minimal synth

Van Kaye + Ignit – A Slight Delay [DE083]

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Van Kaye + Ignit is the Dutch duo of Ed Van Kasteren (Van Kaye) and Ignatine Bekken (Ignit), who joined forces in the city of Arnhem during early 1980. Self-released in 1981, the album pairs conceptual sophistication with disarming naïveté in a way that has been difficult to replicate since the formative years of ‘bedroom’ electronic music. Both members handle vocals (or non-vocals), and songs feature everything from new wave riffs to slowly shifting oscillator buzzes and eerie electronics over mechanical rhythms. This reissue includes the entire 11-track original c-60 cassette A Slight Delay, as well as all 4 tracks from the “Picassos on the Wall 7” spread across two vinyl discs.

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Van Kaye + Ignit – A Slight Delay [DE083]

Post Industrial Noise – The Official Anthology [MR045LP]

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Medical Records in collaboration with Crispy Nuggets is proud to present a collection of tracks by Post Industrial Noise. PIN was an “audio artsemble” conceived in 1982 in Columbus, Ohio by the trio Robert Crise Jr, Gerald F. Nelson, and Dana Riashi Ritchey. The output of PIN could be described a more experimental/minimalist offshoot of new wave with pleasant synth sequences blanketed in rich synth tones. The opening track “Sketch” has a definite cold wave vibe with slightly echoed vocals over a subtle drum machine beat and monotonous synth lines. “Prelude” is a deep instrumental cut with synth and sample interplay resulting in a hypnotic slab of brilliance. The tracks on this collection have been restored from the original analog tape reel for this reissue.

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Post Industrial Noise – The Official Anthology [MR045LP]

Carter Tutti – Carter Tutti Plays & Remix Chris & Cosey [CTILP012014]

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New material from Throbbing Gristle’s Chris Carter and Cosey Fanni Tutti should always be celebrated and their latest joint opus will be of particular delight to hardcore fans. Carter Tutti plays Chris & Cosey is a logical extension of the live show of the same name the pair have been performing and perfecting over the past three years, transferring revisited classics from the stage to the album format. Completed to heed requests for the release of a live album, this double LP features some eight CC classics like “Driving Blind” and “Obsession” newly reworked and recorded at their Norfolk studio. Of course it all sounds as imperious and industrially challenging as you’d expect. Excitingly for completists, there is a second LP included that houses remixes only previously available on a tour-only CD.

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Carter Tutti – Carter Tutti Plays & Remix Chris & Cosey [CTILP012014]

S.M. Nurse – Hometape Recordings 1981-1983 [DOM020]

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Around 1980 Menko Konings (eM.) started the Dutch underground formation S.M. Nurse, first together with Jos Jak and later also with Anneke Stempher. S.M. Nurse experimented with collage-like music and were inspired by N.Y.-ultra, disco e.g. The band mainly performed in the Amsterdam ultra-circuit (Oktopus, Paradiso), clubs and discotheques. They were played regularly on the famous radio programmes RadioNome and Spleen and performed live on radio in the villa of the VPRO in Hilversum. They also contributed to the theme cassette Turkish Delight of the label Ding Dong and there was a cassette release on the label Top Tape. At the end of 1983, S.M. Nurse split up.

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S.M. Nurse – Hometape Recordings 1981-1983 [DOM020]

Kirlian Camera – Blue Room [DISORDINE001]

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Kirlian Camera are one of the pioneers of the Italian electronic scene. Active since 1979 under the name Suicide Commando, the band changed name in 1980 releasing the first demo-tape Dawn and the self-titled mini-album in late 1981. The early records contain a mix of synth pop and new wave/dance songs, while towards the end of the 1980s’ Kirlian Camera’s music became darker, turning into electro-gothic sound. Nearly every release since then has explored different fields, from industrial to ambient and trip-hop.

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Kirlian Camera – Blue Room [DISORDINE001]

Bourbonese Qualk – Lies [MNQ059]

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“Lies,” a track from the now-defunct UK experimental group Bourbonese Qualk, get new life by way of a vinyl release on Mannequin Records with Ancient Methods on edit and remix duties. “Lies”, a terse, TR 808 driven electro-tinged cut just under two minutes long, originally came out in 1986 on the Preparing For Power LP by way of the group’s own label Recloose Organization.

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Bourbonese Qualk – Lies [MNQ059]

Momentform – Grave [LXRC022]

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Lux Rec’s first record for 2015 is a dark and moody affair coming from Momentform, a French musician that has no fear to plunge into obscurity, melancholy, a somber look into memories that are too painful to forget. Yet, he transformed all those postcards from the past into listening and dance material. Our last dance together.

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Momentform – Grave [LXRC022]

June – Dominion [SUCTION029]

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Suction Records is pleased to present “Dominion”, the debut full-length LP by June. June is the solo project of Tsampikos Fronas, originally from Greece, and now based in Berlin, Germany. “Dominion” is focused on June’s synthwave sound, utilizing hardware step sequencers to sync and control his arsenal of classic drum machines and synthesizers including Roland’s SH-101, TR-606 and Juno-60, and the minimal synth percussion staple, the Korg KR-55. The romanticism and elegance of early ’80s synth pop is clearly evident, not only in the production and instrumentation of the music, but in the artwork and song titles. Even more prominent is the influence of modern minimal synth master Sean McBride of Martial Canterel and Xeno & Oaklander, who’s sophisticated classicist sequencer composition looms largely over the material on “Dominion,” minus McBride’s distinctive vocals. Save for the gorgeous and meditative “Queen Of Flowers” cuts that end both sides of the LP, the music on “Dominion” is driving, danceable synthwave that references the past while maintaining a thoroughly modern edge.

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June – Dominion [SUCTION029]

Mick Wills @ Panama Racing Club (Den Haag) 29.11.2014 – L.I.E.S. podcast 18

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Mick Wills @ Panama Racing Club (Den Haag) 29.11.2014 – L.I.E.S. podcast 18

Le Cliché – Consumer Behaviour [MR042]

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Medical Records presents the debut full-length release of Le Cliche, entitled ‘Consumer Behaviour’. The album consists of 11 songs influenced largely by European synth pop of the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. The music might be best described as minimal synth, synth pop, postmodernist, cold assembly line with neo consumerist themes, based on the use of synth sequences and virtual voices. Le Cliche is the synth project of Gerard Ryan, native of Limerick (Ireland). All of the tracks on the album are from the 2012-2014 period except for ‘I woke up this morning (like I always do)’, which is a reimagining of a 1984 demo of the track entitled ‘I dreamt I was dead’. ‘Production Line’, is the mostly instrumental opening track to the album which clearly displays its Kraftwerkian influences. The Le Cliche sound is attained by combining a mix of old and new technologies.

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Le Cliché – Consumer Behaviour [MR042]

Mixed Feelings – Remnants [MR041]

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Medical Records in partnership with Crispy Nuggets Blog present the unreleased recordings of England’s Mixed Feelings. Mixed Feelings grew up in Basildon which was also the home of Depeche Mode. In 1981, Sean Cooper met Martin Gore on holiday (around the time of “New Life”), and they instantly hit it off discussing synthesizers, school, teachers, etc. Martin was inspirational for Sean to follow his dream of making music. They played shows at school and various locations until 1982 when they first entered a studio and recorded “Final Demand”, “Because Of You”, and “Ice Machine”. These tracks received some local airplay, and they continued to play more gigs. A year later, they entered the studio again to record a few more tracks. This LP is a collection of known recordings by Mixed Feelings. It is a brilliant snapshot into the minds and talent of a group of young musicians on a mission. The opening track “Another Place (Like Home)” sets the mood with melodic synth lines and punchy electronic accents. Excellent songwriting and moody atmospheres prevail on this record. 11 tracks in total (including one cover and homage to their inspiration early on…). Other notable tracks include “Because Of You”, “They Told You So”, and “The Captain”.

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Mixed Feelings – Remnants [MR041]

Bal Pare – Early Recordings [MR040]

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Medical Records presents a hand-picked selection of the early recordings of Germany’s Bal Pare. Members were Kirsten Klemm (vocals), Jan T. Krahn (Synthesizer), Matthias Schuster (Synthesizer, Beatbox). and drummer Jurgen Weiss. The first Bal Pare LP “Hamburg-Paris-Catania” was released in 1982 on Konkurrenz Records. Since they had a large fanbase in Sweden, the second release (“Metamorphose”) came out in Stockholm on the Krautrock label. Around this time, a new member, Manfred Asmus , joined on keyboards and programming and Jan T. Krahn and Jergen Weiss had left the band. Much of the material from this selection of tracks were culled from unreleased sessions from the 80s with Manfred Asmus. The opening track “Rien” is a perfect display of what synth pop is modeled after. Rich lead synth textures, male/female interplayed vocals, and electronic percussion. Though the entire record flows with ease and captivates the listener from beginning to end, other standout tracks include “Palais d’Amour”, “Die Idioten”, and “Meilleur Du Monde”.

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Bal Pare – Early Recordings [MR040]

2+2=5 – Into The Future [MNQ058]

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Anniversary Edition of this Italian Cold Wave masterpiece from 1984. On a cold autumn evening in Milan in 1981, Nino La Loggia met Giacomo Spazio for the first time. The two had the same passion for music: Kraftwerk, Joy Division, DAF and the whole new scene of proto-electronic wave headed by Cabaret Voltaire. Together they decided to start the musical project called 2 + 2 = 5, a tribute to Orwellian dystopia. Shortly after, Cha Cha Hagiwara joined the band. Already a keyboard player in Jeunesse d’Ivoire, she enriched the band’s raw sound with sonority and resonance which we can now define as analog. In 1983 the trio entered the studio to record their first LP titled ‘Into The Future’, now reissued by Mannequin Records for the 30th Anniversary.

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2+2=5 – Into The Future [MNQ058]

Tanz Ohne Muzik – Belong [RDCVT014]

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“The new Tanz Ohne Musik seems to be a small step back to the synthpop / minimal wave sound of earlier releases and away from the Galakhorrö angstpop. A small step though. Like on “Between Our Body Shapes” there are still heavy Galakthorrö influences, but Tanz Ohne Musik seems to be working more towards their own sound; an interesting sound! Most tracks have a slow, analogue sound with typical vocals. Some tracks tend more towards minimal wave, other more towards angstpop, but most are somewhere in between.” gangleri

Tanz Ohne Muzik – Belong [RDCVT014]