The Pop on Trial: Timemachine EP

Here is something a bit different. Rather than something in the synthpop, minimal wave, or post-punk vein, this is a late-80s shoegaze record from San Francisco. A totally fuzzed-out, noisy, reverbed shoegaze gem that any fan will probably love. Sure, they wear their influences on their sleeve (Jesus and Mary Chain, House of Love, et al...), but the record is so good that I forgive them. It's dark, sometimes melodic, and often beautiful. The song Time Machine is a wonderfully infectious single, and Better This Way is a dense, effected wall of noise. Since shoegaze is finally back in vogue with the reformation of bands like My Bloody Valentine, Jesus and Mary Chain, Swervedriver, and new bands like A Place to Bury Strangers, Ceremony, Shocking Pinks, The Raveonettes, etc, maybe now this release will get the appreciation it deserves, albeit 20 years too late.

The Pop On Trial: Timemachine EP
1989, Soon Records
A1 She's a Time Machine
A2 Bumble Bee
B1 Something Special
B2 Wintertime
B3 Better This Way

Click here to download this record!

Benelux Bound...

A slight deviation here... I will be traveling with a friend to Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg in March (from the 10th to the 31st). We don't have an itinerary yet, so we want to find some fun stuff to do. We're researching possible things to do right now, but can always use other suggestions. Does anyone who reads this know of any:
* Good shows in any of those countries during that time? Anything goth, synthpop, indie, etc... I'm probably going to see Echo West on Mar 28 in Arnhem.
* Good record stores to check out?
* Parties, clubs, etc - post punk, new wave, minimal wave, goth, electro, indie... anything is good!
* Other suggestions or places to check out?

Thanks for any help!

Sky's Above: Only I 12"

Here is an obscure and rare 12" from a Danish band called Sky's Above. I acquired this in a trade several years ago and forgot I had it until recently. There are two synthpop/minimal wave songs here. Both are very melodic, although brevity was obviously not this band's strong point, as each song is 8+ minutes. Still, I suppose you get your money's worth that way.

Sky's Above: Only I 12"
1985, Not Just for Dancing Records

1. Only I
2. Heart Touch

Click here to download the record!

Evening in Torpor LP

Here is the only LP released by the minimal synth band Evening in Torpor. It was released in 1988 but was actually recorded in 1981 by several college students, including Matalie Merchant and Rob Buck from 10,000 Maniacs. Don't let that sway you from checking this album out - it actually has some truly excellent minimal electronic and new wave songs on it! Because I'm lazy, I'm just going to paste the Wikipedia entry:

"Evening in Torpor was a student-project that Natalie Merchant and Rob Buck from the band 10,000 Maniacs were involved with around the time that 10,000 Maniacs was beginning. All of the songs were written by Albert Garzon. Natalie contributed vocals to "Daffodils," "Mother's Family Ring," "Crumble Down," and "Bathroom Tile Dance," while Rob contributed guitar to "Rectangles," "Daffodils," "Mother's Family Ring," The Playground," Crumble Down," and "Bathroom Tile Dance." The other tracks on the album ("les Cendriers" and "Defense Rap Trip") included no future Maniacs. The song "les Cendriers," which translates from French as "ashtrays" is the only reference to the name of the makeshift band.

The record was released by Community 3, or simply Comm3, in 1988 and taken off the market under a paid agreement with 10,000 Maniacs."

Evening In Torpor LP, 1988, Comm3 Records
Tracks:

1. "Rectangles"
2. "Daffodils"
3. "les Cendriers"
4. "Mother's Family Ring"
5. "The Playground"
6. "Crumble Down"
7. "Defense Rap Trip"
8. "Bathroom Tile Dance"

Download the album here!

Bisca LP re-uploaded

I've had several requests to re-upload the excellent Bisca LP that I posted last year. Find it here.
Enjoy!