From 1987 and a bit of a forgotten Classic. Sounding a bit Level 42 (via Go West) in places and definite late 80’s production from Todd Rundgren. Their second (and last) album that should be listened through at least one.
Line-up;
Bass – Larry Tagg
Cello – Teressa Adams (tracks: B1, B5)
Drums – Mike Urbano (Smash Mouth)
Guitar – Lyle Workman (Frank Black And The Catholics)
Keyboards – Brent Bourgeois, Scott Moon
Lead Vocals – Brent Bourgeois (tracks: A1 to A4, B2, B4, B5), Larry Tagg (tracks: A5, B1, B3)
Percussion – Mike Urbano, Mingo Lewis (tracks: A1, A3, B3), Mingo Lewis (tracks: A1, A3, B3) (Santana , The Tubes)
Strings – Coast String Quartet
So AOR / Power Pop with a bit more synth than usual and a bit of Blue-eyed soul too. “Waiting For The Worm To Turn” could be later XTC. The majestic “I Don’t Mind At All” is here, worth its chart position.
No weak tracks and Rudgren gives it a bit of psychedelia, adding a touch of strings here and there. Maybe 2 much of him if you consider the last track that go into Beatles territory.
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.
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.
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.
Not out to July 5th when the UK will probably be having a Civil War as a result of the election. Some Retro Synth from Georgia, USA
Artists Bio
Pyramid Of Chaos is Christopher J Payne, 1/2 of the electronic music collective Neutron Dreams. Inspired by electronic artists such as Jean-Michel Jarre, Vangelis, Mike Oldfield, Tangerine Dream etc … Pyramid Of Chaos writes electronic music that captures the time period of the 1970’s through 1990’s (And beyond).
So this is in the style of OMD with light vocals (on slight autotune) The arrangement is very lush and has a bit of drive on the bass and punchy drums. A gentle Call to Arms as it were. A got a bit of a feel of Enigma as it cascades into the Bridge section.
Another extensive selection and a joy to find out about these “Nearly” bands
M Over M – Walk Away
From January 1989 and sounding some much like Simple Minds / Tears For Fears !! A band from Deptford , South London. Produced by David Hewson (Techno Twins, Two Minds Crack) A quartet of R. Cheeseman, P Najman, J Najman and S Dady. Plenty of synth, slap bass and rhythm guitar. Alive and Kicking !!
Macchu Picchu – Joe
Alternative stuff with synth and Prog elements from the US / Canada (?). From the 1987 self-titled mini-album. There are Talking Heads, Tears For Fears and 60’s Psyche influences on those folky harmonies.
Bass, Computer, Vocals – Lee Welch
Drums, Percussion – Steve Cunningham
Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals – Ben New
Guitar, Vocals – Scott Williams
Horns, Vocals – Ken Haywood
Vocals – Julie Holland
Vocals, Keyboards – Lou Crispi
Mac’s Smiles! – Miracles
Sponsored by Hi-Tec sports gear ! (It was on the label) From 1988 and some synth rock from the UK.
Mike Scholes – Programming and keyboards, Sy Rogers – Guitars, Tracey Jane – keyboards and vocals, Lloyd – vocals and Steve Boalch – bass.
Heavy guitars and quite heavy sequencers. Reminds me of late Kajagoogoo and Nik Kershaw.
Mad At The World – Fearfully And Wonderfully
From 1988 and the opening track off their second album. Christian synthpop (Gulp!) from Southern California. (Can’t say it’s a genre I actively seek out)
A trio of, Keyboards – Mike Pendleton, Vocals, Drum Programming – Randy Rose and Vocals, Keyboards, Guitar [Guitars], Drum Programming – Roger Rose.
A song about self-esteem with a gringy lead vocal.
To Canada ( Saskatchewan) and this quartet and a track off their only EP released in 1985.
Saxophone, Keyboards, Guitar, Vocals – Randy Reibling
Vocals, Guitar – Kevin Cholerton
Drums, Vocals – Blair Polischuk
Harmonica, Guitar, Vocals – David McLennan
Three had been in the Rock Band, Prodigy.
Decent New Wave with inane lyrical content and gratuitous saxophone and a bit of Bruce Springsteen in there.
Man Machine – Human Life
Swedish synthpop from 1987 from the duo of Richard Andree and Ulf Svensson.
New Beat tempo at 110 BPM with a bit of Italo Disco on those vocals.
Snagged the equipment list from the back sleeve. Plenty of digital synths with the Korg topping the list.
Mania – Waiting (Maxi)
Spanish Synthpop from 1984 with the line-up of Bass – Remi Carreres, Drums – J. “Nano” Paya, Guitar – A. Barbera, Keyboards –Will Mowat (Soul II Soul, Living In A Box, DMob) and vocals – Mania (US female singer based in Valencia and wife of record label boss, Alfonso Olcina) So members of Glamour and Doble Zero were used.
Great New Wave (or Power Pop) with a synth or very treated sax / guitar making it stand out from other similar tunes.
Marginal Era – This Heaven (Instrumental Mix) / You Fascinate
Off to New Zealand with a couple from this quartet from Auckland and a release from 1983.
Paul Agar – guitar, bass, vocals
Dave Larsen – drums, vocals (Fan Club , Soul On Ice)
Phil MacDonald – keyboards (Tau Factor)
David Mauger – bass (Blond Comedy)
With backing vocals from Suzanne Lynch (one half of singing duo The Chicks)
Catchy bass and crystal synths this instrumental , Proggy in places it was used as a theme for a New Zealand TV Theme – “Radio With Pictures”
The following year and the second single with keyboards by Richard Newcomb and more of a solo project by Agar.
More Simple Minds styled bass lines and electronic drums. Pretty Good.
Marie Léonor – Johnny Et Marie
A French cover of the Robert Palmer track and released in 1980. Supporting the French singer were;
Bass – Christian Padovan (CCPP, Crystal Grass, Le Système Crapoutchik)
Drums – Marty Simon (Sharks, Bombers,
Electric Piano – Gérard Bikialo (Magma)
Guitar, Synthesizer – Claude Engel (Magma, Rosebud)
Synthesizer – Celmar Engel
A decent effort with lyrics sung in French.
Martha Ladly – Light Years From Love (Long)
From 1983 and from the ex-keyboard player of Martha And The Muffins and future member of The Associates, Canadian Martha Ladly Peter Hook played bass on this and Pete Saville (her boyfriend at the time) did the sleeve.
A friend of OMD’s and worked with Robert Palmer and part of the Real World Multimedia for Peter Gabriel.
Bright synthpop produced by Steve Nye. An uplifting chorus. As well as Hooky we have Synthesizer, Piano, Harpsichord – Brett Wickens, (Spoons) Panpipes – Paul Hirsch, Percussion – Jamie Lane (Sniff ‘n’ the Tears) and Simon Jeffes (Penguin Cafe Orchestra) arranging the strings
Operatic synth from Italy with the bouncy and dramatic “Electrochoc” reminding me of Klaus Nomie and with the help of fellow Italian singer , Enzo Jannacci.
Mad drums, driving bass and a bit of sampled choir. A mad middle section and those vocals.. Mad but great!
Max Strom – American Girl
Synth Rock from the US with guitars yanked up and a deep bass sequencer. Released in 1983.
He sings, plays guitar and synths. Helped by;
Bass – Glenn Cornick
Drums – Tom Magnusson
Producer – Bob Hughes
Synthesizer – Jeff Brow
Another surprisingly decent track.
He’s now a Buddhist teacher on breathing and a World famous motivational speaker.
Medea – Nothing Stays The Same
Baltimore (Canada) and Medea’s own brand of Proggy synth rock from 1988.
“Nothing…” has shades of Genesis or probably Rush! Turn It On Again!
The line-up was;
Ed David – Drums, electronic drums, percussion Louie Patras, Jr – Keyboards, voice Additional guitars – J.R.
Media – Under Your Wings 7″ and 12″
From 1985 and a 4 piece Netherlands band that have erased themselves from Discogs. (Henk van Der Neut, Robert van der Tol, (a member of Dogtroep) Robert Van Zomeren and Robin van Vliet (De Fabriek, Slagerij Van Kampen, The Secret Combination)
Fretless bass and plenty of chiming synths. Produced by Willem Ennes with the 12″ being remixed by Ben Liebrand. A definite highlight of this collection.
Meo 245 – Lady Love / So Far Away
Oz (Originally from Tasmania) band with a couple of tracks to close Part 1 of this collection.
Bass – Mark Kellett
Drums – Campbell Laird
Keyboards, Vocals – Paul Brickhill
Vocals, Guitar – Paul Northam
A weird fusion of Europop and New Wave on “Lady Love” was a minor hit and their debut single from November 1980. Keyboards and guitars.
The synths are more prominent on “So Far Away” and much prefered.
So the band are defintly no stranger to the blog and appeared in this variety post that I have re-upped all the links for you!!
The debut release from them. Jazz Funk with a smattering of female vocals. Featuring Jean-Paul Maunick (Incognito) on guitar.
Produced by John Rocca as part of Pink Rhythm Production all self-financed.
Here is some info I found from Youtube
It all started over the counter at Derek’s Records on Petticoat Lane, London in the mid-70s. Rocca – at the time a budding teenage percussionist – met the prolific guitarist, composer, producer and all round brit funk fixer Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick (also the father of Far Out producer Daniel Maunick). Best known as the founding member of Light of the World, Incognito, and more recently Str4ta, Bluey’s involvement in the origins of Freeez are lesser known, but no less crucial. Bluey invited Rocca to a weekly jam session in an East London basement, where they would develop their craft, form their first band Freeez and develop the idea for ‘Keep In Touch’: “Back in the basement there was this one particular track we were playing that I really loved. It had a groove that I thought I could sell” Rocca reminisces. Going against the advice of all the musicians involved, who thought he was mad and set to lose all his money, John decided to go full DIY, hire out a high end studio in the West End to record ‘Keep In Touch’ and release it as a private press, birthing his now famed Pink Rhythm label. Featuring Bluey on guitar, Peter Maas on bass, Paul Morgan on drums, Jason Wright on keyboards, and John Rocca on percussion, Keep In Touch was a surprise underground hit selling over 5000 copies and reaching #49 in the UK, leading Freeez into a record deal with Pye / Calibre. Still giddy from the experience of having produced and pressed his first record at the age of just 19, John set out to do it all again with ‘Stay’ and ‘Hot Footing’, enlisting Bluey & co once again. This time Rocca attempted to take things to the next level by adding vocals into the mix. Though this new arrangement initially backfired and cost John the deal with Pye / Calibre who weren’t feeling the slight change of vibe, original copies of the Stay 12” have become one of the most in demand from the brit funk canon. These foundational DIY 12” singles paved the way for Freeez to become a household name in the history of British funk who went on to record hits like ‘Southern Freeze’ and ‘IOU’ as well as underground cult classics like ‘Melodies of Love’ and ‘India’ as Pink Rhythm, John Rocca’s later formation of Freeez named after his imprint.
“Hot Footing It” would rival anything that Level 42 had out in terms of bass playing. Well crafted, no wonder it’s a hidden jazz/funk gem.
Both has smatterings of Shakatak with their use of vocals.
Not the best quality – even in FLAC. The New Mixes are not as good , relying on loops and it’s a bit of a disappointing end to the series. Done after the original 1993 remixes hence the “All New” – sound which is quite bad and its mastered so poorly. Probably too poor to play out. Really sorry when I listened to this through.
The listenable highlights is a decent version of the SOS track and the curveball track “Erotic City” by Prince.
They also suffer from modern DJ gimmicks. Ah well ! Thanks George for this massive share.
Right, I’m off to DJ at Another Fine Fest in Ulverston. Expect a post of some sort Sunday. Pics to follow.
Originally around in 1980 this bass heavy instrumental and still is a firm underground favourite. A great example of British Jazz Funk and the definite bass line of the month.
The full version plus a slight edit.
More Freeez / John Rocca next week plus the accompanying re-ups.
So I’m now being bombarded by Spam comments, all coming through Revenge’s “Gun Porn” post. Well I guess the title encouraged some Spam Bot. I empty and get another 100 posts of inane rubbish all starting with an adverb of time.
myvinyldreams 