Paul Nova: Trees Without Leaves LP, Fantasy & Feeling 12", Julie Ann 7"

Since it's been a while since I posted, and since this may be my only post for June, I'll include a nice "bonus" upload here. I think that a lot of people are very curious about this mysterious UK solo act, after seeing his stuff fetch hundreds on eBay. I know I was, and finally got these songs from a very generous member of minimal-wave.org. As one-half of the underground synth duo Bizarre Unit, Paul Nova was making minimal electro-pop for his entire short career. His later singles (especially Fantasy and Feeling) had a more commercial synthpop sound, but were still excellent releases. This is basically his entire discography (he had a 7" with Famous Boys/Trees Without Leaves, but both those songs appear on his LP.) If anybody has the Bizarre Unit stuff to share, I would be very happy!

Paul Nova: Julie Ann 7"
1982, Echibit One Records
A Julie-Ann
B Video Age

Paul Nova: Trees Without Leaves LP
1984, Exhibit One Records
A1 Lovers In Paris
A2 You Could Be Good
A3 Home Sweet Home
A4 Trees Without Leaves
B1 You Are
B2 Famous Boys
B3 Love You Madly
B4 Broken Rose

Paul Nova: Fantasy and Feeling 12" EP
1985, Exhibit One Records
A1 Fantasy
A2 Letter Of Love
B1 The Feeling
B2 Summer Breeze

Download everything here!

Thrill of the Pull: Green to Red 12"

For all of you who really wish that Killing Joke would record a song that sounds exactly like their early-to-mid-80s heyday, here you go. Green to Red basically sounds like it could be on Night Time, with vocals that sound a bit like Mark Burgess of Chameleons. The B side is even more Chameleons-like. I can't really fault a band for sounding like other bands I love, though. It's derivative gems like this that make scrounging for unknown records worth it! All I know about this band is that they released this one 12" on Underground Release Records in a die-cut sleeve that made it look like some random rap record the first couple times I saw it. They were from San Francisco, and I think one of the members may have been in Fade to Black, a SF deathrock band from around 1984-85. I'm not sure, though.

Thrill of the Pull: Green to Red 12"
1986, Underground Release Records
A1 Green to Red
B1 Everlasting Dream

Click here to download this 12"!

The Hail Mary: What's That Fire EP

The thing that grabbed me first when I found this album at a small record shop in Antwerp was the sticker on the front: "First Record Censured in Belgium". What caused it to be censured? Were all the songs promoting baby sacrifice? Listening to the album didn't really offer many clues - it's a solid four songs of excellent deathrock and dark post punk that's part Christian Death and part Bauhaus. So I ask all of you - do you know why the Hail Mary had the first record censured in Belgium? Is there even any credibility to this claim?

The Hail Mary: What's That Fire EP
198?, self-released
A1 What's That Fire?
A2 The Quiet Way to Paradise
B1 Into the Last Fight
B2 Violets

Click here to download the EP!

Echo Art: Leitmotiv LP

Here is an LP from a mysterious Italian darkwave band called Echo Art. I know they released at one 12" EP in addition to this album, but I really can't find much info on them. This LP is a varied affair, with some instrumental and experimental songs in addition to coldwave and darkwave songs. Overall it's a very solid album of dark, gloomy new wave. The final song, Hershel, is the one that I find myself listening to over and over. It's built upon a simple repetitive synth line, with dark reverbed vocals (in Italian) that make it a classic!

Echo Art: Leitmotiv LP
1986, Project Records
A1 Dual Time
A2 Life
A3 Leone D'Inverno
A4 Poison
A5 Argot Du Milieu
B1 Baillame
B2 Lips Nnn
B3 Awake
B4 Hershel

Click here to download the LP!