Jih- This Gift 12''

Here's a long lost 12'' from Jih, a new wave band from the UK. While their full length LP was shared here, there also are a few 12'' singles kicking around. This one was released in 1986, the same year as the LP.

In true 12'' fashion, the version of "This Gift" on this record is different than the LP version, extended by a few minutes or so. I do believe the version of "The Shadow to Fall" is identical, though. Here's the rundown:



Jih- This Gift 12''
1. This Gift
2. This Boy
3. Shadow to Fall

*download it 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:

Velveteen- After Hours 12''

You may have seen this one over at Capa Nostra Syndicate, but not sure what's up with the rip there, as it's pretty unlistenable. What we have here is some pretty solid new wave from hometown NYC, with a slight commercial edge to some of the tracks. Some of the songs fall a little flat for me, but some are unexpected synthpop killers. I'll let you all decide which tracks are which, but either way, this one's definitely worth a listen or two.

Here's the info for this 1983 release:



Velveteen- After Hours 12''
1. Nightline
2. Combo Boys
3. Nothing to Do
4. Wild Rain
5. Preoccupied
6. Get Wild

*download it here*

Zerbrechlich- Am Strand Von Italien 7''

Here's a scarce minimal synth single from Austria. The a-side is an infectious little new wave gem, while the b-side is a manic piece of oddball synth- something for both sides of the minimal synth spectrum!

This is Zerbrechlich's only release, but the story doesn't end there. Zerbrechlich was the electronic side project of Dämmerattacke, who appear on the very first Systems of Romance compilation. The Zip Guns, who issued one LP in 1994, also consist of several Dämmerattacke members.

Here's the info:



Zerbrechlich- Am Strand Von Italien 7''
1. Am Strand Von Italien
2. Bei Den Beduinen

*download it here*

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!*

Swiss Navy- Back to the Wall 12''

Rolling right along, here's a recent dollar bin snag that's every bit as good as I was hoping. Pulled this out of a bin based on the date (1983) and cover art alone, threw it on to preview, and was pleasantly surprised. It's nice to know there are still plenty of undiscovered (and affordable) gems out there!

Not much I can tell you about this one, though. I've been told that the label, Phonogram Ltd., was not a true label, but instead, a company responsible for licensing tracks to smaller labels. I have to take another glance at the sleeve to confirm, but a few listings claim that this record was released on Mercury in the UK. Either way, Swiss Navy had a mind to create a dancefloor smash all over the world, and they damn well succeeded with this one, in my book. I don't care much for the third track, a quirky earworm that while charming, can't hold a candle to the title track. However, the two mixes of "Back to the Wall" more than make up for it. Here's the details:



Swiss Navy- Back to the Wall 12''
1. Back to the Wall (Marine Mix)
2. Back to the Wall
3. Cool-De-Jack

*download it here*

Philippe Entre2mers- Quai D' Orient 12''

Apologies in advance for flooding your hard drives with music, folks. Two posts in store for today- mostly because I promised some Wierd party attendees I'd drop these records immediately for download!

First, we have some killer French synthpop, reminiscent of Depeche Mode with some slight italo leanings. The same track appears here twice in different forms, and I can't decide which one I like better. This 12'' appears on the Fan Club label, another Damned-inspired offshoot of New Rose records, which featured Taxi Girl, Metal Urbain, and Kas Product as well as some classic proto-punk material.

Not much else I can tell you about this one, so let's get right to it:



Philippe Entre2mers- Quai D'Orient 12''
1. Quai D'Orient (Version Club)
2. Quai D'Orient (Version Remixee)

*download it here*

Stay tuned for another post in just a few minutes!

Goûts De Luxe- (Mostly Full) Discography

Hot on the heels of this morning's post, here's a very nearly complete discography of French synthpop band Goûts De Luxe. Some of you may already be familiar with the band, as a few of their a-sides were prominent, though now obscure, new wave hits- some of the best of the era. I also included one of the band's finest moments (the killer minimal synth-esque b-side "Last Train") on the most recent installments of the Systems of Romance loose tracks compilations. Since I haven't seen their work shared out there, I figured it was due time to organize it and sort it all out for everyone's enjoyment.

The band's origins date back to the mid 1980s in Brest, a city in northwestern France. The band's lineup changed a handful of times throughout their short time together. After recording (or, in actuality, NOT recording) on the first single, original guitarist Jean-Éric Montfort left the band and was replaced by Marianna Kliska, wife of vocalist Jacques le Honsec. They released two more singles before calling it a day.

With the exception of the instrumental version of "Les Yeux de Laura," and the promo mixes of the track, this zip file ocntains all the tracks recorded by Goûts De Luxe during their time together, including all three singles and respective b-sides. I hope you all don't mind missing out on the instrumental mix, as I've never found them to be very necessary, but I should be able to track it down (in time) if needed. However, as a consolation, I have included a different extended mix of "Omaha Beach" that I can't quite place on either single, with a different running time and everything! If anyone knows where it belongs, do chime in! Otherwise, let's get to the details:



Goûts De Luxe- Les Yeux de Laura 7'' (1986)
1. Les Yeux de Laura



Goûts De Luxe- Les Yeux de Laura 12'' (1986)
1. Les Yeux de Laura (Extended Mix)



Goûts De Luxe- Omaha Beach 7'' (1987)
1. Omaha Beach
2. Ubik (Mission Secréte)



Goûts De Luxe- Omaha Beach 12'' (1987)
1. Omaha Beach (Remix)
3. Fade to Grey (Visage cover)



Goûts De Luxe- Dans Un Autre Pays 7'' (1989)
1. Dans Un Autre Pays
2. Last Train



Goûts De Luxe- Dans Un Autre Pays 12'' (1989)
1. Dans Un Autre Pays (Maxi Version)

BONUS- Omaha Beach (Extended Mix)

*download it all here*

Since the band enjoyed some relative success throughout Europe, there are a few promo videos floating around. Here's a clip for "Omaha Beach."



Also, if your French is fluent, you can read more about the band (including lyrics, I believe) on their official website. There are also a slew of photos, and a demo recording hidden in the site, so be sure to explore:

Goûts De Luxe dot net


Coming soon: Glamatron, DADA, and more French synthpop. Stay tuned, and happy 2011!

The Bridge- Love Dance 12''

I have one more thing to post today, so might as well drop it now, while the iron is hot. Here's a classic 12'' by The Bridge, a DJ favorite of mine for some time now, recently acquired on vinyl. I believe this synthpop outfit acted as a three piece, releasing several singles in the mid 1980s. This particular record was produced by Paul Bell, who then went on to form Zerra One.

There's a bit of discrepency between their first two singles, so let me try my best to explain. As listed online, there's both a 12'' for Love Dance (today's post) as well as a single release entitled Industrial Love Dance, but both feature the same tracklisting, more or less, with slightly tweaked titles. Maybe the label (Second Vision) thought it was best to steer clear of the 'industrial' tag? If anyone can shed some light on this situation, I would be most appreciative!

The versions on this 12'' also appear on the Industrial Love Dance single, alongside a shorter, more radio-friendly version of side A, which I've uploaded seperately for good measure. So with this post, you get all three versions of "Love Dance," an edgy synthpop track with excellent hooks and solid vocals. What more can you ask for?



The Bridge- Love Dance 12''
1. Love Dance (Love Mix)
2. Love Dance (Industrial Mix)

*download it here*

You can nab the 7'' version of the track from the Industrial Love Dance single by clicking here. Enjoy!

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*

B-Movie- Early Singles

When I think of the best UK bands, few spring to mind quicker than B-Movie. I've covered them twice here before, once with their 1985 LP Forever Running and then a few years later with their unstoppable Nowhere Girl 12''. I've been meaning to upload their earlier singles for some time now, probably years, but it just slipped through the cracks. I hope you'll forgive me, folks.

That said, contained within this zip file is the majority of B-Movie's early works, starting from their first 12''s in 1980 and spanning until 1982. Quite a prolific period for the band, with most of their best songs being issued in this two year time period. I've left out the original 12'' I covered, which you can get here, but I have included the b-side to the 7'' and certain 12'' editions. Here's the rundown:



B-Movie- Take Three 7'' (1980)
1. The Soldier Stood Alone
2. Drowning Man
3. Soundtrack



B-Movie- Nowhere Girl (1980)
1. Nowhere Girl
2. This Still Life
3. Institution Walls
4. Airplanes & Mountains
5. Left Out In The Cold
6. Remembrance Day



B-Movie- Remembrance Day 12'' (1981)
1. Remembrance Day
2. Institution Walls (Remix)



B-Movie- Marilyn Dreams 7'' (1981)
1. Marilyn Dreams
2. Film Music Part 1
bonus- Marilyn Dreams (Extended Version)- from 12''



B-Movie- Nowhere Girl 7'' (1982)
1. Nowhere Girl (Short Version)
2. Scare Some Life Into Me

*download it all here*

Again, in case you missed them the first time- here's the full Nowhere Girl 12'' (including the 12'' extended mix) and their 1985 LP, Forever Running.

The Electronic Circus- Direct Lines 7''

Here's a real quick post before I sneak off for the weekened. Uploaded here, by generous donation, we have one of the best minimal synth singles out there, at least in my opinion. The a-side is an absolute romantic synth classic, while the b-side here is a more atmospheric, piano-driven affair, an interesting but pleasant counterpoint to the sheer pop perfection on the flip.

Fun fact about this one. Main contributor Chris Payne was also in both Visage and the Dramatis (who had a solid hit with Gary Numan on vox). Easy to see why there's such great mastery on this one! Here's the info:



The Electronic Circus- Direct Lines 7''
1. Direct Lines
2. Le Chorale

*download it here*

Dr. Strangelove- Demo K7

I'm not usually fond of posting cassette rips, but this one's an exception. Here we have an unlisted, scarce demo tape by Scottish synthpop band Dr. Strangelove, who were active in the early 1990s.

This seems to be their only "release," though the band did, in fact, make a promotional video for the first track. They soon disappeared into the ether, without a trace. However, just a few years ago, 3 of the 4 members reconvened and formed Analog Angel, re-recording many of their older songs in a newer format. Their re-recording of "Why Do You Do" is virtuallty identical to the original, quality improvements aside. Analog Angel have, in fact, released their debut album, which can be purchased via their webpage.

Their promotional video gained a bit of internet notoriety when it appeared with the tag "Depeche Mode-esque." Naturally, forming in the early 90s and adopting a synth-pop sound, Depeche Mode was a major influence in both style and execution. Fans of Black Celebration and Music For the Masses should enjoy this one.

Dr. Strangelove- Demo K7
1. Why Do You Do?
2. Consequences
3. 'Title Unknown'

*download it here*

Sorry I can't offer any artwork, but here's the video for 'Why Do You Do' for your viewing pleasure:

VHF- 1st Impressions LP

I was going to wait until Monday came to post this one up, but news travels fast, and a few people are already asking for it. Up on the slab we have one of the rarest new wave records in existence, the elusive VHF LP. Not to be confused with the heavy metal band of the same name (though the logo looks conspicuously like Van Halen), this particular EP has more in common with Speak and Spell era Depeche Mode, Erasure, and soulful synthpop in that vein.

This LP was released in the UK in 1984 on Pennine Records. A power pop single by Any Trouble was the label's only other release. Coincidentally, VHF has a bit of a power pop vibe going for it, instead employing a slew of synth leads and drum machines in that minimal style we all love to get the job done. A curious mix, which generally works.

This doesn't complete the VHF saga though... There's a 7'' out there for the title track, which I believe features an exclusive b-side. Maybe we'll hear that one some day, but in the interim, here's the info for this 'holy grail' of rare wave records:



VHF- 1st Impressions LP
1. The Peril Of Passion
2. Let Me Fall
3. Smile On Demand
4. No Surprise
5. I Know You Wanna Say Goodbye
6. Don't Call Me
7. First Impressions
8. Key To My Heart
9. Our Love Is Undecided
10. Mirage
11. Counting The Days
12. Replacement Heart

*download it here*

Телевизор (Televizor)- Шествие Рыб LP

Just received a request on Facebook to cover some of the Russian synth greats, so what better place to start than the debut album from Телевизор (translation- Televizor). While the band was conceived in 1984 in Leningrad, it took four years for their debut to appear. The LP was released on Мелодия records, which formed in 1964 and folded briefly when the USSR collapsed.

Kind of hard to classify this one properly, as it jumps styles on every track. If anything, it reminds me a bit of Chrisma's Chinese Restuarant- a true hybrid that's tough to pin down, but I'll let you all decide for yourselves! Here's the info and download link:



Телевизор- Шествие Рыб LP
1. Люди В Ожидании
2. Муха На Стекле
3. Город
4. Я Не Виноват
5. Вчера
6. Цветные Сны
7. Человек Из Ваты
8. Дальний Восток
9. Шествие Рыб
10. Обо Мне
11. Мания Величия
12. Товарищ Сухов
13. С Вами Говорит Телевизор

*download it here*

Industrie- H LP

One of my favorite tracks from the first Systems of Romance compilation is Industrie's "Secret Affair"- a playful synth jam with solid female vocals. Imagine my delight when I came across a pristine copy of their lone LP. I just received it yesterday, and I've already ripped and uploaded it for you all today.

This particular LP is the Australian band's only release, hailing from 1983. While a handful of people contributed to the recording, only two appear in the photo on the back of the LP, so I reckon there were studio musicians involved. Not sure if the band ever performed live, so if anyone has any more info, please pass it along!

As for the LP, you can expect more of the same catchy new wave jams here, with only a few slower, less-interesting ballads. Everything else is pure new wave/synthpop heaven (for fans of Moev, early Berlin, etc.), so without any further ado, here's the information:



Industrie- H LP
1. Heartbeat
2. Neon Neon
3. Second Death
4. Nothing Lasts Forever
5. Stay With Me
6. "H"
7. Secret Affair
8. You're the One
9. Bedroom Eyes
10. Found You

*download it here*

Intro- 12'' discography

Up next we have two donated singles by UK-based synthpop project Intro, both released in 1983. While these two rips were donated by bx59cppw, I just recently found the first 12'' kicking around for a mere $5, so this one should be easy enough to track down for those who would like to own it for themselves. Definitely an affordable piece of synthpop heaven!

Some of you may recognize the track "Haunted Cocktails" from the Return of Flexi-Pop series, so you can expect more of the same female fronted dance grooves on the rest of these tracks. Great production, catchy hooks, and all the works are on display here. As for the parties responsible, Jimmie O'Neill was involved as a producer with several projects, including Fingerprintz and The Silencers, while Jackie Brookes was part of the original 4AD lineup, providing vocals for the Shox 7'' (one of my first uploads). She also released a solo LP in 1984, which features a few alternate mixes of these tracks.

This should definitely hit the spot for fans of U-BahnX, Kim Wilde, Moev, November Group, etc. Here's the info:



Intro- Haunted Cocktails 12''
1. Haunted Cocktails
2. Haunted Cocktails (Haunted Mix)
3. Departures



Intro- Lost Without Your Love 12''
1. Lost Without Your Love
2. Lost Mix (Muzak Superior)
3. Epic

*download both here*

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*

Cathedral of Tears- Cathedral of Tears 12''

Moving right along, here we have a 12'' by Cathedral of Tears, a US-based darkwave band with a danceable edge. This is the band's only record, released in 1984 on Enigma Records, which was generally known for dark, sleazy punk (The Cramps, Dead Milkmen, TSOL etc.).

Though the record does flirt around with a more new wave sound, the project was primarily an outlet for Jack Grisham, of TSOL, which explains the 'odd man out' style of this record. Either way, expect some good darkwave grooves here.

Also, I believe there were several muscians involved with the project, including Mike Patton (Adolescents/Middle Class) on bass. I've stumbled upon some choice words about this 12'' from Jack himself:

"This is one of those mistakes you make that you can't take back. My dad died, I was going through a lot of shit...I stole the tapes. We had a record...we wrote a bunch of new songs, went in the studio & I stole the tapes. Our record company had said, 'There's no song here that will get radio play,' & I was like 'Bullshit, there is.' So I stole the tapes from the record company, took it to the radio station, & they were playing our song (Black Emotion) while I was driving away. (laughs) & it turned out to be the number four requested song on the station that year. With no record out. & then Enigma finally put it out. They finally put it out, but it was too late. I had already done the damage by the time it came out."

Neat, though I must disagree that this record is a mistake! Don't take my word for it, though- here's the info for 12''.



Cathedral of Tears- Cathedral of Tears 12''
1. Trap
2. A Situation Of...
3. Calm Storm
4. Black Emotion
5. Ballet
6. Whisper From The Deadland

*download it here*

Calculated X- Some Change/No Change 12''

Last but not least, we have the second 12'' by Calculated X- released in 1983. Taking over where their first 12'' (uploaded here, for those who missed it) left off, there's more of the same infectious new wave/post-punk grooves present here, with a slightly poppier edge. Let's dive right into this one, shall we?



Calculated X- Some Change/No Change 12''
1. Some Change No Change
2. Cool The Water
3. You Will Know Us
4. Don't Look At You

*download it here*

Don't forget- there is a CD-reissue of all these tracks available on X-Tracked records. You can grab a copy here, which I highly recommend if you enjoy these two 12'' records as much as I do! There's a few bonus tracks and live cuts as an extra incentive, so be sure to nab it while the getting is good!