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*

Hang the Dance- Ghost Bloody Country LP

February seems to be a very post-punk month for Systems of Romance thus far. With that in mind here's an excellent LP from the UK which I discovered in a local record bin for just a few dollars. A random purchase, selected on the strength of the cover and a quick turntable preview. Some awesome sounds here, reminiscent of Southern/Death Cult, but with clear, catchy synth lines on a handful of the tracks. Fans of bands such as Play Dead, Into A Circle, Snake Corps, and the Situation Two sound should really enjoy this one.

This appears to be the band's only full length LP, though three singles were released around the same time. While there isn't a lot of information about the band themselves, many gigographies include shows with the band over the years. Most notably, member Roman Remeynes sparked some controversy when calling in about the Ukranian John Peel Sessions performed by The Wedding Present. Fluent in Ukranian, Remeynes playfully stated that the band was 'bastardizing the music.' He was then invited to join in for the second peel session!

Here's the info:



Hang the Dance- Ghost Bloody Country LP
1. Enfold
2. On the Waterfront
3. Babysitter
4. Horseflesh
5. Ghost Bloody Country
6. Host
7. Mahogany Day
8. Slate Detail
9. Look At Heaven
10. Some Sacred Ground

*download it here*

Apologies for the crummy sleeve scan. Haven't had the chance to take my own photo. Will rectify this asap!

Oto- Purge An Urge & Mr Schumaker

Here's a series of releases that haven't been posted yet, to my knowledge, but are certainly worth hearing. Fans of dark synth music should be familiar with this French coldwave/synth band, for their track "Anyway" is a genre staple. The track also appeared on last year's Cold Waves and Minimal Electronics compilation, and the remaining 7'' tracks can be found here or here.

However, here's the band's other two releases- the 1986 Purge An Urge LP and the vocal version of the Mr Schumaker 7'', released in 1984. You can expect the same strange, yet danceable edge on all of these tracks. Here's the rundown:



Oto- Mr Schumaker 7'' (1984)
1. Mr Schumaker (Version Originale)



Oto- Purge An Urge LP (1986)
1. Discowar
2. Tequila
3. Kong
4. Evil Dance
5. Takomo
6. Estupefaction

*download it here*

Sanity Plexus- Redux

It's been a long eight months, but I've since tracked down the remaining Sanity Plexus discography, consisting of a 12'' and a full length LP. While the band taps into a little more production value here, there's still the raw, DIY aesthetic throughout both releases that appeals. Fans of raw post-punk and minimal synth should find lots to love here.

Both of these records were released on the same label as the debut 12'', which you can nab here if you missed it. Without any further ado, here's the info:



Sanity Plexus- Tough Guy Shell 12'' (1990)
1. Tough Guy Shell
2. Career Boys
3. Ambassador of Angst
4. The Pleasure Utensils



Sanity Plexus- Fidelity LP (1991)
1. It's Not What You Think
2. Fatty Takes A Flyer
3. You Never Can Tell
4. Malevolent Angel
5. Big Chill
6. Why I Don't Dance
7. Ozone-Friendly Boyfriend
8. Slice Of Life
9. Pop
10. Scandal In A Small Town

*download both here*

Claude Raines- Claude Raines LP

I've been meaning to post this LP for months now, don't know why it's taken me so long. Up on the slab is the lone LP by Claude Raines, a US based guitar-driven post-punk band from Rochester, NY. Rochester must've been a great breeding ground for awesome, underrated post-punk, between this LP and of course, Eleven Pond.

The closest touchstones for this 1987 LP include The Church, The Chameleons, Psychedelic Furs, and The Snake Corps, complete with the big guitar driven sound of all those bands. A little bit of background noise on side A of the rip- it seems as if my copy of this LP has seen better days, but nothing terribly distracting from this otherwise excellent LP. According to the band's Myspace page, run by an official member, they are hoping for a reissue and are looking for interested parties or labels who could make it happen. Hopefully this post here can bring this excellent LP to more widespread attention. Feel free to reach out to the band!



Claude Raines- Claude Raines LP
1. All Of The Days
2. No Talk
3. Stumbling Hard
4. Looking Around (Acoustic Mix)
5. Moving Through The Fields
6. Dancing
7. Looking Around
8. Going Under

*download it here*

Lots to post in the coming weeks, including a the full Thierry Meyer 7'', an uncovered gem from Jih, and more!

Troops For Tomorrow- Songs of Joy & Faith 7''

Here's a killer post-punk 7'' from 1982, released on Portion Control's Rhythmic Records. The band hailed from the UK and this is their only release, though Albie De Luca of Gene Loves Jezebel/Furyo was a member. Definitely a must for fans of (early) New Order and Modern English. Gloomy vox and punchy rhythms make this one a must for all fans of this kind of sound!



Troops For Tomorrow- Songs of Joy & Faith 7''
1. Songs Of Joy & Faith
2. The Prisoner

*download it here*

Dorian Gray- Promise of Love 7''

Picked this 7'' from 1985 up at one of my favorite NYC record shops, the newly unveiled Heaven Street Records in Greenpoint. Bears no relation to either the Dorian Gray posted here, or the Dorian Grey posted here, though both are worth checking out as well. Seems to be a popular name for those in the pre-Google age!

What we have here are two tracks from the UK wave scene that strike a balance between Into a Circle and Crocodiles-era Echo and the Bunnymen. Not shocking to hear the band once supported Gene Loves Jezebel, as there's a melodic post-punk vibe running through this single. The b-side is a more percussive and groove-oriented remix of the title track, for those who appreciate that sort of thing. Dig it:



Dorian Gray- Promise of Love 7''
1. Promise Of Love
2. Miles Away

*download it here*

There's another 12'' from 1986 out there, priced a little higher than this 7''. Hope to snag and share that one sometime soon, so stay tuned. There's also a video for 'Promise of Love' kicking around on YouTube, linked for your viewing pleasure:

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!*

Monozid/Bootblacks Split 7''

I have some killer archival posts to kick off the new year (starting this afternoon), but everyone knows that modern artists need love too! First things first, I'd like to pass on a free 7'' from two chums of mine from two different lands. Here's a blistering 7'' split from Bootblacks (a local NYC blues-punk outfit reminiscent of The Gun Club) and Monozid (hard hitting German post-punk with a hint of NDW). You get two tracks per band with this release! This is Bootblacks' first appearance on record, while Monozid have a handful of releases dating back to their debut CD-R in 2006.

You can often find these two bands playing shows together throughout Europe and the United States, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for both bands in the new year. Thanks to Monozid for the download link for the single, hoping you all enjoy it! Here's the info:



1. Monozid- Shame Of The Nation
2. Monozid- Turquoise Fields Burn Brighter, Honey
3. Bootblacks- Empire
4. Bootblacks- Tuxedo Tomcat

*download it here*

There's also a video for the second Monozid track, "Turquoise Fields Burn Brighter, Honey," which features various tour footage and cameos from both bands! Click below to peep it.

Terminal Beach- Love on Auto 7''

Here's a killer 7'' from 1982 that I've been meaning to post for a while. Seems there isn't a lot of information to be had regarding this understated minimal synth/post-punk hybrid single, a private release on T.B. records. The band hailed from the UK, and naturally, this is their only release.

If anyone can fill in the blanks on this one, feel free to chime in. Otherwise, please do enjoy!



Terminal Beach- Love on Auto 7''
1. Love on Auto
2. Dark Words

*download it here*

Various Artists- Systems of Romance vol. 3 & 4

I was going to wait until early next week to post these, but I'm terrible with keeping secrets, so here's an early holiday treat for you all. Linked below are TWO new Systems of Romance loose tracks compilations, lovingly assembled and pieced together from various sources, private collections, and generous donations!

Before we get to the tracklistings, I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for a truly solid year here at Systems of Romance, probably the best we've had yet. I really appreciate all the support from artists, fellow bloggers, and readers alike. Here's to many more years and many more posts to come!

Warm fuzzies aside, let's get to the good stuff!



Various Artists- Systems of Romance Vol. 3
1. Movements- Pascal Wathelet
2. The Aesthete- Biokonstruktor
3. Attack Decade- The Toy Shop
4. Erosion- Teepee
5. Demain Peut-Etre- Clair Instant
6. Man in the Railings- Plain Characters
7. Fate/Hate- Nyam Nyam
8. Mass Media- Monty Cantsin
9. Binary- Kazino
10. Ik En Mezelf- Fred A.
11. On- Zana
12. Fussball- Seltsame Zustände
13. Flickan I Mitt Badkar- Finish Him
14. Marche Nuptiale- Anches Doo Too Cool
15. New Harbours- Movement
16. Can't Stop- Avantgarde De Luxe
17. Huge Box- The Bien
18. Paula- Nasa
19. Beautiful Lady- Hidden Pleasure

*download it here*



Various Artists- Systems of Romance Vol. 4
1. The Invitation- Portrait Bizarre
2. Robot Dynastie- Terminus B
3. Let's Call-Up- Forum
4. Marilyn En Jean- Tonic
5. Camera Room- Breathing Age
6. Sons of the Snake- Alan Shearer
7. Last Train- Goûts De Luxe
8. Let Me Out of Here- Fizik
9. Certain Words- Clair Instant
10. You Hurt Me (Original Version)- Shark Vegas
11. Changing- Siam
12. Never Seen- Second Thoughts
13. Soba 23- Denis & Denis
14. Chant D'Yxos- Pascal Wathelet
15. XYZ- Pat Sheedy
16. Some Other Day- Insanity
17. In Loving Memory- Steve Ainsworth
18. The Letter- D'Arc

*download it here*

In case you missed them, you can get vol. 1 here and vol. 2 here! Have a great holiday, everyone!

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*

Various Artists- Unreleased Vol. II

Last, but not least, here's a higher bitrate copy of the Unreleased Vol. II compilation, featuring a slew of classic coldwave cuts, at the time very scarce. You have some excellent work by many of the bands featured here in the past, including Mary Goes Round, Neutral Project, Little Nemo, and Asylum Party. The Wallenberg track is also a favorite.

This Unreleased series contained three volumes, the first of which I haven't heard, and the third which took a more classical/instrumental approach.



Various Artists- Unreleased Volume II
1. Little Nemo- My Eternal Friend (1st Way)
2. Mary Goes Round - The Nightmare
3. Via Valvag - Au Rythme Des Jours
4. The Wait - Moving In
5. Kindergarten - Machines'Co
6. Asylum Party - The Desert
7. Wallenberg - Someone's Changing (Helen Part 1)
8. Neutral Project - Enigmatic Dream
9. Close Cover - The Bomb
10. Les Tétines Noires - Marônium

*download it here*

Mankinds Audio Development- Sunfeast 12''

Been meaning to post this one for some time- a recent purchase that's lived in my DJ bag for some time now. Two track 12'' from 1984, featuring members of Play Dead and Look Back in Anger. Also produced by John Fryer, notorious for his pioneering work with 4AD and various other post-punk bands. This is their only release, though more tracks were meant to be recorded.

The sound here sounds like a mixture of soulful vocals (a la Colourbox), post-punk bass grooves, all under the guise of an early EBM track. Lots to love here. Here's the breakdown:



Mankinds Audio Development- Sunfeast 12''
1. Sunfeast
2. Craving

*download it here*

X-Offender- Dreaming 12''

Another excellent Italian release from 1986 up on the slab today, a true gem and rarity. Absolutely no info to be found about these four mysterious fellows, but their label, Urgent Records, also issued early singles by Litfiba and Neon. The band only issued one futher track, called "Wehrmacht," which appears on the 391 Umbria K7 with Aidons La Norvege, another Italian band.

You can expect some gloomy synth here, with excellent bass grooves and melodic vocals. Definitely essential, especially for fans of bands like Storung and Into a Circle. Two different sounds, I know, but let's see what you all make of it... Here's the details:



X-Offender- Dreaming 12''
1. Dreaming
2. What Is Smile?
3. Help To Helpless
4. The Stone Wood

*download it here*

As a brief aside, I've recently constructed two DJ mixes for various publications. The first, for VESSEL, features a more synth-driven sound while the second, for Zaptown mag, is of the coldwave/post-punk variety. Here they are, for your listening pleasure:

VESSEL playlist
Zaptown playlist

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.

Blue Siege- Ruins No Longer Remain 12''

Here's a virtually unknown 12'' from UK post-punk band Blue Siege. Definitely a must for fans of Sad Lovers and Giants, For Against, The Chameleons, etc., and also for those who like something a little more jangly (Winter Hours, early R.E.M.). Melodic singing, driving post-punk tracks, and a nice, punchy atmosphere. Prominent use of organ on here, if that's your thing!

Can't find a ton of information about this one, though I do believe it's from 1986. The band released a 7'' just before via Pride Communications, the same label who issued this recording. The 7'' features production from Chris Layhe of the Icicle Works, another touchstone for the band's sound. As for obtaining a copy of this one, there's a few kicking around on ebay and various online record outlets, so snap one up!



Blue Siege- Ruins No Longer Remain 12''
1. Ruins No Longer Remain
2. Stolen Daylight
3. Like Red Rags To the Bull (Soweto)
4. Hollow Man
5. River Has Gone
6. Drifting Apart

*download it here*

Ex Post Facto- Oceanic Explorers 12''

For those not entirely thrilled with the idea of a Depeche Mode clone, here's a request that should suit you well. This particular 12'' has been posted before over at music...isms, but the author admittedly wasn't able to provide the b-side at good quality. A shame, as I find the second track on this 1982 single to be the best of the three!

You can read more about this UK synth/post-punk hybrid and nab the rest of their work over at music...isms, so let's just dive right in!



Ex Post Facto- Oceanic Explorers 12''
1. Oceanic Explorers
2. Bast
3. Marilyn

*download it here*

Celibates- A Shameless Fashion LP

Some of you may have seen this one kicking around previously over at Capa Nostra Syndicate, but I believe there may be a skip or two on that particular upload. So apologies for the repetition, but here's a freshly ripped version of this quirky minimal synth/post-punk hybrid from 1981.

This particular LP actually serves as a nice companion to the VHF lp. Quirky synths, minimal beats, and a strange connection to bands like Devo, Voice Farm, and Futurisk. Of course, there's a few duds along the way, but I especially am fond the first track. Minimal synth fans should recognize David Kane, one of the album's main contributors. Better known as Quintronic, he's the man responsible for the Trek w/ Quintronic LPs, which you can get over at Mutant Sounds. Kane was responsible for the electronic elements of the LP, while Kent Weber (of the Fems), played all guitars and effects. Terry Sullivan, the vocalist, has no other releases as far as I can tell.



Celibates- A Shameless Fashion
1. Coming Alone
2. Keeping The Count
3. Making Moves At Random
4. Girls With Headphones
5. Rap City (In Blue)
6. She's The One
7. Reflex
8. Whipped Cream Girls

*download it here*

Atelier Du Mal- Noblesse Oblige Demo K7

Up next we have a killer demo tape from Italian minimal synth band Atelier Du Mal. I'm usually not too fond of cassettes, as I find the sound quality to be very sub-par on the whole, but this one is a real gem. Barely sounds like a cassette, let alone a demo, for that matter!

This is the band's only official release, though track two, 'Back to Taiwan,' has been reissued as part of the Crollo Nervoso DVD set, essential listening/viewing for fans of obscure Italian wave.

Enough chatter, here's the info:

Atelier Du Mal- Noblesse Oblige Demo K7
1. A Promise
2. Back to Taiwan
3. Another Kind of Madness
4. Waiting for Someone
5. Staticita
6. Palau
7. Marienbaad
8. Decadence (Underground Life)

*download it here*

Sorry for the lack of artwork, kids!

That's all for today (major treat coming soon- stay tuned), but I'd like to draw your attention to the De Press LP post from years past. Freshly re-uploaded on Mediafire, for those who missed out the first time. Thanks to all for keeping me on my toes!