Current Band Corner: Mt. Sims

Allow me to take this little bit of necessary blog downtime to talk about a newer artist. Back in this blog's salad days, I posted a handful of tracks from new and exciting post-punk/synth/wave acts, and I've been meaning to revisit this format every now and again to mix things up a bit, so while I'm stuck with the daunting task of reuploading this blog's entire back pages, I figured I'd offer you kids a little modern, yet equally relevant content.

That said, the band on the slab is none other than Mt. Simms. A featured artist on Montreal based Hungry Eye Records, Mt. Simms is a full collective developing from Mount Simms, a similarly styled one-man experimental/electro-pop outfit originally hailing from LA. Led by Matt Sims, a resident DJ/performance artist, Mount Sims released two stunning synth records throughout the new millenium, expanding the boundaries of both electro-pop and performance art. By the time 2005's Wild Lights hit the shelves, Matt added two members to back up the band's growing live presence.

After the subsequent tour, Mount Sims disbanded as Matt relocated to Berlin to start work on a third record as Mt. Sims. The new outfit consists of Randy Twigg on bass and Andre Lange on drums. Despite the mild change to the band's moniker, subsquent sounds explored different territory, adding a much darker and chaotic post-punk edge to the previously solid electronic aesthetic. The results, however, are equally captivating.

Happily Ever After, Mt. Sims' first full length release (featuring mixing and production assistance by Thomas Stern of Crime & the City Solution), was released just last week, but was predated by a 12'' single. I am pleased to offer one track from each respeective Mt. Sims release for your enjoyment. The first is the title track from May's A Grave EP, and the second is a featured number from Happily Ever After:

download Mt. Sims- 'Grave'
download Mt. Sims- 'The Bitten Bite Back'

If you dig these tracks, please say so, and do pick up Matt's releases both new and old. Mount Sims material is easily purchased from Amazon.com and the Itunes Music Store, but Matt's latest work can be found on the Hungry Eye webstore, linked below. Alternately, click below for the Mt. Sims myspace page, chock full of information, photos, and more songs to learn and sing:

Mt. Sims on Hungry Eye Records dot com
Mt. Sims on myspace

Last but not least, for a brief taste of the band's live show, click below to view a three-song performance, filmed by Tobias Knipf in March of 2008:

Current Band Corner: Mt. Sims

Allow me to take this little bit of necessary blog downtime to talk about a newer artist. Back in this blog's salad days, I posted a handful of tracks from new and exciting post-punk/synth/wave acts, and I've been meaning to revisit this format every now and again to mix things up a bit, so while I'm stuck with the daunting task of reuploading this blog's entire back pages, I figured I'd offer you kids a little modern, yet equally relevant content.

That said, the band on the slab is none other than Mt. Simms. A featured artist on Montreal based Hungry Eye Records, Mt. Simms is a full collective developing from Mount Simms, a similarly styled one-man experimental/electro-pop outfit originally hailing from LA. Led by Matt Sims, a resident DJ/performance artist, Mount Sims released two stunning synth records throughout the new millenium, expanding the boundaries of both electro-pop and performance art. By the time 2005's Wild Lights hit the shelves, Matt added two members to back up the band's growing live presence.

After the subsequent tour, Mount Sims disbanded as Matt relocated to Berlin to start work on a third record as Mt. Sims. The new outfit consists of Randy Twigg on bass and Andre Lange on drums. Despite the mild change to the band's moniker, subsquent sounds explored different territory, adding a much darker and chaotic post-punk edge to the previously solid electronic aesthetic. The results, however, are equally captivating.

Happily Ever After, Mt. Sims' first full length release (featuring mixing and production assistance by Thomas Stern of Crime & the City Solution), was released just last week, but was predated by a 12'' single. I am pleased to offer one track from each respeective Mt. Sims release for your enjoyment. The first is the title track from May's A Grave EP, and the second is a featured number from Happily Ever After:

download Mt. Sims- 'Grave'
download Mt. Sims- 'The Bitten Bite Back'

If you dig these tracks, please say so, and do pick up Matt's releases both new and old. Mount Sims material is easily purchased from Amazon.com and the Itunes Music Store, but Matt's latest work can be found on the Hungry Eye webstore, linked below. Alternately, click below for the Mt. Sims myspace page, chock full of information, photos, and more songs to learn and sing:

Mt. Sims on Hungry Eye Records dot com
Mt. Sims on myspace

Last but not least, for a brief taste of the band's live show, click below to view a three-song performance, filmed by Tobias Knipf in March of 2008:

Venus In Furs- Platonic Love & Other Stories LP

Not much more info I can give today, but as promised, here's the first official LP by UK electronic post-punkers Venus In Furs (released in 1984). Managed to acquire the rest of the band's discography, but am missing *one* track from Soft Life. Speak up if you've got it. Otherwise, on to the music:



Venus in Furs- Platonic Love & Other Stories
1. Fallen Statues
2. That First Wild Kiss
3. Majordomo
4. Entracte/Zurich 1924
5. His Master's Voice
6. Platonic Love
7. Waltz Of The Venus De Milo
8. Achilles Brain
9. Snowscape
10. The Challenge

*download it here*

Venus In Furs- Strip MLP

Fulfilling another request from down under. No, this isn't the Velvet Underground song, the Sacher-Masoch novel, nor is it the fictional glam band from Velvet Goldmine (a lot of posh material discussed in this sentence), but instead this Venus In Furs was a cult favorite post-punk/electronic act from the UK that existed from 1983-the early 1990s.

The band formed in Sussex in the early 1980s, pairing down from a four piece to a duo before cutting any proper material. Over the course of six years, the band released six albums, one mini LP, and a series of 12'' and 7'' singles, all of which are extremely sought after. Little else is known about the band, or there current whereabouts, but one of the members was also doing double duty in a band called Times during this period.

Though this is their second release, I've uploaded 1985's Strip mini-LP to kick things off. I've got most of their earlier catalog, aside from singles, Megalomania (1989), and their final recordings, so if anyone's interested, I can upload the remaining three records I have over the course of next week. Otherwise, here's the information for Strip:



Venus In Furs- Strip Mini-LP
1. All Night Party
2. Sultan
3. In My Velvet Cage
4. Rayogram IV
5. Concerning Status
6. The Debutante
7. O Sweetheart Libido
8. Rayogram VI

*download it here*

It seems as if the entire Venus In Furs catalog has been re-released on compact disc via Movement Recordings in the UK. The reissues come complete with full album artwork and a few of the 12'' singles tacked on for good measure. Otherwise, I do believe these are CD-R burned copies otherwise, recorded onto burned discs from the original master tapes. If I come across a wad of cash, I'll be picking up the entire lot, if they're still available. I recommend you kids do the same! Click the link below to be taken to the order page:

Movement Recordings Order Form

Adult.

Today's band is Adult., a currently active synthpunk/wave unit hailing from Detroit, Michigan. Consisting of married couple Adam Lee Miller and Nicola Kuperus, their sound blends female vocals and harsh electronics. Since their inception, Adult. has helped bring dance and synthpunk back to prominence under the guise of a budding electroclash movement.

The two-piece outfit formed in 1998 under the name Plasma Co., and has since independently released four full-length records, one EP, and a series of 12'' singles under their proper name. The band has since grown notorious for their captivating live performances and a slew of altered remixes of their contemporaries and influences.

For your listening pleasure, I've uploaded a duo of tracks. The first, 'Shake Your Head' is featured on their second record, 2003's Anxiety Always while the second is a remix/reworking of avant-garde act Tuxedomoon's 'No Tears.'

download Adult.- 'Shake Your Head'
download Tuxedomoon- 'No Tears (Adult. Remix)

Here's a live video of the band performing 'Bad Ideas' in 2005. The track appears on their third record, 2005's Gimme Trouble.



For more on Adult., including discography, photos, live dates, and purchase links, please visit these links:

Official Site
Myspace Page
Adult. on Amazon.com