More Indie and some popular track on here. Another 1990 release but when ?
The Renegade Soundwave is probably the hardest on the compilation. Pure 808 dance.
Flutes and children’s TV theme inspire the Flowered Up, all groove and stream of conscious lyrics. The baggie beats continue from then especially with the Mock Turtles track.
“Scratches In The Sand” is the best Indie anthem you’ve never heard. The Darkside side track comes very close oh and The Family Cat to get you out of the obvious Spotify playlist.
Local artist from Urmston and some passionate vocals and slightly Goth. All About Eve fans will love it. A fabulous track and lazy to compare it to The Banshees.
Bass – Russell Cope
Drums – David Eddleston
Guitar – Howard Fisher
Keyboards – Wayne
Vocals – Tess
From left to right there’s Howard (guitar), Wayne (keyboards), Tess (singer), David (drums) and Russ (bass)
A Netherlands cassette. New Wave with a very elastic bass, a decent lost gem.
Belo Belo – Ruzicasta Bluza (1984)
From the Yugoslavian compilation “Ventilator 202 Demo Top 10 Vol 2”
Guitar – Branislav Martinović
Bass – Đorđe Nikašinović
Synthesizer – Miroslav Cimpl
Synthesizer – Vladimir Radojičić
Vocals – Zoran Živanović
Ice Cold Coldwave with a weird , unsuitable guitar sound. Rare Eastern Bloc synth, slap that bass.
Ben Hur – Freedom In the Name of Love (1988)
From the compilation “Vancouver Kicks” (I wonder where we are ?) Rock , rock in an AOR. Bet they had big hair.
Angular fashion
Beograd – Sanjas Li U Boji (1982)
Moody synthpop again from Yugoslavia. Belgrade’s own Soft Cell.
Serbian synth-pop band founded in 1981 in former Yugoslavia by Dejan Stanisavljević (synths, vocals), Slobodan Stanić (synths) and brothers Ljuba Bubalo (bass, synths) and Mića Bubalo (rhythm machine, electric drums). Slobodan Stanić quit the band very soon after forming, so they mostly played as a trio on stage, sometimes with the help of Miloš Obrenović (drummer of band U Škripcu). They also often used pre-recorded parts of their tracks on live acts. Their first single was released the year they formed (Sanjaš Li U Boji? / T.V.) and they later recorded their debut album “Remek Depo” with the help of Paul Pignon (saxophone) and Stjepko Gut (trumpet). By the middle of 1983. Dejan left the band to collaborate with the band Du-Du-A, so Beograd disbanded. Ljuba Bubalo formed the techno-pop band Haj’mo.
How many times did I tell you not to look , it’s staring contest.
Berlin – All For One / My World Is Empty Without You (1982)
Popular group name Berlin (coz it sounds very cool especially if you’re American)
Short lived Canadian new wave band formed by members of The Teddy Boys. Following the release of their Young Warrior LP in 1982, the band wound up embroiled and a well publicized lawsuit with the American act of the same name. After years of wrangling, the act folded due to their heavy legal debt.
Oops I wonder which band ?
Bass, Vocals – Scott Shelson (Hott Roxx)
Drums – Julian Bernas
Guitar, Vocals – Paul Asgeirson
Lead Vocals, Guitar – Steve Marian
Quite doomy Post Punk with plenty of guitars. First track has some odd riffs predicting a grim future. The second was a single and has your spiked guitars and some much needed added synth. “Paint It Black” vibes.
Perfect partings
Berlin 38 – Midnight Boat (1981)
Resurrected demo for Virgin Records from this French band. Post Punk with additional interesting synth.
Bass – Emilien
Drums – Chris De Nerval
Guitar – Sylvain Lenoir
Keyboards – Henri
Voice – Prince Florent
Blusher United
Berlin Blondes – Trail To Istanbul (1980)
Bio;
The Berlin Blondes were a minimalist synth/electronic band who formed in Glasgow in 1979. The original lineup was Steven Bonomi (vocals), Robert Farrell (guitar, synth), Jim Spender (Keys, Synth), and David Rudden (bass). The use of a drum machine contributed to their electro minimalist sound.
The band were signed to EMI in 1980; however, Rudden left the band at this time and went on to form Endgames. His replacement was Nick Clark from the The Cuban Heels. Shortly after, Spender also left the band to join Altered Images. In 1980, the Berlin Blondes released two singles for EMI, ‘Science’/’Mannequin’ and ‘Framework’/’Zero Song’, and one album, ‘Berlin Blondes’. The band then signed to Scratch Records and released only one single ‘Marseille’/The Poet’ in 1981.
An interesting find, had heard of them but not heard anything by them. A very Magazine type vibe. Need to check out more by them. Great track with a weird vibe about it.
Bass – Nick Clark (The Cuban Heels, Seven)
Drums – Paul Simmons (Roll-Ups, The Force)
Guitar, Keyboards – Robert Farrell (The Wedding)
Keyboards, Synthesizer – Jim Spender
Vocals [Uncredited] – Steven Bonomi
Bernie Paul – Azttenzione Go Go Radio (Ext) (1985)
German Euro Disco and as cheesy as it gets. sounds very much like “Cuba” by the Gibson Brothers.
Numbers can reduce acne
Bernie Q Zero – Imagination / The Numbers Man (7″) / The Numbers Man (12″) (1983)
On Utopia Records (Julie and The Jems, Lynda Virtu, Richard Myhill)
Mysterious UK synth artist and all the tracks from his only 12″. Quite dramatic is “Imagination” with poetic lines.
The main track keeps on with the mysticism theme.Given a Middle East flavour with some very nice bubbling bass synths. Highbrow synthpop or clap trap – “Nobody knows, nobody knows”
It’s actually on Spotify !
No caption needed.
Berurier Noir – Le Renard (1985)
French punk with whistles and strangulated vocals. Stripped down music with guitar and minimal type drum machine.
Bio;
French punk band from Paris who became very popular in the 1980s. They were formed around the nucleus of singer François Guillemot (who will later become a researcher at the French National Center for Scientific Research as a specialist of Vietnam), and guitarist Laurent Katracazos. Using a minimalist set-up, a rhythm machine, a guitar, vocals, and later a saxophone, they brought committed anti-fascist and anti-racist lyrics and strived for remaining independent at all costs. They disbanded in 1989, but reformed shortly in the 2000s. BN have sold thousands of records, and their albums are still being repressed regularly.
Bette Bright – Hello, I Am Your Heart (1980)
Obscure bit of reggae, Two Tone. Synth duetting with a reggae saxophone (Lee “Kix” Thompson from Madness). A cover of a C/W track by Dennis Linde from 1973.
Bright was in Deaf School beforehand and missus to Suggs.
Human or dog ?
Beyond Words – Real World / The Edge (1987)
Keeping the saxophone going and some chuggy Alt. Rock from this Baltimore, Maryland band.
Bass – Mark Evanko
Drums, Vocals – George Kondylas
Guitar – Mikel Gehl (Milkshake, Love Riot)
Saxophone, Keyboards, Vocals – Doug Scrivener
Vocals – Lisa Mathews (Milkshake, Love Riot)
Both tracks seem a bit Lone Justice, 10.000 Manics vibe. She sings a bit like Stevie Nicks.
B.F.G .- Anonymous / Western Sky (1989)
A bit of UK Goth with some heavy guitar. Damned styled vocals.
Following tours with The Cult, New Order, and the Smiths as drummer with Factory Records band Lavolta Lakota, Mike Simmii (or Mike Simpkins) left to form BFG in Summer 1985. Joined by B.J. Williams on vocals, Keith Lambert on bass, and Acky on guitar.
After hearing an early “Paris” demo, Joy Division and New Order bassist Pete Hook invited the band to support New Order on their summer 1986 tour. This tour coincided with BFG’s first release: the 12″ single “Paris”.
BFG’s first headlining show in home town Manchester was with the Stone Roses as support. At this early stage they were compared with Joy Division for the intensity of their live performance. Soon the band were starting to gain a reputation of being “difficult” as far as the press were concerned. During the late 80’s the band completed only very few interviews and even today still refuse to play by the media’s rules.
The line up changed for the “Western Sky” and “Higher” EPs, with Steve Craig replacing B.J. Williams and Paul Batheram replacing Acky on guitar. Also at this time Guy Hatton (who would later join the Utah Saints) was asked to join BFG.
The BFG sound then altered and was moving in a much more melodic ‘dark wave’ direction, which resulted in the band’s debut album ‘Fathoms’, released in 1988.
The second album, “Blue”, was released in 1990, this time mixing even more technology with pummelling bass lines. By then, BFG were stripped back to a duo, Mike Simii and B.J. Williams.
The band dissolved in 1991 but reformed in 2016 and has started recording new material.
Great stuff and I’d never heard of them. The second tracks is more your traditional Goth arrangement with deeper vocals from the new vocalist. Not the best recording.
Bi Nostalgia & The Orwellian Confraternity – What Use Do It Fall (1983)
Yes and actual band, from Italy ! Indie shuffle with a rhythm box and recorded from a tape – saxophone included.
Bibi Martin – Expect A Miracle (1985)
Punchy Euro Dance from the Netherlands.
Bibi – vocals guitar – Michiel Jansen drums – Joël Komkommer all keys by Martin Ploeg
Quite like the “Gambler” by Madonna with deep bass synth. Electro Rock in arrangement.
Sheep Dip stain ?
Big Amongst Sheep – Elevator (1985)
Off their solitary EP “Hearts On Fire” a band from Cumbria, my home county where there actually is a lot of sheep and not a lot of synth.
• Ian Bone – Bass & Vocals • Judith Bone – Korg Polysix synth • Jill Fowler – Roland Juno 60 synth • Sean Whittaker – Electric guitar • Adam Whittaker – Pro One & Moog synths
Drum machine led and quite a progressive little funky instrumental.
So the re-released and remastered album by Canadian Bruce Fairbairn (I didn’t even know that was a thing back then) It’s less synthy and much more compact with the vocals put more upfront – I prefer the drums on this version. The old, original cover is still visible as a painting in the background on the new cover.
“Masquerade” does get a feature (not the 7″ version but the more guitar focussed album versio) but there is no “Pros And Cons” and that annoying closing track is still there.
The live stuff is pretty raw (as you’d expect) with “Of One Skin” sounding like U2 “Out Of Control” Feedback and some backup guitar from Jobson and backing vocals from Adamson. Seemed a small audience but we all like a cover of Reed’s “Walk On The Wild Side.”
Chromagain was a dark wave/minimal/electronic group from Italy (Turin) formed by Luca Pastore, Silvio Ferrero and Davide Bassino. They released their mini-lp ‘Any Colour You Like’ in 1985, and played several gigs during the ’80s. Some other tracks from CG were released on the compilations ‘Tracce’ (Shirak, 1984) and ‘TiDicoDemo’ (no label, 1985).
Originally released in 1985 this was re-issued in February 2011.
From track 7 you can see the shift from basic Roland TR 808 to the Simmons pads.
Influenced by Joy Division / New Order (like most bands) but not just blind followers. They had a distinct style although the vocals do grind after a while.
Closes with a nice bit of Post Punk jiggery with a very loud lead bee synth. After a minutes silent you get the final track – more of the same with the rattling drum machine.
The penultimate selection of these downtempo tunes with a Razormaid! mix.
The quality is ridiculously high from this selection from 1995.
German Thomas Franzmann (Zip) goes deep soundscape with skittering beats with this long starter.
The magestic “Original” with Curve’s Toni Halliday on vocals sets a very high standard.
“Hand Take” does sound a little dated, the breathy vocals of Asli Tanriverdi give it a touch of exotica. It’s the main half spoken main vocals that dates it.
UK ambient artist George Fleming-Saunders gives us “Save The Whale”, a cheesy premise but melancholic enough to give it some attention, acid bubblebath.
Rotterdam’s Speedy J Classic “Treatments” is nicely mixed with that Big Bass.
Yantra’s track keeps the Cosmic vibe, slow-trance at it’s finest with all its hooky melodies.
Onto a very commercial track by Steffen Britzke with vocals from Darlesia Cearcy. A bit of a Shamen vibe.
Juantrip (French producer Basil Compains) goes quite light and airy, adding some moody guitar.
Ah the didgeridoo, I knew it would make an appearance ! UK (Oxford) trio – Graham Wiggins, Ian Campbell and Mark Revell pump up the beat count on this track.
Richard Souther makes more use of the monastic sample first heard on “The Sun Rising” on track 9.
Italian producers F.U.N.O. add some Euro Dance with some guest vocals from Annerley Gordon, a bit too cheesy. I feel the series is coming to a bit of a weird ending. Last one next week.
From 1988 and the original Manhattans and the title track of their album of the same name. A funky bit of New Jack Swing.
Soul vocal group from New Jersey, U.S. Formed as a quintet in 1962, they started recording in 1964 at Carnival Records and then at DeLuxe in the early 70’s until 1973 that got signed at Columbia where they charted their biggest hits up to 1986. Still active up until 2010. In 1970 Gerald Alston replaced their lead singer George “Smitty” Smith who had died of a brain tumour two days before his 31st birthday. Richard Taylor left the group in 1976 and they continued as a quartet. In 1988 Gerald Alston left them to pursue his solo career. Their biggest hits are the classic smooth soul ballad “Kiss And Say Goodbye” produced by the prolific Bobby Martin in 1976 and “Shining Star” produced by Leo Graham in 1980. All their original members are deceased except Gerald Alston.
This was produced by Khalis Bayyan (Kool And The Gang) and has a bit of “The Best Things in Life Are Free” Vandross and Jackson vibe to it.
With Greg Royal edits – the Extended Mix being the cut.
More Kniteforce stuff with this compilation from July 2017
Abyss (Lee Woodford) goes for moody breakbeats – “I’ll Show You The Darkside” – sampling Sheep On Drugs as well.
Alex Jungle combines dub reggae and our first helium vocals and piano refrain. Adding some plenty of old skool samples. TNO nothing special, a bit lighter with the lobotomy samples.
DJ Doughboy mixes plinky plonk with fuzzy, scratchy breaks. It goes into Happy Hardcore but I knew it would – dog’s dinner in terms of production.
A 1994 track gets a revisit on track 5 and proves the old ideas are better.
…And so it continues with tracks made recently made to sound like they were produced in the 90’s. It’s called recycling.
I quite like the more aggressive “Quicker And Dirtier”, lots of variation. Also the more progressive closing track.
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….
myvinyldreams