I Am The Fly – "Pattern / Function" (Self-released12", Single Sided ) 2022

Any Synth punk duo from 2022 must be encouraged don't you think?

Are they actually real flys...or are they wearing masks ? We may never know,but what we do know is that they come from Germany....Mulheim apparently,formerly from Essen...so no more jokes about eating or My illegally carpet bombing the place(Essen)father during the European war before this one (he never liked us kids calling him a war criminal)...now it seems that we were on the wrong side.It might have been our last chance to stop Putin,and his gangs of thieving murdering rapist thugs.

The six songs on this very attractive single sided Lp do all actually sound like the same tune on repeat,in 4/4 marching time,with the Boy fly bassist playing at least one note per minim; but, why change something that works just for the sake of melody?

The Lady Fly treats us to a buzzing organ reminiscent of the buzzing organs of The Screamers,backed up by a vintage drum box  which sounds like a Robot-Billy Cobham compared to the classic Suicide drum ,machine, if that's what it was? A respectful nod in the direction of the Synth Punk founding fathers is required,keeping the legacy alive and hopefully encouraging the Yoof to pickup a crap organ,fuzz box,shite drum machine and sing about something other than breaking up with their Girlfriend. 

Dunno if the two fly's involved are indeed Mrs and Mrs Fly, hope so,as doing stuff like that is genuinely subversive behaviour.....as for maggots, there is a chronic insect shortage going down,something like 80% down on the Insect population since the first Synth-Punk group released an album.

And remember, No Insects= no trees,no Flowers, and...slightly more important....No food!

It also sounds like these Flys are 'Woke'.As these right-on flys,depending on which of their six knees to take, display the following claims rather proudly on the sleeve..

"Against racism
Against Fascism
Against Sexism
Against homophobia"

(No Transphobia then?)

Strangely all things I have been accused of ,among many others, In the hallowed pages of this blog over the years.

As these grown up maggots are trying to sell some product to you DIY enthusiasts,i will not be making anything available for fuck all as one usually does....an action that some irate punter labelled me as....wait for it..."Pure Scum" recently.

Instead you can check out buying one on their Bandcamp page,click here or see below.....:

It's good, and you don't even have to turn it over to play side 2,mainly because it hasn't got one!

Video HERE!

Tracklist:

1 Anhedonia
2 Biomass
3 Detritus
4 Defined By
5 The Ugliest Part Of Your Body Is Your Brain
6 A Dysfunctional Pattern Of Wants

BUY ONE like flys on shit or fly with hits HERE!

Algebra Suicide – "Big Skin" (Buzzerama Records) 1986

From the Sahara desert to the urban deserts of the USA we stoop to the default setting of spoken word synth punk duo's, and Algebra Suicide, from the windy city of Chicago.

Award winning ,it says here, high brow minimal synth duo with humble beginnings during the american cassette underground peak years.I say'High Brow' because they dangerously flirt with the word 'poetry',primarily because talking over an electronic backing is easier than singing,or even finding a singer to deliver your deadpan wordy litanies to the rigid beats of a drum machine.

There is a suggestion of a John Cooper Clarke and The Invisible Girls influence in some of the tunes and the inevitable sprinkling of Girono Poetry Systems. The words are suitably dark enough to gain one's attention and may or may not hint, at a sense of humour. 

The deadpan poets society.

Tracklist:

A1 After Charles 2:23
A2 Seasonal Zombies 3:00
A3 Little Dead Body Poem 4:45
A4 Proverbial Explanation For Why No Action Is Taken 2:28
A5 After Rilke 2:15
A6 No War Bride 1:25
A7 Tractor Pull 2:20
B1 Sub Rosa 1:40
B2 Horizon 2:40
B3 Amusing One's Self 2:15
B4 Seven Song 6:50
B5 Please Respect Our Decadence 2:15
B6 Alphabet Song 3:05

DOWNLOAD as words desert me HERE!

I Am The Fly - "I Am The Fly" (Self-Released 7" Single) 2020

 

While we're on the subject of Synth-Punk, anyone fancy some Modern Synth-Punk from Essen, Germany?

Made by girl/boy duo 'I Am The Fly:

Here are the Flys....available for childrens parties, weddings, bar mitzvahs,and FGM gatherings at your local Mosque.

MUSCA domestica male (vocals, bass)

MUSCA domestica female (organ, drum machine).

A Philip K. Dickensian band member format in use there,which is always welcome as I am a Dick-head (in all senses of the word),and by sheer chance I love Synth-Punk too.....and Wire(!)...so ,already, what is there not to like about this self-financed DIY vinyl?

I have a tenuous family connection with Essen,as my late father visited there at twelve thousand feet on a couple of occassions in 1941/2 (read about him and 'it' HERE!). 

I notice that it's the 79th anniversary of the first Essen Raid on the tenth of October.....so to celebrate(?) or commiserate, and maybe a small apology,we bring you the sound of modern-day Essen....note the lack of exploding ordnance in the background to prove it.

The tracks themselves are splendidly bass guitar driven two note symphonies reminiscent ,musically if not vocally, of The Screamers organ-led onslaughts as if fronted by a GM Fly instead of Tomata du Plenty;and a drum box replacing the real drums. Maybe the bassist likes New Model Army too, as the bass playing does suggest a ghostly influence from those crusty punk preachers somewhat;especially the plagarized,but modified, line from "The Spirit Of The Falklands"...'the natives(inmates) are restless tonight sir'. (there seems to be a theme of Brits bombing the fuck out of everybody going on here!....we're sorry!)

The singing android tells us 'there is no therapy for being a human',except maybe if you help out by buying and listening to this noble single.The other options are far too horrific to list here.

P.S.S.T...I think i mentioned the 'War' once, but I may have got away with it?

Tracklist:

1 Axolotl 2:20
2 Wonko The Sane 2:20
3 Heresy 2:20

Get a copy HERE!

Cardboards ‎– "Greatest Hits Volume Two" (Mom's Records ‎– MR253) 1981

The synth-punk thing wasn't just confined to California, for a start we had Suicide in New York for the previous decade up to 1981 and beyond,Crash Course In Science were in Philly. In Pittsburgh there was The Cardboards.

No guitars in this ignored group, among the cheap organs and synthesisers......real drums were the only real option in 1981.....they had a tone generator.....how Synth-Punk is that?

Naturally the American angle on Synth's was to make something rocky and exciting, unlike in the UK, who saw another opportunity to make classic 'Pop' and sell it back to the USA. For some reason, this angle didn't occur to American musicians or businessmen.Its the same story for many other American innovations, especially Musical ones.

One can only think of West Germany and maybe Belgium,where there was something synth-punky going on...but not really...the Rocky bit had been never really manifested itself on the Germanic musical chromosome,over-ridden by the dastardly Wagner gene.

Tracklist:

A1 On The R=>Z*
A2 Electrical Generator
A3 Copa Cobana
B1 Gravity's Still Working
B2 Bill's Rap

DOWNLOAD in recyclable digital cardboard HERE!

Red Asphalt ‎– "Red Asphalt" (Synthetic Shadows ‎– #18) 1981/2014

 I was gonna tie this in with Brad Laner's role as a Synth Punk Pioneer, but its more than that.

There's something 'Prog' about this,but they had a synth player in the line-up, and were active during the Punk epoch in San Francisco between 1978 and 1982, so Synth-Punk it is.

They sound like those groups who were really resting/unemployed Actors who play music as a way to get on a stage, Like MARS,Bongwater, Punishment Of Luxury, and  Shoes For Industry (surely The Tubes had to be frustrated actors too?) among others.

Like an agressive off-broadway musical,they reek of professionalism, in that conceptual album kind of way.

They had their moments,but like if a Saxophone appeared in a Punk group they were automatically called Jazz-Punk, if a synth made an appearence, it was Synth-Punk;orif you were too stagey, you were Prog-Punk, or Prunk as Cardiacs called themselves.

 

Tracklist:

A1 Red Asphalt
A2 Goodbye Sunshine
A3 S.T.A.B.
A4 Jive Puppet
A5 Survival, Evasion, Escape
A6 Peligro
A7 Human Capital
A8 Nuclear Judas
B1 Refugee
B2 Factory Dead
B3 Ghost Town
B4 White Meat, Dark Meat
B5 Phone Call From God
B6 Hurtling Moons Of Barsoom
B7 Gothic Night Summer Dream

DOWNLOAD some theatrical blood on the asphalt HERE!

Earth Dies Burning ‎– "Songs From The Valley Of The Bored Teenager (1981-1984)" (Captured Tracks ‎– CT-180)

 

Los Angeles gave us many things;some truly terrible singer-songwriters,some really quite good singer-songwriters(manily from Canada it has to be said),recreational cocaine abuse for the common man,cop-killing,some half-decent post-punk punk groups, the Los Angeles Free Music Society(LAFMS), Captain Beefheart,and.....Synth Punk!

Starting with the very great 'Screamers',it never really caught on,but Brad Laner was there at the begining as a teenager,with Nervous Gender, and after that came 'Earth Dies Burning'.

Mr Laner has been in nearly all the greatest LA Bands, like Steaming Coils, Three Day Stubble,Severed Head In A Bag to name but a few; as well as an integral member of the LAFMS.

'The Earth Dies Burning',is certainly a fine example of how to use Technology,which is, basically, take the instruction manual and burn the fucker.And also, they did a rare example of a PiL cover version!?.."The Flowers of Romance".So that automatically makes this a fantastic record does it not?....you should be saying 'Yes Jonny'!?

Tracklist:

1.Bored Teenager 0:55
2.Duck And Cover 0:39
3.Another Six Year Old 2:21
4.60 Minutes 0:36
5.Bowling For Food 1:39
6.Soaps 1:22
7.True Lovers Of Crime Anthem 1:51
8.Fish Sticks 1:22
9.Interlude 1:51
10.Haiti 1:17
11.Falwell Youth 1:09
12.Vegetables 1:34
13.America America 2:14
14.Pork Yogurt (Studio) 0:41
15.60 Minutes (Studio) 0:19
16.Another Six Year Old (Studio) 1:08
17.Mystery Bedroom Song 1:45
18.The Flowers Of Romance 2:19
19.The Safety Dance (Live At Bebop) 1:29
20.Disco Heroin (Live At Lhasa Club) 2:05
21.Power To The People (Live At Anticlub) 1:23
22.Pork Yogurt (Live At Anticlub)
23.60 Minutes / Duck And Cover (Live At Anticlub) 0:46
24.Psychotic Reaction /Kill The Fascists!(Studio/Live At Anticlub) 07:05

DOWNLOAD the attack of the bored teenagers HERE!

The Snifters ‎– "I Like Boys" ( Lightning Records ‎– GIL 534) 1978

Well......er......I'm frightened! This slightly dodgy euro-pop atrocity, enters itself into the "What the Fuck was that" category of pop histroy......not that this anthem for Gay sexual predators was at all popular.....except eith Gay Sexual Predators.
The lightning Records Belgian connection comes well and truly out of the closet here, with this Synth Punk tribute to 'Boys and their Stinky Toys'.....a desperate grasp for some pink punk  pounds from the gaping back pockets in the crotchless leather shorts of the nascent Gay Disco scene.
This horrible tune will leave you open-mouthed and looking for the exit, rather than open-mouthed waiting for one of those 'Stinky Toys' to fill the void.
It's also actually quite funny in a 'Good Bad' kind of way.The heavy flemish accent doesn't help, and the Arnold Schwarzenegger style backing vocals, sound like they're being delivered by a lobotomised hairy backed lummox in a gimp mask, chained up in a particularly damp corner of a secret basement apartment.

"Here Dere ev-rywhere,
I Like Boisss, I Like Boisss,
I Like dere steenki Toissss"

Mummy!!!!!

The sleeve accurately describes the music, with a sovereign ringed hairy hand caressing the rear of a wavy haired manchild, ripe for some abuse.
The rear sleeve, for the B-side, "Baby Punker", is potentially more disturbing. Portraying a baby seemingly gratifying itself in an unforgivable prone receiving postion, through it's diaper!!!?
This could easily have been the Belgian entry for the Eurovision Song Contest in 1978 as far as I know. Its certainly an argument for the UK leaving the European Union.
Whoever made this record is, no doubt, in prison now......or, more likely, Dead!

Tracklist:

A I Like Boys
B Baby Punker

DOWNLOAD some unlikeable boys noise HERE!

Suicide ‎– "Live 1977-1978" (Blast First Petite ‎– PTYT 011) 2008

I dunno what you lot have done to deserve this, but Here's a six cd box set of Suicide live performances from 1977 to 1978!?
Starting off in their native New York City, where they experienced no riots, to Europe where they seemed to invoke a need in the european audience to smash things up and try to kill our favourite minimal synth-punk duo?
Like the non-interference directive in Star Trek, to avoid influencing primitive alien cultures.Sometimes it was necessary for Kirk,Bones and Spock to intervene and stear the locals away from bad habits and towards a more progressive way of life. This is what Suicide did in Belgium,appearing like aliens themselves,beaming down to civilise the 'Rock' world by ditching all rock paraphernalia .As soon as Vega and Rev interfered in Belgian affairs,that country never looked backwards.Emulating a solid state Helen of Troy, Suicide were the faces that launched a thousand minimal electronic duo's, especially in the low countries,and especially in Belgium.
Dunno how many versions of 'Rocket USA' you can stand, but it tends to take on another form the more you listen to it.....and I should know, I've listened to the whole of The Stooges Funhouse Sessions, and this is an equally surreal experience. 
The previous post had a version of the Brussels riot show on it, but here its been 'remastered' back into Mono, and seems to include an inferior version of the "21½ Minutes In Berlin" concert from 30th july(it says june here) 1978, including bleeped out naughty words.....so click here to complete your instant Suicide live collection.

Tracklisting:

DISC 1 - 1977 NYC 46:52
CBGB Sep 29 1977 24:43
1-1.1 96 Tears Intro
1-1.2 Ghostrider
1-1.3 Rocket USA
1-1.4 Cheree
1-1.5 Jonny
1-1.6 Frankie Teardrop
CBGB Dec 3 1977 Set 2 22:09
1-2.1 Ghostrider
1-2.2 Jesus Vega
1-2.3 Frankie Teardrop
1-2.4 Put A Little Love In Your Heart
DISC 2 - 1978 NYC 71:21
The Palladium Jan 7 1978 21:45
2-1.1 Rocket USA
2-1.2 Cheree
2-1.3 Dance
2-1.4 Frankie Teardrop
Max's Jan 13 1978 22:55
2-2.1 Ghostrider
2-2.2 Rocket USA
2-2.3 Cheree
2-2.4 Dance
2-2.5 96 Tears
2-2.6 Frankie
CBGB Feb 3 1978 26:41
2-3.1 Harlem
2-3.2 Ghostrider
2-3.3 Keep Your Dreams
2-3.4 Dance
2-3.5 Frankie Teardrop
DISC 3 - 1978 Belgium/France 70:42
Brussels June 16 1978 23:44
3-1.1 Ghost Rider
3-1.2 Rocket USA
3-1.3 Cheree
3-1.4 Dance
3-1.5 Frankie Teardrop
Paris Olympia June 18 1978 46:58
3-2.1 Ghostrider
3-2.2 Rocket USA
3-2.3 Cheree
3-2.4 Dance
3-2.5 Frankie Teardrop
3-2.6 Backstage
DISC 4 - 1978 Germany 68:29
Hamburg Audiomax June 28 1978 21:26
4-1.1 Rocket USA
4-1.2 Cheree
4-1.3 Harlem
Berlin Kant Kino/Neue Welt June 30 1978 22:42
4-2.1 Ghostrider
4-2.2 Rocket USA
4-2.3 Cheree
4-2.4 Harlem
4-2.5 96 Tears
Berlin Kant Kino/Neue Welt June 30 1978 Set 2 24:21
4-3.1 Ghostrider
4-3.2 Rocket USA
4-3.3 96 Tears
4-3.4 Dance
4-3.5 Harlem
DISC 5 - 1978 UK 64:17
London Music Machine July 24 1978 25:37
5-1.1 Rocket USA
5-1.2 Dance
5-1.3 Harlem
5-1.4 Cheree
5-1.5 Mr. Ray
"Our Price" Radio Ad 1978 1:09
5-2 Our Price Radio Ad
Erics Liverpool July 29 1978 31:12
5-3.1 Rocket USA
5-3.2 Cheree
5-3.3 Ghostrider
5-3.4 96 Tears
Erics Pt. 2 July 29 1978 6:19
5-4 Cum Ahead Frankie Teardrop
DISC 6 - 1978 NYC 43:35
Maxs August 25 1978 43:35
6-1.1 Ghostrider
6-1.2 Rocket USA
6-1.3 Cheree
6-1.4 Mr. Ray
6-1.5 Jonny
6-1.6 Harlem

DOWNLOAD  like a rocket usa HERE!

Suicide ‎– "21½ Minutes In Berlin / 23 Minutes In Brussels" (Red Star Records ‎– FRANKIE 1) 1978

As Snowy Red namechecked Suicide on his first album, its fair to point out the enormous influence Suicide had on certain members of the Belgian audience from that night in 1978 that prodiced the '23 Minutes over Brussels' bootleg,which ended in a Riot.Headliner Elvis Costello,was apparently none too pleased at the treatment of his support act,so played a very short and bad tempered set,causing the infamous riot.
This is how Vega and Rev were treated at most of their concert appearances,including your scribes first concert experience in Leicester 1978, supporting the Clash,and The Specials(Then called the Coventry Specials).They barely lasted twenty minutes under the shower of missles,but I thought this is what Punk is all about isn't it? Facing up to and rallying against the accepted norms,forcing change by confrontation.And Suicide put their lives on the line for their art.
The format of two blokes with a synth and a drum machine fronted by a vocalist, became normal in Belgium.The seeds Suicide sowed that night, eventually grew into New Beat, and EBM.
The Brussels gig is the most famous, but the recording made in Berlin a month later is the most listenable,with plenty of analogue echo feedback enhancing Vega's Elvis impressions and screams.
A classic act captured at their height.

A side recorded live at Neue Welt, Berlin 30 July 1978.
B side recorded live at the Ancienne Belgique, Brussels 16.6.78. 

Tracklisting:

21½ Minutes In Berlin
A1 Ghost Rider
A2 Rocket USA
A3 Cheree
A4 Harlem
A5 96 Tears

23 Minutes In Brussels
B1 Ghost Rider
B2 Rocket USA
B3 Cheree
B4 Dance
B5 Frankie Teardrop

DOWNLOAD in considerably less than 23 minutes HERE!

Various Artists ‎– "Seattle Syndrome - Volume One" (Engram Records ‎– ENG 002) 1981

Seattle, the scene of that nineties atrocity "Grunge", the american equivalent of "Brit Pop".
You will be very pleased to know that this local band compilation is a gauranteed Grunge-free zone; but it does prove that Seattle had a real talent for mediocrity a decade before it was given its label in the Rock'n'Roll hall of the Lame. I mean, even Jimi Hendrix had to escape from here to be reborn in London.If he stayed in Seattle, he would probably be on this compilation, fronting some electronic rock group on vocals and Keytar; but he would still be alive at least.
Isolated on the north west coast, you had to leave if you wanted to get anywhere i suppose.
There's a lot of sub-standard versions of musical styles imported from elsewhere,including the obligatory punky reggae number (Yuk!), and the even worse Rockabilly number (Double Yuk!!).
There's a few sub-Flock of Seagulls tracks that are entertaining at low volume,but the rest are just standard 3rd division american punk and lame power poop.
American local comps never seem to have anything truly strange, or innovative,or even catchy on them......everyone is trying to please and habor dreams of minor stardom. Ambition is inherant in American culture unfortunately, which leads to a bland homogenous soup.

DOWNLOAD this down syndrome of a record HERE!

Primitive Calculators ‎– "Primitive Calculators" + "I Can't Stop It " (Self-Released) 1979/1982

Down in the classier part of Australia, we find the Synth Punk stylings of the Primitive Calculators of Melbourne. Home of The Birthday Party, formerly The Boys Next Door, whom The Calculators supported the night this live LP was recorded in 1979.
Of course The Boys Next Door contained one gothic crooning bore, Nicholas Cave, and we will hold that against them.
As the years have slipped by, we now know that The Primitive Calculators were,and are, vastly superior to any of Cave's future combo's.One reason why being decended from convicts is not as bad as its made out to be,as long as one leaves that curse of the inferiority complex behind with the other rubbish.
No studio LP was preserved for use in evidence,so we are left with a single and this live magnum opus to argue the case that they were the worlds largest islands equivalent of The Screamers......who needs recording studios anyway?
Like memories are the best photographs,sometimes things should be just left in the moment to burn brightly and then die.....which, ironically, the Calculators weren't allowed to do, as they resurrected themselve in the late eighties,and recently released a new LP??? for fucks sake!......yeah lets fuck up our legend like every fucker else is doing these days.
A lot's to be said for early deaths in the pop world. Jimi Hendrix was just beginning to suck real bad when he choked on vomit, and a lot lesser lights would have been thought of far more fondly if the reaper called just before that difficult second album.......Bono excepted of course;that particular gnome was beyond redemption as soon as he sported his mullet and placed a pixie boot on the monitors for the first time.A fine advert for abortion.

Tracklist:

A1 I Can Tell
A2 Do The Icepick
A3 Signals
A4 Stains
A5 Mud In My Eye
A6 Beat Goes On

B1 Lullaby
B2 Do That Dance
B3 I Can't Stop It
B4 Bake In The Sun
B5 Shout

"I Can't Stop It" 7" (1979)

A - "I can't Stop It"

B - "Do That Dance"

DOWNLOAD the lp and something you can't stop HERE!

Tone Set ‎– "Cal's Ranch" (Zia Records ‎) 1982

Synth Punk from cowpoke country in Arizona isn't the most obvious thing you'd expect.Such practices ,you would think, could easily attract a drunken crucifix waving mob determined to stamp out this faggot/nigger music spawned by Satan himself.
I once drove through Arizona, and stopped to ask a Dungaree and baseball cap wearing  Redneck, who was creosoting a fence(Stereotypes are largely deserved?), which was the way  to Flagstaff. He just turned slowly in my direction and looked at me as if I had just landed from Outer-space, jaw dropped in incomprehension.Not many Flares and Hawaiian Shirt clad Skinheads with English East Midlands accents happen this way often I guess. I repeated the question to be met with silence again. I thanked him, and got back in the car and wheel spun out of there.
This was the same trip, where I entered a redneck hostelry, attracting a disapproving salvo of stares from the locals at the bar.Decided to pay pool and selected something on the jukebox that they could probably like.....AC/DC right?....but instead of 'Hells Bells' the machine decided to play "I'll Tumble For Ya" by fucking Culture Club. I felt in imminent danger of a severe Hill-Billy arse-raping as portrayed in that John Boorman film "Deliverance".So I supped up my Coors Light and my partner and I slipped out the side entrance before Bronski Beat's version of Dueling Banjos came on.
The people who make art in these circumstances are the real heroes of Punk Rock in my opinion.And Tone Set(Galen Herod and Greg Horn) are fine examples of not only that, but of prime minimal wave electronica.
Their early sound was ostensibly synthetic, mixing very 'clean' analogue synthesizer sounds with taped dialogue. This was the sound of their debut release, the 1982 cassette called "Cal's Ranch". It almost completely lacked vocals, which is generally a good thing is it not?

Tracklist:

A1 Introduction 0:08
A2 Out Out 3:56
A3 He's Got A Little Dog 5:42
A4 Predictions 5:25
A5 Such Heavy Conviction 3:20
A6 The Devil Makes The Loudest Noise 6:38
A7 Waiting For Oatmeal 3:20
B1 Indeed 3:28
B2 Relax 4:00
B3 What Good's A Hit Song? 3:24
B4 Time Travellers 2:36
B5 The Tone Set 3:38
B6 Appeal To Them 3:16
B7 Wigglin Around In Middletown 6:56
B8 Close 0:20

DOWNLOAD and set the tone HERE!

Palais Schaumburg ‎– "Das Single Kabinett" (Zickzack ‎– ZZ 145) 1982

Here's Palais Schaumburg's early singles on Zick Zack, all collected on to one convenient disc. Rarely for Germans, they look as good as they sound, no leather trousers, muscle shirts or spikey mullets to be seen.
These early singles have a more prominent Synth-punk element than their later work.

Tracklist:

A1 Rote Lichter 2:34
A2 Glücklich Wie Nie 2:34
A3 Kinder Der Tod (Version) 1:54
B1 Telephon 2:44
B2 Kinder Der Tod 3:09
B3 Aschenbecher 2:37

DOWNLOAD from the cabinet HERE!

Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft ‎– "Die Kleinen Und Die Bösen" (Mute STUMM 1) 1980

From the cold war chic propaganda artwork of three soviet athletes,probably drugged up on performance enhancing substances at the boycotted Moscow olympics; to the crazed live B-side recorded as support to Wire at the Electric Ballroom. This is without doubt one of, if not thee best German album ever? DAF almost single handedly dragged West Germany out of the terminal jam session hangover from the 'Krautrock' daze (sic). As soon as I heard them on Earcom 3, I knew they something rather special. This sounded like a future I would like to be part of, and still does.
Unfortunately they caved in to become dance friendly shortly after this, and embraced a slightly dodgy sweaty rent-boy image after the band was reduced to just two.....er...members. EBM (Electronic Body Music) innovators they may have been, but the puffing and panting over a hard disco beat never did it for me.
The live side of the album benefited , in the same way Wire did, from the recording being a tad overloaded into the red zone of the VU meters.Creating a live electricity and energy that lodged this band deep into my adolescent brain. 
The Conny Plank produced studio side is less unhinged but shows the more disciplined synth-punk side of the band in 1980. Great enough to permanently expunge the ghosts of both Nazi Germany and Amon Duul 2 forever?

Tracklist:

Studio Side:

A1 Osten Währt Am Längsten
A2 Essen Dann Schlafen
A3 Co Co Pino
A4 Kinderfunk
A5 Nacht Arbeit
A6 Ich Gebe Dir Ein Stück Von Mir
A7 De Panne 

Live side at the Electric Ballroom 29/02/1980

B1 Gewalt
B2 Gib's Mir
B3 Auf Wiedersehen
B4 Das Ist Liebe
B5 Was Ist Eine Welle
B6 Anzufassen Und Anzufassen
B7 Volkstanz
B8 Die Lustigen Stiefel
B9 Die Kleinen Und Die Bösen
B10 Die Fesche Lola
B11 El Basilon
B12 Y La Gracia

DOWNLOAD and be a little wicked HERE!

The Soft Drinks ‎– "Popstars In Their Pyjamas" (Outer Himalayan Records ‎– OH 004) 1982

Were The Soft Drinks the UK's equivalent to 'The Screamers'? 
The Greville brothers(Jon,- future Rudimentry Peni member - and Lee) and a mate(Cliff Silver of Sad overs and Giants!), had synth had drum kit, then made a record......bizarrely on Nick Blinko of Rudimentary Peni fame's Outer Himalayan Records.
They normally liked to sing about various beverages, as heard previously on "The Thing From The Crypt" compilation.
This time they stick mainly to just one song about that Cinzano Bianco series of adverts with Joan Collins; and the a-side about 'Pop Stars in their Pyjamas" (although Cocoa is mentioned)!.....Now you wouldn't find the 'Screamers' singing about that subject matter. They liked to rock out,albeit very artily; whereas the Soft Drinks liked to have a laugh and dilute any rock to the minimum.This seems to be a common difference between Americans and Brits. Americans like to travel in one direction getting more hardcore as they crash into a wall and stay there; where their former colonial master's like to turn left or right,quite often off the edge of a cliff. These tunes are a definite turn to the left off the rock'n'roll highway, maybe even an exit, as they disappeared after this jolly single entered the bargain bins.
Quaint Synth pop ditties made with the tongue firmly in the cheek,by persons who knew how silly Pop music really is.

Tracklist:

A Popstars In Their Pyjamas
B Cinzano Wet Dream

DOWNLOAD a cinzano off the rocks HERE!

Suicide ‎– "1/2 Alive" (ROIR (Reachout International Records) ‎– A 103) 1981

Tragically, there's now only half of Suicide left alive!? So, appropriately, here's the classic live/studio retrospective ROIR cassette, "Half Alive" from 1981 to remind us of of the empirical genius of the world's second synth duo (after the Silver Apples of course!).
The first 'pop' singer I ever saw in the flesh was Alan Vega, briefly anyway, before Suicide were forced off the stage by a barrage of various missiles hurled by  the so-called punk fans who'd come to 'rock-out' to the Clash. Suicide were at least a decade and a half ahead of of everyone else. This brief exposure to a darker kind of music,forbidden even by my peers, was the start of my rocky road into the deeper tunnels of the pop world. A group/duo that was so roundly hated was fascinating for me. There are few acts that have drawn complaints from both my parents and my own generation than Vega and Rev;up there alongside Whitehouse for sheer confrontation and visceral out-thereness.

The Lester bangs notes to this cassette sum it all up very nicely, so i'll respectfully shut the fuck up.

RIP ALAN VEGA/SUICIDE......and thank you.

Tracklist:

A1 Harlem II 3:57
A2 Goin' To Las Vegas 4:56
A3 Love You 2:45
A4 Cool As Ice 3:17
A5 All Night Long 4:06
B1 Sister Ray Says 4:25
B2 Johnny Dance 3:01
B3 Space Blue 1:44
B4 Long Talk 1:26
B5 Speed Queen 2:26
B6 Chezazze 3:24
B7 Dreams 2:11

BONUS TRACKS FROM THE CD VERSION:

13 All Night Long
14 Sweetheart
15 Scream and Shout

DOWNLOAD in memory of Alan Vega HERE!

Dark Day ‎– "Exterminating Angel" (Infidelity ‎– JMB-229) 1980

The Gary Numan of Manhattan's first Dark Day LP is from the time when electronic acts still used real drummers and guitars like The Numiester himself. Mainly due to a lack of a decent drum machine and syncing problems. On his second album, "Window" he uses that cheapo organists drum module with the preset rhythms we have heard on hundreds of tunes of that epoch. So this debut outing, after the end of his tenure in DNA, steers towards the doomy synth punk end of the woods.
A transitional record which would lead to a purer, and darker, form of minimal synth pop.

Tracklist:

A1	Raven's Wing
A2	Forced Landing
A3	Arp's Carpet
A4	Chameleon
A5	Crown Of Thorns
A6	No, Nothing, Never
B1	Laughing Up Your Sleeve
B2	Flightless Birds
B3	Crib Death
B4	Diving Belle
B5	Me, Myself, & I
B6	Univited Guests
B7	Trapped

DOWNLOAD the dark angel of no wave HERE!

The Shriek ‎– "Sex Sells" (Rude Records ‎– REP 1) 1980

As mentioned in the "Gorgons and Gargoyles" post, Blair Petrie was in the Synth Punk group The Shriek before his collaboration with Port Said's Stefan Tischler.
Obviously the short lived west coast of North American fad of Synth Punk, stretched to Vancouver. This is a world away from the work Petrie did in the mid eighties, using sweary words, a couple of dessert spoons full of aggression, and the shameless use of the word 'Sex'. Pretty passable punk rock it is too, with suitably crunchy bass guitar and crude synth playing. Unfulfilled potential,but a nice change to the rather effete art electronics i/we have been listening to of late.

Tracklist:

A1	All Fucked Up
A2	Fuck Up
A3	1980
B1	Lost Control
B2	Kids
B3	Intermission

DOWNLOAD and shriek HERE!

Andi Arroganti ‎– "Benzin In Berlin" (Wartungsfrei ‎– wf009) 1982

One of those pale young men from Duotronic Synterror was Andi (with an 'I') Arroganti (with another 'I'); the one who made the music in the aforementioned Minimal Synth Duo from former West Germany. On this solo tape he has discarded with the unnecessary services of Herr R. Sex and does the barking himself . Never thought I'd say this, but I definitely don't miss sex, as Andi does it solo......don't we all? Its every bit as good as it was with Petra Schürmann. Pumping rhythms, hand played organs (Yes I know they're Synth's....just bare with me will you?!) and heavy breathing........quick, efficient,minimal satisfaction,without post coital awkwardness.

Tracklist:

A1	Asphalt Im Kaffee
A2	Warten Auf Die Stasis
A3	Hom-O-Hetero
A4	Alle Leute Fallen Um
A5	Benzin In Berlin
A6	Evolution Kann Lustig Sein
A7	Detonation 82
A8	Tarzan In New York
A9	Schöne Neue Liebe
B	Kaffeehausmusik

DOWNLOAD  some quick efficient satisfaction HERE!

Kosmonautentraum ‎– "Ungehörtes Unerhörtes" (Vinyl-on-demand ‎– VOD 20) 2005

A collection of odds and sods and greatest hits from Hannover's finest Motorik Electronic Punk combo. More of the same heavy basslines, discordant guitar, hard repetitive rhythms,and harsh synth textures, to complete any sane person's Kosmonautentraum collection.

Tracklist

A1	Kosmonautentraum Nr. 3 Der Deutsche
A2	Kosmonautentraum Nr. 6 Nur Zum Spass - Nur Zum Spiel
A3	Süsser Mond
A4	Juri Gagarin
A5	Wir Tanzen Tango
A6	Tanz Den Kosmonaut
A7	Waffenbrüder Für Den Frieden
A8	Goldene Nacht
B1	Bärte Entstellen Wärter
B2	Geduld
B3	Lösch Das Feuer
B4	Hyperthrommatatronic
B5	Husarengebrechen
B6	Kosmonautentraum Nr. 1
B7	Kosmonautentraum Nr. 2 Alltag

DOWNLOAD these unheard tracks from an unheard band HERE