inner nerd » Synth Pop

Robot Rock du Jour: Experimental Products – Glowing In The Dark (1984)

beaker — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:19:17 +0000

I want to radiate as soon as I can, so I, too, can glow in the dark.

What is it about this city that makes me crave analog synthiness?

Glowing in the dark again…

End of line…

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Robot Rock du Jour: Hooray For Earth – True Loves (Cereal Spiller Remix) (2011)

beaker — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 19:28:53 +0000

While this song is uncomfortably close to mainstream for my circuit boards, this deconstructed remix by NYC incognitos Cereal Spiller is just off the beaten path enough to ensure safety. The real winner here, tho, is the animation created by UK-based artist Cyriak Harris.

SCHEMATIC: True Loves (Album Version) with another great video…

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Robot Rock du Jour: LCD Soundsystem – Someone Great (2007)

beaker — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 17:21:32 +0000

So, I pretty much avoid big time acts and there are very few “modern” bands that make what I deem to be exceptionally rad music. LCD Soundsystem, however, is the king + queen of them all.

I created this stop-motion video as part of my graduate program thesis work. 100 hours of wood cutting and photographing. If you dig it, peep my process photos.

SCHEMATIC: Videos for Home, Daft Punk is Playing at My House…

Home

Daft Punk is Playing at My House

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Robot Rock du Jour: Starter – Minijupe (1981)

beaker — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 18:17:16 +0000

OK. So, pretend for a minute that lead singer Francis Foss DOESN’T look and sound like Dana Carvey taking the piss out of no wave bands.

In that hot minute, you will surely discover how rad this song is because you, after all, love les minijupes (miniskirts) as much as I do. And Korg MS-20s.

SCHEMATIC: Dana Carvey, record label and cover artwork, some band photos…

Dana Carvey – Choppin’ Broccoli (SNL Audition)

Starter – Minijupe 7″ (1981)

Starter – Starter LP (1981)

Starter – Band Photos

End of line…

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Robot Rock du Jour: Fotostat – Fotostat (1983)

beaker — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:56:44 +0000

Machines that think they’re human pretending to be robots. I-R-O-N-Y. Love it. The track is decent, but nothing mind-bending.

SCHEMATIC: Fotostat strut their circuits to Kraftwerk, more vids, technics ad, 7″ tracks, album artwork and label scans…

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Keyser Söze Alert : Oviformia Sci – Fashion Magazines (1982?)

beaker — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 05:17:44 +0000

Oh, hell yes.

This is some super-fine minimal jamón synth in the Aviador Dro vein, complete with original, highly conceptual music videos. As far as I can tell, this stuff wasn’t pressed on vinyl. If anyone has a beat on this wax, I’m buying. Peep the Korg MS-20 BTW.

SCHEMATIC: Another outrageously cool video from Oviformia Sci and links to more music…

Oviformia Sci – Hablamamos de Nosotros (1982?)

You can check out the killer Teletipio on Vimeo, more of their tracks on MySpace and even download the Maquetas EP on differentillusion.

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Robot Rock du Jour: 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: Freeez – I.O.U. (1983)

beaker — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 04:24:24 +0000

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…

These versions are included primarily for posterity rather than actual musical interest.

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Robot Rock du Jour: Neil Young – Trans LP (1982)

beaker — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 04:55:17 +0000

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…

So, the actual story here, according to Wikipedia, is that Neil Young’s son was born with cerebral palsy. Somewhere along the line, Mr. Young found that he was able to elicit a better response from his son when using the Moog vocoder. Pretty awesome. Not sure if this album is a result of Mr. Young pushing the creative envelope or just ruminations on technology and communication. Either way, this album was a really, really pleasant surprise.

Sample and Hold (LP Version)

We R In Control

Computer Age

Transformer Man

Computer Cowboy

Mr. Soul (Dance Remix)

Trans LP Cover Art

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Robot Rock du Jour: Thomas Dolby – Windpower (1982)

beaker — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 00:32:09 +0000

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…

Windpower (Top of the Pops Live Version) (c.1982)

Crappy sound and video quality, but a great version nonetheless!

Windpower (High Powered Extended Play) (1982)

This particular cut is off the eponymous 12″ single. Readily available on vinyl and cheap.

Windpower Lyrics

Switch off the mind and let the heart decide
who you were meant to be
Flick to remote and let the body glide
There is no enemy !
Etch out a future of your own design
Well tailored to your needs
Then fan the flame and keep the dream alive
Of a continent
A continent a continent a continent a -
There is no enemy !
Switch of the mind and let the heart decide
We’re a continent
A continent a continent a continent a -
Shatter the lens and grind it into sand
One measured exposure
Scatter the seed and furrow in our land
The future is roses! Roses!
Switch off the mind and let the heart decide
There is no enemy!
Lift up the hearts of this your only tribe
We’re a continent
A continent a continent a continent a

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