VA – Nihon No Wave 2 [MEC099]

Japan’s electronic music scene has always stood out as uniquely distinctive. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, a wave of underground projects, bands, and independent labels – primarily based in Tokyo and Osaka – began crafting their own sound. Inspired by the post-punk, new wave, and experimental movements emerging from Europe and North America, these artists embraced a DIY ethic, using whatever technology they had access to in order to forge something entirely their own. This movement, often referred to as the “Nippon-wave” scene, remained largely hidden from the outside world. Many of its releases – on cassette tapes, flexi-discs, and privately pressed vinyl – never distributed beyond Japan’s borders, making them rare treasures for the few who managed to discover them. “Nihon No Wave” presents a selection of these long-overlooked recordings, making them accessible to listeners beyond Japan for the first time. This is Nihon No Wave part 2.

listen

VA – Nihon No Wave 2 [MEC099]

VA – Nihon No Wave [MEC030]

Japan’s electronic music scene has always stood out as uniquely distinctive. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, a wave of underground projects, bands, and independent labels – primarily based in Tokyo and Osaka – began crafting their own sound. Inspired by the post-punk, new wave, and experimental movements emerging from Europe and North America, these artists embraced a DIY ethic, using whatever technology they had access to in order to forge something entirely their own. This movement, often referred to as the “Nippon-wave” scene, remained largely hidden from the outside world. Many of its releases – on cassette tapes, flexi-discs, and privately pressed vinyl – never distributed beyond Japan’s borders, making them rare treasures for the few who managed to discover them. “Nihon No Wave” presents a selection of these long-overlooked recordings, making them accessible to listeners beyond Japan for the first time. This is Nihon No Wave part 1.

listen

VA – Nihon No Wave [MEC030]

Interactive – The Techno Wave [MEC028R]

“The Techno Wave” was the debut single released in 1990 by the iconic project founded by Jens Lissat and Ramon Zenker (Hardfloor). It quickly became one of the defining anthems of the so-called Frankfurt Tekkno scene that swept across Germany in the early ’90s, capturing the raw energy and rebellious spirit of the movement.

listen

Interactive – The Techno Wave [MEC028R]

Techniques Berlin – The Extension of Machines [1985​-​1991] [MEC091]

Formed by high school buddies Andreas Gregor and David Rout, Techniques Berlin started in 1984 experimenting with synthesizers, drum machines and guitars. In the early stages, the band was heavily influenced by UK new romantic acts The Human League, Visage, Yazoo, OMD and Depeche Mode, as well as rising Canadian synth-pop bands Rational Youth, Men Without Hats and Trans-X. It took them a few years to master their electronic toys and create a unique blend of addictive electro-pop melodies and beautifully crafted alternative beats. “The Extension of Machines” compiles 13 extra rare and unreleased tracks from the vault. 

Techniques Berlin – The Extension of Machines [1985​-​1991] [MEC091]

Cetu Javu – Southern Lands LP [MEC087]

Javier Revilla and Chris Demere, both from Hanover and inspired by electronic music of Kraftwerk and Jean-Michel Jarre, started to experiment with sounds since the late 70’s. The arrival of New Wave with bands like Heaven 17, The Human League, Soft Cell and Depeche Mode influenced these teenagers to began Cetu Javu in 1984 with Javier on vocals, Chris on synths, guitar, programming, Torsten Engelke on keyboards and Stefen Engelke on bass. Like their compatriots Camouflage, Cetu Javu were unapologetically Depeche Mode-like in their sound, but with a fairly original twist on their synth pop formula. The band signed a contract with Records and released their debut album “Southern Lands” in 1990. “Southern Lands” is re-released including all original songs plus some extended versions, remixes and bonus tracks from the accompanying singles “Situations”, “Have in Mind” and “So Strange”.

listen

Cetu Javu – Southern Lands LP [MEC087]

Doppler Effect – Genesis: Studio Recordings 81​-​85 [MEC094]

Doppler Effect is the brain child of singer and songwriter James Straight. Started in Boston in 1981, the band explores what Straight calls the encyclopedia of electronic music. Since its inception the band has explored and incorporated almost all styles of electronica from Ambient to Industrial, Techno, Synth Pop, EBM, House, Dark Wave, Acid and Disco, with a touch of Punk and Funk around the edges. It all depends on the song as Straight sees his work as mini films he’s Directing, a sort of seeing with your ears. Utilising the whole paint box to achieve the desired effect, his only rule is it must work for the song. “Genesis: Studio Recordings” compiles a selection of songs recorded between 1981 and 1985. Including lot of unreleased songs and early versions ranging from synth-punk and new wave to minimal wave and synth-pop.

Doppler Effect – Genesis: Studio Recordings 81​-​85 [MEC094]

Techniques Berlin – The Language of Machines [1985​-​1991] [MEC090]

Formed by high school buddies Andreas Gregor and David Rout, Techniques Berlin started in 1984 experimenting with synthesizers, drum machines and guitars. In the early stages, the band was heavily influenced by UK new romantic acts The Human League, Visage, Yazoo, OMD and Depeche Mode, as well as rising Canadian synth-pop bands Rational Youth, Men Without Hats and Trans-X. It took them a few years to master their electronic toys and create a unique blend of addictive electro-pop melodies and beautifully crafted alternative beats. “The Language of Machines” compiles a selection of original recordings between 1985 and 1991, including some favorite tunes and a few unreleased tracks/versions. 

listen

Techniques Berlin – The Language of Machines [1985​-​1991] [MEC090]

Recall IV – Interstate [MEC085]

Recall IV is the project created by Andre Fischer that reached a massive success in the German techno scene in 1990 with the release of the single “Contrast” on Techno Drome International / ZYX Records. This was shortly followed by two more releases in 1991 (“Contrast – Part 2” and the extended play “Aesthetic”) and contributions to various compilations. Andre has been a very active techno composer and producer since the late 80’s working with people like Lars Janzik, Carlos Perón, Giora Schein & Holger Wick (Konzept), Volker Then (Friends Of Carlotta) on countless projects including Scope, Scrot, Technoline, Trust in 6, ADSX, etc. “Interstate” compiles tracks from all Recall IV singles, some old compilations and a selection of unreleased cuts and remixes.

listen

Recall IV – Interstate [MEC085]

The Overlords – Organic? [MEC081]

Re-release including all original tracks plus some bonus and remixes. The Overlords is a pioneer electronic project coming from Denmark. Rune Bendixen, Carsten Pedersen and Ian Ion started to work together in 1987 inspired by Front 242 and Adrian Sherwood’s electronic dub. The ever-cheaper samplers allowed the band to record their debut album ‘Midnight at the Grooveyard II’ (1988) and built their own studio The Grooveyard in Copenhagen. Next works started to get increasingly influenced by techno, new beat and innovative dance music. A new single ‘Moontrap’ (1990) appeared on Belgium’s Antler Subway Records and led The Overlords to collaborate with Kenneth Baker who remixed the next single and massive club hit ‘Sundown’ (1991). The full-length ‘Organic?’ (1991) came shortly after also on Antler Subway in Belgium, ZYX Records in Germany and reached America with Caroline Records.

listen

The Overlords – Organic? [MEC081]

The Overlords – Sundown [MEC082Y]

Re-release of this timeless electronic anthem. A track that defies any classification. The perfect mix between Belgian techno, trance and EBM. ‘Sundown’ was released as single in 1991 and instantly became a techno classic in Germany and all over the globe selling over 200,000 copies worldwide.



listen

The Overlords – Sundown [MEC082Y]

New Scene – Waves LP [MEC080]

New Scene was a project created in the late 80’s by Arno Müller and Markus Barth. They were part of the roaster of the German label BOY Records together with acts like Time Modem, Cybex Factor and “O”. New Scene released in 1989/90 two singles/mega-mixes under the title of “Out of Control”, becoming both classics in the German Techno scene. Their third single “Tonight” also turned to a big success in the clubs and pushed New Scene to release their debut and only full-length album “Waves” in 1992.

listen

New Scene – Waves LP [MEC080]

Schicksal – Perpetuum: Cycle I [MEC078]

Schicksal is the alias of Rudi Huybrechts from Belgium. Heavily inspired by Front 242 first album “Geography”, DAF’s elektronische körpermusik “Alles Ist Gut” and of course Kraftwerk’s “Man Machine” and “Computer World”, Rudi bought his first Roland SH-101 synthesizer and started in 1982 with Schicksal to experiment with synths and drum computers. He spent lot of hours programming and composing on his bedroom and recording everything on a tape recorder. A selection of these old tracks are included on this album. You can definitely feel the vibe of this period and the place where the songs were created: the old industrial town of Hoboken, the culmination of the cold war and the aim of a young musician to combine melody and harmony into minimal electronic music.

listen

Schicksal – Perpetuum: Cycle I [MEC078]

Schicksal – 24 Hours [MEC077]

Schicksal is the alias of Rudi Huybrechts coming from Hoboken, a small town near Antwerp. He started experimenting with synths and drum computers in 1982. Heavily inspired by Front 242 first album “Geography”, DAF’s elektronische körpermusik “Alles Ist Gut” and Kraftwerk’s “Man Machine” and “Computer World”, Rudi spent lot of hours programming and composing at home with just some gear and a tape recorder. Some of these tracks appeared on local compilations but it was not until the hype of New Beat in Belgium that Schicksal gained a real attention. In 1988 Rudi persuaded Marc Grouls, the resident DJ of discotheque Prestige in Antwerp, to play the track “24 hours”. All the people on the dancefloor just got wild and the next day Schicksal signed a contract with Maurice Engelen for the release of a maxi-single on Subway Records.

listen

Schicksal – 24 Hours [MEC077]

Max & Intro – We Design The Future [MEC083]

Max & Intro was a short-lived duo formed by Vincent Max and Intro Johnnie in Belgrade. In 1984 they composed “Ostavi Sve” (in English: “Leave Everything”), probably the greatest ex-Yugoslavian minimal synth song of all times with heavy rotation on radio and even TV appearances. It was a tribute to Fairlight synthesizers, in that time non affordable for these young musicians and became an obsession, especially for Max. In 1985 was published their first and only release “We Design The Future” including “Ostavi Sve” and the B-side “Beogradska Devojka”, another synth gem.

listen

Max & Intro – We Design The Future [MEC083]

VA – The Brutality Of Rhythm – Part​.​1 [MEC075]

“The Brutality Of Rhythm” is a compilation series focused to rescue EBM-electro-industrial jewels from the 90’s. On the first installment have been included some hits, remixes and rare tracks by Sigbefia Five (Germany), Institute For The Criminally Insane (Denmark), Lights of Euphoria (Germany), Birmingham 6 (Denmark), Kevorkian Death Cycle (USA), Fiction 8 (USA), Sleepwalk (Germany) and Brigade Werther (Germany).

VA – The Brutality Of Rhythm – Part​.​1 [MEC075]

Schneebezen – Amnesia Lane [MEC076]

Schneebezen was formed in 1986/87 by Bart Plaskoff (vocals, lyrics, backing keyboard) and Glen Moller (keyboards, programming, backing vocals). They managed to build a small recording studio in West Los Angeles and started to compose their first songs. In 1989, with the assistance of producer Bryan Carlstrom (Billy Idol, PIL), they recorded the EP “Take Those Shades Off”. This release included two top-ten hits. “Magical Meeting Of The Minds” and “Can’t Remain A Friend” were beating out bands like Depeche Mode and The Cure on various dance charts thanks to heavy rotation on KROQ, LIVE-105 and other radio stations around the USA and abroad. In light of this success an EMI executive approached the band. Bart and Glen began doing some demos in 1990 but it was during this time they realized that from their perspective synth music was dead so creative differences began to occur. They knew they would go the way of most bands on the edge of getting a record deal with a major label. Schneebezen split. “Amnesia Lane” is a compendium of the short but fruitful career of Schneebezen including the complete “Take Those Shades Off” EP and lot of unreleased stuff with studio recordings, live outtakes and demos recorded between 1989 and 1990. Everything has been carefully restored and remastered from the original DAT and cassette tapes.

listen

Schneebezen – Amnesia Lane [MEC076]

Andi / Randolph & Mortimer – Torque Force [MEC073]

ANDI/RANDOLPH & MORTIMER - Torque Force

The concept behind this split 12” is simple. Two artists who are divided by the Atlantic Ocean but unified by a love of classic New Beat sounds. Andi, boss of the New York City-based Synthicide record label/club night and Aufnhame + Wiedergabe recording artist, combined forces with Sheffield’s Industrialist and lover of underground Body Music, Randolph & Mortimer, to present their own interpretation to the unmistakable Belgian genre.

listen

Andi / Randolph & Mortimer – Torque Force [MEC073]

Absolute Body Control – Lost / Found [MEC056]

ABSOLUTE BODY CONTROL - Lost/Found

Absolute Body Control was formed by Dirk Ivens in 1980 influenced by the sound produced by the likes of Suicide, D.A.F. and the UK electronic scene. Eric Van Wonterghem joined the project next year just after the release of the debut 7″ “Is There An Exit?”. They released together just some cassettes during its brief initial run, but this was enough to gain a following in and outside Belgium. A compilation of tracks entitled “Eat This” was eventually done in 1993 and a first edition of the collection “Lost / Found” was issued on CD in 2005. Dirk and Eric took the project back on stage in 2006 and decided to re-activate it. They first re-recorded some of their classic songs for the album “WindReWind” and then continued releasing new material and touring all Europe and beyond. “Lost / Found” is the definitive collection of this minimal-synth-wave act and is now available for the first time on vinyl record with a total of 52 songs including 8 previously unreleased.

listen

Absolute Body Control – Lost / Found [MEC056]

!Bang Elektronika – Aktivierung! EP [MEC067]

BANG ELECTRONICA - Aktivierung! EP

!Bang Elektronika started in 1986 as a solo project of Dave Rout to develop his electronic music wanderings. He recorded material off an on, but most of his time was spent working on Techniques Berlin, a band which he started with Andreas Gregor in 1985. The first !BE release was the “Audio Beat Warfare” cassette on Bombshelter in 1989. For the second !BE tape, “The Rhythm Screams Electronic”, also released in 1989, Andreas contributed with some vocals. After these releases Dave was moving into more EBM / industrial sounds and wanted some harsh German vocals for the new tracks so he asked Andreas to sing on some of them and join permanently the project. Their first release as a duo was the cassette entitled “Aktivierung!” on Shadow Records in 1991. Time after, the project was put on hiatus with just some sporadic releases and a few shows, until 2011 when they did their first and only show in Berlin and release a compilation CD. This year the band is celebrating their 35th anniversary releasing their dance floor stomper “Aktivierung” for the very first time on vinyl. This release includes, along the original version from 1991 and the b-side “Ich Bin So Ätzend!”, two new killer remixes crafted by Randolph & Mortimer and The Horrorist.

listen

!Bang Elektronika – Aktivierung! EP [MEC067]

Absolute Body Control – A New Dawn [MEC058]

ABSOLUTE BODY CONTROL - A New Dawn

Absolute Body Control is back with new material after more than ten years. The legendary minimal-synth-wave duo formed in 1980 by Dirk Ivens (The Klinik, Dive, Sonar) and joined a bit later by Eric van Wonterghem (Insekt, Monolith) has been working together again and got finished a new EP. Six songs that fuse their classic sound with a theme that reflects the times of change that humanity is going through.

listen

Absolute Body Control – A New Dawn [MEC058]