Showing posts with label New Wave. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Wave. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
R.I.P. Bob Casale of DEVO.
Bob Casale, an original member of Devo has passed away of heart failure at the age of 61. Words can't express what a surprise and loss this is. They were contemplating more shows soon. His work has left an indelible mark on most people I know and much of the world. So sad.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Blancmange - Irene and Mavis (Blaah, 1980)
Blancmange formed in Middlesex, England, 1979, is Neil Arthur and Stephen Lunscombe. They recorded this short run EP of synth pop, eastern rhythms and no wave aesthetic. The simplicity of this release makes it beautiful. Its a light-hearted romp through laidback yet dancey, goofy yet elegant off kilter pop. They did manage to get included on the Some Bizarre album with Soft Cell and Depeche Mode, and they did get a single up to #7 on the UK charts a bit later, but not much else was to come. This is a fantastic little record though. Lots of fun.
Get it Here
Labels:
New Wave,
No Wave,
synth-punk,
Tribal,
UK
Monday, November 7, 2011
Grauzone - S / T (Off Course, 1981)
Swiss band Grauzone was one of the most creative bands of the post-punk era. Most people will never know who they are because they only recorded one album and some singles. This is a shame. They had it all: rock, disco, synth-punk and pop, all with a genuine approach that really connects emotionally. The recording is meticulously approached. Too mature for a band that was together so briefly. You're gonna thank me for this one.Get it Here
Labels:
New Wave,
Post-Rock,
Switzerland,
synth-punk
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Teepee - Morals (Senzei, 2009)
Anybody remember art pop? Well, this guy does and his debut self-released album is throwing me a curve ball. I'm hearing this at a time when I'm obsessed with bizarro world artists like Blank Dogs, Gary War and the more experimental Zola Jesus. Teepee has elements of these artists but succeeds in nailing his own brand of outsider art music. He melds junk synth drones and simple drum machine spines with heavily processed electric guitar resulting in an immensely washed out hallucinogenic journey. He's not limited to that either. Some tracks are lovely and clean acoustic guitar, others sound like tape experiments and in some you'll even find emotional, americana-esque qualities reminiscent of Kurt Vile. This is a candy store for those opposed to genre boundaries. He offers No wave, new Wave, post-punk, darkwave, shoegaze, synth pop, punk, americana and a little John Cage for good measure.
If you're familiar with Electric Bunnies or Melted Sunglasses, it will make sense to you that he is a member of both outfits. I'm most impressed with the quality recoding for something with such a "lo-fi" feel. And, there is a genuine honesty in his music. No pretense here. This is a diamond in the rough of the current scene. Get it now before all the hipsters are on board. Don't let them ruin this for you!
Get Morals Here
And get the vinyl here
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Soft Kill - An Open Door (Fast Weapons, 2011)
Awww, there's just not much cuter than a couple Goth kids in love. Toby and Shiloe Grave retired their brutally depressive Blessure Grave project (sadly) and lightened up with Soft Kill. Apparently, the couple describe this record as "an open dialog love letter in song form". Its Death Rock, Post-Punk and New Wave all in one tidy package. I was initially very disappointed in their decision to retire BG but I'm surprised to call this a fantastic album and I'm relieved with the direction they've chosen.
Get Some Goth Kids Exchanging Vows
Vinyl, t-shirts, etc.
Labels:
Death Rock,
Goth,
New Wave,
Post-Punk
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
The Soft Moon - The Soft Moon (2010) Captured Tracks
Luis Vasquez has crafted an engaging retro 80's tribute album....sort of. He's a one man band who incorporates Post-Punk, New Wave, Shoegaze, Goth and some early Cure. Quite the perfect sound for me.With Breathy vocals and icy dense instrumentals, he takes the listener on a spooky and atmospheric journey that feels wrought with pain and despair. The deeper I listened the more I noticed the anger and fear buried under most of the tracks which also draws the Gothic and Industrial comparisons.
The breadth of emotion here is multi-dimensional and as is the current Goth revival trend, there is a great deal of hope masked in the sadness.
This is a stunning debut that crept into my Top Ten Albums of the Year list even though I'd only been listening to it for three weeks. Of course, that was multiple times daily for three weeks.
Get It Here
Or:
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Umberto - Prophecy of the Black Widow (2010)
Matt Hill's clan of Goblin worshippers and John Carpenter / Dario Argento film junkies are back with a new score for the euro-horror film that never was. This time they've changed the formula. Now, we're hearing a soundtrack as played by an 80's New Wave band with an expensive Giorgio Moroder habit. Incorporating Krautrock, Komische and minimal synth-driven fear and suspense, this outing is deployed predominantly by authentically produced keyboards and keytars. Its retro-innovative and very convincing but just as you get lost in the intensity, the campy elements leap out at you, once again bringing a smile to your face. If you enjoy the sounds of 70's horror and suspense (particularly low budget outings), I'm sure you'll dig this.Get It Here:
Or:
Labels:
Horror,
New Wave,
Soundtrack,
Synth
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