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
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
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:
For those not as jazzed about the previous guitar-driven posts, here's something that should whet your appetite and offset the darkness a bit, courtesy of BX. I posted the a-side to this magnificent French minimal synth 7'' on the first Systems of Romance compilation, and suffice to say, the b-side is of similarly high quality. Also an instrumental, but some great grooves here.
This 1981 single is Theirry Meyer's only release, so not much more to tell about this one. Enjoy!
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
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:
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)
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:
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
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)
Here's a killer German synthpop single, shameless and high energy as anything from the era. This 7'' dates back to 1984, and features an infectious instrumental on side A. For those looking for vocals, there are plenty to be had on the darker and moodier flip-side. A pretty well balanced single, if you ask me.
The back of the sleeve claims that the band was primarily a two piece, but also features a handful of thank you credits for bass and programming work. Not much else to be found about these boys, so here's the information:
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:
Just found this killer synthpop single- a playful two track 12'' from Trash X, released in 1988. It's the band's only release, and was engineered by Ronny Schreinzer of The Twins.
It seems as if this particular release was a collaboration between several esteemed writers and producers, including David Heilmann (Wire, Depeche Mode) and H+N (Holger Flesch & Norbert Endlich). While it sounds of Russian origin, the single was actually recorded and released in Germany.
Not much more to be said about this one, so here's the information:
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
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:
This one, while potentially well known inside this circle, is a recent favorite of mine, and while the majority of their work appears elsewhere in the blogosphere, I haven't seen this 12'' around.
The Arms of Someone New (primarily a collaborative project between Mel Eberle and Steve Jones, also involved with Area) formed in Champaign, Illinois in 1983, releasing their first 7'' the following year. At first, their sound had a biting, synth-driven edge to it, which eventually gave way to the growing ethereal scene into the late 1980s. I happen to dig the majority of their recordings in both spectrums, but this one falls more on the biting, danceable side of the band's catalog. We have two remixes of the single here (both drastically different from the version that appeared on their 1984 12''), with two slower, but no less stellar tracks taking up the b-side. Here's the breakdown:
The Arms of Someone New- Every Seventh Wave 12'' 1. Every Seventh Wave (Intermix) 2. Every Seventh Wave (Album Mix) 3. The Sense of an Ending 4. Everything at Once
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
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
Here's something a little more club-oriented for you minimal synth fans out there. Included within is the complete discography of Swedish duo Schmaalhans Weltraum. Their entire discography consists of just four tracks- one 7'', one compilation appearance, and one loose track. Short blasts of synth perfection, IMO.
The 7'' dates back to 1991, while the compilation (Faces and Images) also contains several EBM and synthpop gems in this vein. Soon after these releases, Schmaalhans Weltraumm became Blomma, who dropped two releases into the 1990s.
Here's the info for these four killer tracks, which should feel right at home on any dancefloor:
Schmaalhans Weltraumm- Samovar 7'' 1. Samovar 2. Dr. Läderbär
Bonus Tracks: 1. Montagne Du Boef (from Faces and Images Compilation, 1991) 2. Maschinenmann*
*Quick correction. This track is NOT Schmaalhans Weltraum, but by a Swiss synth band called simply Schmalhans. This is their only track- issued on a compilation in 1994. Apologies for the mix up!
This one's a little less pristine, but I'm still pleased to have a vastly improved rip of Testcard F's first 7'', released in 1983. I originally uploaded an inferior (and potentially out of phase) version of the single back in 2008, with the remaining discography and several tidbits about the UK band. Unfortunately, it was the best copy of the tracks kicking around, and it's taken me years to track down a better copy without paying a small fortune for it.
There's a few cracks and pops on this copy (the a-side seems fairly well loved) but I hope you'll all agree that it still makes for a cleaner, clearer, and more solid listen. Here's the rundown:
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:
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
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. 
This one, while potentially well known inside this circle, is a recent favorite of mine, and while the majority of their work appears elsewhere in the blogosphere, I haven't seen this 12'' around.
