inner nerd » 1984

Deux – Decadence LP (2010)

beaker — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 02:52:58 +0000

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!!!

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Robot Rock du Jour: Zwischenfall – Flucht (1983)

beaker — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 14:18:09 +0000

Chew on this dark wave nugget for a while.

SCHEMATIC: Limited edition repress, original female vocal version and more videos…

Flucht was one of my very first blog posts. There is something about this song that works its way into your bones. Josh Cheon of Dark Entries Records in SF just did a limited, hyper-quality repress of the Heute EP including the superior German version of Flucht. For $13, you’d be nuts not to grab one while they’re still in supply. Josh also wrote up his great interview with Stephen Kraemer of Zwischenfall.

Flucht (Female Vocal Version) (1984)

The female vocal version of Flucht was actually the b-side of the Sandy Eyes single released on Belgian label Les Disques du Crépuscule and Italo champ Fuzz Dance.

Sandy Eyes (1984)

This song has a much warmer, almost pre-balearic feel to it and was NOT on the Heute EP.

Atemlos (1983)

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Keyser Söze Alert: Clay Pedrini – New Dream (1984)

beaker — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:21:29 +0000

This may be the single greatest manifestation of Italo every pressed. Who the hell is this guy?! Claudio (Clay) Pedrini Came out of nowhere, cooked up this tasty Italo biscuit and then went back into the night kitchen forever. Even when you can find it, be prepared to dish out upwards of $500 for an excellent copy. Fortunately for vinyl nerds hit by the recession, this has been officially repressed by I.D. Limited, complete with reinterpreted cover artwork. You’ll have to pay shipping from Europe, tho.

SCHEMATIC: A short music video clip and cover artwork…

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Robot Rock du Jour: Taxi Girl – Paris (1984)

beaker — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 02:03:20 +0000

Pain chaud! I’m not sure what the hell is going on in this video…but I like it. It’s a damned time capsule from 1984 Paris wrapped in a warm baguette synth line.

Paris features a very young Mirwais (!!) and Daniel Darc walking around town and ragging on their home city.

SCHEMATIC: Videos for Mannequin, Cherchez le Garçon, an early band portrait and Paris album cover art…

Mannequin was Taxi Girl’s very first 12″ pressing in 1979.

Cherchez le Garçon was the band’s second single, released in 1980.

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Robot Rock du Jour: Thomas Dolby – She Blinded Me With Science (1982)

beaker — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:03:12 +0000

This video was an integral part of my nerdlinghood. Visually rich to the nth degree: Besides the sweet sidecar motorcycle and lunatic scientists, you have the superhot lab assistant, Ms. Sakamoto, who doubles as a cello. Classic nerd track. BTW, Dolby has been the Musical Director of the TED conferences since 2001.

SCHEMATICS: Album artwork and other gems from Dolby…

Hyperactive! (12″ Version) (1984)

The beginning of this track always makes me think of The Bestie Boys. Great video.

Hyperactive! (Album Version) (1984)

Taken from Beta tapes, which is really cool. This version is much more in the vein of The Talking Heads.

One of Our Submarines (Live) (1982)

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Party Time: Saturday Robot Party @ The Idle Hour (Baltimore, MD)

beaker — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:52:53 +0000

VIGR is in the house. 4+ hour rare vinyl set. Need I say more? Hope to see you there! I’ll try to keep track of the setlist…

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Snort: Filipponio – All’ Arrembaggio (1984)

beaker — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 23:56:33 +0000

Unbridled Italo machismo in its purest form. As undeniably ridiculous as this video may seem to you at first, laughter will turn to awe with repeated viewings. How sweet are the video effects?!!

SCHEMATIC: Dope record scans…

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Robot Rock du Jour: Doris Norton – Personal Computer (1984)

beaker — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:31:32 +0000

OK. Check this out:

Super hot italian chick doubles as an electronic music pioneer, gets sponsored by Apple and Roland in the 1980s and eventually becomes a consultant to IBM. **sigh**

All video clips taken from the 1984 LP Personal Computer on Durium.

SCHEMATIC: Two more videos and high res studio photo…

Doris Norton – Binary Love

Doris Norton – Norton Apple Software

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Robot Rock du Jour: Aviador Dro (1980 + 1982)

beaker — Sat, 16 May 2009 19:24:22 +0000

I don’t know why I’m on this jamón synth kick lately, but after you peep these vids, I doubt you’ll blame me!

Madrid-based Aviador Dro recorded some of the most leftfield minimal wave synth punk ever made. The following videos are from their obscure period in the early 1980s. Check those pre-acid synth lines! To top it all off, their penchant for industrially-themed costumes gave the music a whack post-apocalyptic feel. Substantially all their music in the 1980s was published on their own label, DRO. Enjoy!

El Nascimiento de la Industria (1982) off the DRO compilation “Navidades Radiactivas”

SCHEMATIC: Four more videos to up your nerd experience points…

Laser (1980) off their first 7″ release “La Chica de Plexiglas”

Nuclear, Sí (1982) off the 12″ release “Nuclear, Sí”

La Televisión Es Nutritiva (1982) off the “Alas Sobre El Mundo” LP

Selector de Frecuencias (1982) off the “Alas Sobre El Mundo” LP

Selector de Frecuencias – Live (1984) broadcast on “El Programa La Edad de Oro Visita”

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Robot Rock du Jour: Vocoder – ¿Que Sucede Ahora? What Happens Now? (1984)

beaker — Fri, 08 May 2009 19:25:17 +0000

¿Que Sucede Ahora? (What Happens Now?) was Vocoder’s first single, released as a 12″ on Neon Danza in 1984. I wish I could find a Roland TB-303 in the cereal aisle…

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