Dec 31, 2008

Embracing THE ARMS OF SOMEONE NEW

Susan Sleepwalking

Σχετικά απόμεροι, παρά τις επανεκδόσεις της Projekt, οι εύθραυστοι τούτοι λυρικοί ποπ ονειρότοποι εκτείνονται από την απέριτη νεοκυματική μελαγχολία ως τις παρυφές της αιθέριας/γοτθικής σκοτεινιάς... Εκεί βεβαίως που αργά ή γρήγορα... οι υπνοβασίες (Sleepwalking) μετατρέπονται σε ολισθήματα (slipwalking)...


love power & justice


Introductory material selected (by LFDJ) from the first 2 LPs and early singles of this not much known (despite the reissues of label Projekt ) lyrical synthpop\darkwave Illinois band formed in 1983 by Steve Jones (later on AREA) and Mel Eberle.

LPs
Susan Sleepwalking 1985, Office records
Love, Power & Justice 1986, Office Records
Promise 1988, C`Est La Morte Records


tracks:
01.holy dance (Holy Dance, 7``)
02.whitefrairs (Holy Dance, 7``)
03.angel of odd (Burying the Carnival, 12``EP)
04.with Louise (Susan Sleepwalking LP)
05.Susan slept here (Susan Sleepwalking LP)
06.seven days from now (Susan Sleepwalking LP)
07.holywood (love power justice LP)
08.no city fun (love power justice LP)
09.next year in Jerusalem (love power justice LP)
10.summer dress (love power justice LP)
11.believe me (love power justice LP)
12.your evening at home (love power justice LP)
13.our town (love power justice LP)

For more infos, discography, etc. you can visit:

http://www.myspace.com/thearmsofsomeonenew

http://info.comm.uic.edu/arms/

Dec 30, 2008

THEE FOURGIVEN / THE SKEPTICS

THEE FOURGIVEN - salvation guaranteed (US,1989)

aspects of salvation according to the neo-psych, 80`s garage religion...

Dec 27, 2008

THE MAGICK HEADS "Before we go under" (NZ, 1995)


Line up:Robert Scott (guitar,bass vocals) / Jane Sinnott (vocals) / David Mitchell (guitar) / Jim Strang (drums)

Ενθύμιο από την μέση (και λίγο ώριμη) ηλικία της πάλαι ποτε περίφημης ανεξάρτητης νεοζηλανδέζικης σκηνής, τοτε που μπορεί να μην μεγαλουργούσε πια τακτικά, συνέχιζε τουλάχιστον όμως να ασκεί καίρια την πολιτική της ανακύκλωσης (προσώπων, σχημάτων, ιδεών)... αλλα και της όπως πάντα παρεϊστικης ανάμιξης, λίγο πολύ, όλων σε όλα... διατηρώντας την μνήμη του εαυτού της φρέσκια και ζωντανή.
Έκτοτε, και όσο οι παλιοσειρές επαναλαμβάνονται, εξαντλούνται και βγαίνουν στη σύνταξη, τόσο περισσότερο αναρωτιώμαστε αν οι υπό εξαφάνιση πιγκουίνοι του νησιού είναι πράγματι είδος σπανιότερο απο την λεγόμενη καλή νεοζηλανδέζικη ποπ.

Dec 24, 2008

CICALA MVTA "CHING DONG, The Return of Japanese Street Music" (JAP, 1998)

streets of global parading

Avant - improv - folk - punk - prog - jazz - new orleans - klezmer - gipsy - balkan - east asian.... you need a train of words to describe.... music that starts from japanese street performances (chindon) and goes globally... madly.
The sound of CICALA MVTA is developed around the mainman/composer WATARU OHKUMA`s distinctive clarinet improvisations, by an unsual line up of musicians playing the tuba, percussions, fiddle, cello, electric guitar... The compositions are complexed, rich in multicultural references, with many unexpected turns and changes; the "street" feeling though, (lyrical, dramatic, bufooning ) is always present...
"CHING DONG..." is the german version of the first self-titled CICALA MVTA album.
Moniker CICALA MVTA honours the memory of the great, early 20th century japanese streetmusic singer, Soeda Azembo, the "mute cicada".

Dec 21, 2008

MADE TO MEASURE volume one



Self-defined as "a collection of aural garments that have or could have been commissioned as soundtracks", belgian MADE TO MEASURE series (branch of Crammed Disc label) have excursioned since 1984 "into the vast soundscape delimited by ambient / neoclassical / chamber / travelogue / trance / meditative musics"

Their diverse list of avant artists includes among others: HECTOR ZAZOU, STEVEN BROWN, BENJAMIN LEW, AKSAK MABOUL, JOHN LURIE, MINIMAL COMPACT, YASUAKI SHIMIZU, BRION GYSIN, DAVID CUNNINGHAM...

Check other LFDJ pages for MADE TO MEASURE works...and listen to the debut MTM release here...

Dec 20, 2008

CLAIR OBSCUR " In Out " (FRA, 1987)



Violins, cellos, trumpets, flutes, various percussions, theatrical vocals, lyrics of Robert Burns, Franz Kafka... and a sad ceremonial darkfolk/neoclassical atmosphere sink the senses into deep romantic visions that are, artistically, too wide to be tagged just as coldwave or goth.
A surprisingly wonderful work from a french band whose previous works hadn`t prepossessed us for something so good... Posted here by request.


Dec 18, 2008

ERIC RANDOM: works 1979 - 1984

Associated with BUZZCOCKS, CABARET VOLTAIRE, NICO... and moved gradually from post-punk/DIY to advanced explorations, Mancunian multi-instrumentalist ERIC RANDOM (ERIC RAMSDEN) developed very interesting industrial-electronic soundscapes, rich in abstract, jazz, dub and eastern music ideas approached with a "free" attitude.
First half of 80`s was his most creative period. During that time he made with THE TILLER BOYS the kraut/post-punk influenced EP "Big Noise From The Jungle" , played with Cabaret Voltaire (as PRESSURE COMPANY) and released works with the BEDLAMITES.
In 2005 LTM Publishing released the 2CD compilation "SUBLIMINAL 1980-82" comprised singles, extras and the LP "Earthbound Ghost Need".

Selected works :
THE TILLER BOYS "Big Noise from the Jungle" (EP, 1979, New Hormones)
ERIC RANDOM "That`s what i like about me" (12``, 1980, New Hormones)ERIC RANDOM "23 Skidoo/Subliminal" (7``, 1981, Les Disques du Crepuscule) ERIC RANDOM "Dow Chemical Co/Skin deep" (7``, 1981, New Hormones)
ERIC RA
NDOM MEETS THE BEDLAMITES "Earthbound Ghost Need" (1982, New Hormones) ERIC RANDOM & THE BEDLAMITES "Time Splice" (1984, Doublevision)


Time splice (46mb)

Dec 15, 2008

PATRIK FITZGERALD "Grubby Stories" (UK,1979)


Drifting through love and anger, believing nothing, adoring this LP

GRUBBY STORIES

created by KOROVIOV

THE CHUD " Mirage" (GER, 1989)


MIRAGE is the second LP of THE CHUD. Equally good if not even better than its predecessor "SILHOUETTES OF SOUND" (also posted at our blog). It includes garage anthems like 'November Rain'... but all the nine tracks are really magnificent. Reissued with 5 bonus tracks which you won`t find at this post.

Dec 13, 2008

THE VISITORS "The Visitors" (AUS,1983)


Με τον DENIZ TEK στο τιμόνι και όντας, εν μέρει, η συνέχεια των RADIO BIRDMAN όχι για "επισκέπτες", αλλά για τους καθεαυτόν "οικοδεσπότες" του αυστραλιανού 80`s γκαραζόχωρου θα πρέπει να μιλάει κανεις. Εξαιρετικό lp!!

THE VISITORS (60mb)

DENIZ TEK - guitar
MARK SISTO - vocals
RON KEELEY - drums
PIP HOYLE - piano, organ, b.voc
STEVE HARRIS - bass
ANGIE PEPPER - b.vocals

THE WORK " I hate America" (UK,1981)


Post-Canterburian/R.I.O. echoes into the 80`s landscape by TIM HODGKINSON`s (Henry Cow) avant rock outfit with BILL GILLONIS (guitar, bass, vocals), MICK HOBBS (bass, drums, instruments, vocals), RICK WILSON (drums, bass, vocals). Band`s first release was the 7``single "I hate America" which was followed by the LP "SLOW CRIMES" in 1982 (reissued 1992, 2006). CATHERINE JAUNIAUX did vocals on some tracks. The WORK split up but reformed in 1989 and released two more albums: "Rubber Cages" (1989), "See" (1992).


Slow Crimes, LP, 1982

Dec 11, 2008

THE GARDEN PATH " 5 Reasons " (AUS, 1985)



GARDEN PATH was an indie psych rock band from Adelaide, Australia. Their debut LP, "5 Reasons" climbed in mid-eighties the aussie indie charts.They giged with DIED PRETTY, EXPLODING WHITE MICE a.o. A second & a third LP followed with much less success and GARDEN PATH disbanded. Singer and guitarist Vic Conrad formed later the outfit Vic Conrad & the First Third which released an album on Bevis Frond`s WORONZOW label.

Dec 10, 2008

THE DECORATORS "Twilight View " (1980) + "Rebel Songs" (1983) , (UK)

Twilight View, 7``, 1980



Rebel Songs, 1983

DECORATORS classic first single, "TWILIGHT VIEWS", released from the legendary Buzzcock`s label NEW HORMONES. Band`s sound hadn`t a lot to do with DIY style of New Hormones and THE DECORATORS soon signed with other labels. Quite influenced by THE ONLY ONES , THE DECORATORS could have a longer and more successful indie career but finally disbanded in 1984 leaving behind the album "TABLETS" and the final mini LP "REBEL SONGS" both in Red Flame label.

Listen to "Twilight View" single and "Rebel Songs" mini LP,
HERE (35mb)

Dec 4, 2008

SANDRA BELL: Relentless Visions


Sandra Bell
`s poetic, sensitive and angry female approach to life and reality refreshed and finally expanded the 90`s post folk art beyond separations among experimentation, noise and lyricism. Highly recommended to explorers of NZ undeground, fans of A. Galbraith, Jefferies bros, Xpressway label, etc.
After a long discographic absence SANDRA BELL released this year her fourth LP, extracts of which you find at my space.

An introductory compilation to Sandra Bell

tracks:
01.manai (Dreams of Falling)
02.floating aground (Dreams of Falling)
03.the country girls (Dreams of Falling)
04.seas of the moon (Shrew`d, flying nun compilation)
05.with the rain (chord, 2x7``, 1993)
06.underground (Net)
07.caitlan (Net)
08.walking (Net)
09.7 day descent (City of Sorrows)
10.below normal zero (City of Sorrows)
11.eternal fire (City of Sorrows)
12.come to me (City of Sorrows)

compiled by LFDJ


LPs:
"Dreams of Falling", Xpressway, 1992
"Net", IMD, 1994
"City of Sorrows", VHF, 1999
"White Nights", Powertool, 2008


First three LPs available from her site:
http://www.sandrabe
ll.net

Chord, 2x7``, 1993


from "Net" artwork

Dec 1, 2008

SUB ROSA: " The Myths"

created & provided by RAINIER


Active since mid-eighties, belgian label SUB ROSA, offers one of the most expanded and advanced views on the art of 20th and 21st century. Though they specialize in experimental, world, electronic, avant garde music, in their huge and extremely interesting catalogue you can find also the most unexpected releases: aural documents (from artists, writers and important 20th century personalities), early electronics, recordings from authentic ethnic sources, indepen dent modern composition ("unclassical"), and so many other surprises...

The introductory SUB ROSA collection escorts this post is based mostly on material compiled from SUB ROSA`s "MYTHS" series and provided by our good friend RAINIER.

Discover more for SUB ROSA at:
http://www.subrosa.net

THE MYTHS compilation (170mb) link updated April 2013