VIETNAM – Self Titled EP (1985)

REUP from yesterday as it was temporarily taken down…

Up on the slab today and the final post of a July, we have an exceedingly obscure and scarce extended player by a band from New Zealand. Vietnam was a post punk indie band with a penchant for gloomy and dreary guitar oriented melodies. Dripping with somber vocals, Vietnam takes the listener on a classic post punk journey of the highest order. Although there are only five songs here, it’s quality not quantity for this release. From the limited information I was able to unearth, this looks to be their only proper release. Vietnam’s EP is an unknown gem in what is a well stocked 80’s post punk genre…Out of print private pressing via Jayrem Records.



SIDE ONE
broken doll
china tonite
behind the paintings

SIDE TWO
another day
victory

*Due to the powers that be, I’ve had to remove the download link*

POLY VINYL CHLORIDE – …Confront…Confront LP (1981)

Here’s the quite rare sophomore effort by Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC). This Oslo, Norway outfit started out as a punk band and made a name for themselves in the late 70’s, early 80’s. After recording their debut album, 1981’s “Emile Berliner”, the band evolved with line-up changes and embraced a more electronic new wave/post punk sound. This seven song second and final full length album provides dark synth rock melodies with post punk influences ala Joy Division, Pere Ubu and The Residents. With that foundation in place, the band adds a minimal experimental vibe to the overall song structures. You can really hear this come full circle in the stellar closing song “Tropical Moist Forests”…Something different for this wax post…My copy came with an insert describing in great detail the scientific components and definitions of Polyvinyl Chloride… Out of print private pressing via Plastic Records.

SIDE A
A1 This Is The World
A2 Confront Comfort
A3 Hyper
A4 Pigment

SIDE B
B1 Tragic Mandolin Performance
B2 Horse Funkh
B3 Tropical Moist Forests


DOWNLOAD ME

THE PONY – Thorns And Cutlery LP (1987)

The Pony was a short lived Australian based alternative rock band that operated on the indie record label Cleopatra Records. Cleopatra was Australian as well and were in business during the 1980s. They handled some talented electronic and independent Australian acts in their day, such as Spencer Spencer and The Metronomes. This debut platter is a guitar oriented alternative new wave rocker that spawned the single “I Lied”, which received radio and video airplay. Pony would go on to produce another full length LP and a few singles. Their material is not that abundant, but does become available from time to time. Out of print private pressing ina gatefold sleeve via Cleopatra Records.



SIDE 1
I lied
Ambitions day off
A calling
Blindman
The answer
In the background

SIDE TWO
Still blue/broken kites
The young boys
Close up
Hey daddy
Reminds me of me


DOWNLOAD ME

STRAYHEART – Make It Work EP (1984)

Strayheart came out of Sacramento, CA and played impressive new wave synth oriented melodies...The Make It Work EP is scarce, but well worth the hunt for the vinyl collectors…All the tracks are solid, but the standout is the colorful lead off track “Tick Talk (The Work Song)”.…A noteworthy synth wave pearl…Out of print private pressing via Box Score Music and Strayheart Records.

SIDE ONE
tick talk (the work song)
pretty little girlfriend

SIDE TWO
took only moments
who’s that

DOWNLOAD ME

ONE SECOND…ZERO – Money Talked 7” (1984)

Obscure female fronted American new wave rock outfit out of Texas. “Money Talks” is my favorite with its sultry vocals, catchy guitar riffs and of course synth treatments. “Spring Heel’d Jack” is more upbeat with big choruses and is no slouch either…Out of print private pressing via Chicken Velvet Records…

SIDE A
money talked

SIDE B
spring heel’d jack

DOWNLOAD ME

IDIOM FLESH – Inheritance EP (1983)

This is the very rare lone extended player by the Australian minimal synth wave band Idiom Flesh. The group produced a promotional video for the lead off track “Some People”, which I’ve included below. It looks like they produced a 7” single as well.

Inheritance is a top drawer minimal synth record with odd vocal arrangements and stripped down electronica. They hit upbeat new wave synth numbers and switch over to more minimalistic songs within this five song set. The overall package proves to be quite an infectious brew. Highly Recommended!!....My copy came with a large fold out poster, which is a pleasant surprise for such an independent release….Out of print private pressing via Rama Records.



THIS SIDE
some people
7 faces
dance

THAT SIDE
oasis
landscape

DOWNLOAD ME

CLEAVER – Chalet Shuffle LP (1980)

Here’s the lone full length release from Cleaver, who were an overlooked power pop band from The Netherlands. The highly energetic twelve song set on Chalet Shuffle provides inventive formula driven period power pop arrangements during the genre’s peak years. The album’s jacket comes with the band name and album title embossed in white on the front jacket, a nice little touch. Cleaver’s Chalet Shuffle stands as yet another forgotten obscurity that the power pop vinyl aficionados should track down pronto. This wax shouldn’t be too difficult to score at reasonable prices. Out of print private pressing via Bubble Records.

A1 What About The Kids?
A2 Don't Wanna Take It No More
A3 Change Things Around
A4 All The Way
A5 Walking Razor
A6 Nothing Left To Lose

B1 Strange Activities
B2 Arrested Twice A Week
B3 Let's Maybe Do It
B4 The Money We're Not Making
B5 Love Me All Through The Night
B6 Join Us Later

DOWNLOAD ME

HECTOR POOLE AND THE MINDREADERS – Self Titled EP (1982)

Here’s a rather hip and funky new wave synth obscurity from Hector and his mindreader friends out of Illinois. There’s some solid synth work throughout, especially on the impressive “Love Is Money” and “Simple Maniac”, which has some sax flair, but don’t be put off by that, it actually works well and it’s brief… The vocalist reminds me of Steve Carter, who fronted the stellar indie wave American group The Red. This has only four songs, but it’s quality here not quantity…Very highly recommended for the indie new wave collectors looking from some diversity in the new wave bin…Although pressed in a limited quantity, this one does surface from time to time…Out of print private pressing via Espezo Music…

SIDE 1
modern men
the rage

SIDE 2
love is money
simple maniac

DOWNLOAD ME