The Wonders of Science: Record of the Same Name EP

Down from the southern end of the SF Bay Area (San Jose, a city which is actually larger in population than SF, but which nonetheless plays second fiddle to its world-reknown northern relative) comes this wonderful synthpop group, Wonders of Science. They released a 7" and this 12" EP. You can read about the 7" on one of the members' blogs here.
This group was reduced to a duo for this self-released 1983 EP, and they were a pretty early adopter of the classic Roland 808 drum machine. They were pretty much the only band of their kind in San Jose, and played all around the Bay Area for a few years before finally going their separate ways. Michael Dresbach became a priest (whose blog is linked to above) and now lives in Panama. Matt still lives in the Bay Area.

The 7" was uploaded on the excellent and amazingly prolific BX-59cppw blog, so get that too!

The Wonders of Science: Record of the Same Name EP
1983, Wonders of Science Records
Reconsidering Our Love
Let's Start a Rumour
Kleptomania
Call It Off

Click here to download this record!

TWO: Deaming Spires LP

Well, Phoenix Hairpins just uploaded the final 12" from this band, and I've been meaning to share this LP for quite a while, so what better time than now? I found this years ago in the $1 bin at Amoeba in SF, filed in the "D" section (for "Dreaming Spires" I suppose), and it's been a consistent favorite. There are some pops as clearance records sometimes have, but it's not bad. This was a male-female synth duo (Gill and Iain - who, I might add, are both quite attractive and hip-looking. I mean, Gill looks like pretty much half the girls I've dated in the past 5 years, and Iain looks like a skinny hip SF Mission District kid. How's that for useless information?) They were from a small town near London. This LP is pretty experimental, especially on the 15-minute "It Won't Work". This was released on Future Records, the new wave/synthpop/post punk offshoot of the punk label No Future. I think this record uses almost all electronics and bass, which is always a great combination that makes for some dark, dark music. Anyway... enjoy!

TWO: Dreaming Spires
1983 Future Records, FL 3
1. Picture Frame
2. Waiting
3. Regime
4. Architecture
5. Pale Yellow
6. End
7. It Won't Work

Click here to download the album!

Various Artists: Music Biz Showcase '83 LP

Here is an obscure compilation from the UK called Music Biz Showcase '83. Appropriately, it was released in 1983. It features nine songs by nine very different bands. I believe they were from London, as a few songs were recorded live at "The Fridge", which was a London venue. As far as I know, most bands never released anything else. Some of the highlights include "Vegetarians Don't Eat Meat", a minimalist female-sung post punk/new wave song in the vein of Au Pairs or perhaps The Raincoats; "Cut a Dash" by Academy, a very lo-fi synthpop song; "Eleanor Rigby" by Jeddah, a 100% earnest NWOBHM take on the Beatles classic; my favorite by far, however, is "Touch the Sky" by Life, a minimal electropop dancefloor killer. I played the song for my friend and he thought it sounded like a very early version of futurepop bands like VNV Nation, Beborn Beton, or Wolfsheim. So is it proto-futurepop? It's a great track, whatever it is. I don't know if this is the same "Life" that Andy Robinson (who would later become New Order's manager) was in, and who released a few singles on Factory Benelux. Can anyone compare the two "Life"s to give an answer?...

Various Artists: Music Biz Showcase LP
1983 Showcase Records
Tracks:
1. Cainers: Balloons
2. Football Results: Prophet of hate
3. Life: Touch the Sky
4. Bravura: Vegetarians Don't Eat Meat
5. Stolen Property: Imagination
6. Academy: Cut a Dash
7. Quiet Zone: Fragile Lives
8. Eclipse: An Obscure Love Song
9. Jeddah: Eleanor Rigby

Click here to download the album!