I’m off to Amsterdam then Ibiza for my mate’s 60th.
There’s a few of us attending and we are doing an all-dayer at the Kashmir Lounge on the Saturday – not sure if it will be broadcast live but here is last one I did there.
I play for an hour around about the 3 hour mark – you can tell when I go on 😃🤣all that vinyl noise !!
On Sunday I get to join him at the legendary Pikes in Ibiza. Not playing just chilling with some mates. Then back to the UK on Tuesday prepping for another Open Deck at Maltdog. Oh and an after-show to DJ on the Friday
Oh there will be the usual posts, I’m not that mean.
Well here is some , ripped yesterday and originally released in August 1991 after failing to make an impact the previous year. This is the Mark Stent remix.
Youth and The Orb guys were heavily involved in this – which I didn’t know at the time. Guitar duty was from Matt Goldrick and Paul Inder.
A feel good, Summer encouraging track you’ve probably not heard it for a while.
The B-side is one for The Orb obsessives , a gentle bit of Goa with Zoë Pollock’s dreamy vocals over the top.
The series is definitely taking in a deep dive into the more obscure corners of the 80’s and uncovering the more obscure tracks from that decade. Released in the Philippines in 1995.
Kicking off with one of the greatest protest songs of the 80’s and another unofficial extended mix exclusive to this release- not sure about the intro and it is very different.
To give the Blue Zoo track its full title, “Somewhere In The World There’s A Cowboy Smiling” and again it seems remixed. Deep synth bass and catchy but cheesy chorus.
Orange Juice feature with one of their last releases from October 1984 in the short extended version which has plenty of dub effects.
Lightning Seeds do a live cover of a Care track ?? A nice rarity for fans.
Still don’t own a vinyl copy of this gem from X Mal, fast and furious and long and another exclusive mix but with too much stuttering at the start but it redeems itself.
Simple Mind’s “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” seems to be the original 12″ mix. The same with the anthemic “China” from Red Rockers” from 1983 with its weird middle part – it does go off on an excursion.
Another very rare bit of US New Wave from 1984, was this actually a B-side ? Very Roxy Music and a big track in the Philippines.
More Ian Broudie via Care and the dramatic “Whatever.” and the original extended version of “Major Tom”.
Curveball Alert – The inclusion of “C.R.E.E.P” by The Fall from 1984, of course the long version. Closing with a one off single from Glasgow’s April Shows, a bit Style Council with the orchestra and production by Anne Dudley.
No I’m not going to make you wait so here is the CD 2 and a 54 min continuous mix of 80’s tracks. Too many to list here but a decent one for the commute.
This exclusive megamix disc was later issued separately and titled, “New Wave Diary Megamix One”. So if you have that already….
I still can’t believe I had this on 7″ back in the day. A mix of French and Japan with a feel of both JMJ and YMO The person behind it Hideki Matsutake was assistant to Tomita and worked as a programmer with YMO. It sounded amazing for 1981 and was the B- side of “Domino Dance.”
League Of Nations – Fade
From 1982 and it nearly goes into a John Foxx lyric. Still has the same glacial atmosphere. Off their untitled 12″ EP. This has already cropped up on a Shock Waves series. More here;
An early Juan Atkins and Richard Davis project started in 1981. This is from the Detroit’s duo album, “Enter” All electro beats and vocoder and bleeping Sinn drums (cheesy) and a bit of politics. Loads of re-issues as everyone caught up with this seminal release.
From Dutch to Belgium and the debut single from this band. Weird vocals on this slice of 1983 synthpop.
The Proximate Force – Walk
Big jump to 1988 and from this German band from the Revolution EP. Not great production (that bass sound !) considering the age and a bit of a New Order obsession.
Some more David Kilgour and this was released in 2001, his fourth studio album.
Customarily starting with an instrumental to set the tone the same group of musicians. (Greg Cairns (Marineville, The Renderers, The Verlaines) guests on drums on “Instra 3” as well as arranging a string quartet. A great track !
Also like the loose grooves on “I Caught You”.
It’s the improvised guitar solo’s that might split the room. It starts with a meandering guitar passage with plenty of overdubs and even some organ.
I’m back with the third album by Sass Jordan entitled “Rats”. We are now in 1994 and the music scene was saturated with the Grunge sound. I recall a few anecdotes from this album from interviews or articles I read such as the title of the album which was to be called “Rats Ass” but the record execs were not gonna have it. For the first time I also heard the phrase coining Los Angeles as a place where “Dreams go to die”. Needless to say, it looks like Sass embraced the good, bad and ugly of grunge and gave it a go. Despite the emotional space Sass might have been in, the album does have its magic. High Road Easy was a single lifted from the album and sums the direction pretty well. Honey has some pretty cool guitar tricks; Breakin’ harks back to a simplistic acoustic ballade and Sun’s Gonna Rise also is a top pick!
Her follow-up came in 1997 (Present) and Sass was back with a new positive outlook on life…as we all did after the grunge hangover!
So one word titles were a definite thing. It’s pretty heavy with a fine cast of guest musicians;
Backing Vocals –, Stevie Salas, Vince Ruby, Richie Kotzen (Mr. Big, Poison) Tony Reyes, George Clinton, Ian Moore
Bass – Carmine Rojas (Baby Grand) (tracks 1,5 and 8)
Drums – Brian Tichy (Foreigner, Whitesnake)
Guitar – Stevie Salas (This Kids)
Guitar – Ian Moore
Bass – Allen Kamai (Rainbirds, Wendy & Lisa)
Bass – Michael Paige (Crown Of Thorns) (track 3)
Bass – Tom Petersson (Cheap Trick) (track 10)
Organ (Hammond B3) Mellotron, Piano – Rei Atsumi (Vow Wow, Casino Drive, RC Succession) (tracks 2, 4, 5, 10, 11 and 12) Roger Morgan
Harmonica – Jimmie Wood (Imperial Crowns) (tracks 7 and 9)
Percussion – Tal Bergman (track 4, 5, 6 and 12)
Yep, it’s heavy and more Rock than Grunge. Gentle moments include “Sun’s Gonna Rise” with some mellotron to give it that psychedelic feel and “I’m Not”. There is even a collaboration with George Clinton on track 7 proper bluegrass / Rock Funk hybrid!! Overall I do get the Janis Joplin comparisons, a strong statement in a male dominated genre.
I think I few of you are having difficulties and getting this message. The Gofile service is a big part of this blog and to have the direct link option unavailable is a massive issue.
As a paid up user I don’t get to see that message as I’m constantly logged in. Is this a problem for all or some of you ? I have messed around with the settings but that just let’s you access all 7000+ files which is really not the point and rapidly put them back to private
Could you do the poll underneath or leave a comment as I need to sort this out with Gofile support ASAP
More obvious and less obvious groups that start with the letter B and with a slight Rock feel, Retro Hound ?
Hunchback strangling is a pastime in Iceland
Bara Flokkurinn – Facts (1983) / I Don’t Like Your Style (1982) / Motion (1982)
Starting with a trio from this band from Iceland.
A new wave group from Akureyri in Iceland that later morphed into a new romantic/pop group, was active from 1979 to 1985 although they regrouped in the early 2000’s for a few live dates and again in 2010.
Keyboard heavy New Wave with a nod to Duran Duran, pretty decent especially “Motion”
Hello, look at our beautiful new amp)
Barbel – One Thing (1989)
With some Doors inspired organ a bit of retro rock n roll from this UK (Liverpool) band. From their EP “One Horse Planet”
Bass – David Morgan (Jactars)
Drums – Roger Sinek (A Formal Sigh, Benny Profane
Guitar – David Surtees
Organ [Electric] – Alison Williams
Vocals, Guitar – Greg Milton (Dead Cowboys, A Formal Sigh)
Handy bollard leaning point
Barratt Band – Voice In The Night (1981)
Strap in , some Christian Rock ahead, strap in !
The Barratt Band was formed in 1980 by Norman Barratt, formerly of Gravy Train and the Alwyn Wall Band, and in its initial stages consisted of Barratt (Guitar, Vocals), Dave Morris (Keyboards), Tim Hatwell (Bass) and Russ Caldwell (Drums). The band recorded their first album Playing in the City in 1981 at Chapel Lane Studios just outside Hereford. The band were one of the first fully professional Christian rock (CR) bands in the United Kingdom, all members having worked as professional musicians in mainstream rock and pop.
The band signed to the fledgling Chapel Lane label that had just been started by Rob Andrews, owner of Chapel Lane Studios. This was a bold attempt to produce CR recordings that matched professional secular standards and also raise Christian rock’s profile.
The band toured the album extensively throughout the UK, Europe and Scandinavia on major tours supporting Larry Norman. Barratt Band was featured on Larry Norman’s 1981 live Friends on Tour album, along with Alwyn Wall. In their own right they embarked on smaller club tours, the highlight being the 1982 Greenbelt Festival held at Knebworth, where they headlined the closing night.
Larry Tomaso replaced Tim Hatwell on bass in 1982 and the band appeared on numerous tours and albums supporting or backing some of the top CR artists of the day from the USA and UK, including Larry Norman, Steve Camp, Phil Keaggy, Jesse Dixon and Sheila Walsh.
The band released a second album in 1984 named Voice with Dave Engel on drums.
The heavy touring and work schedules took their toll resulting in one of the band members collapsing through exhaustion while on tour in Scandinavia towards the end of 1986.
Although the band has never officially split up, it never toured or recorded again.
Very Creme Brule and very honest in the delivery of crap lyrics. “The Jews paid their dues ” really !
With all our worldy possessions
Basking Sharks – Croatia / Diamond Age (1983)
I love these ! They were from Lancaster and officially techie nerds.
“Diamond Age” was their debut release, displaying harmonies and catchy pop songs. They need a re-release and certainly need a posting because I own their album, “Shark Island” which isn’t on here !!!!
Computer [Programs] – Ged McPhail
Computer [Rhythm Programs] – Adrian Todd
Drum Programming [Drum Machines] – Martyn Eames
Synthesizer – Adrian Todd, Ged McPhail, Martyn Eames
Vocals – Ged McPhail, Martyn Eames
Nervous chewing
Bastion – A Hot Day in Mexico / Deca Sunca (1985)
To former Yugoslavia and a singer that sounds like Altered Images Clare Grogan. Synth New Wave.
New wave band from Los Angeles, California, USA. Slow synth ballad featuring Jeffrey Charroux (Artistic Decline, The Walter Brigade, Ultra Violet Eye) , Jeff Revoxx (tape machine ?) and Paul Rad (Punk band Left Insane)
So they seemed to all go off to be in Punk bands !!!
Baxter Robertson – Panorama (1983)
California musician and purveyor of slick New Wave with a singalong chorus.
Drums – Gary Durrett
Lead Guitar – Alan Maggini
Lead Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards, Written-By – Baxter Robertson
Synthesizer – David Adelstein
Vocals, Bass – Jay Bodean
Take Us To Your Leader, Comrade
BB Gabor – Metropolitan Life / Underground World (1980)
Synth Power Pop from this Canadian artist (Hungarian born Gabor Hegedus) and reminds me of Bill Nelson. Twitchy New Wave and well produced.
Do you think we need to get a more modern microphone ?
BBC – Life-Size American Heroes / Nothing I Need (1980)
Canadian Power Pop trio have a go at American
Bass Guitar, Synthesizer, Vocals – Bob Easton
Drums, Vocals – Billy Cooper
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals – Charly Sorrell
“Nothing I need” is more an all out rocker but with some melodic guitar.
The joys of tour hotels
Beergarden – Sixty Perfect Windows (1985)
The B-side of “I Write The News” and produced by a certain Michael Hutchence with Andrew Farris (Hutchence sings back up vocals) and it’s pretty synthy at the start. A hidden gem and one for the Oz fans.
Beat of A Drum – Comfortable Day (1988)
Another one from Canada and off “Tomorrow’s Echoes (A Carleton Students’ Compilation)” Indie jangle with duel vocals.
Beat Rodeo – Everything I’m Not (1986)
Gentle Rock from this country-rock band from New York City. Bold synths fill out the sound.
Bass, Vocals – Dan Prater
Drums, Percussion – Lewis King (The Rockats)
Keyboards, Vocals – Georges Usher (The Schramms)
Lead Guitar – Bill Thomas Schunk
Lead Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica, Written-By – Steve Almaas (The Suicide Commandos)
Vocals – Syd Straw (The Golden Palominos)
Beautiful Pea Green Boat – Hammers of Islam (Remix) / The Powerhouse (1988)
Dramatic and slightly Industrial from this Scottish band. The first track has some heavy riffs but blends in with the dense production with Heather Wright’s vocals soaring over the top. “The Powerhouse” is dark and IDM , almost baroque arrangements. A highlight.
Released July 1990 and containing loads of Indie hits.
Another one I own and remembering picking up for a few quid from X-Records in Bolton.
I lived with the compilation for decades but it’s a good one. The closing Lush track waltzes away whilst the See See Rider duet is quite memorable. Enjoy and thanks Diane so I don’t have to rip it.
In homage to Eurovision and album that fits the bill.
Danish 1980’s europop duo with international success, consisting of Ivan Pedersen and Lecia Jönsson. Debut in 1982 with the national smash hit Hvor Ska’ Vi Sove I Nat? which has sold more than 1 million copies to date. In 1988, after the release of five albums as well as a Greatest Hits album, the duo split due to different opinions about the future. Their records were released in 37 countries, and their biggest international hit single is supposedly Love In Siberia, which stayed on the US Billboard Hot 100 charts for six weeks.
The style well pure synthpop (with the occasional . Andy Bell and Vince Clarke would approve ! But this was manufactured with a host of co-writers and producers.
Ivan Pedersen (who handled keyboards and synthesizers) and the album’s producer, Cai Leitne both had a hand in the arrangements. Released 1985/6 it dips into all the familiar pop tropes, Miami Sound Machine sounding “Let Me Know”, Abba-esque of “It’s a Fantasy”
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