LOG - League Of Gentlemen (1985)

I know it's been a long time since a new post, yet again, so I figured I'd drop something off in time for xmas. 

Freshly ripped as of last night, we have a rather mysterious 12" from Switzerland. There's not a lot of info to be had about this one other than the fact that it was produced in 1985 with the help of one Peter Felippi, who appears to have released under his own name as well, back in '82. The band members are unknown and only referred to as "LOG".

In any event, they offered up 4 solid tracks of pure synthpop, exhibiting clear influences from Depeche Mode, Orchestral Maneuvers In The Dark, and so on. There's a nice balance of style & approach between the dance-friendly opener "Computer Love" through to the carnival-esque ballad closing track "Car Park". Do enjoy, and we'll see you in 2016!

Track List:

A1. Computer Love

A2. Prostitute Sue

B1. Lite By Nite

B2. Car Park

Download

Effetto Joule - Stars Your Memory (198x)

This is not just a new music post, but also an announcement of sorts. Some of you are aware of my partnership with Medical Records LLC, in which we have worked together to help put out some of the best reissues and new releases you'll find anywhere. This post is a promo introduction to some of the tracks we will feature on a future release. I encourage you to follow the Medical Records LLC facebook page for updates!

Thanks to the connections of some dear and long-term friends in Italy, I was introduced to this amazing band and subsequently able to setup the aforementioned release. Now, the details:

Effetto Joule began as a 4-piece electro-synthpop band from Bologna, Italy, in 1987. The band was comprised of brothers Valerio (vocals) and Flavio Biagi, Valerio Tassinari, and Massimo Chericoni (who would later leave the band). Effetto Joule's sound was, for me, instantly catchy. Their tracks are full of rich and warm melodies layered across pulsing electronic beats. It's bands like this that are the epitome of this blog, and I hope you'll agree. EJ released 2 cassettes and a 12" titled "Roberspierre", which will also see a re-issue on Mannequin Records, featuring a remix from world-famous italo DJ, Fleming Dalum. All the while, the band had recorded quite a lot of demos, some of which we have chosen and carefully curated for the upcoming LP release. Don't miss this one! Enjoy.

Track List:

 01. Active Ray
 02. Quasar
 03. Chlore Dress
 04. Pleasure For Fantasy
 05. Stars Your Memory
 06. Videotone (Live)

 Download
(note: these are not the final versions that will be used on the LP and digital downloads, nor is this the full track list for the LP)

Exxess - No Heaven's Tears (1984)

 
Oh, what, so you thought I was retired? Ok, in fairness, I've been horrible. Absent. Asleep at the wheel, even. I do apologize. There are still nuggets to be had, and I will keep trying to get them posted here for your listening pleasure!

At long last, we have a true gem of a cassette published in the endlessly generous country of Italy, in 1984. I mean, it's Italian so I don't need to say much more -- you already know it's going to be good. But lend me your ear (eyes) for just a moment.

Exxess were a 4-piece band from Osimo/Ancona, centered around Joe D'Elirio, a man you will learn and hear more about if all goes well with my plans for this blog. These songs, for me, fit right in with other Italian wave favorites like Chromagain, Intelligence Dept, etc. For now, we're just scratching the surface of the criminally under-rated and somehow still unknown works and aliases of JDE.

Big thanks to my friends Gianlorenzo and Andrea over in Italy for bringing these tunes to my attention. Hopefully much more to come! Enjoy!

Track List:

01. Walkin' Down The Subway
02. Deep Water
03. Marilin's Pills
04. No Heaven's Tears
05. Ghiaccio
06. Mad Haus (Live)

Download



Bonus links:

• The previous post 391 Marche contains two JDE related items (Modi and Marilin's Pills)

• You can like and follow these Facebook pages for tons of info, music, and images from the Italian wave underground:
391 Marche / 391 Piemonte / 391 Toscana

Stigma - Last Japan Dream (1981)

So it's been quite a long time since a new post has been made here, sorry about that! You know, the usual every day life excuses. In any case, here we have a really fun 7" flexi from Japan, featuring the track "Last Japan Dream", which you may be familiar with from a recently released compilation LP called "Various Distractions". I've been digging Japanese stuff more and more lately, and this record did not disappoint. Plenty of drum machine driven angst that should satisfy any lover of early post-punk / coldwave sound. Enjoy!

Track List:

A1 - Last Japan Dream
A2 - Kinzoku Bat
B1 - Sodai Gomi

Download

Next up on Medical Records LLC: Laugh Clown Laugh

With Near Paris on the books (and hopefully on your turntables), it's time to announce the next release coming out on Medical Records in conjunction with Crispy Nuggets -- Laugh Clown Laugh! You may remember their minimal synthpop gem "Feel So Young" from the very first Crispy Nuggets compilation. We have collected the best of their unreleased tracks and compiled a full LP for your listening pleasure! Sam and Dominic of LCL have painstakingly remastered these tracks to perfection. They really do sound amazing, trust me on that!

If you need your memory refreshed, or if this is your first time hearing about the band, check the aforementioned track below, along with a video made by Tyler of Medical Records featuring one of the unreleased tracks. This release is expected to be available by (approximately) Sept 19th. Don't miss it!





More news coming, so stay tuned and please continue to support this great label. So many good releases on the horizon! Last but not least, you can expect to see Crispy Nuggets Vol. 6 here in the next few weeks... ;-)

2000 Plus - The Very First (1986)

 

Today we have an LP from Netherlands that has somehow managed to stay mostly under the radar, until now. A lone self-release by a band who coined their name after an old science fiction radio program. The entire record is clearly influenced by the sci-fi genre, as you'll notice right away from the sonic intro track, Lifebored. Don't let that description put you off, though -- these tracks have a wonderful dark quality to them as well; the sort of perfect dichotomy that I love the most. Don't miss this one, trust me. Enjoy!

Track List:

 A1 - Lifebored

 A2 - Hij Begon

 A3 - Europa

 A4 - Spaces In Time

 A5 - Event

 B1 - Coma

 B2 - The Very First

 B3 - Tension

 B4 - Homewards

Download

 

Passing Strangers - Nightdreams (1982)

Here's a rare 4-track 7" emerging from the early UK synth scene, a mere 30+ years later. You may remember the song 'Pain & Passion' from CN vol. 3, posted here. The band were, as you can see, a 4-piece, featuring Steve Deakin, Steve Long, Ian Davies, and the last member known simply as 'Flash'. The record was produced by Ken Patten who also had his hands on releases by Naughtiest Girl Was a Monitor, Vice Versa, and Spiral Visions. This one should appeal to fans of Soft Cell in particular as I can't help but think of Marc Almond on a few of these tracks. In any case, enjoy!

Track List:

A1 - I Don't Like The Way You Talk To Me
A2 - Shattered Glass
B1 - Pain & Passion
B2 - Nightdreams

Download

Various - Dyma'r Rysait (1988)

Today's post is a Welsh present from Mr. bX, a 4 band compilation squeezed onto a 33⅓ rpm 7" record. This little nugget features the rather well-known band Eirin Peryglus and a song you may remember from Frankie T's 1st-born SOR comp. Please don't ask me to pronounce any of these names, I'm a fragile creature and cannot withstand the shame. Otherwise, enjoy!

Speaking of Frankie T, a big shout out to our great friend and his years of dedication to the night we all known and love -- THEE WIERD (VR). Sadly thee era of wierdness has reached its end, as of last night. And, unfortunately, I was only able to attend once, but I was honored to have the opportunity to DJ and had an absolutely great time. RIP, Wierd.

I have some amazing posts on the horizon, stay tuned! Obscure diamonds this way come. And don't forget to keep your eyes on Medical Records LLC, some serious heat being pressed for your collections in the coming months... ;-)

Track List:

A1 - Datblygu - Brechdanau Tywod
A2 - Y Gwasgwyr - Ond Mae'r Dawns Yn Mynd Ymlaen
B1 - Eirin Peryglus - Cusanu'r Gwaed
B2 - Crisialau Plastig - Rigor Mortis

Download

Various - 391 Marche (1983)

Today's post features an impossibly scarce tape compilation, provided to me by an Italian friend from the very Marche region the tape is named after. From what I understand, this is a twin compilation to 391 Umbria which I had previously posted here. The lead-off track is a winner (see below), but great obscure sounds from beginning to end that I think will touch every palette. Enjoy!

Track List:

A1 - 3B Unit - Tango In The Rain
A2 - Know How - - Horizon Sales
A3 - The End - Tears In My Eyes
A4 - The End - This Man
A5 - Evitaxal - Untitled
B1 - Modi - Stay Underground
B2 - Celery Price - The C. of the X.
B3 - Marylin's Pills - Marylin's Pills
B4 - Aut Aut - Lusitania
B5 - Aut Aut - For You

Download

Vasselli - Paura Del Sole (198x)

Here's a rather obscure 7" from Italy (naturally). It's been a long time since my last post, and even longer since my last italo-disco post, so I thought it high time I deliver. While this is certainly an italo-disco record, it might have some appeal for wave/minimal heads as well, as there are some elements to the songs that register it somewhere outside the typical italo sound -- at least, in my opinion. I can't be certain on the year, but my guess is somewhere around '83-'85. If anyone out there can confirm that'd be great! Enjoy!

Track List:

A - Paura Del Sole
B - Il Canto Di Agla

Download



In other news, on the label efforts with Medical Records LLC, we're making some great progress with a few artists featured on Crispy Nuggets, and I think you guys are going to love it! More news as things develop. Stay tuned!

Noël Nickel - Madeleine (1981)

Here's a lovely self-release 7" from France. Certainly hard to find, as I've been after it for quite some time, but everything surfaces eventually! Expect classic early synthpop sounds with a touch of guitar littered in the mix. Enjoy!

Track List:

A - Madeleine
B - 120 BT/Mn

Download

Dono Detti - Esplanade Hotel, Live 18 March 1983

Here's a very special treat from way down under (and way back when music was fresh and exciting). You may be familiar with this Aussie band by way of the compilation Signal To Noise Set, which contains their great track Flesh and Steel (wait till around the 1 minute mark). Here's what little info I know on the band itself:

Initiated in 1983 as an experimental project by Jandy & Joseph. They were joined by Wes on keyboards for a while before the line up settled with Jandy Rainbow on vocals, programming & keyboards, Julie McInnes on vocals, sax & cello, Joseph Sgro on electronic percussion & backing vocals and Ross Guy on synthesiser & backings vocals.

Well, as is usually the case with these bands, there is more (although often hard to find). In this case, we have a CD-r from 2004 that went almost entirely under the radar, containing a live set performed by the band in 1983. I'm not usually one for live material, but these are crystal clear and sound more like solid demos.

There are 2 other such releases to my knowledge, another from 1983 and one from 1984 as well. If anyone can help those surface, that would be amazing! For now, enjoy!

Track List:

01 - We Grow Old
02 - Stuffed Shirt
03 - Shallow Vessel
04 - Strange Fruit
05 - Automation
06 - Machines Are Taking Over
07 - Surrender To Your Kiss
08 - The Cat
09 - Flash

Download

 

The Klingons - Analog-Digital (1982)

So, probably by now you've looked at the cover image and thought to yourself, "I don't give a damn what he has to say, this tape looks awesome". And actually that's a fair assessment, but just lend me a minute of your time to read on. Great news to follow.

Yes, this impossibly obscure tape from the UK is indeed awesome. Ironically named, as what was once analog will now be presented to you digitally. Catchy minimal synth throughout, the kind that only the early 80s can deliver.

What's even more exciting, however, is that Marc from Anna Logue Records has reached out to the artist and will be re-issuing this tape on LP! More info here. Update: this and more is now reissued through Vinyl On Demand in an amazing Scottish Minimal Synth compilation, more info here.

A few quick notes: Track A7 here is not listed on the tape, it's just a 30 second instrumental bit at the end of the A-side. Also, the very last track "Trad. Arr." will not be making it to the re-issue, so that's a special treat in your download below. Enjoy!

Track List:

A1 - Society
A2 - R.A.M.
A3 - Analog-Digital
A4 - Confusion
A5 - P.C.M.
A6 - A. Survivor
A7 - Untitled
B1 - Outcry
B2 - Vortexian Fall
B3 - Trad. Arr.

Download

VHF - First Impressions / In Stereo (1981)

 
Here we have the last piece to the VHF puzzle; the first of which, an impossibly hard to find LP, was provided for us by none other than the great Frankie Teardrop. Get it here. This 7" preceded the LP by 1 year, and contains the LP title track, as well as an exclusive track on the b-side. Thankfully the b-side is pretty listenable, especially if you like classic new wave with a bit of powerpop flavor. Hoping to get some more posts up soon, so stay tuned. Enjoy!

Tracklist:

A - First Impressions
B - In Stereo

Download

Mixed Feelings - Another Place (1982-1984)

Tonight's post is the kind that doesn't happen often, and I'm very excited to be sharing this with all of you. I hope you'll enjoy the contents as much as I have.

If you've been following the Crispy Nuggets compilations, you'll probably remember one of the standout bands from Vol. 1, Mixed Feelings, and their instantly catchy minimal synth diamond "Another Place (Like Home)". Well, I've had the pleasure of meeting the song-writer of the band, Mr. Sean Cooper, and he's been kind enough to make the band's other recordings available.

Aside from the fact that I really think these songs are great, I'm most impressed by how young they were at the time (which you can see clearly in the photos). The band was from Basildon, which if you think hard enough might bring another synthpop band to mind... I'm going to quote Sean directly here, because he tells it better than I ever could:

"We started in the band in 1981 whilst still at school, Nicholas Comprehensive in Basildon which is the same school that the Mode boys went to...i recall seeing their first gig at our school disco ( i hassled martin about his synth after the "gig") and quite often we would watch them rehearse in one of the school classrooms. I had wanted to be a synth player in a band for some time cos as a young kid i was into early League, Numan, Kraftwerk and had "auditioned" with a couple of "new romantic" and even a rockabilly band (armed with only a cheap electric organ), but it wasn't until a childhood friend said "lets start a band" that I really took the idea seriously....so we asked a couple of other mates to join, saved up some money, bought a couple of cheap synths and a drum machine and off we went...

We were (and i still am!) heavily influenced by Mode. And yeah I got to meet them numerous times, I would often bump into Martin and he was always interested to see how the band was going (somehow he knew that i had been expelled from school...)...we also knocked on Daves front door one night and invited him to a gig we were doing just down the road from him..."

photo taken on the same street where Fletch lived

As a huge DM fan myself, I found that story to be absolutely amazing. If you like this blog, you probably like DM too, which will come in handy as a few of these songs are DM covers :-)

Most of these tracks were recorded in 1982 under the main core group, but roles varied out through '84. Sean Cooper always on the task of song-writer and synths, Mark Robinson was the vocalist, but unfortunately suffered a voice break later on. Pete Reynolds and Alan Stone also took on synth duties, while Geoff Conner manned the drum machine. Last and certainly not least is Lorraine Olson, who provided guest vocals on tracks 01, 05, 06, and 08.


I can honestly say there isn't a song here I don't like, this is a prime example of pure DIY minimal synth, at it's best. I hope you'll feel the same. Enjoy!


Track List:

01 - Another Place (Like Home)
02 - Because Of You
03 - Fate
04 - Final Demand
05 - Fun
06 - The Captain
07 - Told You So
08 - Stand Up High
09 - Holding On
10 - Ice Machine (Cover)
11 - Photographic (Cover)

Download

The Valley Forge - Fit To Fall (1986)

The first of two 12" records released by this UK band. The 2nd record was posted by bX here, but since MegaUpload is now sleeping with the fishes, I've re-uploaded it for you here. Details on both records can be found in the reviews on their Discogs pages, presumably left by a former band member. Enjoy!

Track List:

A1 - Fit To Fall (The Mix)
B1 - Escape
B2 - Hope

Download

Various - Incontinence (1984)

Easily one of the scarcest items to surface on this blog. This French cassette was limited to only 100 copies. Despite featuring the likes of well-known bands like Deux, this tape has gone mostly unnoticed. That should change quickly, as this one's rather impressive throughout. The best contributions are that of Collision Expérimentale and the Bauhaus-esque Avant Post, but every band here adds a little something... for everyone. Enjoy!

Track List:

A1 - Dada Neuf - Au Pays Du Coup De Soleil

A2 - Dada Neuf - Tuillage Évolutif

A3 - Deux - Game And Performance

A4 - Deux - Felicita

A5 - Collision Expérimentale - Dans Laid Couloirs

A6 - Collision Expérimentale - Fidêle-Castrè

A7 - Avant Post - The Squealing-Call

A8 - Avant Post - Pongs And Death

B1 - Leda Atomica - No Woman's Land

B2 - Leda Atomica - Etude Du "Houlala"!!!

B3 - Leda Atomica - Jailhouse-Rock

B4 - The Grief - The Torment

B5 - The Grief - Dirty Dance

B6 - Vision Baroque - Leslie

B7 - Vision Baroque - The Death ***

B8 - A Joyce Concept - Voices And Crys ***

*** One mp3, as the tracks run together

Download

Joy Before The Storm - Silence Ever After (1985)

This LP has got to be one of the best US minimal synth obscurities. The album art represents the sound rather accurately, like looking through the window of a sad loner, just him and his analog instruments. Hah. The best track is most definitely "We're All Alone", but there are a few other gems littered in there as well. It's been extremely difficult to find any useful information regarding this record, I found some miscellaneous info on another US band by the same name, but there's no evidence they are linked. Info always appreciated. Enjoy!

Track List:

A1 - Attic Window
A2 - We're All Alone
A3 - These Things Happen
A4 - We Should Be Closer
A5 - Cheerleader
B1 - Shadow Of A Radio Tower
B2 - Walking On Air
B3 - Quiet Past
B4 - Westchester Siren

Download

Mosfets - The Great War (1982)

Here's a 7" from none other than, you guessed it, the UK. Plucked from the ranks of the very best obscure minimal synth acts, to be sure. It doesn't show up often, and when it does it won't come cheap. "But Crispy, I have bills to pay, and I just spent my last paycheck on Obscure Identities releases, including the Aspect Ratio tape! I can't afford this record!" Not to worry, my friend! Just click the download link below and have a listen -- for free! Enjoy.

Track List:

A - The Great War
B - Power Games

Download

NU-FX - I Believed You (198x)

Today we have a 7" from the UK that should satisfy all lovers of minimal synthpop. For me this record easily joins the ranks of the best. Great sound and DIY aesthetic, what more could you ask for? Well, I suppose a bit more information wouldn't hurt. This self-release is rather cryptic, listing no release year (although seemingly in the 81-85 range). The 2 member names "Latin Cogan" and "Marc Nufx" aren't too telling, either. As always, further information is welcome, if anyone has something to add. Enjoy!

Track List:

A - I Believed You

B - Power & Unity

Download