THE MODERNS – Serve And Protect LP (1982)

The Moderns were an indie new wave pop rock band that existed for a three year period in the early 80’s. From the limited information I was able to find, the band looked to be from Alabama and recorded this sole full length album on indie label – Imaginery Records, which is still in existence present day. They also performed live shows throughout the South near their home turf. The below music video was submitted to the first MTV Basement Tapes contest, where it ended up in the “also-ran” category. Out of print private vinyl pressing… Note - The was posted recently on the Shotgun Solution blog, but not in full length form..so here you go..

Side One
at your service
the only game that matters
all gone now
goodbye Einstein
on the beach
scotland

Side Two
i’ve got a secret (there is a slight skip in the beginning..sorry folks)
I’m not sorry
stop pretending
respectable decision
serve and protect

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“Serve And Protect” Music Video (MTV Basement Tapes Contest )

REPREAT REPEAT – Chinese Highway LP (1981)

Here’s an inventive Danish new wave synth band with their second release and only full length outing. The band was conceived in the late 70’s and ended up releasing a self titled EP, this LP and a 7” single from this LP. They unfortunately called it a day by the early 80’s – too bad. Vocal duties are mostly female oriented with some shared male and female responsibilities on a few songs. A consistently entertaining twelve song set. Out of print pressing via Sonet Records.

Side A
big boys are hungry
noise reduction
chinese highway
against your skin
in a grip
german winds

Side B
time is out
should I hold on
the weasel
sent to be
checkin out the meat
waltz/waltz

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RING THEATRE – s/t EP (1985)

An obscure indie clan of three from Austin, Texas. I’ve attempted to find information on the band through various means, but to no avail. This one seems to be scarce find. Above average guitar driven college alternative oriented sounds emanate from this foursome’s set. There are some creative flourishes here and there and production values are solid for an indie release…Out of print pressing via Out Records, Austin, Texas.

Side 1
mrs. Ann
julia
second’s romance

Side 2
kill yourself
remember may

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STRANGER COMFORTS – New Year 7” (1983)

There’s not much to find about this United Kingdom based band other than this seems to be their 2nd single and that one of the band members was in a previous outfit called The Gift. An indie duo with melancholic guitar laced arrangements coupled with a slight post punk flair. Both songs are excellent mid tempo numbers.

Side A
New year

Side B
raincoats

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PHILIP JAP – Self Titled LP (1983)

I recently listened to this album after many years and surprisingly I could not find an earlier blog post for it, so I’m posting my version which I had digitally remastered many years ago from my vinyl copy.

Philip Jap, also known as Philip Gayle released this one and only LP back in the early 80’s and then vanished into oblivion within a couple of years of it’s release. At the time, the album was backed by some high profile producers – Tony Mansfield, Trevor Horn and Colin Thurston. There were 3 singles off of this self titled affair – Total Erasure, Red Dogs and Save Us. Philip also entertained via the music video format, one of which is below.

Side A
save us
sand
venue
jump crew
jap

Side B
brain dance
red dogs
brave lights
glass house
death in a tin junk
total erasure

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ATILA – Looking For Love LP (1985)

Atila forged their own road of independent music and this curiously off the wall LP is a testament to their firm beliefs of musical autonomy. Being an independent obscure act affords the ability to experiment with one’s own musical thoughts and desires… Atila performs on their own path with a variety of style influences on display…An interesting potpourri from this mid 80’s sextet out of Los Angeles, CA via Individual Records…

Side 1
loving people
please don’t say it
cow-blues
de-pre-session

Side 2
ganges
optical illusion
alone in my room
tombstone

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E – THE LEVITATION SYNDROME EP (1981)

A top drawer slice of 12” vinyl with minimal synth wave tempos galore. A crafty foursome from Canada with mostly female vocal treatments and electronic spontaneity. Highly recommended…Out of print pressing via Rogelletti Records.

Side 1
idol time
power blackout

Side 2
the fall
dance with me

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THE DARK – You Are In No Danger EP (1981)

The Dark was a quirky indie group from Watertown, MA. This 7” EP was their first output and has a more minimal stripped down approach than what they would graduate to later on. The standout track is the synth wave fusion of “Judy”, but the other two cuts are enjoyable in a quirky kind of way…For the vinyl collectors, you even get a nice little letter from Dark World Industries that accompanies this intriguing package…

Side 1
judy

Side 2
houses r falling
mission of promo

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ZINC ORBIE – Ba Bo Baby LP (1986)

Zinc Orbie was a new wave outfit that worked the alternative circles in and around Orange County, CA. The band seemed to have been fairly active in the early-mid 80’s timeframe. There are some catchy dance sequences and guitar-laden/synthesizer styles abound on this entertaining full length release…A music video accompanies below…Out of print pressing via Orbie Tunes, Inc.

Side A
ba bo baby
take my breath away
give me your love
hanging on a line
when in danger

Side B
cover girl
step forward
strange town
you’ve got the power
this world

"Cover Girl" music video


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STILL LIFE – Desert City EP (1987)

Here’s an exquisitely rare and obscure slab of vinyl that exudes the dark and gloomy side of things and is coupled with a sharp pointed cold female vocal. This brooding extended player comes out of the top-notch Italian electronic darkwave scene, which thrived in the early-mid 80’s. There are many incredible Italian bands in the genre from this time period. This looks to be the group’s lone release and it delivers the goods. A melancholic dark trenched gem…

Side A
criptic
robokiller

Side B
desert city
ware and technology
is heaven made of glasses?

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éVOID – I Am A Fadget LP (1983)

New wave funkiness from the land of South Africa. Out of print vinyl pressing via WEA Italiana SpA 1983.

Discogs says - -
“éVoid was a popular 1980s afro rock/pop/jive/dance/punk band in South Africa.
Their eponymous debut album was released in South Africa in 1983 resulting in major chart success to match their success as a live band.

Originally formed in 1977 around core members and brothers Lucien and Erik Windrich (both born in the Netherlands in November 1958 and February 1960 respectively) and then known simply as Void, the group won their section of the "East Rand Battle Of The Bands" in 1978.

Adopting the name éVoid in 1982, the band would (complete with painted faces, tribal dances and jive rhythms - known as 'ethnotronics') rise in prominence and receive increasing attention, thanks to their fantastic live performances and guerilla-style self-promotion as they moved from one rock venue to the next across the country. éVoid's most famous residence was surely that at the Chelsea Hotel in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, with dedicated fans (known as fadgets) in almost equally outrageous and colourful ethno-gypsy garb queueing for hundreds of metres.

Early in 1983, drummer George Voros left for England, and Wayne Harker was hired. Soon afterwards, work on their eponymous debut album began at RPM Studios, Goud Street in downtown Johannesburg in April of that year.

1985 saw éVoid and numerous other artists of the time attract more than 100,000 music fans to "The Concert in the Park" in support of Operation Hunger at Johannesburg's Ellis Park Stadium.
However, by then the band also felt that they had reached the pinnacle of their hopes in South Africa and the brothers left for the UK.”

Side 1
i am a fadget
taximan
inda-inda-indaba
junk jive (part 1)

Side 2
shadows
dun kalusin ta va
urban warrior

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YU – Big Picture 7” Music Video (1982)

Wow, this 7” just sold on eBAY a few days ago for $1000.00. Are you kidding me? I guess it’s pretty rare and sought after. It’s a whacky synth infused experimental sound from a trio that recorded in the 80's out of Austin, TX. I don’t have a copy and didn’t bid on it, but here is a video of the title track so you can see and hear what commands big bucks in the minimal synth realms these days. It kind of grows on you…interesting stuff..

They did produce an album in 1987 called "Songs Of Science", which can be found on the venerable Mutant Sounds blog.

A music magazine review from 1985 said – “This band shows a sophisticated flair for bizarro transmutations of rock styles that seem to range from Zappa to the Residents and beyond”

For more tripped out videos, check out the band's YouTube page - http://www.youtube.com/user/WeAreYU