Onwards with M
Malicieux Garde – Across The Wire
From 1983 and from a compilation called “Dream Sequence” on 101 International label. So not French but a UK synth duo featuring Jeff McCall on vocals and two synth players. Coldwave with a great melody.
Found this info, very interesting.
Message – The Crazy Garden
Now to France , from Discogs
Message were a Coldwave band from Brive, France. They were active from 1984-1990, and only released one record, in 1988, on the Strasbourg label Krezimikroïd. The single was called Dernière Nuit and is one of the most sought after Coldwave singles. A demo from 1988 was also leaked online, containing two untitled tracks. Message also had several tracks only available on compilations.
After the band split in 1990, the members went on to do various things, Olivier Balet now plays for the Gecko Palace, and Didier Brutus and Jean-Phillippe Lavallée went on to join the band Sikinis.
Vocals, Guitars – Didier Brutus
Bass, Keyboards – Olivier Balet
Bass – Jean-François Saturnin
Drums – Jean-Philippe Lavallée
So this was the B-side, jangly Goth with a love of New Order. A sound using 2 bass guitars and a bit of flat vocal lead from 1988.
Metropolis – Wheels Of Time
German synthpop / New Wave from 1983 and produced by Richard Manwaring. Sang in English it is quite poppy. Polydor mut have smelt a UK hit. Unfortunately it’s the vocals that let it down. Some interesting sounds, reminds me a bit of Nik Kershaw and the Thompson Twins.
- Bass – Alan Scriven
- Drums – Tony Vodden
- Guitar and Vocals – Bernd Weber
- Synthesizer – Phil Nicholas
Michael Cretu – Samurai (Did You Ever Dream) (Long)
From October 1985 and released as Cretu we have this 7 minute long epic. Saxophone and ethereal synth pads but those distinct vocals will make people swipe left or right. Work those Emulators !
Michael Jass – Venice & Moonlight
German synth from Jan 1984 , actually recorded in 1983. Recorded and Co-written by Wolfgang Jass (a.k.a Steve La Rocca)
An unexpected treat ! Moody synths and a unique voice. Very Ultravox in arrangement but with touches of Italo Disco. All hail an acoustic guitar solo.
Michael Process – (I Like Flying In) Aeroplanes
An airport song and full on camp New Wave. From Germany (again) and released in 1981. There’s a bit of glam with synths reminding me of Thomas Dolby. Good for a B-side and produced by Andy Arthurs (friend of George Martin)
Midnight Service – Dance, Feel The Beat
Belgium New Wave from 1985 by Midnight Service (Ex Gi-Gi) ? They included bassist Joris Holderbeke (who went on to be in Rock Bands, Mystery and Big Deal) Koen Vanderschaeve (who did Techno) Marc van Beveren, Peter Peyskens (keyboards and who did Techno) and Philippe Javori (who did Techno)
It certainly has elements of early New Beat, vocals remind me of Men Without Hats.
LOF is an annual festival for Belgian amateur-popgroups. It takes place in the province of Limburg-Belgium. After each festival an album is brought out with a collection of songs selected by an expert jury. Through this longplay, LOF gives amateur-groups the occasion to reach a larger audience at home and abroad.
So that obscure!
Mike Edwards – Beat Of My Heart
Synthpop from 1983 and the full version of “Beat Of My Heart” from the man who was in Live Wire featured below
Italo Disco but more synth, Reynard Falconer adding extra keyboards and some very special guest musicians, Steve Winwood appeared on the B-side. Doesn’t sound too dated.
Minutes After – Her ~ A Dream Without Sleep / Cracks Of Dawn
From the album of the same name and from 1988 and even more dreamy synth. Featuring Drums – Geoff Verne (was in 90’s band Riverside), Keyboards – Michael Richelle and Lead Vocals, Electric Bass, Electric Guitar – Ken Greene and engineered by Paul Kreuger Reminds me a lot of one of my current fav bands Hurtsfall (https://hurtsfall.bandcamp.com/) but with more piano and loving those haunting vocals.
Two cracking tracks for fans of Goth and Dark synth.
Miranda Moncrieff – Part Of The Dream
Lo likes his female singers and this from the UK and released in 1981. These are almost androgenous, half whispered vocals around evocative. New Wave guitar. Producer Terry Thomas wrote and produced it.
Mo – Asia (12”)
Netherlands Synthpop from 1984 and from The Mo and the 3rd album, “Stop Staring”.
- Drums – Harm Bieger
- Keyboards – Hans Nieuwint
- Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Ton Van Der Meer
- Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Linda Bloemhard
So plenty of synths !
The 12″ starts quite minimal and builds with producer Willem Ennes adding his own keys. Dropping quite a few band tracks from the band Japan. A feel good track with some music stereotypes.
Mobiles – Drowning in Berlin [Magnums Ext]
The mysterious Magnum has a go with this well known track. Stretching it out to nearly 8 minutes. Love the way he brigs out all those synth twirls but it is not the best quality but it isn’t actually on this blog !!!!
Great work on this pioneering track !
Monuments – The Seals
An Italian synth duo looking out of their wrecked studio (?) Andrea Costa (Teknospray) and Mauro Tavella (Teknospray) produced something that could be on a ” New Music” post. Amazingly it is a rough demo from 1984!! Great synthpop that’s both melodic and punchy.
9 more songs included to review (I’ll update later!) Folder is called Lo’s Songs – The Letter M
Mood Section – Answers / Heartslide
Another Oz band with a very Euro / UK New Wave sound. Two tracks from the EP of the same name from 1985. Recorded at the National Recording Studios, Canberra.
- Bass, Vocals – Rob Narin
- Drums, Vocals – Wes
- Guitar – Pino Parisi (2)
- Keyboards, Vocals – Jamie Williams (11)
- Vocals – Phil Crofts
Modern and quite dramatic, “Answers” was the closing track. “Heartslide” is a bit rockier, synth brass and dancing bassline.
Moral Support – Heart Of Gold
From Canada and even more synthpop from Montreal based Richard Cranford (instruments) and Sandro Durante (vocals)
Bright synthpop with plenty of digital midi.Bass synth dominated with some smooth synth chords. Change it around a bit too.
Moulin Rouge – It Makes No Difference
Swedish Synth from 1987 and originally on a tape compilation and previously on a tape of their own called “Essentials” the previous year. Yes it is getting that obscure!
Anders Wikholm gives us a full synth soundstage. Some dodgy lyrics but a great arrangement , he must of had one helluva of Home Studio.
Moving Fingers – Locked Onto Love
From the UK and from 1984 this was soon picked up by Rqazormaid so must have made an impression. A trio of Dawn Leeder, Geoff Griffith (Bassist from 70’s Rock band Black Widow) and Neil Westgate (drums and percussion)
A definite band to find more releases. Tight sequencers and bright synth brass. Chugging guitar blasts.
Moving Parts – Blindman Walking
Recorded at Bear Creek Studio (Washington), September 1983. US New Wave in the form of ;
- Piano, Keyboards – Thomas Morrison
- Bass – Don Lange
Drums – Mike Dumas
Guitar – John Irwin - Vocals – James Irwin
- Vocals [Voice And Conversation] – Cyndy Knowles
Straight from Discogs;
Moving Parts recorded their first single in 1981 produced by Conrad Uno (Young Fresh Fellows, Flop, The Posies, The Presidents Of The United States Of America). It was the first release on Uno’s Popllama Records. The single was Wires b/w Window On The Moon. It got lots of local radio play and some national attention. They followed it up with the hit Under. It was first released on Engram’s Seattle Syndrome and then on the bands second record – the EP simply titled Moving Parts. After a major label deal gone bad, they disbanded in 1988.
Piano is high in the mix and it certainly grabs you but gets repetitive towards the end.
Moving Targetz – Whisper In the Wind (Monitor Mix)
Canada and synth rock (yet again!) From March ’88 and even more piano on this ballad. There is a proper rock guitar solo on here too
Featuring;
- Keyboards – Rodney Maltais
- Keyboards, Engineer, Co-producer – Brian Gagnon (The Hunt)
- Vocals, Bass, Guitar – Jaimie Vernon (Swedish Fish, Swindled,
- Drums – Jason Clarke
Electric Guitar – Garry McDougall
Electric Piano – Dave Tedd - Backing Vocals – Martha Bouchier
Mummy Calls – Lets Go
From 1986 and not the best band name really. On the major Geffen and produced by John Luongo. Another British Band snatched from obscurity. Making all the right sounds and one on my WATCH list.
- Saxophone – Paul Howard (Iron Curtain)
- Vocals – David Banks
- Bass – Andrew Hingley
Drums – Paul Brook (Coldcut’s studio drum programmer)
Keyboards – Alan Bint
A decent track and one of the highlights!
Music For Pleasure – Light (Ext)
A bit of an epic builder, not the best sound but it is from 1982. A darker Simple Minds and produced by Mike Hedges. Again very interesting !
- Bass – Ivor Roberts
- Drums, Percussion – Christopher Oldroyd (Red Lorry. Yellow Lorry)
- Synthesizer, Keyboards – David Whitaker (The Danse Society)
- Vocals – Mark Copson (Expelaires)
Tribal drumming and a definite Goth edge. Another on the WATCH list.
More Music For Pleasure here
Da links!
https://krakenfiles.com/view/V0MoI1u1rQ/file.html
myvinyldreams 
Mummy Calls were on the Lost Boys soundtrack.
THANK YOU for another perfect selection of obscure 80s bands!