Cut Copy – A Small Selection

Bizarrely I have a few early Promo CD’s by this band, I’ll have to dig them out but I’ll let Mike B share this Modern Aussie stuff.

Cut Copy where straight out of Melbourne and begun in 2001. The line-up is ; Dan Whitford: vocals, keyboards, guitar, Tim Hoey: guitar, sampler,
Ben Browning: bass guitar and Mitchell Scott: drums

So riding the Electro Clash wave extremely well we start with a trio of 2008 releases. Indie Dance in its purest form.

Lights & Music (CDS)

From February 2008 and the catchy “Lights & Music” , some 80’s vibes. Tim Goldsworthy (Unkle, Hercules And Love Affair, DFA)

Boys Noize (German producer Alexander Ridha) deconstructs and add his own chopped up to Disco groove.

The Superdiscount mix (Etienne De Crécy) goes deep disco with a more adventurous mix. Some alarms and deep chords as well as plenty of 8-Bit.

https://gofile.io/d/Vic0QP

https://www.mediafire.com/file/be1d3d9hb98vt0o/Cut+Copy+-+Lights+&+Music+-+2008.zip/file

Modular Recordings – MODPR101

1		Lights & Music (Radio Edit)	3:38
2		Lights & Music (Single Version)	4:59
3		Lights & Music (Boys Noize Happy Birthday Remix)	5:18
4		Lights & Music (Superdiscount Remix)	7:05

Hearts On Fire

From Sept 2008 and the Disco keeps on throbbing, a great groove but a little repetitive in the lyric department. I like the added guitars, a bit New Order-ish.

Calvin Harris goes a bit ravey on track 2. Electro House. Fellow Aussie’s Midnight Juggernauts give it their E.L.O. vibe, arpeggio and big Vangelis chords. Very analogue.

Holy Ghost! (US Duo Alex Frankel and Nicholas Millhiser) give it a lonnng funky House mix, I like the dubby piano and saxophone. Top Mix!

https://gofile.io/d/adanDR

https://www.mediafire.com/file/6pkzqs2yl14qaxf/Cut+Copy+-+Hearts+On+Fire+-+2008.zip/file

Modular Recordings – MODVL094

A1		Hearts On Fire (Full Length)
A2		Hearts On Fire (Calvin Harris Remix)
B1		Hearts On Fire (Midnight Juggernauts)
B2		Hearts On Fire (Holy Ghost! Remix)

In Ghost Colours (Deluxe CD)

Their second album which hones their sound, released in March 2008. It is very 80’s in places. With Goldsworthy producing a more dynamic “Live” feel to the sound. It’s all segued together. I like the short shoegaze of “We Fight For Diamonds” going into the Indie stomper, of “Unforgettable Season” and “So Haunted”

https://gofile.io/d/6czjVz

https://www.mediafire.com/file/1wtegbhsgtft316/Cut+Copy+-+In+Ghost+Colours+(Deluxe)+(CD+Album)-+2008.zip/file

1		Feel The Love	4:28
2		Out There On The Ice	4:58
3		Lights And Music	4:37
4		We Fight For Diamonds	1:02
5		Unforgettable Season	3:13
6		Midnight Runner	2:32
7		So Haunted	4:27
8		Voices In Quartz	1:21
9		Hearts On Fire	4:53
10		Far Away	4:56
11		Silver Thoughts	0:29
12		Strangers In The Wind	4:44
13		Visions	1:09
14		Nobody Lost, Nobody Found	4:39
15		Eternity One Night Only	3:06
16		Out There On The Ice (Instrumental)	4:27
17		Lights And Music (Instrumental)	6:00
18		So Haunted (Instrumental)	5:52
19		Far Away (Instrumental)	5:31

Dance Exponents – Expectations (CD Re-issue) + Re-ups (New Zealand CD)

More from New Zealand band Dance Exponents and their ’85 album re-issued and expanded on CD from ’99

The line-up for the album was ; Bass – Dave Gent, Drums – Vince Ely (Psychedelic Furs), Guitar, Backing Vocals – Brian Jones, Guitar, Piano, Bass – Chris Sheehan and vocals –  Jordan Luck.

At the time they were huge in New Zealand and this was their second album produced by Ian Taylor. Plenty of guitars

“Prayers Be Answered” could be The Stone Roses. “Ashened….” has an expected solo piano ending. “Only I Could Die” sounds a bit like U2.

https://www.mediafire.com/file/x409fcdkzojptsf/The+Dance+Exponents+-+Expectations+(Australian+Import)+-+1985.zip/file

https://gofile.io/d/h4MDk3

KODAK Digital Still Camera

Universal Music New Zealand – 1445752852

1		These Ocean’s Wave & Tide Us In	3:49
2		Christchurch (In Cashel St I Wait)	4:16
3		Raining, Running Through The Rain Forest	3:01
4		Prayers Be Answered	4:15
5		Ashened Ashened Autumn Leaves	5:18
6		Only I Could Die (And Love You Still)	4:16
7		Weeping Soul	2:56
8		Losing The Sun, The Moon, And You	3:34
9		My Love For You	3:22
10		Skies Of Sunset	4:34
11		Greater Hopes, Greater Expections	4:04
12		All I Can Do	2:41
13		The Empty Bunk In The Bunkhouse	3:08
14		Sex And Agriculture	3:42

Links to the first album are still live

https://myvinyldreams.wordpress.com/2022/04/20/tunes-from-oz-and-beyond-part-39-1981-84-matt-finish-dance-exponents-beargarden-tim-finn-mondo-rock-models-the-duggites/

Sex And Agriculture twelve over here.

https://myvinyldreams.wordpress.com/2019/01/14/tunes-from-oz-and-beyond-part-12-still-the-early-80s/

Over at my old house – Be back Sunday

A spot of garden maintenance

Tunes From Oz and Beyond – Part 43 – (Holly Valance, Boom Crash Orchestra, Real Life )

The final instalment and featuring mini collections.

Holly Valance – State Of Mind (2 x Promo 12″)

Who remembers Melbourne’s Holly Valance. A couple of albums and a handful of singles and some excellent marketing !

Here is her final release with the obligatory double pack of 4 remixes in desperation that one would be played in the Clubs and make the track a little more successful. The debut single from her second album, that bombed.

Vertigo (Paul Southby and Paul Wiseman) tap into the Electro Clash genre.

Felix mixes up the Rock and Beats quite well, if a little too slow. Like that synth bass but it dominates it, plus that Fade To Grey synth wash.

Prefer the original’s electro clash stomp. Produced by Jeff and Mark Taylor and a certain Steve Torch (from White and Torch)

https://www.mediafire.com/file/j4oueoql0yf3jsw/Holly_Valance_-State_Of_Mind-UK_12%2527%2527_Promo_Vinyl%2527s%2528×2%2529_-_2003.rar/file

https://gofile.io/d/jTbkmR

London Records – lxxxdj482

A1		State Of Mind (Vertigo Mix)	6:57
B1		State Of Mind (Extended Original Mix)	5:16
C1		State Of Mind (Felix Da Housekatt Mix)	7:23
D1		State Of Mind (Vertigo Dub Mix)	6:56

Boom Crash Opera – The Best Things – Greatest Hits (Aussie CD Import)

A Best Of , released in 2013 and gathering the best moments from this Melbourne band.  The album includes tracks from the group’s first four studio albums as well as two new tracks recorded in 2012, “I am” and “You Can’t Stop the Sun”.

Rock with some ambitious arrangements and great melodies, more of a singles band.

https://www.mediafire.com/file/pu1ohn5zdwdoik2/Boom+Crash+Opera+-+The+Best+Things+(Australian+Import)+-+2013.rar/file

https://gofile.io/d/XPevDg

Liberation Music – LMCD0229

1		Onion Skin	3:29
2		The Best Thing	4:14
3		Great Wall	3:46
4		Hands Up In The Air	3:56
5		Dancing In The Storm	4:11
6		City Flat	4:10
7		Bettadaze	3:57
8		In The Morning	3:54
9		Talk About It?!	4:41
10		Gimme	3:36
11		This Isn’t Love	3:29
12		Get Out Of The House	3:20
13		Her Charity	5:00
14		I Am	4:05
15		You Can’t Stop The Sun	3:41

Real Life – Down Comes The Hammer (2021 Remaster)

New Wave Rocks and can be from anywhere in the World. This ’86 from Real Life see’s them embrace digital synths and samplers. A sort of compilation as there were only 3 new songs; “Babies”, “Night after Night”, and “Hammer of Love” but this remaster is proper CD quality. Thanks Stu Calvert for this share! (Only from back in April…*gulp*)

IT’s IN FLAC !!!

https://gofile.io/d/kMjPcP

Curb Records – MCA-5834

A1		Babies (Rock Mix)	5:18
A2		Night After Night	4:00
A3		Flame (Remix)	4:48
A4		Send Me An Angel (Master Mix)	5:02
B1		Hammer Of Love	3:54
B2		Let’s Fall In Love (Remix)	3:40
B3		One Blind Love	4:22
B4		No Shame	3:28
B5		Cathedral	4:18

Hothouse Flowers – Love Don’t Work This Way (12″)

Different from the album, but in a good way ? Fred had argued against the fact and included the album version for a comparison. A forgotten gem of a track from ’87 that I thought must have been a cover.

It was produced by Flood and engineered by Dublin’s Pat McCarthy

“See-Line Woman” gets a live cover, originally written by George Houston Bass in 1933! Recorded allegedly in 1986/1987 in the Top Hat in Dun Laoghaire , Dublin. Extended and as funky as hell. A Festival tune.

“Freedom” keeps that live feel, funky and soulful. A great sax solo from Leo Barnes. Such a very, very underrated band.

https://www.mediafire.com/file/rp9j4vhyomm7ihl/Hothouse+Flowers+-+Love+Don’t+Work+This+Way+(1987+12”).rar/file

https://gofile.io/d/D02nRg

Island Records – 609 128

A1		Love Don’t Work This Way (Twelve Inch Version)	6:45
B1		See-Line Woman (Live)	7:14
B2		Freedom	4:28

Thinkman – The Formula (LP And 12″)

So this turns out to be producer’s Rupert Hine’s side project (Post Punk Monk will know more about it) and he does !

https://postpunkmonk.com/2019/09/06/record-review-thinkman-the-formula/

A list of classy guest musicians appear; Chris Thomson, (Manfred Mann’s Earth Band)  James West – Oram (The Fixx), Lisa Dalbello and Stewart Copeland and an important mention to the lyrics written by Jeannette Obstoj. Hine had cut his teeth in a band called Quantum Leap and here he adds the complex Prog arrangements into an album you have to sit down and listen to, just like the old days.

The classic 80’s dramatic vocals, plenty of tech, early sampling at the start of The Formula track. Well crafted songs that have stood the test of time. All a decent length as well.

https://gofile.io/d/fb8fXF

https://www.mediafire.com/file/i9uq9spfc1dnn86/Thinkman+-+The+Formula+-+UK+12”+Vinyl+LP+Album+-+1986.zip/file

Island Records – 207 723

A1		Best Adventures	4:36
A2		The Formula	7:47
A3		Legend	5:00
A4		The Ecstasy Of Free Thought	5:45
B1		The Conflict	4:23
B2		The Challenge	4:24
B3		The Days Of A Champion	4:40
B4		There Shines Our Promised Land	6:00

The Formula (Euro 12″)

The 12″ is certainly aimed at the dancefloor, samples and beats toughen up the groove. Catchy and complex and with a female backing vocals. The short version works really well, the anti-media message on top of that deep reggae groove (and then those classical synth strings kick in sending it to another level)

For collectors you may want to check out the clunky , bass led instrumental. Sudden silences and backward loops. Then the synth brass bounces in.

https://www.mediafire.com/file/er1nasxv2sxhij6/Thinkman+-+The+Fiormula+(1986+12”).rar/file

https://gofile.io/d/YPKMX3

Island Records – 608 163

A		The Formula (Extrapolated Version)	6:25
B1		Excerpt From The Big Lie	4:05
B2		The Formula (Interpolated Version)	4:06

Mixed Emotions – Bring Back (Sha Na Na) (Extended Sha na na-Mix) (German 12″)

German synth duo (both dead) Drafi Deutscher (Instruments and backing vocals) and Oliver Simon (Vocals) go all nostalgia in this 60’s sounding epic. Borrowing a bit from “Waves” melody by Blancmange in the arrangement.

Very cheesy but catchy and what a lovely beard !

https://gofile.io/d/K3Uyr9

https://www.mediafire.com/file/luvs2semevhj0qs/Mixed+Emotions+-+Bring+Back+(Sha+Na+Na)+(12”)+(1987)+(ADG+Rip).rar/file

Electrola – 1C K 060 14 7243 6

A		Bring Back (Sha Na Na)	6:05
B		Bring Back (Sha Na Na) (Instrumental)	4:48

Mylene Farmer – Part 2

So I have discovered that she is massive in her home country, literally 1000’s of comments and millions of views on Youtube and only until Sunday I’d not heard a single thing by her. But why use that surname ?

XXL (French 12″)

From September ’95 and the harder, almost rave mixes of this track Taken from the album “Anamorphosée.”

The B-side is quite synthpop and commercial.

https://www.mediafire.com/file/5aww5ke3hq1wd97/Mylène+Farmer+-+XXL+(French+12”)+(1995)+(ADG+Rip).zip/file

https://gofile.io/d/tzejwb

L’Instant X (Dance Remixes) (French 12″)

From Dec ’95 and a much harder sound, there are guitars (from Jeff Dahlgren)and a more heavy, Industrial beat!

Bertrand Châtenet helps on the remixes, track 2 is a gem, leftfield and with her voice sitting over the noisy backing.

Ramon Zenker (Hardfloor) adds some punchy Tech House mixes on the B-side. Not my cup of tea. His other mix (Last track) adds some Big Beats as it turns into a more Street Hop track, far better.

https://www.mediafire.com/file/asu17h8wie5qyrl/Mylène+Farmer+-+L’Instant+X+(Dance+Remixes)+(12”)+(1995)+(ADG+Rip).zip/file

https://gofile.io/d/w8Vbb7

Polydor – 577 835 – 1

A1		L’Instant X (Santa’s Hard Re-X-Mix)	6:00
A2		L’Instant X (Have A Instant X-Mix)	7:05
B1		L’Instant X (Ramon Zenker Club Dub Re-Mix)	5:39
B2		L’Instant X (Ramon Zenker Groove Trop Re-Mix)	5:26

Mylene Farmer Et Seal – Les Mots (French 12″)

Being a bit of a Seal fan I didn’t know this duet existed ! From Nov 2001 and it’s a beauty. Very lush arrangement and her fragile voice works well with Seal’s powerful, yet delicate vocals.

The B-side mix is even more delicate, love the strings. Wow!

Another splendid Laurent Boutonnat production (Who I’d not heard of as well)

https://www.mediafire.com/file/ej2xnvyf23blys5/Mylène+Farmer+&+Seal+-+Les+Mots+(12”)+(2001)+(ADG+Rip).rar/file

https://gofile.io/d/joTA2q

Polydor – 570 486 – 1

A		Les Mots	4:47
B		Les Mots (Strings For Souls Mix)	4:44

C’Est Une Belle Journée (Remixes) (LTD Edition French 12″)

From April 2002 and more remixes from Blue Planet Corporation and Starcity (Peter Hoff) Giving the track a Progressive House Groove on track 1 and a funky House feel on the B-side.

https://www.mediafire.com/file/afop0gcevronzbd/Mylène+Farmer+-+C’Est+Une+Belle+Journée+(Remixes)+(12”)+(2002)+(ADG+Rip).rar/file

https://gofile.io/d/Ri5JwV

Polydor – 0403

A		C’Est Une Belle Journée (Elegie’s Remix Club)	7:10
B		C’Est Une Belle Journée (Bed & Belle Remix)	8:07

Pardonne-moi (LTD Edition 12″)

From the album “Les Mots” is this limited edition twelve. Street beats and lush orchestration on the usual studio version. Released Oct 2002

A Trance mix from Jaïa (Yannis Kamarinos and Jean Michel Blanchet) and Blue Planet Corporation (Gabriel Masurel) builds the track but it really needed to break out a bit earlier or be longer!

https://gofile.io/d/XrpQod

https://www.mediafire.com/file/48in1053di0r25q/Mylène+Farmer+-+Pardonne-moi+(Limited+Edition+12”)+(2002)+(ADG+Rip).zip/file

A		Pardonne-moi (Forgiveness Club Remix)	6:30
B		Pardonne-moi	4:30

Polydor – 570 933 – 1

Mr. Mister – Is It Love + Re-ups (Euro 12″)

Well some Middle Of The Road stuff and that “other” track by Mr Mister.

 A studio-project with brilliant session musicians playing guitars and synths. This was the third single from the album “Welcome to the Real World.” The line-up was Drums – Pat Mastelotto, Guitar – Steve Farris, Keyboards, Vocals – Steve George and Lead Vocals, Bass – Richard Page

From March ’86 and synth sprinkled Pop Rock with remixes by Victor Flores (who ?). Funk and horns and then the guitars kick in.

The Dub Mix is the funkier of the mixes whilst the B-side “32” goes a bit reggae lite in a Police style. From their first album, “32 feet per second is the rate of falling objects. I try to avoid this number at airports!” Pat Mastelotto

https://gofile.io/d/xdavQ8

https://www.mediafire.com/file/f3nn0vahs4su7i7/Mr.+Mister+-+Is+It+Love+(12”)+(1986)+(ADG+Rip).rar/file

RCA – PT 49862

A		Is It Love (Dance Mix)	6:24
B1		Is It Love (Dub Mix)	4:12
B2		32	4:37

https://myvinyldreams.wordpress.com/2015/03/30/mr-mister-healing-waters-12/

https://myvinyldreams.wordpress.com/2016/11/14/mr-mister-something-real-inside-me-inside-you-us-promo-12/

Mylène Farmer – An Introduction (Part 1)

A bit of synthpop with a bit of Chanson. (All sung in French)

Alan had sent this over at Christmas time so I thought I’d better get on to it and do a series featuring this French singer. Never heard of her any of her stuff before so it was an interesting curation.

Mylène Jeanne Gautier, known by her stage name Mylène Farmer, is a French Canadian singer-songwriter, actress, and author, born on 12 September 1961 in Montreal, Quebec.

Here is her wiki;

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myl%C3%A8ne_Farmer

So a bit of a French Kate Bush it seems and hugely popular in France. This part includes her synthpop stuff.

Tristana (DJ Remix) (French 12″)

From Feb ’87 and in full synth mode, a bit Propaganda / PSB in arrangement from producer Laurent Boutonnat (the partner in this musical partnership) The promo vid as an actual mini art film. (with dwarves)

The B-side from ’86, “Au bout de la nuit” is a slower synth track, nice piano.

https://www.mediafire.com/file/z8yym1dmmp3fvn9/Mylène+Farmer+-+Tristana+(DJ+Remix)+(12”)+(1987)+(ADG+Rip).zip/file

https://gofile.io/d/5WN0Lr

Polydor – 885 572-1

		L’Autre Face
A		Tristana (Remix Club)	7:10
		Cette Face
B1		Tristana (Wolf Mix)	4:30
B2		Au Bout De La Nuit	4:18

Sans Contrefaçon (Boy Remix) (French 12″)

With Thierry Rogen in the studio we get another shiny synthpop track on this very rare twelve from Oct ’87. (And another film for the promo)

Track 2 is sung in English and is a slower, quite depressive track. With a man’s voice sample “Don’t Cry” and plenty of Fairlight flute.

“Déshabillez-Moi” pipes up the sampled orchestra with Farmer asking to be undressed with some Bjork like screams.

https://www.mediafire.com/file/ii44fesbjzgkhah/Mylène+Farmer+-+Sans+Contrefaçon+(Boy+Remix)+(12”)+(1987)+(ADG+Rip).rar/file

https://gofile.io/d/RTFF47

Polydor – 887 195-1

A		Sans Contrefaçon (Boy Remix)	5:55
B1		La Ronde Triste	4:10
B2		Déshabillez-Moi	3.45

Pourvu Qu’elles Soient Douces (French 12″)

On to Sept ’88 and the 3rd single taken from the album “Ainsi Soit Je….” Street beats and scratching. The musical team was still together with Bertrand Le Page on edits. Another video / film that I could not share because of age restrictions.

Liking the synth and sampler arrangement, Boutonnat must of had some top notch kit at the time. A great song.

https://www.mediafire.com/file/z767qa7g3nmksgu/Mylène+Farmer+-+Pourvu+Qu’elles+Soient+Douces+(12”)+(1988)+(ADG+Rip).zip/file

https://gofile.io/d/GDsQJj

Polydor – 887 847-1

A		Pourvu Qu’elles Soient Douces (Remix Club)	6:30
B1		Pourvu Qu’elles Soient Douces (Version Single)	4:10
B2		Puisque…	5:10

Désenchantée (Club Remix) (Euro 12″)

Jumping to March ’91 and her most successful track and given a some Eurodance beats and breaks.

The B-side is a much rawer mix and more clubby, a different bass and rolling beats. Still all done inhouse.

https://www.mediafire.com/file/aaoa8qqdm24yud2/Mylène+Farmer+-+Désenchantée+(Club+Remix)+(12”)+(1991)+(ADG+Rip).rar/file

https://gofile.io/d/LBBAli

Polydor – 879 925-1

A		Désenchantée (Club Remix)	8:10
B		Désenchantée (Chaos Mix)	6:50