In Trance 95 – The Move [MW083]

May 28, 2025May 27, 2025 hipodromealex machairas, ebm, in trance 95, minimal synth, minimal wave records, nik veliotis, synth waveLeave a comment

Minimal Wave announces the forthcoming release from legendary Greek electronic pioneers In Trance 95. This special EP features six vintage tracks recorded between the late 80s and early 90s at Airdawn Studio in Athens. A vital piece of the Greek electronic music story, these songs showcase In Trance 95’s visionary approach to analog synth and early EBM sounds. Formed in Athens in 1988 by Alex Machairas and Nik Veliotis, In Trance 95 quickly became known for their stark, minimal synth sound, distinguished by hypnotic melodies, analog textures, and a futuristic edge. At a time when electronic music was still emerging in Greece, they were true innovators, blending the raw spirit of early EBM with a distinctly Mediterranean sense of space and atmosphere. Over the decades, their work has earned cult status among fans of underground electronic music worldwide.

Another Body Found – Scooterboys From The Pool LP [CITI033]

May 7, 2025May 7, 2025 hipodromea//, abf, album, alexandre gand, another body found, cititrax, electro, experimental, industrial, minimal synth, minimal wave recordsLeave a comment

Cititrax presents ‘Scooterboys From The Pool’, the debut LP from Another Body Found, the latest project from A//, best known for his pioneering work as Le Syndicat Électronique. Emerging from the depths of the French underground, ABF fuses dark electro, industrial, minimal synth, and wave into a sound that is both stark and visceral. With a focus on raw energy and haunting atmospheres, the project strips electronic music down to its essence – mechanical, hypnotic, and unrelentingly evocative. Blending commanding rhythms with melancholic undertones, ‘Scooterboys From The Pool’ is a descent into shadowy textures and dystopian landscapes, where driving basslines meet icy, mechanical beats in a pulsing haze of underground spirit.

OP-ART – The Final Act [CITI032]

October 9, 2024October 8, 2024 hipodromeandrew clinco, cititrax, dark wave, martin dupont, minimal wave records, new wave, op-art, synth pop, tyler greenLeave a comment

Citirax introduces the debut LP from the Los Angeles-based duo OP-ART, a project born out of the creative isolation of the lockdown era. The band, the brainchild of Andrew Clinco – known for his work with Drab Majesty – was originally named using the acronym “Oblique Pleasures Amidst Rough Times,” a nod to the challenging times that inspired its formation. In Andrew’s own words, the album “represents a sonic analog to the visual art movement of the 1960s,” meaning it is both densely layered and psychedelic, yet aims to capture a sense of minimalism in its tradition, theory, and conceptual approach. OP-ART’s sound is heavily influenced by the New Wave genre, drawing inspiration from artists such as John Foxx, Martin Dupont (with whom Andrew has collaborated on a track), Experimental Products, and early OMD. True to their commitment to authentic analog sound, OP-ART eschews digital plug-ins in favor of a wide array of analog synthesizers and outboard rack effects units. The album features a diverse collection of synthesizers including the EML 500, Arp Odyssey, Arp Omni2, Jupiter 6, SH-02, SH-101, Moog Rogue, and Roland Promars. Each piece of equipment contributes to the album’s lush, rich soundscapes, creating a tactile and immersive listening experience. ‘The Final Act’, the title of the LP, is a testament to the duo’s ability to blend catchy melodies with profound emotional depth. The album offers an introspective journey through themes of time passing, romantic entanglements, and existential reflections on an apocalyptic scale. With its evocative sound and thoughtful lyrics, ‘The Final Act’ promises to resonate deeply with listeners, making it a compelling and significant debut from OP-ART.

Vicious Pink – Unexpected [MW082]

June 25, 2024June 25, 2024 hipodromealbum, brian moss, dave ball, josephine warden, minimal synth, minimal wave records, synth pop, vicious pinkLeave a comment

Minimal Wave presents a long-awaited LP showcasing previously unreleased gems from the influential UK duo, Vicious Pink. Originating from a serendipitous encounter in a smoky Leeds nightclub back in 1979, Josephine Warden and Brian Moss embarked on a musical journey that would redefine the synth-pop landscape. Initially known as Vicious Pink Phenomena, they made their mark by providing distinctively off-kilter backing vocals for their friends in Soft Cell a collaboration that unfolded organically and without rehearsal. Transitioning to the simplified moniker Vicious Pink, the duo continued to captivate audiences with their avant-garde sound, releasing a string of singles that defied conventional expectations and climbed the UK dance charts between 1982 and 1986. Despite their modest intentions, their music proved to be both artful and provocative, leaving an enduring legacy in the annals of electronic music history. ‘Unexpected’ offers listeners a glimpse into the duo’s creative process, compiling pop experiments recorded spontaneously, some in collaboration with Dave Ball.

Oppenheimer Analysis – Oppenheimer Analysis [MW001X]

December 15, 2023December 14, 2023 hipodromeandy oppenheimer, electro, martin lloyd, minimal synth, minimal wave records, oppenheimer analysis, re-release, reissue, synth popLeave a comment

Eighteen years ago, Oppenheimer Analysis made its indelible mark with the iconic track ‘The Devil’s Dancers,’ heralding the birth of the Minimal Wave label. Founded with a singular mission, the label set out to share this musical gem with the world. This historic release graced the world on December 6th, 2005. Remarkably, this EP has been elusive for a decade now. In an exciting development, the fifth edition of the Oppenheimer Analysis self-titled EP, is presented as a loving tribute to Martin Lloyd (1950-2013 R.I.P.), one half of Oppenheimer Analysis. The EP showcases select tracks from the 1982 Oppenheimer Analysis cassette titled “New Mexico,” the original remastered version of ‘The Devil’s Dancers’, along with two previously unreleased gems.

Martin Dupont – Hot Paradox LP [MW081]

October 5, 2023October 10, 2023 hipodromealain seghir, album, cold wave, martin dupont, minimal wave records, new wave, re-release, reissue, synth popLeave a comment

Minimal Wave presents the first vinyl reissue of French legends Martin Dupont’s seminal album from 1987, ‘Hot Paradox’. Martin Dupont was originally founded by Alain Seghir in Marseille in 1980. He enlisted numerous collaborators throughout the years, including Beverley Jane Crew, Brigitte Balian, and Catherine Loy. Martin Dupont was immensely talented with a rare dynamic between its varying members that was likely inspired by a combination of their magnetic personalities, creative vision, and the home studio where they recorded. Their music was colorful, enthusiastic, delicate, melancholy, and mysterious. A mixture of hot and cold, light and dark. They created electronic music that incorporated guitars, clarinets, and saxophones and is described by many as New Wave yet truly transcended genres. The ‘Hot Paradox’ album hasn’t been available on vinyl since 1987. It is one of Martin Dupont’s most exquisite albums, illustrating the band’s mastery of synthesizer work, drum programming, and vocal duets. The album is vibrant and emotive, simultaneously somber and bright, theatrical and danceable. It is an essential album in the French cold wave, new wave, and minimal synth scenes, and in recent years, has finally received the recognition it deserves beyond any musical categorization.

Cosmetics – Baby LP [CITI030]

October 5, 2023October 4, 2023 hipodromeaja emma, album, cititrax, cosmetics, minimal synth, minimal wave records, nic emm, synth popLeave a comment

Cititrax present a new album by Cosmetics, a Vancouver-based synth wave duo formed by Nic Emm and Aja Emma in 2008. Cosmetics reappeared in 2022 after having been relatively quiet since its very memorable releases on Captured Tracks in 2010. In 2023, the band returns with a phenomenal full-length LP entitled ‘Baby’. Their music is sultry, minimalist, and atmospheric, backed by lush analog synths and sparse drum machines. Aja’s seductive vocals cut through the perfectly crafted dark synthpop forming a filmlike narrative that draws us in. The ‘Baby’ LP will have you listening on repeat and the single featuring alternate versions of two songs from the album will bring you from your bedroom listening to the dance floor. Cosmetics continue the lineage of Minimal Wave into the present day.

An-i – Rabble EP [CITI029]

July 20, 2023July 19, 2023 hipodromean-i, cititrax, doug lee, industrial, lee douglas, minimal wave records, technoLeave a comment

Cititrax presents a highly anticipated 12” from An-i, the musical moniker for Berlin-based Korean American Doug Lee. Doug has been DJing and producing records for two decades under various aliases and collaborations. The return of An-i has found him in even more brazen territory than on previous releases. He moves between musicality and chaos while remaining intriguing throughout – a testament to his uniqueness and integrity. The opener, ‘Rabble’, tonally crude and menacing, backed with a relentless primitive machine rhythm and a psychotic vocal parodying mob mentality, points at the absurdity of take-down culture. ‘Rubble’ follows, a mighty stripped-down instrumental dub. The flip, ‘Chapel Perilous’, is a wandering spaced-out journey into the psyche. It reflects on loss and ultimately freedom from one’s ego identity, meandering an uncertain path that results in a spiritual epiphany.

Martin Dupont – Kintsugi LP [SEA013LP]

February 15, 2023February 14, 2023 hipodromealbum, infrastition, martin dupont, meidosem, minimal synth, minimal wave records, new wave, synth popLeave a comment

In collaboration with Meidosem and Infrastition, Minimal Wave presents Kintsugi, a new album by the highly lauded French group Martin Dupont. The album features lush re-works of their old songs, originally released on their highly sought-after 1980s albums. The French band is known for making beautiful, heady electronic, with striking, poetic vocals. A hard-to-classify group from Marseille with a cult following and some mainstream success, Martin Dupont has inspired some of the luminaries of the contemporary music scene crossing many genres from trip-hop to electro to techno. Kintsugi reassembles their old spirit that is colorful, enthusiastic, and delicate, yet also melancholy and mysterious. A mixture of hot and cold, light and dark. Martin Dupont’s music is considered electronic though they also incorporate guitars and clarinets. They are described by many as New Wave, though their music truly transcends genres.

Deux – Let’s Go ! [MW080]

February 15, 2023February 15, 2023 hipodromedeux, minimal synth, minimal wave records, new beat, synth popLeave a comment

Minimal Wave presents a 4-song EP by the iconic French synth duo, Deux, entitled Let’s Go !. Gérard Pelletier and Cati Tête formed Deux shortly after meeting in Lyon in 1981. They became known for their stripped-down synth pop compositions and suitably cold duets, through their archival Minimal Wave releases Decadence (2010) and Golden Dreams EP (2012). In the late 1980s and early 1990s, they began to branch out and make more dancefloor-oriented music. The Let’s Go ! EP features three remastered mixes of their underground classic Let’s Go ! and an unreleased version of Everybody’s Night (Dirty Mix).

Vicious Pink – West View 2LP [MW078PINK]

February 16, 2022February 16, 2022 hipodromealbum, brian moss, josephine warden, minimal synth, minimal wave records, synth pop, vicious pinkLeave a comment

VICIOUS PINK - West View

Minimal Wave presents West View, a double LP of rare demos and newly remastered classics by UK duo Vicious Pink. Vicious Pink was an electrifying synth-pop duo formed by Josephine Warden and Brian Moss, who met in a smokey Leeds nightclub in 1981. The pair formed their band Vicious Pink Phenomena and soon after went on to provide gloriously off-kilter backing vocals for their friends, Soft Cell, completely unrehearsed. Later, they dropped Phenomena to simplify their name. Between 1982 and 1986, they released seven singles that all reached the UK dance charts, despite the fact that their ambitions never lay in commercial success. To this day, their music remains artful, catchy, and provocative. West View compiles material from their early days together, featuring previously unreleased demos as well as newly remastered classics like Cccan’t You See and My Private Tokyo. The double LP is housed in a glossy heavyweight sleeve, accompanied by a 12-page LP-sized booklet featuring the duo’s entire ‘how it happened’ story, unpublished lyrics, and unpublished photos from those early years.

Futurisk – Recordings 1980-1982 [MW077]

April 30, 2021April 30, 2021 hipodromealbum, futurisk, jeremy kolosine, minimal wave records, new waveLeave a comment

Minimal Wave presents ‘Recordings 1980-1982’ (MW077), a triple 7” box set by pioneering south Florida synth-punk band Futurisk, in honor of their 40th anniversary. Founded by Jeremy Kolosine in 1978, Futurisk recorded many songs and performed live throughout the early 1980s. Though they had released two 7”s that sold out, had a legendary live show, and even some videos, by 1984 Futurisk was history. Eventually, the main core of Futurisk would be the Jeremy Kolosine, Richard Hess, and Jack Howard line-up though much happened leading up to this point.

Plugpoint Music – Last Chance [MW076]

March 4, 2021March 3, 2021 hipodromealbum, minimal synth, minimal wave records, new wave, plugpoint music, post punk, re-release, reiner ossmann, reissue, synth pop, synth waveLeave a comment

Minimal Wave present the reissue of a rare self-released record by Plugpoint Music called ‘Last Chance’. Plugpoint Music was the minimal synth project of Reiner Ossmann, who recorded the 12 songs on this album in his home studio in Germany in 1987 and released them as an edition of 200 copies. This gem of a record was never properly distributed and so essentially disappeared until it began circulating amongst various collectors during the last 15 years. It’s a true minimal synth classic in all of its eccentricity and lack of self-consciousness.

Portray Heads – Portray Heads [MW074/BL-015]

September 7, 2020September 7, 2020 hipodromealbum, bitter lake recordings, minimal synth, minimal wave records, portray headsLeave a comment

PORTRAY HEADS - Portray Heads

Minimal Wave Records and Bitter Lake Recordings are happy to present their first collaborative release, a double LP by mythical Japanese underground electronic trio Portray Heads. Their self-titled double LP spans all their recordings to date including the songs from their rare “Elaborate Dummy” flexi (1985) and follow-up “Oratorio” (1986) Influenced by early 1980s European New Wave and Japanese synth-pop, their songs range from circular poppy synth gems to moody dark new wave anthems – all led by strong female vocals.

Jyl – Jyl [MW075]

September 7, 2020September 7, 2020 hipodromealbum, ingo werner, inteam, jyl, jyl porch, minimal wave records, re-release, reissue, synth pop, synth waveLeave a comment

Minimal Wave presents a reissue of Jyl‘s self-titled full-length album from 1984, originally released on Klaus Schulze’s Inteam label. Born and raised in California, Jyl travelled to Europe in her twenties to dance and met several talented and like-minded collaborators along the way. She ended up in Germany, and worked with Ingo Werner, Angela Werner, and Klaus Schulze, on what would become one of the most important and forward thinking electronic albums of the time. Shortly after its release, the song “Computer Love” became a mini-hit along with the album’s opening track “Mechanic Ballerina”. The lyrics of “Silicon Valley” and “Computer Generation” are reflective of the times and have become even more relevant now, 36 years later. The production and song arrangement on the album is immaculate. The synthesizers, drum programming and vocal contributions complement Jyl’s voice perfectly. The album contains an incredible depth beyond a regular dance album likely due to the spirit of the people behind it – the list of contributors add to its significance and near-mythological mystery.

Aural Indifference – The Sound of Indifference [MW071]

March 30, 2020March 30, 2020 hipodromealbum, aural indifference, brian spencer, cassette, funk, indie rock, kevin purdy, minimal wave records, post punk, reissueLeave a comment

Minimal Wave presents The Sound of Indifference, a rare cassette released in 1981 by Aural Indifference. Aural Indifference was a post-punk studio collective from Sydney, Australia. The two principal members were Brian Spencer Hall (the M Squared in house producer) and Kevin Purdy. The cassette album, The Sound of Indifference, was released in 1981, featuring tracks such as “Theme”, “Park, and “Man Am I Progressive”. Their sound ranges from minimal synth, to post-punk to quirky guitar-driven electronic folk music, some of it resembling John Maus. “Theme” appeared as the closing track on The Minimal Wave Tapes: Volume Two compilation and “The Park” appeared on The Bedroom Tapes compilation.

Tornische – Interiorismo [CITI028]

November 14, 2019February 16, 2022 hipodromealbum, cititrax, hanna chamiarytskaya, julio tornero, minimal wave records, synth pop, tornischeLeave a comment

Cititrax presents a full length LP by a new duo called Tornische. Julio Tornero and Hanna Chamiarytskaya (aka Anneq) got together in Madrid after having met through mutual friends. Immediately, they bonded and found a musical chemistry between them. They went into the studio and began revisiting Julio’s unreleased archives, incorporating what he had already recorded years ago with fresh sounds and Neu Deutsche Welle style duets. The result is a modern, chaotic, take on 80s European new wave, 90s detroit electro, and contemporary indie pop. The energy level is always high, the melodies are catchy and the vocal delivery and lyrics futuristic, subversive, italo-disco / punk, and surreal.

Turquoise Days – Further Strategies [MW072]

November 1, 2019February 16, 2022 hipodromealbum, david le breton, luciano brambilla, minimal wave records, synth pop, synth wave, turquoise daysLeave a comment

Minimal Wave presents a full length double album entitled “Further Strategies” by synthpop band Turquoise Days. Hailing from Jersey, Channel Islands, Turquoise Days was formed in 1981 by Luciano Brambilla and David Le Breton shortly after meeting at a nightclub in St Ouens called Waves. They used Roland synthesizers and drum machines, as well Yamaha synthesizers and Fender guitars along with tape effects and vocals. Throughout the 1980s, they self-released many cassettes, as well as the renowned masterpiece Grey Skies / Blurred 7” single. They were selected for the Radio Luxembourg song contest in 1985 and received press for their releases and appearance there. Their music can be described as melodic, emotive new wave. The music featured here includes the songs from the long sold out Alternative Strategies release from 2009, remastered, along with a a collection of previously unreleased material.

The Anti Group ‎- 4 X 12 [PM27]

July 31, 2019August 9, 2019 hipodromeadi newton, album, experimental, jacques beloeil, minimal wave records, peripheral minimal, reissue, the anti groupLeave a comment

Following the original dissolution of legendary Sheffield industrial funk outfit Clock DVA in 1984, founder member Adi Newton struck out on his own with The Anti-Group: an experimental project in which he could explore a variety of sonic worlds with the aid of a revolving cast of likeminded Steel City stalwarts (Richard H Kirk, Stephen Mallinder, Martyn Ware and Warp co-founder Robert Gordon included). “4×12″ is a retrospective of sorts, gathering together tracks from three 12” singles (“Ha-Zulu”, “Big Sex”, “Broadcast Test”) and one mini-album (“ShT”). Musically, it veers from collage style sample patchworks and dark ambient soundscapes to rubbery industrial funk, twisted post synth-pop, EBM-influenced workouts and madcap experimental escapades.

Scenes de la Bohème – Standing In the Rain [MW070Y]

May 7, 2019February 16, 2022 hipodromealbum, anthony waites, minimal wave records, scene de la boheme, synth pop, synth waveLeave a comment

Minimal Wave is releasing a newly mastered compilation of 6 tracks made by Scene de la Bohème (aka Anthony Waites), entitled ‘Standing in the Rain’. Scenes de la Bohème was formed by Anthony Waites in London, in 1981 with an innate desire to create poetic, subversive pop music. Without any intention of ever signing to a record label, he self-released one untitled 7” single in 1982, an edition of 150 copies, with money funded to him by his parents for his 21st birthday. He often used borrowed synthesizers to record his music in various bedroom studios and friends’ houses supplemented by his beloved cherry red Hagstrom guitar. This release includes 2 tracks that come off his sought-after untitled 7″ from 1982 and 4 are previously unreleased.