Lo-fi Synthpop 4

Step Chant Unit - Painting Pictures (1985)

Finally, a new post. This 12" is pretty pop for this blog, but visits us all the way from New Zealand, so the least I can do is give it a fair shake. Step Chant Unit were a pop/wave group featuring Zed Brookes (bass, vocals), Neville Sergent (drums, percussion), Sue Toms (keyboards) and a succession of guitarists, including Brian Brighting, Mark Wilson and Roy Forlong. The band was active from 1983-1987, releasing this record and a cassette called "I.C. Dream" in '83, which I do not have to share, unfortunately. The title track spent some time in the NZ charts, and reminds me a bit of The Psychedelic Furs. The b-side contains a slightly darker track and a pretty nice spaced-out/filtered mix of Painting Pictures. Enjoy!

Track List:

A1 - Painting Pictures

B1 - The Game

B2 - Painting Pictures (Alternative Mix)

Download

Lo-fi Synthpop 3

Low Fun - The New Dictator (1983)

I've had today's post laying around for a bit, but due to the interest of an Italian buddy it's now ripped for your listening pleasure! The cover was enough to sell me on this Canadian obscurity, but it's one of those rewarding times where the tunes hold up nicely. 

To my knowledge, Low Fun were a duo from Victoria BC (Canada) headed by James Ross, perhaps better known as the former bassist of the band The Keys. James teamed up with songwriter Geoff Botting to create this 2 track single which sadly managed to slip under the radar - but you know me, I can't be having that! 

The title track is instantly catchy and probably should have found its way onto a movie soundtrack or something. The b-side is reminiscent of an early OMD style ballad, with just enough driving beat to keep you grooving throughout. Without further ado, enjoy!

Track List:

A - The New Dictator

B - Words We Left Behind

Download

Glass Lady - Glass Lady (1985)

Here's a serious favorite plucked from obscurity, at long last. It took a few years, but I finally tracked this baby down. Freshly ripped by yours truly and passed over to my partner in crime, Frankie who you all know and love from the illustrious SOR blog, still going strong! He will be cross-posting this for added exposure, and for the story of how we first heard about this little gem.

We'd gotten together at a Martial Canterel show on a cold night in NYC, and Sean (MC) told us he had some tracks we needed to hear on tape. So we hopped in his ride and he played a collection of obscurities compiled by a friend and fellow collector in Germany. It didn't take long before our eyes lit up, and the hunt began. Frankie was able to track down one of the favorites we'd heard, which you can check out here. Both had eluded us until recently, which just goes to show it's often a matter of time and persistence.

The sound on this should be a lot better than the low quality rip we'd circulated before. I ripped it direct and Frankie EQ'd it perfectly, I'd say. Please do enjoy this quirky slice of New Wave history! Stay tuned for more.

Track List:

A - Glass Lady
B - Glass Lady (Dub)

Download

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)

Lo-fi Synthpop 2

Made another lo-fi synthpop mix, enjoy!

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

Artistic Control - Dance With Me (Crispy Edit)

Created this for my good buddy Kez (Aaah...!, Artistic Control, Imago, etc). The original version of this track was featured back on Crispy Nuggets Vol. 2 -- Hope you enjoy the video!

Crispy Nuggets Vol. 6 around the corner...?

Luxus - Careers And Futures (1981)

'Twas the night before Xmas

When all through the house

Not a record was spinning

Not even John Maus

The needle was dropped on the record with care

In hopes that great sounds would be found there

The needle was nestled all snug in its groove

While sounds of great synths could not improve

Ok, I ran out of ideas so I have to stop the carol there. Wanted to put this up while I still have time before packing up to leave for the holidays! First let me say, what a great sleeve! This one was just begging to be checked out, and the synth magic beneath does not disappoint. Really obscure 7" from the US that I'd only recently discovered. I really hope more information on this band pops up, because my hands are empty and I'd love to know more! (update: see comments for further details and another release, compliments of Frankie Teardrop!)

I'll be back in 2014... perhaps with a... compilation? Enjoy and happy holidays!

Track List:

A - Careers And Futures
B - Spots On The Wall

Download

Deathly Quiet! - The Next Step (1987)

Leave it to The Land Down Under to deliver us this creepy-crawly darkwave record. Not much info to be found on this Aussie band, I'm afraid. The only other release I'm aware of came a decade later in 1996, a self-release CD featuring a collection of home recordings. You can hear a few of those over here on their Myspace page. Phew, Myspace! We're really digging way back, deep into the underground now! Enjoy.

Track List:

A - The Next Step
B - Armageddon-READY

Download

Various Artists - Electroconvulsive Therapy Vol. 1

So excited to announce the release of our first compilation LP on Medical Records LLC, featuring a few artists previously posted on this blog and other well-known names!

Listen and buy below, thanks as always for the continued support! You make it possible for us to do more of these in the future!

New Artist: Warmline

Haven't promo'd a new artist in a while, might do a few more of these. Odds are you've heard of Warmline if you follow modern acts via various YouTube channels, but I was really impressed with this release as a whole. Take "Revisiting My Dead Soul", for example. But really the entire thing... fantastic stuff. Check it out!

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

 

Angie - Scheue Treue (1983)

Today we have a hard to find 7" from Austria by 'Angie', also known as Angie Mörth, who is probably most well-known as a member of the band Astaron. Our friend Goutroy provided a nice bio on that band, here. Well worth checking out, if you haven't already.

Angie provides us with 2 wonderful synth wave tracks on this record that I think will appeal to fans of Rive Gauche, Carol, Ann-ka, etc. Enjoy!

Track List:

A - Scheue Treue
B - Goldfinger

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

Lister / Mørkelagt Bevegelse - En Side Hver (1984)

Ok so I've slept on posting this one for a long time now, but here it is (finally!). A split tape from Norway, featuring two artists previously posted on this blog that you can find here and here. The Lister side doesn't offer too much in the way of thrills, but I certainly enjoy Mørkelagt Bevegelse's contributions here. There aren't any other MB releases that I'm aware of, so.. enjoy!

P.S. I have a few great posts lined up, so stay tuned!

Track List:

A1 - Lister - Et Skritt Frem Og Ti Til Siden
A2 - Lister - Another Mt. Fuji
A3 - Lister - Eifantz
A4 - Lister - Paraplylandskap
B1 - Mørkelagt Bevegelse - A Loss Of Memories
B2 - Mørkelagt Bevegelse - In Need Of Answers
B3 - Mørkelagt Bevegelse - They Don't Die, But Still...
B4 - Mørkelagt Bevegelse - Compared To An Image

Download