U 137 were a Swedish band, also featuring Mats Larsson (alias Tage Jesus) of Stulna Begär. They took their name from a Russian submarine that hit a rock in Swedish international waters in 1981, causing further speculation of Soviet influence on Sweden. It’s a very interesting incident, which you can read more about here.
It seems like this was a collaborative project of three like-minded Swedish musicians, who swapped instruments for each track. Vocalist Michael Andersson would go on to form Sacrilege, a death/black metal band in the 90s. Andersson and Anders Nilsson (aka Nisse) also released a few singles as Andra Sidan in the late 1980s. Most notably, all three members were involved in Total Musak, with a similar cold/post-punk style and a female singer. Total Musak further explored the Cold War sentiment covered here, and are just as good. BONUS: you can hear all their recordings (though sadly only at 128 kbps) here. Awesome!
Not sure how many copies of this exist in total (rough guess is 500), but the first 300 copies were pressed on blue vinyl with no center label. This is the version I have.
Both sides here have something different to offer, likely a product of Larsson and Nilsson swapping string synth/drum duties for each track. Fans of bands like Peyr, Killing Joke, and the Red Rain Coat 7” will dig the energy of “En Som Faller,” (A Falling) while those who prefer the the cold Seventeen Seconds, Names/Factory sound should go nuts for “Baksidan Av Ditt Öga” (The Back of Your Eye). There is rumored to be an English version of “En Som Faller” on a compilation, re-titled “Trip and Die” but not sure where you can hear that version. For now, here’s a fresh rip of this excellent 7”!
U 137- Härifrån Till Evigheten 7” 1. Baksidan Av Ditt Öga 2. En Som Faller
Thanks to the excellent B-Sound website for filling in the gaps of this otherwise mysterious 7”!
England was ripe with excellent DIY post-punk and minimal synth gems, bands inspired by Factory Records, early Cure singles, etc. Some of my favorite 7”s (Obscure By Degrees, Persons Unknown etc.) were birthed from this era with the same aesthetic. So with that in mind, here’s another obscure gem from Towerbell Records, released in 1981. This is the one and only single from Language From Memory, who disappeared into the ether soon after recording this 7”. It’s a shame, as the a-side here truly kicks ass, one of the best undiscovered gems I’ve stumbled upon in recent times. Incisive guitars, Sad Lovers and Giants-esque string synths, and catchy, fist-pumping hooks abound. Power pop lovers will also enjoy the flip.
The band were from northern London, and played out quite often in the early 80s. As for their disappearance, I believe they changed names and continued on together. A fan who knew the band back then states that Nick Head played rhythm guitar on this single. The name may be familiar to some, as he also acted as producer/engineer for KMFDM and Exit 13.
This single is also proof that not all obscurities are out of budget, as there are tons of copies out there to be had for relatively cheap, even by discogs standards. Towerbell seemed to have some backing behind it, and a decently stacked roster, which was formed out of the disco era and included Shirley Bassey and Justin Hayward (Moody Blues) as well as a series of popular TV series compilations. I haven’t heard of much else from the label, so perhaps this single is an anomaly, but either way, aspiring collectors should have no problem finding a copy for themselves…
Language From Memory- Fortune 7” 1. Fortune 2. The Coat
Here’s another LP on donation from Ondanera, deep from the heart of Italy. This LP is the lone release from Mickeranno, an artist from Catania, a town in Sicily (Sicilian pride!). As I understand it, Jacopo Leone was the primary musician for this release, with a few collaborators providing drums, trumpet, and other touches. Recorded in Northern Italy in the Emilia Romagna region, the album didn’t break out past its native country when it was released in 1985, so hopefully it can find new life here.
Fans of bands like Felt, Dif Juz, or the Durutti Column will love this one, as it’s a quiet, understated affair, with subtle electronic/dark synth flourishes against a mostly acoustic backdrop. A really haunting record from a very humble and quiet area in Italy. The standout track is easily the gloomy “Da Un’altra Parte” (From Another Part) but this a really interesting listen, front to back. Hope you enjoy it!
Mickeranno- Mickeranno LP 1. Decisioni 2. Solo Voci 3. Boh 4. Dai Vetri 5. D.D. 6. E Per Un Paio Di Giorni 7. Uscirò Ogni Sera 8. Fotocopiandoti 9. Nel Buio 10. Da Un’Altra Parte 11. Che Si Tratti Di Me? 12. Boh (Versione 2)
PS- I removed the link for La Valse for now… I’m expecting a copy of the 7” in the mail. Once it arrives, I’ll make a new rip and let you all know so you can update your digital files. Hang tight, and thanks as always for the support.
Incredibly rare 7” from the Netherlands here that I’ve seen on several wantlists over the years. Due time for this gem to be heard! No year attached to this one, and despite the label (No Records), it may be a private pressing. If I had to guess, it has an early 80s feel to it- perhaps 1983-5. The band were from Breda and this is their only release, perfect for fans of that cold guitar sound with both male and female vocals on the a-side. Minimal synth fans should also enjoy this one, as the flip features some trademark synth and drum machine work. You can also find “Sorrow” on one of the None Night of Flexipop compilations, but I believe that version is ripped at the wrong speed…
Either way, both tracks here are great, gloomy affairs that should feel at home for fans of The Names/Factory Records.
Thanks to Stéphane for providing a rip of this lost classic!
La Valse- Winter 7” 1. Winter 2. Sorrow
Just realised it’s been a while since my last post. Sorry, guys! I have quite a few things on the plate, including a rare French coldwave 7” and a few more Italian goodies that I’ve been meaning to get to, but here’s something I’ve had uploaded for a while to whet your appetite until I can get that stuff all organized properly for you.
This is a one-off 7” from Australia, released in 1984 via Vi-Nil Records. Despite being distributed by EMI, this one didn’t get a lot of attention when it came out. Not much about them on the net, but Geoffrey Stapleton was also involved with The Aliens, GANGgajang, and more.
Personally I don’t care much for the a-side (but of course, that’s just my own taste), but the flip is a great piece of Middle Eastern inspired minimal synth. While the geography is all wrong here, the sound still feels right at home for fans of Minimal Compact, Beograd, Max & Intro, etc. A short little piece of synth perfection that I hope you all enjoy!
Gulf Klub- What’s Cooking 7” 1. What’s Cooking 2. India
More soon, stay tuned!
Female fronted new wave post punk influenced meanderings by this
obscure indie band who hailed out of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. The band
plays with some sharp edges at times, like the post punk indie rock
of ‘Ready’ and ‘Like Lovers Feel’. They then move into synth wave
territory with the urgency of ‘Big Kids’ and the melodic mid tempo
title song. Blondie and Missing Persons come to mind with the
clever ‘Decisions’. We even get some indie pop tangents with the
charming ‘Go Ahead And Kiss Her’ and the Natalie Merchant sound of
‘Gracefully And Lady Like’. The standout for me is the compacted
synth treat ‘Believe It’, which harkens back to early 80’s Terri
Nunn/John Crawford Berlin. There’s a solid serving of variety on
this 12 song set, so if you’re into the female fronted indie new
wave alternative sound, then this lot is for you.
…Out of print private pressing via Clone Records ...
SIDE 1
No ones girl
Big kids
Mental state
Ready
Decisions
Like lovers feel
SIDE 2
Go ahead and kiss her
Fickle hearts
Gracefully and lady like
Lucky charms
Believe it
Scared of the dark
DOWNLOAD
ME
The Passage - Enflame (1983)
Another from The Passage, featuring their usual ADHDance
postpunk-synthpop mashup.
+ download the thing here
While I haven’t posted much shoegaze here, I’ve been a fan of the genre as long as I can remember… Aside from the classics, I’ve also grown to love more modern bands such as Ashrae Fax, Stella Luna, Tamaryn, The Autumns, the Claire Records bands, and of course, Bethany Curve. With that in mind, I’ve been looking for a copy of this cassette for ages, pretty much a holy grail for me for many years, so it’s proof that good things come to those who wait.
Bethany Curve formed in Santa Cruz, CA in 1994, taking their name from a local street sign. The band released four albums and one EP, going on hiatus in 2004 after the release of Flaxen. Though they haven’t released anything since, the band played some shows in 2010, and their site hints at a new record, Murder, whose release date is still TBA. There’s also talk of this tape being reissued with remastered sound, so this download will be obviously be removed once it’s available for sale.
As for the band’s sound, Bethany Curve often explored darker territories than most of their peers, citing Dead Can Dance and Depeche Mode as influences alongside Cocteau Twins, Slowdive, and the like . The influence is most apparent on this tape, released in 1995 as a demo. There are a few experimental synth moments here as well, serving as interludes between the remaining tracks. Either way, if you’ve been looking for this tape as long as I have, you’ve already skipped this text and have gone straight to the download, so let’s cut straight to the chase:
Bethany Curve- Mee-Eaux K7 1. Sequence 2. Satellite 3. Mar 4. Walk In 5. 2 Minutes of Hate 6. Jalap 7. Sunned 8. Reversion 9. Out of the Clear 10. Me Voy
While I haven’t posted much shoegaze here, I’ve been a fan of the genre as long as I can remember… Some of my first favorites were bands like Slowdive, My Bloody Valentine, etc. so the sound is near and dear to me. Aside from the classics, I’ve also grown to love more modern bands such as Ashrae Fax, Stella Luna, Tamaryn, The Autumns, and of course, Bethany Curve. With that in mind, I’ve been looking for a copy of this cassette for ages, pretty much a holy grail for me for many years, so it’s proof that good things come to those who wait.
Bethany Curve formed in Santa Cruz, CA in 1994, taking their name from a local street sign. The band released four albums and one EP, going on hiatus in 2004 after the release of Flaxen. Though they haven’t released anything since, the band played some shows in 2010, and their site hints at a new record, Murder, whose release date is still TBA. As for the band’s sound, Bethany Curve often explored darker territories than most of their peers, citing Dead Can Dance and Depeche Mode as influences alongside Cocteau Twins, Slowdive, and the like . The influence is most apparent on this tape, released in 1995 as a demo. There are a few experimental synth moments here as well, serving as interludes between the remaining tracks. Either way, if you’ve been looking for this tape as long as I have, you’ve already skipped this text and have gone straight to the download, so let’s cut straight to the chase:
Bethany Curve- Mee-Aux K7 1. Sequence 2. Satellite 3. Mar 4. Walk In 5. 2 Minutes of Hate 6. Jalap 7. Sunned 8. Reversion 9. Out of the Clear 10. Me Voy
01. Party Party
02. Levels of Water
03. Obedience
04. The Return
05. Sang Sang
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