Robot Rock du Jour: Palais Schaumburg – Telephon (1981)
RAMPAGE! I’m in love with this stuff… Thick guitar basslines, tweaked synths, angsty vocals, drums, real germans…
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Real Genius: Informatics – Dance to a Dangerous Beat (1980 – 1985)
Previously unreleased, masterfully minimal work from Australia’s cutting edge art-school synth-pop outfit Informatics. This material dates from 1980 – 1985 and is finally seeing the light of day thanks to Josh at Dark Entries in SF. Not sure what the hell is going on this video, but who cares?!
SCHEMATIC: Quirky, poppy, punky synth track “What A World” after the jump… Read the rest of this entry »
Snort: PAL198X Analog Synthesizer
Greatest product introduction of all time. Want. Check out Neon Indian for more info on the main feller, there.
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Robot Rock du Jour: Neon Indian (2009)
Although still a bit self-conscious and borderline radio friendly, the combination of 8-bit feel and vintage synths with some 21st century compression is post-worthy. A little grooming, a bit more suffering and these kids could really develop a sound. It is synth meets indie meets navel-gazing pop. Straight outta…Texas? Love it. Peep the analog video synth work as well!
SCHEMATIC: A curated selection of video goodies!
Robot Rock du Jour: Liaisons Dangereuses – Los Niños Del Parque (1981)
German EBM (Electronic Body Music) pioneers, Liaisons Dangereuses are goin’ for it full throttle on this track. This particular live version was filmed in Manchester in 1982. Acid synthlines abound, making this track a landmark Chicago/Detroit precursor. iSpy my favorite synth duo the Korg MS-20 and MS-50.
SCHEMATIC: Live in Düsseldorf, synths, famous female band member…
Videodrome: Velodrome Intro
Yeah, yeah. I’ve been lazy about posting lately and not much music. But this tron’d out Velodrome intro scored by Chemical Brothers is seriously awesome.
Snort: 5th Avenue Frogger
NYC idea man Tyler DeAngelo recently created 5th Ave Frogger, which pulls real-time traffic data to drive the cars in this classic arcade game. Tip o’ the hat to you, Mr. DeAngelo.
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Icons: Robert Moog’s 78th
Check out Google’s mini-moog emulator in honor of what would have been Robert Moog’s 78th birthday! Adjustable filters, modulation control, four-track recording. How awesome!
SCHEMATIC: One-page instruction manual… Read the rest of this entry »
Robot Rock du Jour: Factory Floor – Two Different Ways (2011)
Industrial + Acid = Factory Floor
This gem dropped on DFA two short months after I posted Factory Floor’s amazing Real Love.
“Too far gone… Ain’t No Way Back!”
SCHEMATIC: Oh my god, a real B-side DUB! (“Second Way”)… Read the rest of this entry »
Robot Rock du Jour: Bernard Fevre aka Black Devil – Dali(1975)
Then the French said, “Let there be dark disco.” And it was really, really good.
Right?! 1975. Whoa.
As a music genealogist, moments where new musical (sub)genres are born are pretty much the stuff of dreams.
Within this span of 84 seconds, from an offbeat library (ie music snippets) album “The Strange World of Bernard Fevre,” foundations are laid for the deepest, darkest, most esoteric disco album ever made, Black Devil’s”Disco Club” in 1978.
SCHEMATIC: The entire legendary “Disco Club” LP and a live performance! Read the rest of this entry »