Archive for the ‘Synth Punk’ tag
History: Veronica Vasicka (2010)
Founder of NY-based revivalist label Minimal Wave talks about her work.
Herself a diamond in the rough, Veronica’s pirate radio station-turned-label has fittingly refocused attention on some spectacular, mostly unknown or forgotten artists. Beyond reissues, Veronica’s bringing to light new talent with a penchant for stripped down, analog sounds, like Medio Mutante.
SCHEMATIC: An interview with Ford Models and a link to the Minimal Wave Facebook group… Read the rest of this entry »
Robot Rock du Jour: Factory Floor – Real Love (2010)
I interrupt your regularly scheduled whatever to bring you this uncut diamond from the London underground.
Factory Floor has future classic written all over them. Shows in NY and Philly in late September and early November.
SCHEMATIC: Real Love (Album Version), Lying and Wooden Box… Read the rest of this entry »
Robot Rock du Jour: Units – High Pressure Days (1979)
There is no substitute for the unadulterated, analog muskiness of an über rare, private pressing 7″ from a pioneering synthpunk band.
These recordings were digitized from near mint copy of this seminal work. Each track is mind-blowing and considerably more raw than the versions found on the 1980 LP, Digital Stimulation. Make sure to check out iNight, too
SCHEMATIC: Original recordings of Cowboy and Cannibals…
Read the rest of this entry »
Robot Rock du Jour: Medio Mutante – Deportes y Sangre (Live) (2010)
My servo-driven heart blew past 180° when I saw/heard this.
So, I’ve been digging Medio Mutante’s dirty, analog, domestic jamón synth vibe for a while now. This live clip features their first performance of Deportes y Sangre at Wierd Records in NYC. Animal.
end of line…
Robot Rock du Jour: Malaria! – Your Turn To Run (1982)
Hot chicks singing over synth punk???!
Sexually charged lyrics, punk angst and synthy goodness earn Malaria! (and others like Honey Bane, The Slits and Pylon) a cherished place in my cybernetic heart. It all happened during a very brief period of time when hot, punk-rocking chicks teamed up with dub producers and took the disco by storm.
SCHEMATIC: A veritable cornucopia of punk disco…
Read the rest of this entry »
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: Units – Digital Stimulation LP (1980)
High Pressure Days and Cowboy are filthy, gnarly animals.
Let Uncle Rico’s time machine teleport you back to 1977 San Francisco. Eschewing guitars in favor of synths (good move, fellas), Units become one of the very first synthpunk bands. They then start tearing it up, self-releasing the original versions several LP tracks in 1979 on what is now an absurdly rare 7″ record (sells for about £100). This video features the album versions, released in 1980 on the Digital Stimulation LP.
SCHEMATIC: The ENTIRE Digital Stimulation album, band portrait and flyer (via synthpunk)…
Robot Rock du Jour: Suicide – Ghost Rider (1977)
Synthpunk Elvis? People just didn’t make this kind of music in 1977. Yet here it is. While France and Québéc were making space disco, NY was outputting high concept industrial synthpunk blues. Legends Alan Vega and Martin Rev, tearing it up…
SCHEMATIC: Another live version and a brief documentary excerpt…
Robot Rock du Jour: Units – I-Night (1979)
Damn, this track is sick. I originally had this song in the SCHEMATICS section of the High Pressure Days posting, but this aggro synthpunk brain-melter it is far, far too choice to ride the pine. I-Night is the b-side on the Warm Moving Bodies 7″.
Party Time: Saturday Robot Party @ The Idle Hour (Baltimore, MD)
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…
