dark entries records

Altres – Archives LP [DE033]

hipodrome, , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

https://imagescdn.juno.co.uk/300/CS476894-01A-MED.jpg

Altres are a band from Dundee, Scotland who originally formed in 1983. They were playing mostly instrumental, improvised electronic music at a time when very few bands, if any, were making this type of music in the UK. The Altres’ initial line-up was Jeremy Bryning (synths), Joseph Donnelly (synths), Kevin L. Guthrie (synths, sequencer, drum machine), Brian Hutton (synths, sequencer, vocoder), Mike Nelson (guitar) and Maurice Richardson (synths, sequencer, polysynth, drum machine). Most Altres compositions begin with a sequence and a drum pattern. These wrap around arpeggiated synth pulses, and are accompanied by shrill feedback. Instruments used on the recordings include Casio MT40 Moog Prodigy, EDP Wasp, Roland SH-101, Casio VL-Tone, Korg MS20, MS50, SQ10 Poly-61, Ibanez guitar and vocoder. All of the instruments are fed through various effects and echo units. Everything is played and recorded live – there are no overdubs.

listen

Altres – Archives LP [DE033]

Linea Aspera – Linea Aspera LP [DE031]

hipodrome, , , , , , , Leave a comment

https://imagescdn.juno.co.uk/300/CS470710-01A-MED.jpg

Dark Entries is proud to present the debut album of contemporary British band Linea Aspera. Linea Aspera is the London duo of Ryan Ambridge (Synths/Programming) and Alison Lewis (Vocals/Synths). They began the project in November 2011, technically drawing inspiration from electronic music from the early 1980s. For their debut album they utilized small, simple analog synthesizer set up: Roland SH-09, Roland Juno 6, Vermona DRM MKiii, Korg Poly 800 and Analogue Solutions Semblance. Linea Aspera’s sound includes clear influences from early electronic body music, classic synth-pop and, in some instances, industrial and noise. Lyrically the band incorporates the sciences of osteology, neuroscience, and anthropology weaving a new medical language around themes of desire, despair and renewal. Linea Aspera serve up an icebox of dark doom riding on Alison’s powerful vocals with a soft but sharp touch.

listen

Linea Aspera – Linea Aspera LP [DE031]

ADN’ Ckrystall – Jazz’Mad LP [DE030]

hipodrome, , , , , , , Leave a comment

https://imagescdn.juno.co.uk/300/CS470704-01A-MED.jpg

Dark Entries is excited to release the 30th anniversary edition of ADN’ Ckrystall’s debut album “Jazz’Mad.” ADN’ Ckrystall is the moniker of synthesizer wizard Érick Moncollin from Tarbes, France. In 1977 Moncollin spent time in Paris experimenting with synthesizers, jamming alongside composers Vangelis and Tim Blake. It was here that he obtained a prototype of the Korg MS-20, a legendary synthesizer. The entire album was recorded over a 4 day period in 1980. The sound of “Jazz’Mad” revolves around the synthesizer, utilizing the instrument to all its capacities. ADN was Influenced by New Wave bands that incorporated keyboards into their songs like Gary Numan/Tubeway Army, and Simple Minds, as well as Prog Rock and Krautrock bands such as Hawkwind, Heldon, Gong, and Neu!. The result is an unconventional and discordant conglomeration of synthesizers, drum machines, and vocals that cradle the edge of the brain. Most of the songs are long instrumental pieces but when Érick sings his lyrics favor love, drugs, and science fiction themes.

listen

ADN’ Ckrystall – Jazz’Mad LP [DE030]

Lives of Angels – Elevator to Eden LP [DE032]

hipodrome, , , , , , , Leave a comment

https://imagescdn.juno.co.uk/300/CS470711-01A-MED.jpg

Dark Entires is honored to reissue the long out of print debut album “Elevator to Eden” by Lives of Angels. Lives of Angels was the brainchild of Gerald O’Connell from London, England. In 1974 he worked at CBS studios mastering recordings from tape to disc. By 1977 he joined his first band Mystery Plane, led by school mate Mark Harvey and later joined by his soon-to-be wife Catherine. Gerald branched off in 1980 forming Lives of Angels as an outlet for his own compositions. He recorded, produced and played all of the instruments on “Elevator to Eden” between 1981 and 1983, using a primitive set up of drum machines, one keyboard, guitar and a tape echo. Influenced by the Krautrock sounds of Neu! and Amon Duul II as well as US psychedelic rock, Lives of Angles crafted their own unique post-punk sound. “Elevator to Eden” was originally released in 1983 on cassette by Color Tape Records, the label started by Gary Ramon of Modern Art. Then in 1986 Fire Records remixed and re-released the album on vinyl but the band was not happy with the mixes. This reissue features the original 4-track cassette mixes of “Elevator To Eden” on vinyl for the first time ever. The LP includes 9 songs featured on the original Color Tapes release. All songs have been remastered for vinyl by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley directly from the original master tapes.

listen

Lives of Angels – Elevator to Eden LP [DE032]

Borghesia – Clones [DE028]

hipodrome, , , , , , Leave a comment

Borghesia is an electronic music group, founded in 1982 in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The band was formed by four members of alternative theatrical group Theatre FV-112/15: Dario Seraval, Aldo Ivancic, Neven Korda and Zemira Alajbegovic. They established FV Video to self-publish their video projects and FV Založba – the first independent record label in ex-Yugoslavia. Aldo and Dario took care of songwriting, production and recording while Zemira and Neven handled the visuals. In the late 80s the band signed to PIAS and went on to release a string of successful albums and played world-wide tours. “Clones” was Borghesia’s second album, self-released on cassette only in 1984. The band borrowed synthesizers (Roland SH-101, Casio VL-1, Korg Polysix) and a Roland 808 drum machine from friends. Every song was played live – no overdubs – and recorded to a cassette deck over a few nights at their club Disco FV during 1983-1984. All of the songs are instrumental and feature various cutting edge techniques for 1983. Hypnotic, proto-techno and acid rhythms and synth lines. Music on the A Side of the LP is faster and club oriented while the B Side offers a drugged out soundtrack to get lost in. All songs have been remastered for vinyl by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley directly from the original master tape.

listen

Borghesia – Clones [DE028]

Stress – Conspiracy Theory LP [DE027]

hipodrome, , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Stress is the duo of Alan Rider and Phil Clarke from West Midlands, England formed in 1981. Stress combined electronic rhythms and keyboards with bass guitar, vocals, percussion, and cut-up samples. They created catchy electronic pop songs that fused accessible & experimental elements with a pointed lyrical edge. “Conspiracy Theory” is an 11-song ‘best of’ compilation album featuring tracks from the first two cassette albums with “The Prayer Clock” from Third Mind Records, ‘Life At The Top’ compilation LP and “Tear It Down” from the ’Compulsory Overtime’ compilation LP. Each song has been carefully remastered by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley.

listen

Stress – Conspiracy Theory LP [DE027]

Inhalt – Vehicle EP [DE024]

hipodrome, , , , , , Leave a comment

https://imagescdn.juno.co.uk/300/CS514361-01A-MED.jpg

Dark Entries presents the the debut EP “Vehicle” from San Francisco based synth trio Inhalt. Consisting of European and East Coast natives– Matia Simovich, Bryan Gibbs, and Philip Winiger– Inhalt’s core operative strategy is of sonic fidelity and integrity rather than nostalgia. In the “Vehicle” EP the brutality of the analogue transistor rhythm section meets the sincerity of the human voice.

listen

Inhalt – Vehicle EP [DE024]

Vocoder – Cuadro Sinóptico [DE026]

hipodrome, , , , Leave a comment

cover: Vocoder - Cuadro Sinóptico

Dark Entries presents a 4-song compilation from one of the finest groups of the Spanish New Wave/Techno-Pop scene of the 1980s. Vocoder were a quartet from Zaragoza, Spain formed in 1981 by Keyboardists Antonio Laval, Alfonso Olarte, Antonio Tenas and vocalist Pilar Pellicer. “Cuadro Sinóptico” compiles both 2-song 12″ maxi singles as one 4-song EP. All four songs were recorded during 1984-85. A futuristic sound for the modern age topped with Pilar’s charismatic vocals. Lyrically they address robotic love, disco dancing, and the tropical island of Mindanao.

listen

Vocoder – Cuadro Sinóptico [DE026]

Parade Ground – The Golden Years [DE018]

hipodrome, , , , 9 Comments
https://hipodrome.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/r-2884404-1309317423.jpeg?w=288

Parade Ground has always been the duo of brothers Jean-Marc and Pierre Pauly from Brussels, Belgium formed in 1981. Taking cues from Post-Punk, Cold Wave, Dada and Surrealism, Parade Ground channeled suffering, tension and rage through pulsing synthesizers, skeletal guitar, severe bass and Jean-Marc’s expressive vocals as the most melodic and emotional instrument. “The Golden Years” is an 11-song, career-spanning collection of Parade Ground’s long out-of-print 7” and 12” singles as well as rare compilation tracks from the pioneers of emotional body music created during 1982-1988.

listen

Parade Ground – The Golden Years [DE018]

Nagamatzu – Sacred Islands Of The Mad [DE009]

hipodrome, , , , , , , , 3 Comments

Dark Entries is honored to present the highly limited second cassette by British duo Nagamatzu for the first time ever on vinyl. “Sacred Islands of the Mad” is a collection of eleven tracks recorded between December 1984 and March 1986. agamatzu began in 1982 after messing around with old tape machines and drum boxes, making numerous contributions to international compilations and erratically releasing their own cassettes. Their name comes from a character in JG Ballard’s “Atrocity Exhibition” and their music reflects his influence and incorporates carefully chosen samples from the Challenger shuttle disaster, Gregorian chants and films including “Dawn of the Dead” and “The Omen.” All the songs were recorded onto a Ferrograph reel to reel in a small room at their parent’s house and some of the backing rhythms and sequencers were recorded first onto cassette and then the band played along live. Nagamatzu’s instrumentals combine stuttering bass, guitar bursts and funeral keyboards draped over a dragging drum machine beat, calling to mind Clock DVA, Cabaret Voltaire and early New Order or Cocteau Twins. “Sacred Islands of the Mad” is a complex, textured tapestry of sound full of dark electronics, fresh harmonies and danceable rhythms.

listen

Nagamatzu – Sacred Islands Of The Mad [DE009]

The Neon Judgement – Early Tapes [DE007]

hipodrome, , , , 3 Comments

http://imagescdn.juno.co.uk/300/CS415595-01A-MED.jpg

Dark Entries has dug deep into the early days of the Belgian cassette scene to release two tapes by The Neon Judgment in the form of one vinyl LP for the first time ever! These pioneers of underground electronic music hail from the small town of Leuven near Brussels, Belgium and gave birth to the New Beat and EBM scenes worldwide in 1981/2 with the release of their first two cassettes–neatly compiled here as “Early Tapes”. Arriving just in time to celebrate the Neon Judgment’s 30th anniversary, “Early Tapes” showcases the band’s brash and seedy lyrics, with raw synth stabs and repetitive drum machine beats adding to this rhythmic discourse. The result is a combination of lo-fi technology and emotional sincerity to create a sound both warm yet alienating that has stood the test of time and 30 years later, still evokes the same magic.

listen

The Neon Judgement – Early Tapes [DE007]