Moving on with more obscurity and discovery. 19 tracks this week most from the UK and most pre 1985 for a change.
Gazebo – I Like Chopin (Instr Ext)
Starting with some superb quality Italo Disco from 1983 by Paul Mazzolini . Shades of “Such A Shame” by Talk Talk as it swirls along in the instrumental version. Love that piano.
Gee Mr. Tracy – Permanent Swoon
On the tiny Norwich label Backs Records we have some synthpop from 1986. The duo of Brick Smith and Vince Rogers they were quite prolific with even a couple of albums released. This being off “Harmony! Rhapsody! Destiny!”
Quirky with looped feedback and real bass guitar and typical obscure lyrics, English eccentricity at it’s best.
Generra – Girls in the Hearts
With synths and very Blondie guitar lead. The B-side of their only single from this Canadian New Wave band, Slightly rock edge. On the Edmonton label , Black Bear Records. Produced by Dan Lowe it includes the obligatory guitar solo.
Gentlemen Without Weapons – Transmissions
Synth World Music (Red Box territory) Eco synth from 1988 by Anglo American trio – Kenny Young (who co-wrote – “Under the Boardwalk), Nick Glennie and Vic Coppersmith-Heaven.
Chirps and clicks. The title track of the album which comes with the note; “No instruments were used on this recording, instead all music is made up from various animal sounds and field recordings.” so samplers then.
From Discogs;
Project founded in 1987. Their success later led them to found the Earth Love Fund in 1989, with the aim of enlisting the support of musicians and artists around the world for rainforest conservation. In this context they wrote the song for Spirit Of The Forest. |
So they did put there money where there mouth was.
Georgie’s Revenge – Georgie’s Revenge
Love a bit of bedroom synthpop with the naivety and over the top under production. From 1987 and very catchy from Edinburgh , Scotland.
Written by Iain MacDonald and all about Georgie Porgie with all the hooks of a wardrobe.
Gerard Teleman – No Light / Prince / The Girl With The Singing Eyes
Darkwave from 1986 from Oz (on Triple Deuce Records) ! It does tick all the boxes, moody arrangement plus dramatic lyrics. Here with 3 great songs.
“Prince” is an instrumental, Strummed guitars and ethereal female vocals with an unexpected guitar lead coming in halfway through. From the ’87 album “The Sky Will Still Be Blue” The last track is also from the album with extra keyboards from Phill Colville. Plenty of digital synth chimes with Teleman’s lounge croon. Need to check out more of his output.
Gestures Of Faith – Nothing To You / Sometimes
Swirly dream pop with skittering drum machine. From 1983 and both off the compilation “Southern Comfort 2” on the Kent label, Spectrum Records. More of a New Wave bite on “Sometimes” , reminding me of early Flock Of Seagulls. The band where in fact from Seven Oaks and were a quartet of Matt Black, (Effects, Guitar) Jake Byron, (Synth) Boovee (The Bass) Kriss (Vocals, Guitar) and Roland (The Drum)
The songs were there but it needed a bit more bite on production.
Ghosts Of Dance – Images Of You
New Wave jangle with real drums this time. Fretless bass and icy synth stabs. From 1982 and on the Plastic Canvas Records label. Based in Braunton, Devon. I’m also getting some melodica adding to the ethereal vibe
A quintet of Daryl Hunt, (Bass) Kevin Maynard (Drums), Mark Butcher (Keyboards), Peter Heaton (Guitar) and Yvette Norris (Vocals). Seems they had their stuff re-issued on a CD compilation back in 1996.
They took their name from the song ‘Ghosts’ by David Sylvian / Japan – hence the Mick Karn bass moves.
Glass Museum – A Friend Departed
Theatrical Marc Almond vocals on this synth ballad from the International trio of Andy Gold, (German instrumentalist and producer ) Walter Mets (Belgium Drummer) and James Clyde (Scottish singer) Using similar synth noises as Bill Nelson used on “The Love That Whirls” LP. Plenty of melancholic atmosphere with obscure lyrics.
This was released in 1984. Worth finding the album for their synth cover of “Day Tripper”!!
Go – Let Your Love Flow (Extended) / The Tales Of ’69
Bronski Beat styled synthpop from 1989 (!) From Norwagian duo of Carstein Seeberg (Vocals) and Erlend G. Balsvik (Synths and Guitar). Some of the lyrics are a bit lost in translation and toe curling. Synth fans will enjoy knowing that the 12″ was mixed by Gareth Jones (with Fischerman’s Friend) in an Early House style with extra keyboards from Gavin Povey -Disco Strings !!
The second track is from their album “Voices Of Our Fantasy”, plenty of digital dramatics and an anti-war song with dodgy lyrics and heavy guitar. A-ha / Alphaville anyone ?
Godot – Somethings Missing
Quirky electronica with a darker edge from this short lived UK (Liverpool) duo featuring OMD keyboardist / percussionist and Dalek I Love You founder David Hughes and Keith Harley (Dalek I Love You and The Smarties)
Recorded at Amazon Studios in Liverpool , Martin Cooper (OMD) does provide some saxophone and a string quartet can be heard arranged by Ian Hughes.
The pick of the tunes for me.
Grey – Look
New Romantics and Duran Duran and not anything I could find on them. Ultravox synth bass and energetic live drums. They were on their own label Errie Sound Recordings and were from the US (California). Guitar, Vocals, Design – John Kenneth, Keyboards, Vocals, Design – Jeffrey Martin and Percussion – Gustav Capa.
Guessing ’84 ??
Grey Parade – Exteriors
From 1985 and a the album cut (The LP was called The Reason) The track was actually recorded in 1983. Danceable New Wave with additonal drum machines and swirling synths. Sounds great for the year.
Produced by Nigel Grey and featuring ; Guitar, Bass and Vocals – Kirk Austin, Jeff Fulton (guitars), Carl Stacey (drums) and Les Campen (keyboards)
Already got some by them – re-upped below
Gris Regard – We’ll Fly Away
French new wave band from Lille released in 1984. A quartet of Chris. Livera, Chris. Vancostenoble, Cédric Lesay and Frédéric Momont
Like the layered vocals and the stabby keyboards. Very catchy.
Growing Up Different – Falling From Shaking Trees
From the 1983 EP “A+B=C” some folky synth and not sounding like they were from the US East Coast. A three piece; Billy Trainor (Face Dancer), D.J. Long (Face Dancer) and Scott McGinn (Bassist and founder of Face Dancer)
It does sound almost European with the strummed time signature and that weird bass section that came in from nowhere !!
(Sorry I’ve tried copying the text into a text file and it looks shit. WordPress formats it weirdly.)
https://qiwi.gg/file/6r712542-LoSongs-TheLetterG
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