QUASI HANDS – Self Titled EP (1985)

End of the month is upon us and here’s yet another old post with all songs intact and listed in order below. I’ve stayed with the Canadian theme and also stayed with another Ontario, Canada obscure band. There’s a plethora of great Canadian new wave synth bands out in the lands of obscurity… This particular EP has an excellent melodic new wave synth tone and an infectious standout track – “Lovelife”. One shouldn’t have too much trouble scoring a nice clean copy of this vinyl in the marketplace…Recommended…

Lots of great obscure and rare items on the way for June….

Left Side
parallel lines
keep moving

Right Side
lovelife
oil barons

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OHM AND THE SECRET SOURCES - Exit From A Dream EP (1984)

Here’s another old post that has been re-posted with all songs intact via the download below. OHM create danceable synth beats with spacey backgrounds and lyrics. Check out the amped up “I Hold The Key”….They were from Ontario, Canada and comprised of a whopping seven members. Upon further research, this extended player seems to be quite rare…enjoy… BONUS - Here's the rare video for "All In My Mind" -



Side A
all in my mind
i hold the key

Side B
you know I love you
planet nine

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STEVE LAKE – Welcome To The Monkey House 12” (1985)

A rather odd new wave single by this solo artist out of Brussels, Belgium, but also a rather cool album jacket artwork job. He provides some nice minimal synth sounds with the song “Dog” and then you will find a longer instrumental version with a much more minimal approach on the second side…He looks to have a couple of albums to his credit….interesting listening…

Side One
welcome to the monkey house
dog

Side Two
dog (reprise)

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HUMANOIDS ON PARADE – Self Titled EP (1984)

This one starts out with a fast and furious synth drenched cover of The Beatles “Drive My Car” and one more cover before launching into some original synth wave numbers. Humanoids On Parade were a trio of two females and one male and they definitely had a penchant for synthesizers…It states that they used an full array of them. They were based out of Los Angeles, CA.

Side One
drive my car
maid in America/America
humanoids on parade

Side Too
life on the rocks
come dream with me

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SOLID STATE – Open Lines Of Communication EP (1983)

Over the next couple of months I will be reposting many older EP posts that only had samples of songs to include all songs…To that point, here’s one of the early EP posts with all songs included.

This synth wave trio was from the Southern, CA area and produced this sole obscure release on their own record label – Solid State Records, Calabasas, CA...There is a skillful use of synthesizers, melodic female vocals and a fairly cool looking album jacket if one is so inclined to acquire a vinyl copy…An entertaining listen…

Side One
say forever
future language

Side Two
portraits of plastic
these times

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APOLOGIES FOR INNOCENCE – Across The Wire 12” (198?)

A talented indie new wave band out of Liverpool, UK with sharp guitar playing and a gloomy vocal lead. Distributed via Illusion Records and out of print. You can get more information and songs at their MySpace page - http://www.myspace.com/apologiesforinnocence

Side A
Across the wire – extended mix

Side B
Days alone
Is this heaven

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I SPY – Channels 7” (1982)

It’s been a week since my last post so I’ll be posting a bunch of things throughout this weekend to catch up a bit. I’ll also be reposting full song downloads of older posts.

This one is an upbeat new wave synth single by a seemingly unknown Dutch group. You can also hear dashes of power pop as well.

Side A
Channels

Side B
Flesh!

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SCREAMING BAMBOO – World Of Tomorrow EP (1984)

Upbeat British North America (Ottawa) new wave with some edge at times, maybe a hint of post punk influence, some synth at other times and some female vocals all the time...Distributed via Dad’s Favorite Records....out of print…obscure…

Side 1
World of tomorrow
No one’s home

Side 2
Whitewash
lifelike

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OPERATOR – Disembodied LP (1986)

This Atlanta group’s 1981 EP was posted here last month and after a visitor informed me that Operator had a full length LP, I was curious and found a nice used copy. What a pleasant surprise this one was…Operator stays true to the intelligent melodic new wave and power pop elements from their 1981 release, but this time around the production values have been taken up a few notches. This is a very entertaining listen with every song having its own distinct characteristics and melodies…The LP is a common item to find and I would highly recommend the nominal expense to acquire it…I’ve posted a few songs in the below track listing information…

THIS SIDE
get hurt

talk to me

don’t get down
take me away

THE OTHER SIDE
secret words

disembodied
anger
you will fall

WHEN KIDS ARE ALONE – Severe EP (1987)

It’s always a pleasant surprise when a band member contacts me and gives details on their band. One such case is presented here with their very scarce Severe EP. Thanks to Marc Goldstein for his detailed write up and generosity for supplying source material….

Via Marc Goldstein (vocals, keyboards)
The band was formed in Riverside, California in 1983 as Secret Agent by myself on vocals and keyboards, Kevin Castration on guitar, Jack Lamb on bass and Frank Fakinos on drums. We were still in high school. We gathered a decent size following around Southern California at bars and collages. Big enough that we attracted the attention of a small LA Label called Taboo Records. We signed with them to do a few singles, but at the signing were told another band named Secret Agent had already copyrighted the name, which we had not. We had to get a name in 24 hours as the records were being printed and When Kids Are Alone was the only one we all didn't hate.

We released "Forever "Till Never" b/w "Every Other Odd" late 1985 on Taboo and got airplay on collage radio stations throughout the US and some tracking in CMJ. There were about 2000 copies ever produced. We lost our drummer Frank right before recording "Clouds Colliding" in 1986 that you dug up. So we had to rely on a drum machine for that one. Right after recording that, Mike Arguello joined in on drums. When we played the song live and Mike played and not a drum machine, it gave it a beefier sound by far.

Once we realized that Taboo owned our publishing and music we broke up the band to get out of the deal. After they went kaput, we reformed with Randy Addison on bass and Mike Arguello on drums. We released the 12" vinyl EP "Severe" on our own label Bavee Records in 1987. There were about 1500 copies made, we sold them at shows and by mail order.

I really think we were coming together nice and rebuilding some good momentum. We were featured in So Cal fanzines like Flipside, Bam, and Mean Streets and selling out all our college shows. We toured opening for Dramarama and Modern English for a bit. But real life crept in fame and fortune didn't happen, and the band played it's last show in 1993. We reunited once in 2001 for show when a bar we did one of our first shows at looked to be closing down. I guess we did about 8 years consistently.

Side A
Standing in the rain
The sand the surf & the sea
Self abuse

Side B
A valediction
Some similies for a smile
The thinnest line

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DARK FACADE – Losing Faith 7” (1985)

This little synth wave gem comes from Milwaukee, WI. The band consisted of five members who played a sleek dance-friendly set of tunes back in the mid 80’s. The two songs here are both of top drawer quality with great synthesizer textures, strumming guitars and excellent joint female/male vocals…

Side A
losing faith

Side B
fear

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