Lives Of Angels – Hole In The Sky [DE172]

July 18, 2017July 17, 2024 hipodromealbum, dark entries records, gerald o’connell, lives of angels, minimal synth, new wave, post punk, synth popLeave a comment

Lives of Angels was the brainchild of Gerald O’Connell from London, England. ‘Hole In The Sky’ is an 11-track compilation of material from the Lives of Angels archives. Including two tracks from the original ‘Elevator To Eden’ cassette omitted from our vinyl reissue, two tracks from Color Disc compilations and 7 previously unreleased tracks. This compilation features the very earliest Lives of Angels recordings “Call Moscow” and “Somebody Else” as well as the final composition from 1986 “The Infinite Corridor” plus original mixes of “After Dark” and “Look Out Kid” different than the versions on the ‘Color Supplement’ compilation. ‘Hole In The Sky’ is an impressive example of early ’80s home recording; a DIY interpretation of the elegance and ambition of the previous decade’s krautrock.

VA – Distant Waves II [DWR015]

July 13, 2017May 24, 2023 hipodromealmost alone, boris dzaneck, broken tables, compilation, dead wax records, grey Parade, la valse, minimal synth, new wave, nightmoves, post punk, seeing red, standing ovation, störung, synth pop, synth wave, the sixth senseLeave a comment

Dead Wax Records presents “Distant Waves II”, a follow up of the well received 2014 compilation. This was compiled in three whole years (and a lot of research work) and is a collection of songs that share some common factors: they all were made in the 80s, they all feature synths and they all are extremely sought after, rare as hell or just previously unreleased. There are obvious style variations as each band here is unique but “Distant Waves II” is quite more homogeneous than its predecessor. We have the upbeat, danceable minimalism of Standing Ovation, Boris Dzaneck, Störung, Doppler Effect and Factoría Ribbentrop. The cold, moody melancholy of Broken Tables and La Valse. Virtually unknown acts like The Sixth Sense, Seeing Red and Almost Anyone, heavily underrated new wave giants like Grey Parade and Puppets Of Mankind. An unreleased synth pop masterpiece from Almost Alone here, an unheard 7” rendition of a worldwide dancefloor smasher by Nightmoves there. A total of 14 amazing tracks, all ‘instant classics’

Shoc Corridor – A Blind Sign [DE164]

July 13, 2017January 4, 2022 hipodromechris davis, dark entries records, minimal synth, nogi prass, post punk, re-release, reissue, shoc corridor, shout records, synth pop, synth waveLeave a comment

SHOC CORRIDOR - A Blind Sign (reissue)

Shoc Corridor was the London post-punk quartet of Paul O’Carroll (Voice, Synth), Andy Garnham (Synth, Drum), Chris Davis (Guitar, Bass, E-Bow) and Nogi Prass (Synth) named after the Sam Fuller film from 1963. The group recorded a 4-song demo during 1981 in a tiny flat Chris shared with Nogi in Notting Hill. As their collection of instruments grew they set up studio a few blocks away in Andy’s flat at 20 All Saints Road. There they re-recorded Sargasso Sea’ along with On Reflexion’ on a TEAC reel-to-reel 4-track machine. In the summer of ’82, the band was booked into Decibel Studios in Stoke Newington for two and a half days with Mark Easton of Shout Records, where they reworked the two songs. The group usually worked through studio experimentation rather than constructing their songs in a conventional way. Their equipment list included a Korg MS-20, Wasp, Pro-One, Roland TR-808, WEM Copicat, guitars, bass, e-bow and an assortment of effects pedals. On Reflexion’ began as a Blancmange backing track, since Stephen Luscombe would sometimes use Andy’s 4-track, Korg MS-20 and drum machine. Chris has memories of Paul disappearing from time to time to the neighboring graveyard for inspiration, where they had to procure him from to lay down vocals. Their debut 3-song 12′ single, A Blind Sign’, was released in October 1982 on Shout Records. For this re-issue we’ve included the original skeletal Sargasso Sea’ 4-track demo from 1981. Evocative and dreamy, the music escorts you on a tour of icy landscapes, with Paul’s rich vocals guiding the way.

Intergalactic Gary – ZeeZout Podcast 016

July 4, 2017July 3, 2017 hipodromeacid house, disco, electro, intergalactic gary, minimal synth, new beat, podcast, synth pop, zeezoutLeave a comment

VA – Selectors 003 [DKMNTLSLCTRS003]

July 4, 2017September 15, 2021 hipodromecold wave, compilation, dekmantel records, dekmantel selectors, electro, marcel dettmann, post punk, synth popLeave a comment

DETTMANN, Marcel/VARIOUS - Selectors 003

Dekmantel’s Selectors series now continues with an edition curated by Marcel Dettmann. Although he’s now known as one of the world’s most celebrated techno artists, even Marcel Dettmann had to start somewhere. Long before he ever held court at Berghain (or its predecessor, Ostgut), he was just another young boy in Eastern Germany, one whose earliest encounters with capitalism involved spending every penny he could scrape together down at the local record shop. In those days, it wasn’t techno that got him excited, but new wave, post-punk, industrial and EBM acts like Front 242 and Depeche Mode. Get back to his roots right here.

DJ Bert & Eagle ‎– I Am Your Master [STR12007]

July 4, 2017February 15, 2022 hipodromedisco, dj bert & eagle, new beat, re-release, reissue, stroom, synth popLeave a comment

Cult organ horror 7” from west flanders, Belgium restored & remastered.

Yellow Beach Balls – Space Cat [MSDN1207]

June 29, 2017October 7, 2024 hipodromedisco, intergalactic fm, italo-disco, mysidian records, synth pop, yellow beach ballsLeave a comment

Submitted to the IntergalacticFM Demo Contest in 2010, Space Cat, was a hit for all that tuned in and a personal favourite of I-F who jammed it plenty on his Bottomless Pit show. A vinyl release looked promising but never came to fruition for unknown reasons. Several rumors swirled and cryptic messages posted to the internet before Yellow Beach Balls all but disappeared. Almost 7 years to the date of the demo contest and we still don’t know the story behind Yellow Beach Balls, but we do get the release of the Space Cat EP including 3 lo-fi synth-pop tracks to join the aforementioned title-track.

VA – Terra Incognita [ERC034]

June 25, 2017March 30, 2023 hipodromeattrition, bene gesserit, compilation, denis mpunga, emotional rescue, emotional response recordings, experimental, minimal synth, new wave, outernational, synth pop, zazouLeave a comment

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 .

Máma Bubo – Planeta Haj [JUP002]

June 24, 2017May 18, 2018 hipodromealbum, cold wave, endless illusion, karel babuljak, máma bubo, synth pop, synth waveLeave a comment

Czechoslovakian band Máma Bubo was founded by Karel Babuljak in 1982; he put together five friends that he trusted. Having been more or less groping in the dark of music until then, Babuljak suddenly expressed a clear musical and human opinion to which the other members of Máma Bubo added theirs. A new band was born and although it had a clear face, it did not fit in anywhere, was hard to be connected with anything, and was isolated despite its openness. Máma Bubo always guaranteed an extraordinary and shocking experience which surpassed the level of entertainment. 1985: Babuljak’s disenchantment with the social situation as well as with artistic futility compelled him to a more profound attitude which resulted in a totally different concept, Planeta Haj, for Máma Bubo; yet, the concept was short-lived as if having been born in a place it did not fit in. In 2017, 2 LP of Planeta Haj, a record from 1985, was released on vinyl for the first time.

DECA – Alkaidb [DECA002]

June 20, 2017October 31, 2017 hipodromealbum, ambient, bordello a parigi, deca, disco, electro, italo-disco, mothball record, re-release, reissue, synth pop, videoradioLeave a comment

Originally released in 1986, “Alkaid” was the first solo release of DECA following his debut appearance on the cult various artists compilation “Angelo Segreti”. The original edition was published in a tiny edition on the independent Italian label Videoradio and to this day remains a rare and sought after album. Following Mothball and Bordello’s continued work with DECA, they make this diverse and fascinating collection of music available to a wider audience. On this instrumental LP we can hear elements of modern classical, synth-pop, dark ambient and even some middle eastern influence.

Daniele Cosmo – Digital Tsunami 126

June 2, 2017June 1, 2017 hipodromedaniele cosmo, digital tsunami, lux rec, minimal synth, podcast, synth popLeave a comment

Continue reading “Daniele Cosmo – Digital Tsunami 126” →

Adbaloons – Mad Motor [MEC025]

June 2, 2017August 2, 2021 hipodromeadbaloons, electro, mecanica records, post punk, synth popLeave a comment

ADBALOONS - Mad Motor

Adballons (made-up word from ‘advertising balloon’) was a duo formed in Tokyo and active only between 1986-88. Equipped with some gear (Casio CZ-5000, Teisco S-110F, Roland MC-202, Roland TR-909, Korg KPR-77) they released just one 7′ in 1987 and played some shows in local clubs before disappear and become part of the obscure and inscrutable Japanese underground scene.

Todd Terje – Maskindans [OLS018]

June 2, 2017January 25, 2024 hipodromedet gylne triangel, disco, erol alkan, olsen records, synth pop, todd terjeLeave a comment

Though he may still be tweaking the space laser to perfect album ‘Numero Twomero’, Terje has still found the time to tease us with a sneak preview of what’s to come in the form of this body moving, brain grooving cover version of a Norse synth spectacular from the dystopian dance floors of ’82. Inspired by his Dansbar diversions, Todd took to the studio for a little multitrack mania, replaying every part of this doomy dancer with all the Olsen sparkle you could ever wish for. Luring Det Gylne Triangel back into the booth for the first time in 25 years, Terje topped off the pops with a newly recorded vocal from the original lyricist, closing the temporal loop and opening the door to dance floor nirvana.

VA – Danzas Electricas [MMLP404]

May 24, 2017August 7, 2023 hipodromecompilation, dunkeltier, edits, electro, guillaumes des bois, industrial, ivan smagghe, johan ressle, kilian krings, macadam mambo, macadam mambo edits, misha geylen, mori ra, obermannkind, panoptique, post punk, rupert cross, sacha mambo, shiny boots, smagghe & cross, sneaker, synth popLeave a comment

Macadam Mambo is launching a special compilation of adjustments made by friends and members of the label (Kilian Krings, Sneaker/Dunkeltier, Obermannkind, Panoptique, Mori Ra, Shiny Boots, Misha Geylen, Smagghe & Cross, Guillaume des Bois, Johan Ressle). Mostly very obscure tracks in Sacha’s ‘Metalic vibe’, from post-punk to synth-pop, experimental and more.

Led Er Est – Dust On Common [MNQ099]

May 4, 2017June 21, 2024 hipodromealbum, electro, led er est, mannequin records, owen hutchinson, post punk, sam de la rosa, shawn o'sullivan, synth pop, synth wave, wierd recordsLeave a comment

Dust On Common’ from Led Er Est (Sam De La osa, Shawn O’Sullivan and Owen Hutchinson) was originally released in 2009 by the seminal Brooklyn based record label Wierd Records. The band’s first full-length release showed the three piece clearly breaking out of the minimal synth underground they have been a vitally integral part of since its inception in Brooklyn to create an undeniably contemporary set of highly crafted and restrained, icily psychedelic pop songs.

Synths Versus Me – Sex/Body/Touch [OR026SE]

May 4, 2017August 31, 2021 hipodromealbum, electro, nico cabañas, oraculo records, synth pop, synth wave, synths versus me, vanessa asbertLeave a comment

SYNTHS VERSUS ME - Sex/Body/Touch

Synths Versus Me is back with their new album ‘Sex/Body/Touch’. This new album is the longest and more ambitious work they had produced to date, including up to 14 new tracks where find their usual eclectic amalgam of dance oriented darky styles; from EBM to synth pop, passing by electro beats, pure coldwave, italo disco or classical synthwave. All tracks has been recorded using only analog synthesizers captured on a external recorder without make use of daw digital conversions, excepting on the final process of digital mastering.

Èlan Vital ‎– Shadow Self [FISH018]

April 26, 2017April 26, 2017 hipodromealbum, danny brady, dark wave, elan vital, fishrider records, occultation recordings, synth pop, synth waveLeave a comment

Èlan Vital formed in 2015 in Dunedin’s None Gallery, an artist-run creative community in a former pharmaceutical factory near the city centre. Their sound takes contemporary European cold-wave synth-pop dance music layered on analogue drum machines, then blends in the warm psychedelic organ sounds of 1960s garage rock. Distorted, overdriven bass guitar adds a further element of chaos into the mix. The expression Èlan Vital describes the vital force or impulse of life. The music on “Shadow Self” represents that life impulse in an ambiguous zone between machine and human worlds. A dense claustrophobic swirl of dark dance-tempo synth-pop blooms from gloomy cold industrial dance music with vocoder vocals into uplifting melodic dream-pop catharsis about memory, longing, and obsession.

Martin Dupont – The Lights (Mick Wills Edits) [VSS010]

April 26, 2017June 25, 2019 hipodromeedits, martin dupont, mick wills, minimal synth, new wave, prego, synth pop, vielspaß recordsLeave a comment

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.

Ironing Music – Ironing Music [MR070]

April 14, 2017February 18, 2019 hipodromealbum, crispy nuggets, ironing music, medical records llc, synth pop, synth waveLeave a comment

Medical Records in collaboration with our friends at Crispy Nuggets blog are happy to reissue a very obscure Australian gem from the 1980s. Ironing Music were a three piece band from Brisbane. They originally formed in 1984 as a result of their collective love for New Order, Human League and eventually Jean Michel Jarre and Cabaret Voltaire. Comprised of bass and electic guitar, Yamaha DX-7, melodica and an 808, they recorded a 12″ single as their sole outpt in 1985 in a limited run of 250 copies (obviously excruciatingly rare now!). It was recorded in their bedroom studio with at Teac 4 track. The video clip for the “hit” Shopping Bag Women was played on several national and local television music shows. They also recorded demos in hopes of landing a LP deal which unfortunately didn’t attract any takers at the time. They actually only played 3 gigs and were forced to disband after one of their members fell ill in 1986. The LP presented here included the original 4 track single as well as hand picked demos which nicely congeal to form a well rounded LP documenting the band’s brief existence. They can best be described as lo-fi synth pop with an emphasis on excellent pop songs and interesting synth/instrument arrangements.

From Nursery To Misery – Pixies In The Woods [DE153]

April 5, 2017July 17, 2024 hipodromealbum, dark entries records, from nursery to misery, gina fear, lee stevens, minimal synth, re-release, reissue, synth pop, synth wave, tina fearLeave a comment

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.