Archive for the ‘Robot Rock’ Category
Deux – Decadence LP (2010)
Vive La Synth Baguette!!!
The life of an anachronist is no picnic: One’s soul (do robots have souls?) is spread across time like brie on pain chaud. Fortunately for those of us stuck surfing time-space, there is music this good to keep us afloat. Minimal Wave nails it again with another anthology repress, this time by French duo, Deux. Might as well double-up on the vinyl while you’re there buying Futurisk Player Piano LP to save on shipping. If you’re feeling flush, I would pick up the Medio Mutante EP, Inestable single, too.
SCHEMATIC: Not convinced?! Check out the full Deux posting HERE!!!
Robot Rock du Jour: Futurisk – Player Piano LP (2010)
Hot off the press!!!
Aptly-named revival label Minimal Wave has compiled Futurisk‘s entire catalog and pressed it on collector-quality 180g vinyl, including this alternate take of their signature track, Meteoright. Destined to be a collectible. At $22, you’d be crazy not to pick one (or two) up.
SCHEMATIC: Need more Futurisk videos??? Get your fix HERE!!!
Robot Rock du Jour: Crash Course in Science – Flying Turns (1981)
This EP/12″ gets me all wound up with some serious non-goth electro industrial madness!
Crash Course in Science was formed in 1979 while the three members were attending art school in Philadelphia.Flying Turns is off their 12″ Signals from Pier Thirteen originally published on Press Records in 1981.
SCHEMATICS: More videos and MP3s from the 12″…
Robot Rock du Jour: The Units – High Pressure Days (1979)
High Pressure Days is a filthy, gnarly animal.
Let Uncle Rico’s time machine teleport you back to 1977 San Francisco. Eschewing guitars in favor of synths (good move, fellas), The Units become one of the very first synthpunk bands. They then start tearing it up, self-releasing the original version of this track in 1979 on what is now an absurdly rare 7″ record (sells for about £100). This video features the album version, released in 1980 on the Digital Stimulation LP.
SCHEMATIC: The ENTIRE Digital Stimulation album, band portrait and flyer (via synthpunk)…
Robot Rock du Jour: Freeez – I.O.U. (1983)
This video somehow manages to aggregate nearly everything that was so boss about the early 1980s: 7″ records; boomboxes/ghettoblasters; BMX bikes; popping and locking; synthesizers; fashion; and even a healthy dose of naïve sexuality. If this song sounds like a cross between Afrika Bambaataa and New Order, that is because legend Arthur Baker produced it! Thanks to fellow nerdbot Tom in the UK for the heads up on this one.
SCHEMATIC: Acapella & Dub Versions…
Robot Rock du Jour: Zwischenfall – Flucht (1983)
Chew on this dark wave nugget for a while.
SCHEMATIC: Limited edition repress, original female vocal version and more videos…
Robot Rock du Jour: Neil Young – Trans LP (1982)
In 1982, Neil Young was abducted by robot aliens who grafted an organic neural-net processor onto his existing human brain and sent him back to Earth to make vocoder-infused, heavily distorted guitar rock. Five of the nine tracks on Trans were recorded by this Neil Young Beta Unit, who also remixed Mr. Soul as the b-side on the Sample and Hold 12″ single.
SCHEMATIC: Other Neil Young Beta Unit videos and cover art…
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Robot Rock du Jour: Justine and the Victorian Punks – Still You (1979)
This track treads a fine line between funky disco and satin-smooth pillow talk. This particular cut is actually experimental composer/saxophonist Peter Gordon’s lovely re-arrangement of Battisti Lucio’s early Italo track, Ancora Tu, with some lover’s chat provided by pioneering NY-based designer/artist Colette.
SCHEMATIC: Battisti Lucio’s Ancora Tu video and photos of Colette’s work…
Robot Rock du Jour: Thomas Dolby – Windpower (1982)
The future was indeed 1982. Nerd of nerds Thomas Dolby laid out “Windpower” on his seminal LP The Golden Age of Wireless, which featured the über hit She Blinded Me With Science. This song is an intellectual call to arms; a utopian nerd manifesto. If anyone wants to build a new city (or take over a cool one like Denver) I’m IN!
SCHEMATIC: Two more versions and inspiring lyrics…
Robot Rock du Jour: Severed Heads – Lamborghini/Petrol (1982/1985)
I’m HOOKED! Now this is some real Aussie nerdness! Nearly five minutes of minimal synth industrial perfection from legendary Sydney band Severed Heads. Disgustingly rare in its original wax format.
Lamborghini (Live at Metro TV, July 1982)
SCHEMATIC: Recording details, the original studio cut and a later concert version…