inner nerd » Industrial

Robot Rock du Jour: Crash Course in Science – Flying Turns (1981)

beaker — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 03:00:54 +0000

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″…

Clean, first pressings sell for upwards of $100, with second pressings from 1986 on LD Records fetching only slightly less.

Cardboard Lamb (2:41)

Crashing Song (2:35)

Factory Forehead (2:56)

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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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Robot Rock du Jour: The Neon Judgement – The Fashion Party (1983)

beaker — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 22:43:19 +0000

If Robert De Niro were a robot and went on a rampage, this is the song that would be playing in the background. Hyperactive, aggro-nerd breakdance music at its finest. The Fashion Party is some hard-rocking Electronic Body Music from Belgium off the Cockerill-Sombre 12″. Love that post-punk guitar around 2:50!

SCHEMATICS: Videos for TV Treated and Tomorrow in the Papers…

TV Treated (1982)

Where NIN came from…

Tomorrow in the Papers (1985)

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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: Liaisons Dangereuses – Los Niños Del Parque (1981)

beaker — Sun, 31 May 2009 19:05:18 +0000

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…

Synth goddess and band co-founder Beate Bartel was also one of the original members of the avant-garde band Einstürzende Neubauten. This next live version was filmed at a music festival in Düsseldorf. Check out pink hair at 1:21!!

For comparison purposes, I’ve also included a still frame video for the 12″ version.

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