inner nerd » HGSOS

Robot Rock du Jour: Severed Heads – Lamborghini/Petrol (1982/1985)

beaker — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 13:32:52 +0000

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…

There is some confusion regarding the actual name of this track: Is it Lamborghini or Petrol? My hunch is that Lamborghini is actually an early version of Petrol. The earliest example of Lamborghini is off the 1982 French compilation Entrave et Étouffement, whereas Petrol doesn’t show up until 1985 on a 7″. To complicate matters further, although the embedded Live at Metro TV July 1982 clip you already saw is clearly a live performance of Lamborghini, it is tagged on youtube as Petrol.

This next cut of Lamborghini was taken from a compilation CD called Can’t Stop It! II (Australian Post-Punk 1979-84) that was published in 2007. The compilation is just OK, although that track from Centerfold is good, too. Might as well pick it up digitally because Severed Heads early recordings will cost you from $50 – $2,000!

Lamborghini (CD Version)

Petrol (Live at Rock Arena, 1986)

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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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Robot Rock du Jour: Deux – Paris / Orly (1985)

beaker — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:23:10 +0000

Hot Girls Singing Over Synths (HGSOS).

This French duo were really onto something with their minimal synths, stripped-down rhythm compositions and suitably cold female lyrics. This prime example of French minimal synth pop was no doubt influenced by their proximity to Germany as the cool synth-laden air traveled down from Les Alpes. Presented here is Paris / Orly the b-side from their Europe 7″ published in 1985 on André Records.

SCHEMATIC: Videos for Felicita and Game and Performance…

That French accent slays me…

Deux – Felicita (1983)

Deux – Game and Performance (1983)

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Robot Rock du Jour: Bagarre – Lemonsweet (Disco Version) (1982)

beaker — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:12:02 +0000

Man am I feeling this tune! The slow descent into acid-fuelled dancing madness is too much to bear on this spring day. You can’t beat those slightly off key vixen vocals.

Bagarre’s Circus LP or Lemonsweet 12″ are classic slabs of electronic italo that sell for around $100 each on Italian vinyl, but you can score Spanish pressings with slightly lower sonic quality for roughly half that. Happy hunting!

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Keyser Söze Alert: Zed – Plastic Love (1983)

beaker — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 14:31:55 +0000

I want this record SO badly that I am reluctant to even make other people aware of it. The third release on the legendary italo label Fuzz Dance.

SCHEMATIC: Bootleg reissue…

Plastic Love is now available on Safety Copy 07, a limited edition (333 copies) clear vinyl german bootleg. This same pressing also features Kirlian Camera’s Communicate.

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Robot Rock du Jour: Jo Lemaire + Flouze – Je Suis Venir Te Dire Que Je M’En Vais (1981)

beaker — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 14:25:32 +0000

Be still my robotic heart! Jo Lemaire’s 1981 cover of the Serge Gainsbourg classic is a sultry, breathy slow burn laid over some tight drum beats and layered, melancholy synths. “I came to tell you I am going…”

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Robot Rock du Jour: Logic System – Unit (1981)

beaker — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:06:20 +0000

From the Hideki Matsutake’s album Logic released in 1981. How can you argue with a hot (french) girl singing over smooth robotic beats? Get the Japanese pressing: It is sonically superior and not expensive (yet).

Oh? What’s that? You liked that, did you? Well, there are over 130 more videos on my painstakingly assembled youtube playlist. If you want to journey even deeper, I’ve compiled two related playlists that delve into the history of and equipment used in the production of early electronica.

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