Sixth June – Pleasure [MNQ045]

January 20, 2014July 17, 2019 hipodromecold wave, laszlo antal, lidija andonov, mannequin records, minimal synth, sixth juneLeave a comment

Serbian duo Sixth June – Laszlo Antal and Lidija Andonov – come with a fresh new 5 tracks 12inch EP ”Pleasure”. They play minimal, industrial synthesized music digging into the colder corners of the synthetic 80’s. Sixth June started their musical adventure back in 2007 and they are considered one of the purest talents in the minimal synth new scene. Rising from the obscure music scene in Belgrade, they re-based some years ago in the analog synthesizers paradise called Berlin. Their debut album, Everytime, released back in March 2010 by the German label Genetic Music and the previous EP on Mannequin, ”Back For A Day”, was bringing the band to play to most of Europe. The duo represents perfectly the two sides of the same coin, in fact while Laszlo is producing obscure but expressive, powerful and danceable textures, on the back side the voice of Lidija is living the shape to a wobbling atmosphere you wont escape from. Lidija, apart singing in Sixth June, is a professional actress. Laszlo, composer of all the tracks, instead is an illustrator and music video director.

Visiona et Dopplereffekt – Die Reizen [TRAJECTORY1017]

January 13, 2014April 7, 2017 hipodromedopplereffekt, electro, gerald donald, last known trajectory, michaela to-nhan bertel, minimal synth, visionaLeave a comment

Collaboration between the fresh and immensely talented Visiona and the mighty Dopplereffekt. ‘Die Reisen’, encapsulating what you will soon recognize to be the distinctly warm and engulfing sound that is Visonia, here morphing with Dopplereffekt’s unmistakable, deadly bass arpeggio and subterranean stratospheres utterly amazing. Flip over to the AA side and witness Visonia with two markedly different styles. ‘Antarctic Love’ is an emotive piece of electronic music and ‘Impossible Romance’ a fresh, new-wave inspired.

Neud Photo – OmnicroM [KJ013]

January 13, 2014May 20, 2020 hipodromeelectro, kraftjerkz, minimal synth, neud photo, nico nightingaleLeave a comment

Neud Photo returns with another cool ep with soma abstract minimal wave, electronix rooted in the 80’s.

VA – I Am Enfant Terrible [ETX]

January 12, 2014October 18, 2022 hipodromecompilation, electro, enfant terrible, family jewels, minimal synth, new wave, solitude fx, sololust, synth pop, the new ageLeave a comment

This new compilation is created to celebrate the 10 years of activity of Enfant Terrible. ”I Am Enfant Terrible” makes clear the traditions ET has been working in but at the same time is an album with the broad spectrum of sounds they are interested in. From indie pop to new wave to minimal synth and from noise to elektro and IDM and ambient, from poppy to experimental to dance music. This is what Enfant Terrible is…

Mick Wills @ Batofar (Paris) 16.11.2013

January 8, 2014October 19, 2015 hipodromebatofar, chicago house, mick wills, minimal synth, synth popLeave a comment

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L.A.S.’s Crime – Mutatio (Modified) [JAMTRAXSPECIAL002]

December 27, 2013June 26, 2019 hipodromealbum, dkmd, ferdj, j.a.m. traxx, l.a.s.’s crime, maria elena brogi, minimal synth, sandro marchetti, synth popLeave a comment

This is not your ‘usual’ L.A.S.’s Crime album, as if something had gone wrong in cloning, and what came out is magically different and at the same time deeply consistent with the productions of the 80s … with the participation of bands, artists and DJs from all over the world, the result is a beautiful mutant vinyl…7 songs remade as extended versions, a ‘size’ of song so diffused in ’80s, half way pop and dance.

VA – Light Sounds Dark [LSD012]

December 27, 2013March 29, 2022 hipodromecompilation, light sounds dark, minimal synth, new wave, synth popLeave a comment

Light Sounds Dark continue their impeccably curated endeavours this year, with a self titled compilation put together by their ‘International Communication Network’ adding a sense of accomplishment to previous 2013 transmissions such as that collection of archival Mutant Beat Dance material and the superb Dark Matters Too compilation. Those whose pants were charmed off by that latter release will find much to enjoy and investigate on this double vinyl selection. An undisclosed international cast of record diggers from San Francisco, Chicago, London and Manerbio (that’s in Italian province Brescia in case you were wondering) have selected 16 tracks that feature Dutch tape experiments in sound, murky industrial punk, proto techno, abstract synth pop and more. Not quite sure about the fluorescent pink cover art though…..

Xiu / Spatial Relation – Split! [PM002]

December 27, 2013July 29, 2019 hipodromedark wave, jacob schoenly, lisette schoenly, minimal synth, oksana rodinova, peripheral minimal, spatial relation, xiuLeave a comment

This release will be the second one from Peripheral Minimal, which is a split in between Oksana Rodinova (Xiu) and Spatial Relation (Lisette Schoenly and Jacob Schoenly). It demonstrates two vividly different, but equal tracks from the minimal synth uprising.

VA – Electroconvulsive Therapy Volume 1 [MR028]

December 3, 2013February 18, 2019 hipodromeberliner strasse, compilation, electro, medical records llc, minimal synth, new wave, psychic youth, the electronic circuitLeave a comment

Medical Records is proud to release it’s first compilation LP. Medical has carefully curated a collection of extremely rare and sought after singles and rare tracks. This compilation includes 5 complete A + B sides as well as 2 other tracks that only appeared on obscure compilations in the early 80s. The first 2 tracks are by UK’s The Electronic Circus. Featuring Chris Payne (who also performed synth work on the iconic “Pleasure Principle” by none other than Gary Numan), the track “Direct Lines” is pure synthpop perfection. The second featured artist is Boston’s Psychic Youth who released one lone 7″ in 1982. One of the members, Perry Geyer, was also a founding member of the industrial outfit Manufacture. “Step in Time” and “The Future Is Now” are both dense minimal synth hits. Another excruciatingly rare 7″ is the self-titled single by UK’s Aaah…! “Slip Away” and “Duty Calls” further fit the bill for moody minimal synthpop greatness. Possibly even more rare is the Shazam single released in 1983 in the UK. The 2 “wild card” tracks if you will on the record are “Panic In Your Mind” by N.A. Pop 2000 (UK) and “Maske” by Berliner Strasse (Yugoslavia). Both tracks were plucked from rare wave compilations from the early 80s. The final single featured is the solo outing by Claude Arto from Mathematiques Modernes. Released in 1981 on Celluloid (France), the 2 tracks drip synthetic bloops and blips while being propelled by rhythmic electro sequences.

Max & Mara – Less Ness [DE054]

December 3, 2013July 17, 2024 hipodromealbum, cold wave, dark entries records, electro, mara barenbaum, max & mara, max brotman, minimal synthLeave a comment

Dark Entires is excited to introduce the debut album “Less Ness” from contemporary Bay Area duo, Max and Mara. Their collaboration began in 2012. Max is based in Oakland and has been a part of various projects most notably Brotman and Short and his current solo work as Business Etiquette. Mara is based in San Francisco and is known for her solo work as Group Rhoda. On “Less Ness” they worked with a hardware set up: 808 and Elektron drum machine, Moog, MAM, and Sequential Circuits synth with splashes of Mono/Poly and collage elements, vocoder lines and dubbed out vocals. They step away from the the computer as much as possible and prefer that their ideas can be traced back to the tools so that a sense of physicality remains. They find inspiration from all kinds of far out sounds, most notably dub, industrial, and various drug culture tangents. Lyrically the songs revolve around topics such as escapism, looking though cultural windows, and character role development. Some songs are a bit more surrealist in content with elements of hard realism and critical commentary.

Figure Study – Figure Study [DE053]

December 3, 2013July 17, 2024 hipodromealbum, april chalpara, cold wave, dark entries records, figure study, minimal synth, nathan antolikLeave a comment

Dark Entries is proud to present the debut album by Figure Study, a contemporary band from New York. Figure Study is the Manhattan-based duo of Nathan Antolik and April Chalpara. For their debut self-titled album, Figure Study utilizes a carefully tailored set up of vintage analog synthesizers and drum machines. Figure Study creates a lush sound where haunting vocals echo over dark melodies that reflect an isolated and disintegrating world. Songs flux between dissonant dance numbers and more sparse, somber compositions, each carrying a sense of urgency and modernism. Figure Study’s sound includes influences from such early underground artists as Kirlian Camera, Nine Circles, and The Actor.

Silent Servant – Lust Abandon [JL003]

December 3, 2013December 21, 2017 hipodromeexperimental, jealous god, juan mendez, minimal synth, powell, silent servant, technoLeave a comment

Juan Mendez goes solo for the third release on the Jealous God label. Classy Techno trip w/ dubbed out vintage synth feel.

Mick Wills @ Bohemian Flow Art&Pub (Sibiu) 07.09.2013

December 2, 2013December 8, 2013 hipodromebohemian flow, chicago house, hipodrome, mick wills, minimal synth, technoLeave a comment

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Traxx @ Honey Soundsystem, The Holy Cow (San Francisco) 04.08.2013

November 29, 2013March 26, 2014 hipodromechicago, honey soundsystem, house, jakbeat, minimal synth, nation records, the holy cow, traxxLeave a comment

The KVB live @ Boiler Room 19.09.2013

November 12, 2013May 9, 2016 hipodromeband, boiler room tv, industrial, kat day, live act, minimal synth, nicholas wood, podcast, post punk, shoegaze, the kvbLeave a comment

Musumeci – Schwarze Morgen / Zusammen [MNQ042]

November 5, 2013July 17, 2019 hipodromealbum, industrial, mannequin records, minimal synth, musumeciLeave a comment

Mannequin Records presents one of the most rare and unknown Italian Minimal Synth bands from the 80’s. Musumeci were formed in Turin at the beginning of 1985, from an idea of Mauro M. (synthesizers – ex guitar player of Rude Pravo) and Franco G. (programming – ex noise maker of Errata-S-Corrige). The group was founded as a link and expression of various experiences, aimed, at least initially, to highlight the individual personalities of the members. The formation settles after six months of testing with the final entry of Laura G. (ex-keyboardist of Rude Pravo) and Paul C. (voice of K Position). Musumeci were playing several shows, preceded by long monologues in which find space rumorism, electrical scans, voices, screams, etc. Presented here are the two super rare demo tapes that Musumeci recorded in 1985 (“Schwarz Morgen”) and in 1986 (“Zusammen”), on their own label Zeltweg.

Tommy De Chirico – Close Your Eyes [MNQ041]

November 5, 2013July 17, 2019 hipodromemannequin records, minimal synth, synth pop, tommy de chiricoLeave a comment

Mannequin Records is proud to present a true pearl of the Italian Minimal Synth from the 80’s. Tommy De Chirico founded the post-punk band Politburo in Turin during 1981 togheter with Maurizio Rubinetti (Sick Rose) and Massimo Aluffi (Ivan Siberia). On his own, he released the 7″ “Close Your Eyes / Flower Into The Factory”, produced and recorded at TKS Studio by the Monuments’ Mauro Tavella between 1982 and 1983 and subsequently released by Turin’s Shirak Records in 1984. Presented here are also 3 bonus demo tracks: a rare version of “Close Your Eyes”, and 2 out-takes from 1983, “Vuh-Ya” and “Tuxedo Dance”.

Hard Corps – Rarities [MW051LP]

November 5, 2013June 29, 2019 hipodromealbum, hard corps, minimal synth, minimal wave records, regine fetet, synth popLeave a comment

We are pleased to announce a strictly limited edition release of rare tracks by UK legends Hard Corps. Hard Corps were true innovators of the 1980s UK synthpop scene. Hard Corps gained some notoriety for their unique and uncompromising live shows throughout the 1980s. It was the juxtaposition between their hard edged industrial sound and the fragile and enigmatic vocals of French front woman Regine Fetet that created an unusual dichotomy, lending to their strength of character as a band and thus allowing them to stand out from the rest. By 1985 Hard Corps had signed with major label giants Polydor. This enabled the band to work with a couple of their favoured and respected producers, Martin Rushent (known mostly for his exceptional work with the Human League) and Depeche Mode producer and Mute Records supremo, Daniel Miller. These sessions provided the public with just one single due to the labels non-promotion, Je Suis Passée, a sweeping arrangement of breathtaking beauty, combining pumping sequences and sheer power of emotion of Regine’s voice. The band went on a major tour with The Cure in 1985 and Depeche Mode in 1988, before finally disintegrating. As a follow up to Clean Tables Have To Be Burnt (2012), Rarities compiles the outtakes and demos that were left behind. Tracks that truly never saw the light of day.

Blancmange – Irene & Mavis [MW050]

November 5, 2013July 19, 2023 hipodromeblancmange, cold wave, minimal synth, minimal wave records, neil arthur, reissue, stephen luscombeLeave a comment

A 10” reissue of Blancmange’s seminal debut EP Irene & Mavis. Formed in the UK by Neil Arthur and Stephen Luscombe, Blancmange recorded the six songs on Irene & Mavis in 1979 and released it as a 7” EP in 1980. Irene & Mavis, though not exactly representative of what Blancmange later went on to become, is a fascinating relic that captures the gestation period of the duo, fresh out of art school and keen to experiment. The D.I.Y. sound of the EP fits right in there with the early output of Soft Cell, the Human League, and Cabaret Voltaire; but what separates it from those like-minded releases of the time is that its even more distinctly English. The Irene & Mavis EP is simultaneously pioneering, provincial, and surreal in its down-to- earth playfulness and lack of artifice. It stands out as an important record, capturing the mundane with modern electronics and remains as an artifact representative of the band before they went on to reach pop chart success.

Charles Cohen – Music For Dance And Theater [DOSER021LP]

November 4, 2013August 8, 2019 hipodromealbum, charles cohen, experimental, minimal synth, morphine records, synth waveLeave a comment

Final part in the Charles Cohen trilogy on Morphine Records. Featuring various works made for Dance & Theatre productions between 1976 & 1988. Eleven tracks in total – lovingly spread over double LP and featuring some of the most beautiful material of the series. Another essential purchase.