Just heard the news of the death of innovative guitarist Duane Eddy at the grand age of 86. It would be fitting to re-up a few links featuring the “twang” I didn’t know he was self taught. During his career spanning seven decades, he sold more than 100 million records !
Not posted some stuff by the mighty Kraftwerk for some time. Released in 1993 on a dodgy German label it gathers all the DJ Subscription mixes together on one disc.
Razormaid always manages to beef up the beats and re-dit to make it an interesting listen. I’m sure some of these have appeared on here before but not in FLAC.
The Mix-it mixes are quite up tempo and the pick of the tracks for being just so different is the Techno Pop Version of “Sex Object” – a demo from 1983 ? The same with the rawer version of “Techno Pop” which harks back to early Kraftwerk with a melody line that got scrapped in the official release.
Starting with some live tracks , all the tracks recorded at Subterannia, London on 23rd August 1991. Recorded on the Manor Mobile. So you get the “Live” experience. Raw and slightly different with the programming. It is much more basic with the vocals and drums amped up but the backing stripped back. They played the Reading Festival that same year.
“Ascend” and “Trigger Happy” “take the rest of this part. Flood’s 7” mix is about as commercial as the Ebb got. Grounded on that deep bass and the vocals accentuated. Guitars were making more of a presence. Grunge influence.
Vince Clarke opens his synth studio and goes for a total electronic backing making a weird contrast to the Rock lead vocals.
I have always disliked the remix of Trigger Happy by Philip Erb, the Hip Hops beats are a bit lazy and the sub bass repetitive. It’s all a bit disjointed and trying too hard to be Street.
Ascend by Pro-gress (Mark Stagg et al) goes heavy on the dub and scattering beats. The song eventually emerges and it’s a decent remix.
Philipp Erb remixes “Trigger Happy” (again) on the final track and still playing round with Hip Hop beats. Slightly better.
Oh, were up to the letter E and a more manageable amount of tracks to right or left swipe!
East Wall – Eyes Of Glass (Vocal and Instrumental) + Ice Of Fire (LP Version)
From 1985 (recorded in mid 1984) and one of the best examples of how good Italo and Cold Wave can work together. Bloody love this! A mix of Lene Lovich and Propaganda with a bit of SPK thrown in. It has a Kirlian Camera connection with the inclusion of Bergamini and Chiari
A trio of ; Synthesizer, Keyboards, Electronics and Producer – Fabrizio Chiari, Synthesizer, Piano, Arranged By – Angelo Bergamini and Vocals, Electronics – Wilma Notari.
The storm starts with the maudlin piano and then the weird time sequence and bass sequencers start up.
The LP track is from the ’91 album, “Silence”. With new members Vocals – Lorenza Larini (Simona Buja from Kirlian Camera and who sings on the opening track), Vocals, Synthesizer – Tiziana Wells
Eirin Peryglus – Merthyr
Synthpop sung in Welsh! From 1988 and on the Welsh language label, Ofn. Guitar – Alun Davies, Synthesizer – Klaus Botha and Vocals – Fiona Owen. A bit Cocteau Twins and New Order but very pleasant even though I haven’t clue what she is singing about , just like Liz Frazer then!
Elusive Dreams – Be There (With You) / A Twisted Day(Tape Demos)
Two from this Tampa Bay Goth band. From 1989 and sounding very like Clan Of Xymox and Dead Can Dance.
Ember Days – Beanbag Boy / Shades Of Evening
The first one was released in 1990 from the EP “Plaza”, drum machines and buzzy guitars, Carter USM in style with the sequenced backing. Dream Pop with a nod to Baggie and Flowered Up. The other track was from 1989 and produced by Dave Morris (PWEI, Wonderstuff) and bassist Steven Burrows (And Also The Trees)
Piano and electronics on “Shades Of Evening” as it goes into New Order territory.
Emerald Choir – Winter
From 1987 and a Butch Vig produced track from this US Prog Rock band. The line-up was ; Bass, Keyboards, Vocals – Mark Hervey, Guitars– Gordon Ranney, Tim Lang, Drums, Percussion – Tom Hanson and Lead Vocals – Dave Morelock.
Here is the Discogs entry;
Emerald Choir was from Madison, Wisconsin. The existed from 1985 to 1987. It rose from the ashes of a previous band, Plaza 9, which played more New-Wave-inspired pop music. All the same members, but different instruments and musical style. The group disbanded in 1987, with each of its members pursuing separate pursuits. Major musical influences for band members were U2, The Church, early REM, XTC, Talking Heads, Echo & The Bunnymen, Ivory Library, Rain Parade, and other atmospheric, moody, guitar-oriented psychedelic rock artists.
The band’s only LP, Timber Timbre Burn, was released in 1987 on Boat Records and Tapes out of Madison, Wisconsin’s Smart Studios.
A lovely bit of dream pop, ethereal and chilled. (and bloody obscure)
Erick V – J’ai Envie De T’Embrasser (Ce Soir Au Cinéma)
Quirky Belgium synth on this 1982 release from Erik Vandermaesen. Euro trash. Seems the instrumental and vocal version have been mixed together. Nice and bright sounding.
Erth – You & I
US Synth Rock from 1986 (so there will be some guitar elements) Love those affected vocals. ; Bass – Eric Koch, Drums – Ted Koch, Guitar – Rick Easley, Keyboards – Jim Kinney. As always from a Lo a decent and obscure song.
European Sun – Answer Me / Voices
From September 1984 and some alternative Rock. From the same stable as The Alarm, U2 and Big Country. Led by bassist Rod Goodwin ex-member of Punk Band Flackoff, from Leamington Spa (imagine the protest from the locals)
A trio from Coventry with vocals and guitar by Chrissie and John Beaufoy. Power Pop on “Answer Me”, tribal drums and more space on “Voices” – catchy hooks.
Evening Legions – Your Dimension
Anglo / French New Wave with a bit of a similarity to IceHouse.(especially in those vocals)
From Discogs;
Defunct band from Rennes in France, active from 1983 to 1986. Leaf Seale will associate with Jean-Luc Vilgicquel and Pierrick Corzéame (alias Pierrick Daligault, former drummer of Excès de Zèle or EDZ), later joined by Andrew “Flash” Sloane, another British fellow on keyboards. After the fast passage of bass player Jaco Racotte, he’ll be replaced by former guitarist of local band Words Of Goethe (only from January to August 1986). He then will play in another band of Rennes called Senso, together with the infamous Frank Darcel.
Evening Legions split during the Festival Interceltique de Lorient in 1986, after they did the first part of The Pogues. They also played at Festival Printemps De Bourges, Trans Musicales De Rennes and the Elixir Festival.
A bit lost in translation I think. From the self titled mini album released in 1985. A nice ditty.
From the Liverpool, UK and from 1982. Featuring ; Drums – Mark Anthony Collridge (The Stiffs and Glass Torpedoes), Guitar and vocals – Paul (Rio) Reason (Keep It Dark and Glass Torpedoes), Keyboards – Pete Chegwin (Danse Macabre) and Keyboards, Design, Producer, Mixed By – Frank Sparks and vocals by Chris Clarke.
Gary Numan-like in the build with Toyah like vocals. Some great lead synth and with a bit of a cult Hit in the clubs of Liverpool and Manchster.
Excentrique Noiz – Dark Crystal Day
Japanese synth goth (again sounding like Xymox) on this release from June 1986. Ebow guitars and a very Ultravox synth bass. Released on their own label. Playing on this was; Voice, Keyboards, Sequencer – Takashi Sekine (who was previously in Nubile), Guitar – Makoto Kitai and Bass [Synth], Bass – Shigeo Kanamori
Very gentle guitar pop from UK’s (Bromley , Kent) Exit, jangle and a bit of Yacht Rock from this quartet of Mark Knight, (vocals and keyboards) Graham Littlejohn (guitar) Bruce Smeath (drums) and Rick Baldwin (bass) Squeaky clean and inoffensive. A bit Mersey Beat / 60’s.
Exit – No Respect
Synthpop from Grimsby / Cleethorpes! From 1984 it even comes with a video!! Sounds a bit Freestyle with a nod to Shannon’s “Let The Music Play.” Fun synthpop.
Line-up was ; Barry Morrice (ex The Sleepers), Dave Alucard (The What), Neil Burniston, Pete Shallcross and Richard Porter (later in The Bounty Hunters) plus a mystery female on backing vocals.
Eye To Icé – Love And War
Closing with this from 1987, more synth pop. From the sleeve
Eye To Icé are: Darren, Alan, Archie, Clive and Kym For further information write to: Jay Tann, 69 Diceland Road, Banstead, Surrey SM7 2ET (Write them a letter I dare you 😀)
Again very digital with the preset whistle sounds. Quite a soulful and good closer for the compilation. (As if I’d worked on the track order 😂)
More obscure and weird stuff from Mr. F, from Denmark with a bit of Swamp Funk Punk and a connection with Junkie XL (who I collected back in the day)
From Discogs;
Dutch band from Wolvega, Friesland formed in 1983 by: Henk Gubbels (Guitar) Jelke Haisma (Percussion) Wijnand Helfrich (Keyboards, Vocals) Thijs Helfrich (Vocals) Han Raggers (Guitar) Harry Raggers (Keyboards) Jan Dijksma (Bass Guitar) Boelie Winter (Drums)
Harry Raggers (’86) and Han Raggers (’88) leave the band, while it is moving from Roxy Music and Simple Minds music to more funky music like Japan. Tom Holkenborg replaces Han Raggers. In ’89 Boelie Winter also leaves the band after a tour in Russia. In 1994 Howard Clements replaces Tom Holkenborg who wants to focus on his projects Junkie XL and Nerve.
So the single is from 1986 and some heavy guitar with weird proggy bits. Harmonies and Tribal drummer. Very, very interesting.
The B-side uses reverbed Marimba to create a very dubby arrangement. Synths add to the atmosphere whilst the beat kicks in. Love this weird groove and the deranged laughter and sampled voices. It’s in the box! Track of the month.
A new series for a Sunday and another contribution from Lo (I think)
These Blank and Jones compilations (not Boris or Gareth but German 80’s obsessives Piet Blank, and René Runge (aka Jaspa Jones) were all the fashion back in 2009/10. This being the first released in October 2015. Collecting all the 12″ versions of the more commercial side of the 80’s in a 3 CD set with the first CD being a mix by Blank and Jones. These don’t have that mixed version but the standalone tracks from the other CD’s.
There is a few rarities and listening to a lot of the versions Blank & Jones may of had a fiddle with them. Some are on the blog some are not.
Forgot how long that special remix of “Dancing With Tears..” by Ultravox was and have not heard it for ages.
Not heard “Samuri” by Cretu and it’s delightfully Camp and Eurotrash. Latin Rascals invade Robbie Nevil’s track. Always loved Kim Wilde’s “Cambodia” , it is probably one of the most evocative synth tracks out there, Abba-esque in places but with some unique synth sounds and here in 2 parts.
Don’t expect the normal 12″, “West End Girls” is a US version. Human League’s track is the instrumental from “Love And Dancing” imagining dropping that and not knowing !
A couple of successive Bobby O produced tracks, The Flirts and Ronni Griffith break up the commercial pop. “Passion” is pure HiNRG Classic
Unfortunately only in MP3 but heh, it’s free! 26 tracks and 379 MB’s (Probably impossible to host in FLAC)
More Disco but going into HiNRG. (well the last 2 tracks)
Starts off well with something from KC & The Sunshine Band that’s not “Give It Up!”, mixed together by Chris Cox.
A weird mix of “Don’t Leave Me This Way” is far too filtered , remixed by “Mystery Phased For Days” more like Murdered Mystery Phased… , why would they overuse such an effect for over 9 mins, crap!
It certainly picks up from there. The evergreen Boogie Nights gets a mix in with the lesson known “Groove Line”.
A newie to be was “Risky Changes” , definite worth a drop in a set. What a groove !! Another new one is the more Italo Disco of Kano, vocoder and plenty of synths with the Disco clap beat.
A couple of obscure Jackson tracks up next. The 1982 track “PYT” gets a slight funk mix, the sixth single from “Thriller”, guessing this is the slower version. The Jackson’s track goes back to June ’81 but still has some nice synth lines.
Bronski get a slight tweak on their track, it’s still a cracker. The Megamix blends Disco with HiNRG (-ish) tracks on quick rotation. Essential for a DJ toilet break.
Lot of love for these on a Friday so here is the 2018 released Vol 3 of the series. Even tighter production on just these 4 tracks with a bonus track, a collab with OnDaMike called “Frozen Fire” from 2023.
So all tracks are decent length with plenty of variety in each. Beats hit harder.
“Shake It Up” is quite commercial Dance track with plenty of hooks and comes with a radio edit. Pick of the tracks on the full version.
The collaboration is from as you would expect, loud ! Autotuned Madonna “Frozen” , probably a bit too New School!
myvinyldreams 