JACK OR JIVE LIGHTS " A Solo Exhibition " (JAP, 1994)

The minimalistic/ethereal sound paintings of  Jack or Jive could have attracted more attention if they  were out sometime in middle to late eighties, on the 4AD's catalog, for example. Nevertheless the duo doesn't adopt the tried atmospheric pop fragility without blending it with the quiet, allusive art of the japanese landscape... 
"A Solo Exhibition" -that finds the band changing its name to Jack Or Jive Lights- flows perhaps a bit more presumably than its predecessors, it uses though the same elixirs: The dream-awaking voice of Chako is far enough to hold itself the "exhibition" still worth visiting.

More Jack Or Jive at LaFolieDuJour: "Prayer" + "Expatriation"

A Solo Exhibition

German Noises

  AG GEIGE [formed in East Germany in 1987]

Hannover's MYTHEN IN TUTEN  
[with singer Emilio Winschetti, the "The Hidden Gentleman"]

Further explorations in the back pages of "deutsche musik" of 80's and early 90's. Obscure sides of minimal/experimental electronics, neue deutsche welle, krautrock... plus avant sounds from former GDR.

A
Die Werkpiloten the today (1984)

Phantom Band nervous breakdown (1984)
Deutsche Schäferhunde gasmasken (1982) 
Comrad don't worry (1988) 
Vono mauertanz (1982)
Bodenpersonal tote räume (1980)
Pension Stammheim madox mutanten (1981)
Ostzonensuppenwurfelmachkrebs and by passes the truth (1990)
Broken Jug A.C. (1987)
The Blech viel fress mi 2 (1987)
Electric Orange the return of Eugene, be careful! (1993)
Splitter ich freß dir aus der hand (1981)
Schönheit Siegt kalter krieg (1981)
Hans-A-Plast tuaregs (1980)
Die Gesunden sometimes-manchmal (1982)
Heinz & Franz immer (1987)

B
Conrad & Gregor Schnitzler pro 1 (1982) 
Vier Kaiserlein einsam (1982) 
Thorax-Wach ruhe im carton (1981) 
Perc Meets The Hidden Gentleman towersong (1989)
No More venus in furs (1986)
Die Lemminge Im Himmel (1983)
Aloa seltsame ranken (1982) 
Mythen In Tüten das erste mal (1981)
Kastrierte Philosophen strawberry vibes (1990)
AG Geige kosmonauten (1989)
Pension Stammheim hippiepunk (1981) 
Elektronische Musik Aus Köln was kann der papst da sagen (1982) 
Ur-Tacheles nino (80's) 
3Tot zaghaft (1989)
Matador sun (1989)
Hermann Kopp amanda am nudistenstrand (1983)
Strafe Für Rebellion santa maria (1986)

 

compiled by LaFolieDuJour

German Noises:  A  +  B

Producing The Future: Adrian Sherwood & his On-U Sound label

 Adrian Sherwood

 On-U artists circa 1993 [photo from skysaw site]

 Adrian Sherwood's On-U Sound is one of the most influential labels in the field where the mixing and producing technologies meet music. Sherwood's productions, marked by the heavy use of dub techniques (echo sounding, samples, effects) have created since 1981 (and especially for the first 10-15 years) a unique space of pioneering flavours backgrounded in post-punk, reggae, industrial, funk, dance, spoken word, experimental music. The huge influence of On-U can be detected in many music scenes and movements in previous decades, even in contemporary genres ranging from ambient, hip hop, house and dubstep to electronic jazz and world music.

Joining the celebration for the 30th Anniversary of On-U Sound label (1981-2011), LaFolieDuJour selects essential On-U productions:

01 African Head Charge Free chant (1990)
02 Noah House Of Dread Wicked Kingdom (1982)
03 New Age Steppers Animal space (1981)
04 Judy Nylon Room without a view (1982)
05 Mothmen factory/teapoint/factory (1981)
06 Revolutionary Dub Warriors creation (1996)
07 Annie Anxiety sad shadows (1984, corpus christi)
08 African Head Charge healing father (1990)
09 London Underground Animosity (1983)
10 Headley Bennett little dove (1982)
11 Dub Syndicate haunting ground (1986)
12 2 Badcard rock to sleep (1995)
13 Little Annie le manger hereux (1994)
14 Bim Sherman can i be free from crying (1996)
15 Singers and Players revolution (1982)
16 Creation Rebel space movement section 2 (orig.1980, 1981 on-u)


On-U Sound

compiled by semilunio + paramo

MINIMAL MAN "Mock Honeymoon" (1987)

Avant post-punk and industrial pioneer Patrick Miller is well known to LFDJ readers. In addition to our previous MINIMAL MAN posts, here is the 12'' "Mock Honeymoon". Miller produced this EP in Belgium in 1987 with help of Tuxedomoon members Peter Principle (bass, guitar)and Luc Van Lieshout (trumpet, flugelhorn). Drums and additional keyboards by Ludo Camberlin.

Mock Honeymoon

V.A. TERRA INCOGNITA vol.1 & 2 (Auxilio De Cientos compilations)

Terra Incognita vol 1

Terra Incognita vol 2

The two TERRA INCOGNITA compilations were released from spanish label Auxilio De Cientos in 1985 and 1986. The bands come from several countries and the music lies at the experimental-electronic-minimal synth fields. Compiling is quite good, behind the label, however, there are members of Neo Zelanda and Diseno Corbusier, spanish bands of the era that played similar stuff.
Twilight Ritual, Bene Gesserit, Attrition, DDAA, Ptose, Hector Zazou, Muslimgauze, Kastrierte Philosophen and other more obscure names are the guides through these "unknown lands"...

Terra Incognita I
&
Terra Incognita II

ART & TECHNIQUE "Alea Jacta Est" , EP, (FRA, 1983)

Compared to the very interesting exploratory, minimal-electronic-industrial ambience of their debut (and best) LP "CLIMA X" (1981), the 1983 three track EP "ALEA JACTA EST" finds ART & TECHIQUE been more interested in cold synth-wave dance structures, while b-side track "Another Day An Other Life" is a more atmospheric song.

works:

CLIMA X (LP, Hi-Tec, 1981) reissued from SPALAX in 1998
PUTSCH IN MEMORIAM (7'', Hi-Tec, 1981)
DIABOLUS IN MECANICA (LP, Hi-Tec, 1982)
ALEA JACTA EST (12'' EP, Hi-Tec, 1983)

ALEA JACTA EST
a1 - Radio City Deutschland
a2 - Psychic Dance Floor
b1 - Another Day An Other Life


ART & TECHNIQUE noel tombe un jeudi (track from "Clima X")

V.A. INSANE MUSIC

INSANE MUSIC was a pioneering belgian label for underground music & cassette culture. Founded in 1980 and run by ALAIN NEFFE, also member of many belgian minimal/electronic/industrial bands as BENE GESSERIT, PSEUDO CODE, I SCREAM, HUMAN FLESH, JAPANESE GENIUS, M.A.L. and others....
Interested also in experimental creations from anywhere, ALAIN NEFFE collected and released through his label rare material by many obscure european & american artists who shared an avant/diy/extreme creative spirit similar to his.

As an introduction to ALAIN NEFFE and his label, here's a compilation with tracks from the legendary INSANE MUSIC FOR INSANE PEOPLE cassetes series, (25 volumes during the years 1981-88).

The Insanity Of the Day

JAPANESE GENIUS - pikah o papikah ?? pt1

M.A.L. - insects in love

M.A.L. - manuel ist unehrlich

HUMAN FLESH - indians

LEGENDARY PINK DOTS - time dance

SUBJECT - tatoo for england

PHILIPPE LAURENT - exposition partie 5

NOSY PARKER - anger

THALASSA KOLLECTIF - are you beush

VAN KAYE + IGNIT - another waste

THE QUASI KULMAHN'S 5 - sampo puru

KINO GLAZ - batte la luna

TUF - i'm a sunflower

D'ARCHANGEL 2 - beautiful, plastic

JEAN-LOUIS DESCLOUX - les fourmis

PSEUDO CODE - watoo watoo

COLIN POTTER - for all you know

BERNTHOLER - images

UROVISIONS - it must be satchmo

UROVISIONS - the twisting earthworm song

HAT HAT - before the curtain falls

HOWARD INGRAM - kenje maje keahi [sung by Zed Deda]

COLLECTIONISM - xsass

JAPANESE GENIUS pikah o papikah ?? pt2

compiled by LFDJ

SUSSAN DEYHIM & RICHARD HOROWITZ "Desert Equations: Azax Attra" (1986)

MTM Vol. 08

The collaboration between electronic/world music fusionist Richard Horowitz and the incredible Iranian vocalist Sussan Deyhim is one of the cult classics of Made To Measure series. Written for the opera performance "Azax Attra", which premiered in 1985 in NY and toured internationally.
A landmark in both musicians career and very influential for the evolution of world fusion genre...

Posted here by request

Desert Equations
(8 tracks, approx 41 min)

The sonic investigations of ESSENDON AIRPORT (AUS)

Sonic Investigations Of The Trivial

ESSENDON AIRPORT formed in 1978 in Melbourne. They began as a duo (Robert Goodge - guitar, electronics - David Chesworth - electric piano, drum machine etc.), releasing "Sonic Investigations Of The Trivial", a minimal, instrumental EP which was enough to place them near no other australian post punk band, somewhere between Young Marble Giants and electronica's future.
A two-track single with Anne Cessna (Anne Sanger) on lyrics and vocals followed in 1980. The addition of Paul Fletcher (drums) and Ian Cox (sax), turned them into a four piece band. As a quartet they made the LP "Palimpsest" (1982), a work much different from previous output, funkier, closer to the 'no wave' standards of the era.
ESSENDON AIRPORT paused activities in 1983... but 2002's reissue of their early material caused little new noise about the band, so ESSENDON AIRPORT came back, playing some gigs and working on new stuff.

ESSENDON AIRPORT & ANNE CESSNA - Talking To Cleopatra / Lost In Madagascar, 7'', 1980

ESSENDON AIRPORT - wallpaper music (from "Sonic Investigations..." EP, 1979)

complaints received.Link removed!

EQUAL LOCAL "Madagascar", EP, (AUS, 1981)

EQUAL LOCAL -Madagascar, EP, 1981

three synth-jazz-lounge-exotic-noir themes are searching for movie...

BERNARD SZAJNER (FRA)

An introduction to dark synth-pop and cold ambient soundscapes of French-Jew electronic composer BERNARD SZAJNER (born 1944), also designer and player of the "laser harp".

Szajner`s strange, sometimes sonically violent, and not easily full revealed world combines several elements from minimal composers, 70`s electronic prog, Serge Gainsbourg, 80`s cold-wave inclinations....while much of its dark colour derives from the sad palette of his race genocide experience.
As a pioneering musician, Szajner has known both critical acclaim and commercial acknowledgement, but since his mid-80's moving away from music (towards other artistic activities), his work became gradually obscured. He has created though some new works just recently.

tracklist:
01. Ritual (from "Some Deaths Take Forever", LP, 1980)
02. Execute (from "Some Deaths Take Forever", LP, 1980)
03. The Memory (from "Some Deaths Take Forever", LP, 1980)
04. Superficial music 3 (from "Superficial Music", LP, 1981)
05. Without leaving (feat. H. Devoto) (from "Brute Reason", LP, 1983)
06. Saracen Cards (from "Brute Reason", LP, 1983)
07. The Snark (from "Brute Reason", LP, 1983)
08. The Big Scare (from "The Big Scare, EP, 1984)
09. Indecision (from "The Big Scare, EP, 1984)
10. Flash Forward ** (from "Indecent Delit", EP, 1986)

** written by Serge Gainsbourg

Bernard Szanjer
(approx time 45 min)

compiled by La Folie Du Jour

playing the laser harp

VORGRUPPE "Das Sehnen Nach Dem Schein" (GER, 1983)

Fine 4-track 12'' EP by avant NDW band VORGRUPPE, following up the very good "Menschenkinder" LP. Posted here by request.

Das Sehnen Nach Dem Schein
(256 kb/s, approx 15min)

V/A - EINE DEUTSCHE SCHWELLE

"Boshaft wie goldene Rede beginnt diese Nacht."

A GERMAN THRESHOLD

PYROLATOR - it always rains in Wupertal ("Inland", LP, 1979)

MATTHIAS SCHUSTER - Ritual 1 ("Ritual", 12'' EP, 1981)
DIN A TESTBILD - Incorporeal ("Programme 3", LP, 1983)
STRAFE FUR REBELLION - Hochofenballet ("A Soundless Message of Death", LP, 1984)
SERGE BLENNER - Envoutement ("Magazin Frivole", LP, 1981)
VORGRUPPE - Verkannt und Verbissen ("Menschenkinder", LP, 1982)
MANNSCHRECK - Walking in the human mud ("80-8", 7'', 1980)
HOFFNUNG & PSYCHE - Das auto (1981-82)
INDEX SIGN - Machines ("...Entrance", LP, 1981)
INDEX SIGN - Tables & Chairs ("...Entrance", LP, 1981)
ROTZKOTZ - Schlanke Finger ("Lebensfroh & Farbenfroh", LP, 1981)
DER MODERNE MAN - Anakonda ("Unmodern", LP, 1982)
DER MODERNE MAN - Unmodern ("Unmodern", LP, 1982)
DUNKELZIFFER - Strom ("Stil der Neuen Zeit", 12''EP, 1982)
BARCHEN UND DIE MILCHBUBIS - Oh! ("Dann Macht Es Bumm", LP, 1982)
IDEAL - Sex in der wuste ("Der Ernst des Lebens",LP, 1981)
ROTZKOTZ - Auglein zu ("Lebensfroh & Farbenfroh", LP, 1981)
PYROLATOR - Nordatlantik ("Inland", LP, 1979)

compiled by LFDJ

eine deutsche schwelle
(18 tracks, 67 min)

KEN CLINGER: the art of home taping

A genuine hero of "cassette culture" days & D.I.Y. aeshtetics, KEN CLINGER, has created since early 80's tons of homemade keyboard pop and experimental music, working either solo or in collaboration with other similarly spirited, unknown musicians and obscure poets. His contributions to rare, home-taping and weird music compilations (Total Recess cassette compilations, for instance) have invited the attention of a small circle of listeners but, generally, his work remains quite invisible.
KEN CLINGER nowadays runs Bovine Productions music label and gives a big part of his work for free. Self-introduced as "a one-man sound module band", he counts among his influences The Beatles, The Kinks, Brian Eno, Momus, King Crimson, Algebra Suicide and others. Sometimes he is strongly reminiscent of Edward Ka Spel. As he characteristically says: "Ken Clinger actually exists".

An introduction to Ken Clinger music:

KEN CLINGER (20 tracks, approx time 74min)

compiled by La Folie Du Jour

JACK OR JIVE "Prayer" (1991) / "Expatriation" (1990), (JAP)

PRAYER, 1991

This post brings you some music from the earliest and most interesting period of Japanese band JACK OR JIVE. Female singer CHAKO does gifted vocals of many aspects and disguises, while MAKOTO HATTURI (her partner also in life since 1992), as the less "visible" figure of the band, deals mainly with music treatments which in their bigger part are electronic. Duo`s music derives from 80`s minimal, dark ambient, ethereal and cinematic sounds, it is also rooted to traditional japanese music and sometimes it just shows its lyrical nostalgia for the simple, unaffected pop and the childhood age.
"PRAYER" was the debut CD album of the band. The very first though JACK OR JIVE `s release was the limited cassette "Expatriation" (1990), a slightly damaged digital copy of which you can also listen here...

PRAYER + extras

EXPATRIATION cassette, 1990

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 RANDOM MEETS THE BEDLAMITES "Earthbound Ghost Need" (1982, New Hormones) ERIC RANDOM & THE BEDLAMITES "Time Splice" (1984, Doublevision)

THE TILLER BOYS -Big noise from the jungle, EP, (19mb)

23 skidoo/subliminal, 7``

Dow Chemical co/skin deep, 7``

Earthbound Ghost Need, LP

Time splice (46mb)

EDWARD KA SPEL : the sharpness of the thin blue lines

Selected tracks from solo works by LEGENDARY PINK DOTS mainman EDWARD KA SPEL (birthname Edward Francis Sharp).

tracklist

01.atomic roses (Laugh china doll , 1984)
02.lady sunshine (Laugh china doll, 1984)
03.the char char (Eyes china doll, 1985)
04.the infinity waltz (Chyekk china doll, 1986)
05.Lisa`s christening (Chyekk china doll, 1986)
06.nuts in May (AaΔzhyd china doll, 1987)
07.the Qa`Spell (AaΔzhyd china doll, 1987)
08.and the lord said "rise" (For your ears only, compilation)
09.our lady in Madras (Khataclimici china doll, 1988)
10.the bakersman (Tanith & the lion tree, 1991)
11.memoires of Dr. Bliss (the scriptures of illumina, 1995)
12.scarlet cross (The blue room, 1998)
13.seeing red (Red letters, 2000)

The Prophet Qa`Spell with LEGENDARY PINK DOTS

Θέατρο Δάσους, Θεσσαλονίκη, Σεπτέμβρης 1987

(Live in Salonika, Greece, Sept 1987)

Link 1 (81mb) - Link 2 

KARL BISCUIT "Regrets Eternels", EP, (FRA, 1984)

Entry of the "ballet" man to the 80`s cold electro art pessimism assisted by Mark Hollander (sax), Winston Tong (guest vocals) and Blaine Reininger (violin).

Regrets eternels (27mb)

KARL BISCUIT "Fatal Reverie" (FRA, 1986)

Magnificent romantic new wave synth pop art by cult french composer Karl Biscuit, whose electronic songs, bathed in dark, cold central european atmospheres help us imagine David Sylvian performing the music of Tuxedomoon (or the opposite).
Karl Biscuit came to electronic underground scene from the world of modern ballet and after few mid-eighties releases in Crammed Disc (SECRET LOVE EP, REGRETS ETERNEL EP, FATAL REVERIE LP, AKTUALISMUS LP) he returned to it.

Fatal Reverie (41mb)

SAMY BIRNBACH & BENJAMIN LEW "When God Was Famous" (BEL, 1989)

in the green morning, before

love was destiny,

the sun was king

and god was famous

D SCHWARTZ

BENJAMIN LEW (electronics), SAMMY BIRNBACH (vocals), MICHEL BERCKMANS (oboe, bassoon), ANNELI DRECKER (back. vocals), PETER PRINCIPLE (guitar), AURELIA BOVEN (cello), GILES MARTIN (engineering, production)

tracklist

01.pourquoi que vis [BORIS VIAN]
02.kommt [GOTTFRIED BENN]
03.the wheel [W.B. YEATS]
04.an upbraiding [THOMAS HARDY]
05.men with coats thrashing [MALCOLM LOWRY]
06.response [BOB KAUFMAN]
07.what is to be given [DELMORE SCHWARTZ]
08.ravenna 1 [HERMANN HESSE]
09.hotels [GUILLAUME APOLLINAIRE]
10.mandorla [PAUL CELAN]
11.plis [PAUL ELUARD]
12.in the green morning, now ,once more [DELMORE SCHWARTZ]
13.little birds sit on your shoulders [KENNETH PATCHEN]

when god was famous (42mb)