Intergalactic Gary – Hologram mix 002
minimal synth
Serial Experiments – CS Podcast 251
VA – Terra Incognita [ERC034]
Emotional Rescue starts its 5th year by shining a light on one of Europe’s best underground 80s’ label in Spain’s Auxilio De Ciento. Their Terra Incognita Volumes I and II collated an international mix of synth-pop, new wave, world and industrial sounds to a small but appreciative following. Released in 1985 and 1986, the Volumes have become highly regarded and rightly sought after, finding a place in discerning playlists from London to Amsterdam and Dusseldorf to Glasgow. Here, taking a premise of avoiding the songs unearthed on other recent reissues, is a unique album itself. Starting with Denis Mpunga & Paul K’s esoteric Criola, a fusion of fourth world ideals and poly-rhythmic funk. The music of Mal, Bene Gesserit and La Caida De La Casa Usher, however, soon highlight that the decade also belonged to dark, minimal synth as to shiny balearic ideals. The inclusion of Hector Zazou with Bony Biyake and their contribution Komba, is a fitting continuation from their cult Noir Et Blanc LP before, things continue with US avant-artist Danny Alias and his humorous Big Brother “response” to Laurie Anderson’s Superman O. Image Pour Image loose indie-pop and the inclusion of seminal Beast Of Burden lead again to a Zazou contribution, this time in his collaborative Stranger In A New Light, before the compilation eclectically ends with the dadaesque Lakota and the post punk dub of Instead Of’s closer, Angels .
Mick Wills – VRRC Podcast 023
Smersh – M Appeal EP [KH008]
Archive tracks from this much revered New Jersey duo. We assume both the originals were recorded in the mid 80s. Nieuwegein’s most warped mind Parrish Smith, on remix duty. ”Smersh was the project of Mike Mangino and Chris Shepard. Together they recorded more than 30 albums throughout the 80’s and early 90’s. Their vision: rehearsal at monday night, record their improvisations, no live performances, only albums.
Alessandri Adriani – RA Label of the month: Mannequin Records
Daniele Cosmo – Digital Tsunami 126
Gavin Guthrie aka TX Connect – VRRC Podcast 022
Solar + Mozhgan – BIS Radio Show #884
Martin Dupont – The Lights (Mick Wills Edits) [VSS010]
The edit master strikes again! This is the second Edits EP from Mick Wills on Vielspass/Prego with courtesy of Alain Seghir. “The lights” is a New Wave anthemn carried out by one of the most talented and obscure french band of the eighties : Martin Dupont. Deeply romantic “The Light Goes Through My Mouth” and “He Saw The Light” are enhanced by the Dx7 amazing synths atmospheres, both tracks shaped into Mick Wills stunning club versions. This release is inspired by Natalie Ann’s love for Martin Dupont’s “The Light Goes Through My Mouth”, helped by the magic touch of Isabella Venis associated to Knappy Kaiserknappy for the design / Artwork and thanks to Isolator for the Mastering.
Das Ding – Kindheitsmuster / Raid [MW064]
7” single of two early demos (Kindheitsmuster and Raid) by Dutch electronic music pioneer Das Ding. The final versions of these tracks were released on H.S.T.A. and the Missing Tapes, respectively. The versions here are the most raw and electric recordings we have heard by Das Ding yet.
BLΔCKMOON77 – Origins of Black
Das Ding / Ian Martin – Perspective & Time [TAT020]
A split release by two Rotterdam artists from the same part of town, Das Ding and Ian Martin.
Solitary Dancer – Dualism [DE154]
Dark Entries releases ‘Dualism’, the sophomore E.P. from contemporary Montreal-based duo, Solitary Dancer. They are known for their elegant, richly-sculpted sound design and knack for propulsive club rhythms that eschew rigid 4/4 drum patterns. ‘Dualism’ opens with “Anything”, equal parts Drexciya and Dopplereffekt — full of low-end bass stabs, blipping synths; swelling and washing to a cinematic close. For the first time on a Solitary Dancer record, vocals make an appearance in the guise of a male companion who’s lamenting a lost lover. “Losing Touch” takes a classic electro beat, and through the use of elegiac pad washes, distorted bass and menacing vocals, morphs into persistently engaging shapes. The B-side’s ”Emails 2 Myself” is a suspenseful corralling of intriguing sonic elements. Its fractured 707 beats combine with melancholic strings and features vocals by Marie Davidson. Also included is the instrumental version of “Emails”, accentuating the bass drum, snare, hi-hat and melodic synth tones, sailing into the subdued evening sun of the future.
Interviews – Christine / Opera [XXL001]
James Hillard – Spazzed Out Mix (HNYPOT220)
Odd Oswald – Bits Of Rage Mix (HNYPOT221)
From Nursery To Misery – Pixies In The Woods [DE153]
From Nursery to Misery were three teenagers who grew up together on the same street in Basildon, Essex. Formed in 1987, the band was comprised of vocalists (and identical twins) Gina and Tina Fear, along with keyboard player and producer Lee Stevens. Lee invited the twins to over to record some music with him, suggesting they try singing over some instrumentals he had written and recorded on a newly purchased 4-track. They played a sum total of four gigs before splitting in 1991. Their recorded output, however, was relatively prodigious, with the band appearing on over 22 compilations, as well as self-releasing two album-length tapes ‘The Oak Tree’ (1989), and ‘Equilibrium’ (1990), and a split EP with Germany’s Nostalgie Eternelle, ‘Art is the Tool’ (1990). All these releases were home-produced, hand-made cassettes distributed and swapped via the Mail Art scene. ‘Pixies In The Woods’ is a 13-track career spanning compilation including three previously unreleased tracks. Tracks range from no-fi synth pop overlaid with ethereal, child-like vocals, to audio collages of animal noises and harrowing, double-speed monologues. Lee’s expansive synth productions, informed by the Blade Runner soundtrack, early electro records, and 4AD acts like Dead Can Dance, provided a rich, spacious platform for Gina and Tina’s sung-spoken introspective lyrics. Their songs are disarmingly direct and unfiltered, the product of three self-confessed misfits exploring difficult, often intensely personal issues.
Din A Testbild – Programm 4 [MNQ093]
‘Programm 4′ is their fourth album. Mixed and auto-produced by Mark Eins near the Wall in West/Berlin in 1983, the album was rejected at the time by Innovative Communication, considered too much synth/punk/techno’, while the new label managers were looking more into new age stuff. In fact Schulze eventually sold the label in 1983, which started to release a plethora of acts loosely grouped around the NAM genre.
Din A Testbild – Programm 3 [MNQ092]
Early pioneers of the German New Wave music scene, Din A Testbild were formed in 1978 by Mark Eins and Gudrun Gut. Din A Testbild played a significant role in defining the avant-garde music of Berlin. Legendary is their partecipation at the Festival Genialer Dilletanten” in 1981. ‘Programm 3’ is their third album. Mixed and auto-produced by Mark Eins with help of Ziggy Schöning, it was released on Klaus Schulze’s record label Innovative Communication in 1983.
The Hipodrome Of Music 