-released in 1997 on CD with a few bonus tracks, also generously uploaded below.



Rational Youth- Cold War Night Life LP
1. Close To Nature
2. Beware The Fly
3. Saturdays In Silesia
4. Just A Sound In The Night
5. Le Meilleur Des Mondes
6. Ring The Bells
7. City Of Night
8. Dancing On The Berlin Wall
9. Power Zone
10. I Want To See The Light
11. Coboloid Race

*download it here*

This record does seem to be available on CD currently, via import, so be sure to snag a copy before they're all gone!

Purchase Rational Youth on Amazon.com

Rational Youth- Cold War Night Life LP

Second post for today, ladies and gents. Feeling a bit productive today. Below lies a recent favorite of mine, making its way into my latest DJ sets.

The Canadian synthpop/minimal wave band Rational Youth began in 1981 as a duo. Members Tracy Howe (ex-Heaven 17/Men Without Hats) and Bill Vorn released several singles and their debut record, Cold War Night Life in 1982. Soon after the record was released, Bill Vorn departed, marking the beginning of several lineup shifts that would occur over the following years. Several EPs and one more full length (1985's Heredity, more of a Howe solo record under label intervention) followed before Howe retired the name for almost a decade.

In 1997, Howe reactivated Rational Youth, releasing one more record and touring for four years before playing their final show in 2001. Bill Vorn would join Tracy for the very first show, but could not return to the band full time, instead choosing to persue his interactive robotic work.

Uploaded below is the original Rational Youth LP, Cold War Night Life, released in 1982 by the original two-man lineup. This album was re-released in 1997 on CD with a few bonus tracks, also generously uploaded below.



Rational Youth- Cold War Night Life LP
1. Close To Nature
2. Beware The Fly
3. Saturdays In Silesia
4. Just A Sound In The Night
5. Le Meilleur Des Mondes
6. Ring The Bells
7. City Of Night
8. Dancing On The Berlin Wall
9. Power Zone
10. I Want To See The Light
11. Coboloid Race

*download it here*

This record does seem to be available on CD currently, via import, so be sure to snag a copy before they're all gone!

Purchase Rational Youth on Amazon.com

Ceramic Hello- The Absence of a Canary LP

Here's another request for you folks to kickstart the week. On the slab is Canadian minimal wave band Ceramic Hello's one and only album, released in 1981. Ceramic Hello formed in 1980 and lasted only 2 years before disbanding, and have never played live. The band consisted of Brett Wickens (ex-Spoons) and Roger Humphreys (a more classically focused musician), who previously played one show together as The Jovial Foresters.

Cermaic Hello released one lone 7'' single and the record below, which has been reissued in 2006 by Vinyl on Demand. The reissue contains a record of rare demo materials that were once slated for the band's second record, and also includes a track by The Partnership, a one-off collaboration between Wickens, Martha Ladly and Andy McCluskey of OMD. The project never got off the ground, but this one track appears on the reissue.

Otherwise, after Ceramic Hello's split, Brett Wickens began working with Jah Wobble and focused heavily on graphic design, now based in California. Meanwhile, Roger released one limited run folk/psych record in 1996, entitled Beyond the Wall of Sleep. These days, rumor has it that Humprheys and Wickens are working together on a second Ceramic Hello record, due for release soon. Exciting news, if so!

As far as the LP is concerned, I haven't uploaded the extra goodies, and won't, as though the first run of the double LP reissue is out of print, plans are in the works to print a second edition run, along with a CD containing all the same tracks. So anyone eager to get those, have a bit of patience and keep your eyes peeled over at Vinyl on Demand and support the band proper! Otherwise, here's the main feature for your previewing pleasure:



Ceramic Hello- The Absence of a Canary LP
1. The Diesquad
2. Ex / Im
3. Climatic Nouveaux
4. Conversation Between Units
5. Geometry
6. Staticarnival
7. Symphony Of Shudders
8. A Grey Man
9. Footsteps In The Fog
10. Ringing In The Sane
11. Trio
12. Gestures
13. Little Tune (Warlike)
14. Dig That Crazy Beat

*download it here*

If you're hip to facebook, there's a Ceramic Hello group. Click below for both a link to the group and to the band's homepage:

Ceramic Hello facebook page
Ceramic Hello dot com

Duchess Says- 'Noviçiat Mère-Perruche' EP

Happy Monday, ladies and gents... Today's post features a recent favorite EP by mutant synthpunk act Duchess Says, a French-Candian outfit featuring a full lineup of guitars, drums, synths, and intensely driving female vocals.

Formed in 2003, Duchess says have released a lone EP, winning over fans with their catchy tracks and otherwise eccentricity, marrying their abrasive dancefloor sound with hyperactive stage performances and theatrics, including readings from the Pamphlet of Budgerigars, an alternate religious text created by members of the band, who claim to serve in the Church of Budgerigars. According to scattered interviews and reviews, he church primarily celebrates the consumption of beer, numerology, and the band itself.

I've uploaded the band's 2005 EP, Noviçiat Mère-Perruche. Four tracks long, and featuring a cover of (previously uploaded) Six Finger Satellite's 'Rabies', it's a shame it's so short, since it leaves you wanting more.

Details:


Duchess Says- Noviçiat Mère-Perruche EP
1. In Serial
2. Cut Up
3. Rabies (Babies Got The)
4. Black Flag

*download it here*

and for your viewing pleasure, here's a live clip of the band performing 'Black Flag,' the final (and my favorite) track from Noviçiat Mère-Perruche.



Though it seems as if their initial EP is out of print, the band has made a remix single for 'Black Flag' available only on vinyl. Click below for a link to snap one up for yourself...

'Black Flag' single on Summer Lovers Unlimited
Duchess Says on myspace

An April March

Finally! Fall weather! The most recent bout of New York rain has dropped temperatures considerably, and with the onset of autumn, I tend to dust off most of my shoegaze collection and listen to it obsessively. Don't worry folks, I won't be clogging up these pages with dreampop (unless you ask, of course), but to kick off the first proper week of autumn, I'll toss one out.

Today's band is An April March (not to be confused with ye-ye revivalist April March), a four piece unit hailing from Toronto, Canada. Formed in 1989, the band lasted a decade before splitting up, leaving behind a trail of 7'' singles and 4 full length records. The band combined the dark-bass driven fury of postpunk with a budding shoegaze sound- swirls of guitar feedback and heavily chorused female vocals.

The band split in 1999 after a handful of parting gigs, and vocalist/guitarist Danella Hocevar and guitarist Christopher Perry soon formed the band rethotred.

Today's tracks compromise their 1994 7'' single for 'Lava.' The A-side also appears on their 1995 EP Instruments of Lust and Fury while the B-side was already released on their 1993 record Impatiens.

download An April March- 'Lava'
download An April March- 'Gates Within Us'

No dice on videos- and though a few of their cds, cassettes, and vinyl can still be found through various online outfits, they manage to fetch a hefty sum from those who are aware of their scarcity! Fortunately, yours truly managed to score the 7'' single posted above for a mere buck, so have hope if you're a collector!

Dandi Wind

Unlike the majority of the bands featured in Systems of Romance thus far, today's band is very much alive and well, keeping mutant synthpunk alive in a new era. Hailing from Canada, this band seems to make little sense at first glance...piercing high pitched synth notes at obscene levels, harsh yet thin electro-beats pulsing like broken machinery, and a female vocalist laced with in-the-red distortion shrieks and screams a strange combination of what sounds like nursery rhymes certain times, biblical passages at others. This band is frantic, but beneath all the chaos lies an incredibly catchy simplicity, a controlled medium in which this band thrives perfectly.

I had the pleasure of catching this band in the flesh just about a week ago, and in person they are easily just as frantic and chaotic- perhaps even more so. A tarted up duo (there was once a live drummer in the band, but no more); one sat behind a rack of keyboards and drum machines controlling the sounds, while the singer provided a spastic full-cardio workout in a blue sequined dance suit, complete with twirling faux-fur props. She swung the microphone to dizzying heights, twirled and broke lit candles from the wall, and thrashed around in the audience, not missing a single beat. I haven't felt so threatened, yet so compelled to dance at a show in a very long time...

Dandi Wind has one album and one EP under their belt, with plans to release their sophomore effort later in the year. For today's consumption, I've uploaded a track from their first record, entitled Concrete Igloo, as well as the first single from its soon-to-be-released follow up, Yolk of the Golden Egg. Enjoy!

download Dandi Wind- 'Utopia Now'
download Dandi Wind- 'Adolescent'

For some visual accompaniment, here's the full band performing 'Baying of the Hounds' live in a tunnel:



...and this is a clip of the show I caught on July 6th at Galapogos, a NYC art-space/venue...The audio quality of this video is a bit compromised, but for a more raw portrait of the band, here's a performance of 'Apotemnophilia.' You better believe I was in right in the front...



For more information, tour dates, purchasing information, and general nonsense, Dandi Wind's homepage can be found here.