MP3 Oldies

old punks web zine

MP3 Blog Archives Page 3 (song links mostly dead)

Entry Seventy-Three: 06/28/2008: Bands Get Popular For No Apparent Reason

"Gloria"

"I Will Follow"

"1000 Hours"

"I Was There"

In my experience most bands go from good to bad as songwriting minds run dry and experiments in other sounds fail miserably. A few get better over time, Leatherface the prime example with 1993's Mush. I've seen firsthand two bands to go from obscurity to superstardom by staying the same if not getting a little worse. One was new wave and the other punk. Their names - U2 and Green Day. You might have heard of them.

When Boy came out in 1980, U2 was another great new wave band in an era filled with great new wave bands, their grand distinction The Edge's jagged and soaring guitar. I remember buying the record and reading the review in Rolling Stone on the ride home. Something about talented boys making music, which I dismissed at the time, but thematically the album is filled with boy to boy/man to boy/boy to man themes. It's creepy if not almost so. My memory is like a steel spaghetti strainer, so I forget if I saw them that year in Tampa or if they cancelled. Probably the latter because I remember thinking if they were booked in the mob-controlled Agora Ballroom they would have shown up. I worked security for a show of theirs in Maryland a few years later, and I told drummer Larry Mullen he looked a little like Lou Reed. He was nice enough to laugh. Boy was very good, 1981's October just as good because they stuck with a formula that worked, then came 1983's War, their best all-around record. After this U2 exploded and the rest is history. Bono donned his Cyclops shades and resolved all the world's problems, along with fellow do-gooder Bob Geldof. 1984's The Unforgettable Fire was no better if not worse than what came before it, and both the band and their fame never looked back. I wondered what that was all about, by then my head was so far up the ass of the punk rock beast I couldn't see anything even if I wanted to. That's how punk I was!

Green Day (the group, not the Japanese holiday), was just another decent band on Lookout! Records, a great NoCal pop-punk label that did no wrong with me for a time. 1989's 1000 Hours EP was Lookout! #17, while 1990's Slappy was #35. Their albums from 1991 and 1992 weren't as good as their singles, but they were fun. They even dabbled in country-flavored songs, an oddity shared with other Lookout! bands for reasons never made clear. Were they making fun of it or having fun playing it? Who knows. Dookie came out in 1994 and I swear the collective maturity and intelligence of alternative culture took a nosedive into concrete. The album was a pale version of what came before it, and they even had the audacity of hope to re-record "Welcome To Paradise". On MTV the video for "Longview" was only interrupted for commercial breaks and both the band and their fame never looked back. I wondered once again why history repeating a second time has to be farce, but by then my head was so far up the ass of Welsh clog dancing I really couldn't see anything. That's how Welsh cloggy I was!

Today I can listen to early U2 without guilt or shame, but I avoid Green Day for the same reasons I do the swarms of teenage assholes that haunt shopping areas.

Entry Seventy-Two: 06/21/2008: Analog CyberPunk: Transmission Eleven

06/21/2008: Begin Transmission Eleven: I probably have two more entries of songs for this project, and then it's time to reconsider what stays and goes, and work on song orders and such. When it's all done I'll take time off, maybe buy a chinchilla farm in the country or tour Bavaria in a zeppelin. Until then, remember to breath. And remember, electronic post-punk new wave music is neat! End Transmission Eleven.

Patrick D. Martin: "Computer Datin'" (Category: Honorable Mention : Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

There’s only a sparse MySpace page for Patrick D., but this was a favorite of mine when it came out. The Cockney accent is fantastic. It's really just a new wave song but I can't resist sharing it.

Trees: "Delta Sleep" (Category: The Unheard Synth New Wave)

A cult favorite of sorts from one Dane Conover, a cross between Harry Potter and Where's Waldo. He was signed at the same time as Men Without Hats, and you can hear a similarity. The video for this song has Conover singing in bed, and it's just not right. More info here. The album's not an all-time classic but it has its moments. Extra credit for the one man band thing.

Interior: "Bizarre Disco" (Category: Analog CyberPunk)

The Netherlands birthed a 7” single with this track in the beer of our toad 1979. I can't track down if Harry Vanda was the singer for Flash & The Pan, but he was born in The Netherlands and he sure sounds like he's singing on this one.

Inertia: "Injury Time" (Category: Analog CyberPunk)

Only three 7”s are listed from this UK band, spanning the years 1980 – 1981.

Grauzone: "Eisbar" (Category: Analog CyberPunk)

Germany’s Grauzone formed in 1979. Eisbar was their second single, from 1981. The short, jagged guitar solos are sweet.

Ruth: "Polaroid/Roman/Photo" (Category Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

According to this, their debut LP came with a 12 page booklet. Their was a promo single limited to 80 copies. Isn’t that something? I'm usually not a fan of Plop Plop drumming, but I make an exception here.

Brian Brain: "The Asthma Game" (Category: Analog CyberPunk)

Brian Brain info can be found here. There’s a PIL connection, so adjust your beret and pay attention hipsters! I love this one. At first I thought he was singing "Let's play the asp again",

Bitoks A La Russe: "Tu Dois Partir" (Category Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

A 1980 Belgium compilation yielded this up.

Ausgang Verboten: "Joy And Erase" (Category: The Unheard Synth New Wave)

This Kraftwerk-sounding tune is from Germany, originally on a 1984 cassette that tends to be slower and less happy. I can't get enough Kraftwerky tunes in my life.

AD Conspiracy: "12-Bar-64" (Category: Analog CyberPunk)

This ditty is from a 1979 album called Conspiracy. It's a great song to do a card trick to, with great gesticulations to the back of the crowd.

Q Lazzarus: "Goodbye Horses" (Category: The Unheard Synth New Wave)

Discogs.com comes through with a short bio for Q Lazzarus. “Goodbye Horses” was featured in Silence Of The Lambs, and you can watch Buffalo Bill every week on Monk as Captain Leland Stottlemeyer. Is Q Lazzarus a man or woman? Only the shadow (of his/her private parts) knows…..

Inertia: "The Screen" (Category Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

“The Screen” is my favorite song right now. I can’t stop singing “S.C.R. double E.N.” I mean, I can, but I chose not to.

Bizarre Leidenschaft: "Plasticpuppen" (Category Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

A real life German Guy told me the title means "Plastic Puppet". I rest my case. From 1982.

Greg Horn: "You're In Control" (Category Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

Greg Horn was in Analog CyberPunk fave band Tone Set, and his career is summed up here. This song is from a 1983 cassette. Once again, Devo fans sit up, stop slouching, and take note.

Ad Astra: "A&R" (Category Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

From a 1983 UK compilation. A really great song for headphones. Pong gone wild.

Los Iniciados: "Resurreccion" (Category: Rez Eyeballs Wink: Some Weird Ones)

According to discogs.com: “Los Iniciados were an El Aviador Dro side project which formed in 1981. They combined performance art and music to deliver their message. The line-up was constantly evolving and the member's identities were never revealed.”

Chrome: "In A Dream" (Category: Analog CyberPunk)

Two sites for Chrome, here and here, and their allmusic page is here. What I’d heard them before was noise, so it’s nice to know they recorded melodic tunes too. Their catalog is huge! Not that I stare at other guy's catalogs or anything.

The Vyllies: "Whispers In The Shadow" (Category: The Unheard Synth New Wave)

Switzerland’s The Vyllies have a MySpace page which speaks very highly of the band. Their career ran from 1983-ish to 1987-somewheres.

Los Microwaves: "Time To Get Up" (Category Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

The Los Microwaves site is nicely done, and I’ll have to seek out more of their product. “Time To Get Up” first hit me as too new-wave quirky, but the joke’s funny and the instrumentation surprisingly intense.

The Instant Automatons: "Invertebrates" (Category Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

Electronic dub reggae for white kids, at least on this one. Their site is here, with a defense of the "Free Music" concept. Yes, it did destroy western civilization.

Hilary: "Kinetic (long version)" (Category: The Unheard Synth New Wave)

“Kinetic” must have been a big chunk of her career because it’s in the URL of her website. Sadly, she passed away in July of 2007. From her looks I’d guess she was competing with Toyah Wilcox (or some such person).

Guerre Froide: "Ersatz" (Category Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

Guerre Froide were solid citizens of the French new wave, forming in 1980. Ersatz was on a 1981 12”er. A great, great track.

Gleitzeit: "Ich Komme Aus Der DDR" (Category Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

1982, from Germany.

Fad Gadget: "Ricky's Hand" (Category: Analog CyberPunk)

I'm generally not a fan of Fad Gadget, and "Ricky's Hand" was to me too well known when it came out to include in what I consider a comp of unheard music. but it wins the day by being as good as it is.

Circuit 7: "Video Boys" (Category: The Unheard Synth New Wave)

From what I can tell they only put out two UK singles in 1984. A nice dark tone runs throughout.

Three To Forgotten: "Kitano" (Category Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

This appeared on a 2006 compilation, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t as old as dirt. Not new dirt either.

Entry Seventy-One: 06/14/2008: The English Beat Were The Beatles, And The Specials Were The Rolling Stones

The English Beat: "Save It For Later" (From Special Beat Service)

The English Beat: "Whine And Grind/Stand Down Margaret" (From I Just Can't Stop It)

The English Beat: "Mirror In The Bathroom" (Live, from the Trojan Ska Revival Box Set)

The Specials: "(Dawning Of A) New Era" (From The Specials)

The Specials: "Rude Boys Outta Jail" (Live)

The Specials: "Free Nelson Mandela" (From The Singles Collection)

Sometimes I remember bits of trivia that were once almost common knowledge. The other day at Trader Joe's I was pondering how much they charge for arugula at Whole Foods, when what-the-hey The English Beat's "Save It For Later" played overhead and I couldn't get over how pleasant a song it is, the perfect soundtrack for shopping. Not in the pricktard anarchist conception of sheeples and forehead barcodes, but how a great band in a great style of music can write music so catchy and appealing it can be utilized for its universal appeal while not losing any of its underground greatness. In other words, "Save It For Later" isn't a sell-out and it hasn't been co-opted by the military-industrial-hygiene complex. It means I and the music I like won something, in this case my ability to hear it out of the house.

Hearing The English Beat made me immediately ponder The Specials and if I'd ever heard anything by them at Trader Joe's. Maybe "Ghost Town" and most likely "Free Nelson Mandela", but man, it would be like frickin' anarchy to hear The Specials -- except 1979 was 29 years ago, and no matter how much I shudder to think The Specials broke up to become, gulp, Fun Boy Three.

I, and by extension, you, can't think of The English Beat without also considering The Specials because they were The Beatles and The Rolling Stones of 2nd wave ska. The Specials were the street fighting men while The English Beat, no matter how political their lyrics or how many riots broke out at shows, were a band who wrote silly love songs. Here's an article on the Beatles/Stones rivalry, both real and imagined, and if you knew about it then the Beatles/Stones English = Beat/Specials idea immediately fell into place.

The first albums by The Specials and The English Beat were bookends of the 2 Tone scene, the punk and new wave contingents. The English Beat's debut consisted of variations on a theme that does repeat itself, but each song is like my child and I love them all equally - at least that's what I tell them! The next two records slowed down and branched out, much to my chagrin, but the best songs are substantial enough to cement their legacy on whatever level they were hoping. The Specials' perceived drop in quality between the first and second album was precipitous, and the view made me dizzy, but the wound's healed into a cute scar and I mostly dwell on the good times. The debut is a microcosm of all that was great (or at least tolerable) about 1st wave ska, including reviving the tradition of writing lyrics about Rude Boys where the point was to sing the words "Rude Boy" and "Rudie" as often as possible. In Jamaica they sang a lot about skinheads too, but that meant something else back in the 60's. The best rude boy songs were scenes acted out in court. They're funny.

I saw The English Beat live when they were great and The Specials when they weren't. If only I had a time machine that wasn't missing a doohickie modulator.

Entry Seventy: 06/07/2008: Analog CyberPunk: Transmission Ten

06/07/2008: Begin Transmission Ten: Links! I got 'em. I sure couldn't collect these songs without the help of obsessive record collector scum who spend the big bucks, rip the electro-tunes from vinyl, and offer them to the world. MUTANT SOUNDS is the motherload for the esoteric, from prog rock to every European version of Heino. I dare you to enter their archives. SOUNDHEAD is relatively new but he offers up good material and succinctly describes and categorizes his offerings. A very clean site and hooray for him. SYSTEMS OF ROMANCE has always given away the goods well, and you'll find a lot of full albums here. 7" FROM THE UNDREGROUND avoids the album route and posts songs I generally appreciate. PHOENIX HAIRPINS has been posting since 2006 and is a top pick of Analog CyberPunk material. DIFFERENT ILLUSION says "Hi!!!!!! I'M BRAZILIAN GUY AND HERE IS MY STRANGE LITTLE WORLD.
CAN YOU STAY HERE???" Sure, why not... End Transmission Ten.

Ciaran Harte: "Love Is Strange" (Category: Close But No Cigar: Analog CyberPunk)

1980, from the UK. This might be from their only single. This is a close but no cigar because of poorly sung backups (like Spinal Tap) and a general awkwardness that goes a little beyond DIY.

The French Park: "The Turn Of A Card" (Category: The Unheard Synth New Wave)

This appeared out of nowhere on Return Of Flexi-Pop Vol. 7., if my lazy research is accurate. This reminds you a lot of that other band, doesn't it?

Moral: "Slottet I Luften" (Category: Analog CyberPunk)

From their 1984 LP, which followed a 1982 cassette. Hanne Winterberg's voice is fantastic. Here's a MySpace page fer ya.

Taxi Girl: "S.O.S. Mannekin" (Category: The Unheard Synth New Wave)

Here's the Taxi-Girl website. Systems Of Romance has more info on them, plus and a video of the song and a gallon of fruit punch.

Linear Movement: "Magic Melody" (Category: The Unheard Synth New Wave)

From Belgium circa 1983. Great music for strutting down the street pointing at all your friends and enjoying the sunshine.

Die Verspannten: "Komm Besuch Mich Heut" (Category: Close But No Cigar: Analog CyberPunk)

A great song almost ruined by the Alvin And The Chipmunks/Munchkins backup vocals, that even manage to take it up a notch at times. Strange choice. Maybe it makes more sense in Germany.

Instant Music: "Do Not" (Category: Analog CyberPunk)

From Germany in the year of 1980, from an untitled 10". Like Lilliput or The Raincoats maybe. There's a lot of nice little touches if you calm the frick down and listen.

Ensemble Pittoresque: "Maitre Satori" (Category: Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

1983, from The Netherlands. Ensemble Pittoresque has an extensive website to check out. Crack that tin-sounding synth drum pad, funky guy!

Easter And The Totem: "Nothing There" (Category: Analog CyberPunk)

This might be the same band, and it probably is. Minted around 1981. Nice one-man band material. Minimal by definition.

Soft Cell: "Metro MRx" (Category: Analog CyberPunk)

I hold Soft Cell partly responsible for destroying new wave as a decent style of music, but their earliest work, recorded in a bedroom for all I know, has its moments. From a 1980 EP. available as an import CD that collects recordings from 78-82.

Days Of Sorrow: "Travel" (Category: The Unheard Synth New Wave)

Days Of Sorrow were a German band who recorded a few short players between 84-86. This one's circa 1984.

Inflatable Boy Clams: "Skeletons" (Category: Rez Eyeballs Wink: Some Weird Ones)

From Inflatable Boy Clams 1981 2x7"er. From San Francisco. Top 40 music for people who can smell shapes.

The Fast Set: "King Of The Rumbling Spires" (Category Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

A 1981 UK product. It makes me want to run and dance The Pony at the same time. Very sweet. A Marc Bolan cover.

Hongkong Syndikat: "Gonohrro" (Category Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

Hongkong Syndikat had a long run. This is from Germany in the year1982.

Faith Global: "Knowing The Way" (Category: The Unheard Synth New Wave)

The UK gave birth to this track in 1983. The voice sounds familiar, but it's just a guy named Jason Guy.

Van Kaye + Ignit: "Thinktank" (Category: Analog CyberPunk)

From a 1982??? Netherlands cassette. It sounds like the perfect music for when you're performing a sleight of hand card trick.

Stahlnetz: "Der Seemann Und Die Stewardess" (Category: The Unheard Synth New Wave)

1982 from Germany. Putting a condom on an apple? Huh? I think the song translates into "The Sperm And The Stewardess".

Fall Of Saigon: "Visions" (Category: Analog CyberPunk)

Superlative 1983 French lo-fi. I feel like a beatnik listening to this.

Ex Post Facto: "Ex Post Facto" (Category Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

1981 UK release. They put out two shorties and then returned to their day jobs without recording more at night and on weekends.

1000 Ohm: "Berlin" (Category Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

1000 Ohm have a little website with pictures. Belgium allowed this to be exported in 1983. I'll bet they made up a dance for this, and it spread through Belgium like mad.

Martin Dupont: "I Met The Beast" (Category Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

French fellow Martin Dupont has a site officiel. Released in 1985. It sounds like Wall Of Voodoo with Rubber Rodeo's Trish Milliken singing, so you know I'm all over this like stink on poop. The singer is Beverly Jane Crew, who's led a very full life so she can relax and smell the decaf for a while.

Wirtschaftswunder: "(Don't Listen) Politsong" (Category: Rez Eyeballs Wink: Some Weird Ones)

These guys, with a name I don't want to have to type out ever again, recorded this very strange song. Released in 1980.

Trumpetto & Einstein: "Parkeergarage II" (Category: Analog CyberPunk)

From The Netherlands between 1981 - 83. What's that buzzing noise?

Ptose: "Ecraser La Vermine" (Category: Rez Eyeballs Wink: Some Weird Ones)

I don't know anything about these Frenchies, but by law their video can't be any more Residential.

Wonders Of Science: "Let's Start A Rumour" (Category Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

Inquire here if you want to find out more about Wonders Of Science. A Very sweet little tune.

Entry Sixty-Nine: 05/30/2008: Review: The Story Of The Undertones - Teenage Kicks

The Undertones: "Mars Bars" (From The Undertones)

Sloppy Seconds: "Gimme That Zero Bar" (From More Trouble Than They're Worth")

The Undertones: "Get Over You" (From The Undertones)

Graham Parker: "Manoeuvers" (From The Up Escalator)

The Undertones: "Let's Talk About Girls" (From The Best Of: Teenage Kicks)

Sweet Baby: "She's From Salinas" (From It's A Girl)

The Undertones were a deceptively great band, but that can't be right because there was no deception. Maybe their songs were deceptively simple, which might be right, but that's not giving them enough credit. The Undertones were a great band because their songs are great, and if more people don't know it because their songs are deceptively simple, that's their lose. More songs for me. The Undertones managed to be The Buzzcocks, the Ramones, the Split Enz and The Kinks of their time and place, the time from 1978 through 1983, and the place Derry, Northern Ireland. The Undertones were a revved up yet pure power pop band, and what they accomplished is more than noteworthy. I write of them in the past tense because while they're still around they'll always be remembered with Feargal Sharkey as their singer. As is the injustice of the band system, he wrote none of their music but is widely thought of as the group's alpha and beta. The Story Of The Undertones - Teenage Kicks is well put together and thankfully short, a loving tribute to a band whose music is more interesting than their story - humble beginnings, a rise to a level of glory, the inevitable decline and breakup, and the mandatory reunion tours, except in this case without Feargal.

The first thing an Undertones fan learns is that legendary John Peel, a hugely influential figure in modern alternative music, considered "Teenage Kicks" his favorite song. Peel appears first and probably last in the film, interviewing the band and speaking of his own appreciation for The Undertones. The Undertones themselves (Feargal excepted but not by much) are unassuming to the point of mundanity, as if what they said or did couldn't have amounted to much coming from such ordinary men. Yet, that's what they were, no different than their friends and audiences except they wrote and performed songs almost unerringly perfect in melody, intensity and execution. The story of The Undertones is a simple one that could have been told in a segment of 60 Minutes. The main film is about sixty minutes long, probably made for Irish television. The DVD contains extras that could easily be added to the main piece, but there's no real call to do so. Theirs is a short story at best.

The Troubles are discussed, but the band mostly went out of their way to be non-political, as most other aspects of their days were divisive politics made flesh. Music was for them escapism, and their philosophy is nicely described as a "revolt against anger". Here in the US politics plays almost no role in most kids' lives, so they create fictitious worlds of paranoia for themselves in music and culture. Music therefore focuses on the political, some of it imagined and most of it unrelated to their actual experience, making otherwise ordinary lives a life-and-death struggle that's really important to be taken seriously.

Old 8mm film is used to great effect, and the band captured enough of their early days to make the film look authoritative and complete. Many of the interviews drag because the guys are humble, pleasant, polite, and they tend to speak slowly. Sharkey is surprisingly honest and open, and you probably learn the most about what happened through him. He never appears with the others on camera. That chapter probably closed for good when he left in 1983.

1979's The Undertones is almost their version of the first Ramones album, who were so influential to The Undertones that in the film one of the O'Neill brothers stammers and stutters because he can't find to words to describe just how important they were to the creation and direction of the band. 1980's Hypnotised was their Leave Home - more of the same, and why the hell not? 1981's Positive Touch saw the band run out of speed, figuratively and maybe literally. If you like slow ballads this would be the album for you, you puffy shirt wearing new romance crooning something or other.

As an hour long TV show this does the job well enough. I was thinking going in there might have been more to the story. Not that there has to be. Maybe the "more" of the story is there in front of me, but all I can see and hear are average men telling an average story in a pleasant way. The picture on the cover is mesmerizing. It's the exact frame of the moment that captures it perfectly. Above are three Undertones songs and three songs by other artists that remind me of these songs. Enjoy! Or not!

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Once again, this edition of oldpunks.com is dedicated to anti-fan Dutch "The Shmoo" Douchebag, who wrote that I'm a "neocon douchebag". Dutch is The Shmoo because the first thing I noticed about him via his uniformly mundane flickr album is that he's absolutely shapeless - like a Shmoo! Except, as you can see, Dutch Douchebag has the rare Shmoo deformity of external upper limbs.

Dutch "The Shmoo" Douchebag The Shmoo

In the above picture Douchebag is touching his upper lip with his tongue. It might be a secret gang signal, or something else sensual. The pant-shorts kids wear make them look like midgets. In other pictures The Shmoo sports on his otherwise featureless face various sideburns from the Drinking Class Hero © collection. As far as street credibility goes he might as well dangle a small polyester clip-on tie from each ear. As of this writing Mr. Douchebag has posted 3,764 entries onto a message board since Sep. 29 of last year, making his daily total approx. 15.6833, covering all the trivial aspects of his trivial American rich white kid existence abroad, where he entertains the locals by telling one and all that America and Americans suck. except for himself and his crew. 15.6833 posts each and every day. Wow, let's pause a moment to consider what this says about the life and time management skills of a real American jerking class hero.

Foreigners can't get enough of spoiled adult children with useless degrees and little life experience who confuse petty resentments with deeply held convictions. Shmoo in his young life has probably already fulfilled a solid 50% of whatever is applicable from Stuff White People Like for unattractive beta males who will sooner than later lose direct visual contact with their reproductive organs. Take a look at yourself, Shmoo, seriously, you'll always be a lumpy proletariat in whatever movement you think you're a part of because you accessorize correctly. If life were a movie you'd be twelve rows back in a crowd scene with the director telling you to step back a few feet.

Calm down Shmoo, I'm just having fun. I'm sure your parents support you and love you very much, no matter what it costs. Punk For Life ©, right bro? I was into this life when your parents were barely adding a "teen" to their age, so, to paraphrase Street Trash, I accept criticism from children like old people f--k.

I'm neither a midget nor a camel, but I find this clip apropos .

Entry Sixty-Eight: 05/24/2008: Analog CyberPunk: Transmission Nine

05/10/2008: Begin Transmission Nine: I was able to do most of this early because Thursday at work we had a California Snow Day. In other words and in this case, a nearby transformer blew up and there would be no electricity for twelve hours, so we all went home at 10:00 AM. Have a nice holiday weekend. Here's a joke I wrote for computers, in binary code: 000110001 100101001111 000 00111 00010011100 1011 11101101010 001001001 1101101101 0101001110 101110010001 101 1. End Transmission Nine.

Blah Blah Blah: "In The Army" (Category: Rez Eyeballs Wink: Some Weird Ones)

Blah Blah Blah were a weirdo band from Essex in the UK. “In The Army” was from their first 7”, released in 1979. The vocals are an angry Pee Wee Herman meets Bobcat Goldthwait when he's speaking normally.

Experimental Products: "Feeling Left Out" (Category: The Unheard Synth New Wave)

Experimental Products call themselves an Electro / Disco House / Experimental band, so hey, good luck with that. Before they composed for the glow-stick generation they managed to record some decent minimal wave, including this dry, clinical ode to The Leftorium, from their 1982 self-released debut album. If this one doesn’t make you want to get up and dance, then please consider doing so, as it’s a great song to dance to.

Red Zebra: "I Can't Live In A Living Room" (Category Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

Belgium’s Red Zebra do the Gang Of Four thing on this standout 1980 track. It seems like the guitarist is barely able to plink out the individual notes in time. It adds a nice little tension to the proceedings. Their site is filled with random letters that mean nothing to me. It must be in code.

Xex: "Svetlana" (Category: Analog CyberPunk)

I’m not going to explain Xex to you. That’s not my job. The woman singing goes by the name “Thumbalina Gugielmo”. I luvs her voice. The best part is they’re from New Jersey!

The Parapluies: "Necessities" (Category Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

The Parapluies were from Germany, and this 1984 track is from a cassette.

Der Kunftige Musikant: "Es Is Kalt" (Category: Close But No Cigar: Analog Cyber-Punk)

This “Mommy, why is that man screaming?” classic from 1982 would have been included outside of an honorable mention if the break into unrelated noise didn’t kick in at 2:11. I swear at one time I had an edit that kept the beat the whole way through. If I find it again, “Es Is Kalt” will be promoted to the big time of Analog Cyberpunk excellence.

Arthur Harrison & Rupert Chappelle: "Interstellar Safeway" (Category Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

I’m assuming Arthur Harrison is this theremin junkie. I play a wicked Air Theremin. Weeeooooooowhaaaaaaawhooooooooo!!! Be sure to brace yourself first for the hippie caveman pic on Rupert Chappelle’s page. He too injects the theremin. This dates back to 1982.

Can’t say I know Fred but his song is nice enough. The singing is about as Roxy Music as I can handle. That’s all I have to say, so take amongst yourselves for a while. Thank you

Burlesque: "Collision Of Sex" (Category Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

Not much on Burlesque except that “Collision Of Sex” appeared on a nice 1981 comp. called From Bromley With Love. Sex Pistols’ fans know of that city because of the Bromley Contingent, not to be confused with the Barmy Army. I leaned towards not including this because they sing about sex, which then and now reminds me of the disco plague we thought was eradicated long ago. Sadly, history has been written by the (disco) losers. The song itself is strong, so here it is, as is.

Monitor: "Beak" (Category: Rez Eyeballs Wink: Some Weird Ones)

It’s hard not to find a place in your heart, specifically to the left of the right ventricle, for 1979’s “Beak”, especially whenever the word “beak” appears. Here’s a discography.

Jeunesse D'Ivoire: "A Gift Of Tears" (Category Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

Jeunesse D'Ivoire appeared on a 1983 comp. out of Italy. The simple one finger piano progression sent this one over the top for me.

Information Society: "Der Mussolini (DAF cover)" (Category: Analog CyberPunk)

Information Society owns the John Holmes of discography lengths. The official site is here. “Der Mussolini” is a D.A.F. cover, a cornerstone of the industrial scene. Industrial in general, and the original specifically, are humorless, so here’s a fun cover version. I’ve always thought industrial was disco for pissed off skinny white boys.

Philippe Laurent: "Exposition Partie 5" (Category: Analog CyberPunk)

Philippe Laurent went by the unfortunate nickname of Hot Bip, which might be non-snickerable outside the USA. This instrumental track goes back to the 1983 or so era.

Testcard F: "If Only It Wasn't" (Category Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

A nice little ditty from the UK. It’s not on their only listed single from 1982, so I can’t say either was from whenst it came. It seems to have a bit of an Oingo Boingo rhythm.

Ende Shneafliet: "Midnight Train" (Category: Analog CyberPunk)

Ende Shneafliet have been around since 1982. Bable Fish says their name means “End To Shneafliet”. I’m not a big fan of Shneafliet but I don’t see the need to end Shneafliet, at least not yet. The post-punk guitar work stands out on this one.

B. Troop: "Just Because" (Category Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

Not much info on B. Troop, but this, from their 1981 debut album, followed 7-inchers in both 1980 and 1981. Extra points awarded for the gosh darn real saxophone.

Absolute Body Control: "Waving Hands" (Category Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

This is the second entry for Belgium’s Absolute Body Control, an ongoing operation since 1980. Most of their earliest releases were on cassettes. The title might be “Weaving Hands” but I lean towards “waving”. What makes this a keeper beyond keep is the melancholy horn-sounding synth. If I felt human emotions I’d feel melancholy, or anything for that matter.

Alien Skull Paint: "Automatic Man" (Category: Analog CyberPunk)

Alien Skull Paint might be a one man operation. With a name like Holger Rixen he probably ain’t from these here parts. His first release is from 2001, which would normally disqualify this from "The Project”, but damn if “Automatic Man” doesn’t sound like it could have dropped out in the analog era, when 8-tracks still roamed free and wheatie pennies were still relatively plentiful in the general penny population. I go back to the infrequent buffalo nickel era, so put that in your bong and toke it.

Palais Schaumburg: "Telephon" (Category: Rez Eyeballs Wink: Some Weird Ones)

Palais Schaumburg is led by cult figure Holger Hiller, who when not leading his cult works as a language teacher in Berlin. His site is neat.

Iron Curtain: "The Condos" (Category: The Unheard Synth New Wave)

What I’ve heard from Iron Curtain I’ve liked. Mr. Curtain’s Myspace page demands “TOTAL REVOLUTION NOW!” Oh, those crazy rich Americans, with their endless freedoms and daydreams of proletariat totalitarianism. Uber-pleasant synth-pop will be the worker’s anthem as they toss off the yoke of capitalism!

I'm So Hollow: "Dreams To Fill The Vacuum" (Category: Analog CyberPunk)

Definitely one of the loosest songs you’ll find here, I’m So Hollow truly are both punk and cyber. The vocals go on a nice roller coaster ride.

P-Model: "Art Blind" (Category: Analog CyberPunk)

“Art Blind” from Japan’s P-Model is one compelling little tune, if not eleventeen little tunes.

Picky Picnic: "My Life 1.2.3." (Category: Rez Eyeballs Wink: Some Weird Ones)

This Japanese duo released three albums from 1982 through 1989. It says on discogs.com they’re similar to The Residents. YA THINK?!

Kuruki: "Such A Liar" (Category: The Unheard Synth New Wave)

From Belgium, from 1981, from writer Sally Joy. “Such A Liar” is what you get if The Cars and Gary Numan teamed up to kick it olde skool. “Candy-O” comes to mind.

Psychic Youth: "Step In Time" (Category: The Unheard Synth New Wave)

Psychic Youth seemingly put out one 7” in 1982, pressed on Long Island, NY, where I grew up. It’s the same gush of pride I get when I watch “Everybody Loves Raymond” and go a little nuts every time they mention they live in Lynbrook, which is Brooklyn inverted.

Entry Sixty-Seven: 05/3/2008: Review: American Hardcore

The Middle Class: "Out Of Vogue" (From the 7")

MDC: "Radioactive Chocolate" (From Multi-Death Corporations 7")

[5-10-08: Edited and lengthened for your pleasure] American Hardcore, based on the 2001 book, does a more than decent job packing in as much as it can while arranging it in an easily digested story-line. Complaints that it doesn't cover enough are nonsense. All the big names are included, if not interviewed, and many of the rest are at least name-checked. American Hardcore covers a four year period from the beginnings of The Bad Brains to the genre's decline into metal and literal battle fatigue. It's genre specific to the brand of suburban cretinism referred to at one time by Exene Cervenka, the Stevie Nicks of her degeneration, as the "O.C. Reich", the rich-kid idiots who destroyed the original arts-based L.A. punk scene.

I never read the book, probably because I was told it was heavily agenda-driven, and tried to be anthropological in its assertion that hardcore is a new kind of aboriginal tribe. The movie does a little of that too, at least as a set-up, but thankfully director Paul Rachman allows the interviews to veer the film into a story that tells itself. Mythologizing and anthropologizing hardcore fails as it's little more than what it was - a few smart and interesting people and a lot of dumb and useless idiots attending shows, playing shows, recording music and plucking the occasional success out the diarrheic ass of well-deserved failure. There was nothing wholly original about putting out your own records or staging your own shows, points beaten to death anyway in every UK '77 punk documentary. In retrospect everyone is a genius and everything was a smaller part of a greater whole. Brilliant.

American Hardcore basically says the 1980 American punk scene was an updated yet nearly exact counterpart to the '77 UK scene. UK Decay wasn't the same as US Prep School Malaise, but it might have seemed that way when you're young, dumb and full of fun. It's a story I've heard too many times, and I lived through it too. Every person is a unique and special individual, just like everyone else. The original UK Sex Pistols - Clash scene lasted eighteen months. The original USHC scene lasted four years.

The film's put together well and there's a load of decent archival footage and show flyer mayhem. The interviews are short, sweet and mostly on the money. Vic Bondi is the only pissed-off and didactic interview of the bunch, which makes Henry Rollin's thoughtful introspection that much more surprising, as I've never known him to miss an opportunity to tell it like he says it was.

What comes across front and center in American Hardcore is a celebration of violence, usually of the blind-side and mini-gang variety. I've never understood it myself in either music or sports. If you want to fight, then fight, otherwise enjoy the show or play a fun game of hockey or basketball. Hitting people when they're not looking is social insanity. That's the idea of fun for a lot of people, and that's one reason why I avoid a lot of people. I live in SoCal, surrounded by more kinds of senseless scumbaggery than I can count. I'm also against sex scenes in general release films. It's gratuitous and wastes time. Films should be either PG at worst or the kind of porn that would make even a sailor puke.

American Hardcore is worth seeing, for newbies and the elderly alike. Keep in mind that hardcore punk was more different than new. It was the next step after what came before it, and it was replaced by what came after. Sadly, that after was speed metal. Also take what anyone says about it with a boulder of salt. Looking at it dispassionately I can't think of a genre of music more exactly what it appeared to be on its surface. Mythologizing hardcore punk seems incongruous at best.

Was The Middle Class the first hardcore band? Or was it The Bad Brains? Hmmmmm.

Entry Sixty-Six: 05/10/2008: Analog CyberPunk: Transmission Eight

05/10/2008: Begin Transmission Eight: I spent the day ripping out the ten year old carpet in my apartment. If Frankenstein was a wood floor he'd be under my feet. Here's another twenty five songs that oughta hold you little bastards for another two weeks! Here at Analog CyberPunk HQ I'm beginning to lose my mind. It's easy to forget what I'm doing and why, and quality control has either gotten a little better through experience or unwittingly worse with fatigue. I had a vision when this began, but like David Jones in The Man Who Fell To Earth I may be forgetting my mission. Something about water I think. The lines between the various categories I've created are starting to blur.... Hey look, cute kitties!

All's forgiven! End Transmission Eight.

El Aviador Dro: "Programa En Espiral" (Category Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

El Aviador Dro is "The Greatest Spanish Synthpop Band Ever". Is this a heavily contested issue? So far in my journey this is the most fun track by them by far.

Baard: "Life In A Goldfish Bowl" (Category: Honorable Mention: Analog CyberPunk)

Here's some info on this 1982 single. I find the vocals lacking so I have this down as an honorable mention.

X-Ray Pop: "La Machine A Rever" (Category Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

X-Ray Pop now calls themselves a Cosmoblues Psychedelik band, which means they're laughing at us! They're singing in French, which is a foreign language even in France.

Ruins: "Short Wave" (Category Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

They might be from Italy but the singer sounds American.

R. Steven Moore: "What Are You Looking At?" (Category: Analog CyberPunk)

No info about R. Steven Moore but this is great. R. Steven Moore, wherever you are, have a beer and put it on my account.

Pseudo Echo: "Walkaway" (Category: The Unheard Synth New Wave)

I find this a little lightweight but it deserves inclusion anyway. Sadly, their big hit was called "Funkytown".

Transparent Illusion: "The Age Of Ridicule" (Category: Analog CyberPunk)

The song trips over itself near the end but it's nicely noisy and loud.

Roter Rot: "Get Away Dark Side" (Category: Rez Eyeballs Wink: Some Weird Ones)

Another mystery tune not destined to be covered on American Idol.

Vice: "See!" (Category Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

I love how this song combines Gang Of Four With Talking Heads.

Electronic Circus: "Direct Lines" (Category: The Unheard Synth New Wave)

The singer's voice has it's own inner harmony, like the throat singers of Tuva! Am I overstating it, yes!

Anomy: "Lone Wolf" (Category: Analog CyberPunk)

The A-Side from this 1981 US single is a cover of Bowie's "TVC 15", and it's not very good. The B should have been the A and the A should have been track two on the B. C? The Raincoats are either proud or should be proud of Anomy.

Didi Und Die Herzschrittmacher: "Modern" (Category: The Unheard Synth New Wave)

This track is a bit sloppy for what I consider to be great Synth New Wave, but it gets better with time and Nyquil.

Bobby And Synthia: "Video Violence" (Category Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

There's a little Lene Lovich going on here with this band of unknowns (to me at least). It has a nice little insistent rhythm that makes me smile. Or maybe I just have gas.

Davey Duck: "Davey The Worm" (Category: Rez Eyeballs Wink: Some Weird Ones)

There is no song more Residents-esque than this one. It's got it goin' on! Mr. Duck started recording in 1977, and over the years he's had his hands in a many an odd musical pie.

Nash The Slash: "Swing Shift" (Category: Analog CyberPunk)

Legendary Nash The Slash has an annoyingly loud web site. Here's one a little more quiet. And another. God, what old song was that where Nash The Slash is name-checked? It's on the tip of my something. It might have been Bowie or Mott The Hoople. Anyhoo, Nash started around 1976 and for all I know he and Abe Vigoda might still be alive.

Pavillion 7b: "La Manege" (Category: Analog CyberPunk)

As per The Internet ©, Pavillion 7b are, were, or shall be from Dijon Mustard and this cassette was released in 1985. "La Manege" translates, probably loosely, into "Horse Gear". Yes indeed.

J.J. Burnell: "Jellyfish" (Category: Analog CyberPunk)

This 1979 track from Stranglers bass player J.J. Burnell works on so many levels, like man being hit in the groin with a football. It's electro, it's reggae and it's Burnell singing like XTC's Andy Partridge. It makes a body move.

Solid State: "Recalling You" (Category: The Unheard Synth New Wave)

This synth gem is from 1983, from over the pond in Belching, somewhere near Hamburger.

Seppuku: "Under Your Control" (Category: The Unheard Synth New Wave)

Seppuku allows you to download some Swedish synth music on their site. Seppuku is Japanese for committing suicide by disemboweling yourself. The little man in the picture above is not offering a stick of gum to the moon. He's about to commit Harry Caray!

Telex: "Pakmovast" (Category: Close But No Cigar: The Unheard Synth New Wave)

Oh, the quantities of bad electro-disco that came from these Belgian Wafflers. I include this Telex track because it's every Kraftwerk song written up until 1978 or so processed through a "Hooked On" blender. It's also a lead-in to the next band, who do a Kraftwerk you don't have to feel bare-assed to dance to!

Komputer: "Komputer Pop" (Category: Honorable Mention : Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

Komputer is too new to include in this project, but they sure know how to record a great lost Kraftwerk album! There are songs and then there are SONGS. Komputer write SoNgS.

Music For Pleasure: "The Human Factor" (Category: The Unheard Synth New Wave)

This 1980 UK single was the start of a career that lasted five years.

One Plus One: "Nite Time Rhythm" (Category Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

This one has a surf-garage thing going for it, and I dig it, man. It's a complicated little tune that comes across at first as maybe a little too simple.

Mechanical Servants: "Responsateen" (Category Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

Like Anomy this has a great Raincoats vibe working. I'm also reminded of a Minneapolis group called Tetes Noires. If I mentioned The Roches would I be that much more pretentious?

Solid Space: "10th Planet" (Category: Analog CyberPunk)

I've gleaned the fact that this is from a 1982 cassette titled Space Museum. The added synth embellishments are abso-fugg-lutely amazing.

Entry Sixty-Seven: 05/3/2008: Review: American Hardcore

The Middle Class: "Out Of Vogue" (From the 7")

MDC: "Radioactive Chocolate" (From Multi-Death Corporations 7")

Was The Middle Class the first hardcore band? Or was it The Bad Brains? Hmmmmm.

04/26/2008: Begin Transmission Seven: Everyone enjoys a big dump.................. of music! As every statistical one of out ten of you know, it takes a freaking long time to put these MP3 posts together. I was going to impart some wisdom or make you think about life in a new way or blah blah blah, but instead I'll see if I can come up with comments for the songs below, many of which seem to have come from nowhere. I update the Analog CyberPunk page once every two weeks, usually on a Saturday. I see you link-bangers out there coming here all the time thinking I do this for a freaking living! I'll get a life only if YOU promise to get one first. End Transmission Seven.

Comateens: "The Munsters Theme" (Category: Analog CyberPunk)

While I'm not a big fan of their catalog I will say this, The Comateens have a nice website. "The Munsters Theme" came out in 1981 and I danced to it each time 'till it ended. Somewhere in the world of 0's and 1's it says it was released in 1984. Liars all.

Ceramic Hello: "Ringing In The Sane" (Category Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

Ceramic Hello have a website even I could have made. This came out in 1981, and it reminds me a heck of a lot like like The Stranglers' "All Roads Lead To Rome" and the rest of 1983's Feline LP. Crap, maybe The Stranglers ripped off Ceramic Hello lock, stock and c--k!

Patrick D. Martin: "I Like 'Lectric Motors" (Category: Analog CyberPunk)

From 1979, I wish Patrick D. Martin's material was more widely available. I loved it back in the day, It was before you were born but you're so hardcore now it dwarfs my firsthand experience. I understand that, so please stop e-mailing me about it. Listen to all the tracks on MySpace. They're great.

Minny Pops: "Footsteps" (Category: Rez Eyeballs Wink: Some Weird Ones)

Dutch treats Minny Pops record a lot of noise, but this one I like. They have a site, so like Joe Bob Briggs says, "Check it out!".

Body Falling Downstairs: "The Politics Of Ecstasy" (Category: Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

These kids were from Seattle and this was recorded around 1981.

Reducers: "Airways" (Category: Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

This 7" came out on EMI in 1980. It might be a little too punky to be a new wave song, mostly in the vocals, but it has to go somewhere ya know.

Oi The Robot: "Manifestoi!" (Category: Honorable Mention: Analog CyberPunk)

Listening to the Reducers reminded me of this track from Garry Bushell's first-wave UK skinhead record conglomerate. Bushell populated his oi comps with a few filler tracks of his own invention. Frankie Flame performed the electronics on this one, more than borrowing an Ultravox riff along the way. Technically this is real skinhead music.

Trick 17: "City Nacht" (Category: Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

I'm a fool for many things, high on that list the toots of a saxophone. Why is the title a combination of English and German? Nothing personal, but German isn't a pretty language. It's impossible to sound sexy in German or tough in French. Japanese goes both ways with extreme prejudice. I'll leave it to you to tell me what English sounds like.

The Stupid Set: "S.W. Digestion" (Category: Rez Eyeballs Wink: Some Weird Ones)

Italy squeezed this one out in 1980. Here's data and songs to download.

Tara Cross: "PK-15" (Category: Analog CyberPunk)

Tara Cross sports a hefty discography and a lovely voice. That's all I know.

Shox: "No Turning Back" (Category: The Unheard Synth New Wave)

Shox coulda, woulda, and shoulda been huge! A great pop song indeed. Here's more. The singer reminds me of Trish Milliken from Rubber Rodeo.

Social Climbers: "Hello Texas" (Category: Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

Here's some information on 1980-era New Yorkers Social Climbers. I completely envision cowboys doing a shuffle dance to this one.

QRN: "Very Loud Silence" (Category: Rez Eyeballs Wink: Some Weird Ones)

I imagine they're French. Not much else to report.

Some Of My Best Friends Are Canadian: "Feeling Sheepish" (Category: Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

If Canada was 3,000 miles to the right they'd be called The Former Republic Of Canadastan. That's right, America's hat. Put THAT in your pipe and smoke it!

Research Library: "Alien Love" (Category: Rez Eyeballs Wink: Some Weird Ones)

This was on a Subterranean Records comp from 1981.

Ian North: "White Gardens" (Category: The Unheard Synth New Wave)

Ian North is a musician, and artist AND he cuts hair. He grew up on Long Island like I did, yet we've never met. That's odd.

I.U.D.: "Precious" (Category: Rez Eyeballs Wink: Some Weird Ones)

No info on this one but from the singing I'm guessing it's of a more recent vintage.

The Metronomes: "Justification" (Category: Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

This one gets better each time I listen to it. It's pretty damn perfect, even how it ends as a cutoff. Good job, Metronomes! Super highly recommended with a bullet.

Friz Be: "I Throw Punches..." (Category: Analog CyberPunk)

I think I'd dance better to this one if I owned a tux, top hat and cane. There's a Puttin' On The Ritz thing going on with this one.

Flash Cero: "Ciudad Estelar" (Category: Close But No Cigar: The Unheard Synth New Wave)

This 1988 track is pretty good until the record scratching starts at exactly 2:47. Why, I say why?!

Kein Mensch: "Kein Mensch" (Category: Analog CyberPunk: New Wave Edition)

Ok, the ending with the singing German Youth freaked me out a bit, but I'm ok now....

Foundation Boo: "Nap" (Category: Rez Eyeballs Wink: Some Weird Ones)

I was first going to put this in as Analog CyberPunk, but oh does it get more weird with time. I'm a total sucker for disinterested female singing. This was on the infamous Darker Scratcher LP, which helped inspire me to do this project in the first place. Blame Darker Scratcher.

Moderne: "Electronique" (Category: The Unheard Synth New Wave)

From France from 1980 from three French guys. They have a Myspace page so you know they're down with the youth of today.

{E}: "e925" (Category: Rez Eyeballs Wink: Some Weird Ones)

The ending sealed the deal to make this a weird one. The comp. this appears on came out in 1979. It's hard for me to type { and }.

Absolute Body Control: "Is There An Exit?" (Category: Analog CyberPunk)

Absolute Body Control has been an ongoing concern since 1980, and according to their MySpace page it wouldn't hurt if I brought some glowsticks and sugary drinks to one of their performances.

Entry Sixty-Five: 04/19/2008: For My Benefactor Shane I Equate The Big Boys With OMD

The Big Boys: "Sound On Sound" (From The Fat Elvis)

OMD: "Time Zones" (From Dazzle Ships)

The Turd-log Cinder-Poo project is chugging right along thanks to blogs that cater to the synth and minimal wave markets, populated predominately by the gravely pale and deathly frail. Shane of the most excellent Soundhead one-man cyber-cabal has been nice enough to link to me, causing my internet traffic to spike from flatline to the line you get when you use an old wood ruler. The internet monies are rolling in like the Reverse Funnel System Scam, where for an initial investment of $8,000 you must spend your days defending the Reverse Funnel System Scam in hopes the next idiot who visits your carbon-copy site, by an act of god or the devil, decides to be an internet millionaire by making an initial investment of $8,000.

Shane hails from Denton, TX, with a population somewhere between 80,537 and 109,561, making it the eleventh largest city in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Located 16.8 miles from the nearest Vietnamese restaurant, Denton is 227.30 miles north Of Austin, TX, home of the legendary Big Boys, hardcore's first and best skate/funk/punk/post-punk outfit. 1983's "Sound On Sound" comes from the out-of-print 1983 album Lullabies Help The Brain Grow, easily found on The Fat Elvis compilation. This version differs from the one on The Wreck Collection.

OMD were my favorite synth pop band until 1983's "Dazzle Ships", at the time a bit of a letdown after their classic Architecture & Morality, but it still had a few good punches left ("Genetic Engineering", "Telegraph" and "Radio Waves"). Listening to it now it's probably just as good as its predecessor, but at the time the sound experiments felt more like noodling than songwriting. According to The All Music Guide Dazzle Ships was ahead of its time. Maybe as a major label release but most assuredly not in the underground.

OMD = The Big Boys. May I rot in hell for all eternity.

Entry Sixty-Four: 04/12/2008: Analog CyberPunk: Transmission Six

04/12/2008: Begin Transmission Six: All's going as planned at the Analog CyberPunk HQ. Sorting through the digital stacks to pick weiners I've learned a few things that I probably already knew. The genre's famous for songs that start one way and then become something else. Slow buildups are also favored. As is the way with many of the best songs, new sounds are added into the mix as the song progresses, with bleeps, bloops and other digital farts stopping by for a visit. Some songs I like except for an errant repetitive sound or an annoying dance beat that doesn't need to be there. Remember kids, disco sucks. Some tracks that seem like instrumentals turn out late in the game to contain lyrics. When the vocals fail on a song they usually do so spectacularly. I wager these tend to be the one man band deals. End Transmission Six.

Zwischenfall: "Tausend Jahre" (Category: Analog CyberPunk)

Zwischenfall is German for "Incident", and they ran from 1983 to 1995. The song title translates into "Thousand Years". In Germany smurfs are called "schlumps".

UV Pop: "Sleep Don't Talk" (Category: Analog CyberPunk)

A second selection from UV Pop. Hit that funky buzzer, (what I assume is a) white boy!

Trek With Quintronic: "Zolian Space" (Category: The Unheard Synth New Wave)

Hailing from snowy Buffalo, New York