Ruth - Polaroïd/Roman/Photo

One of my favorites: a gorgeous, understated piece of genuine French coldwave with lovely cover art. It retains the naïve and tech-inspired distance of typical minimal synth, while being provocative and coquettish. The album tells the story of a boy with a Polaroid, infatuated with a young woman. (I can't resist linking to the stunning NSFW back cover photo). I've been craving a vinyl copy of this for a long time, needless to say.

Tu sais je suis si sensible/A la lumière et inaccessible/Devant ton zoom mets un filtre rose/Si tu veux si tu veux que je pose

Minimal Synth Megaposts

Hello there. Over the winter I amassed a large number of minimal synth releases, with help from stellar blogs like Systems of Romance and Kentucky Fried Wave. So before it turns into full-on summer and I start to listen solely to Western MA guitar-based bands, I am going to post my coldwave/minimal synth favorites here, starting with Linea Aspera's self-titled debut album.

LA is, in my opinion, the best new coldwave band out there. Sadly, listening to this album does not (but almost could) count towards that required college science seminar.

 LA ST 2012

Siglo XX - Answer

Stunning coldwave/post-punk record. The Belgian follow-up to Joy Division's "Closer." 

Siglo XX - Answer (1983)

Haus Arafna - New York Rhapsody

Delightfully polished industrial/darkwave: New York Rhapsody is sometimes reminiscent of Raime, but a bit smoother--full of crisp popping, dripping synth tones, and murmured vocals. The record was originally made to serve as a soundtrack for a fashion show, so it's bit more rhythmic than Haus Arafna's other releases.

A contemporary minimal synth release that is neither comically macabre or overtly "dancey."

download

Halloween Mix

Halloween is the only holiday I get into making mixes for, as it's basically an excuse for two things: goth-rock and coldwave.

This mix is also good if you work at a haunted strip club. I went heavy on the Blackest Ever Black catalog.

1. Zombi: L'Alba Dei Morti Viventi: Goblin
2. Stranger (Remix): Clan Of Xymox
3. Shadowplay: Warsaw
4. Figurative Theatre: Christian Death
5. Waiting For: Trisomie 21
6. Heed: Rosenkopf
7. Chains Of Desire: Tollund Men
8. This Foundry: Raime
9. Lucid: Dream Affair
10. Chrome Vox: Tropic Of Cancer
11. Lo Tek: Black Rain
12. Embers From The Pyre: Young Hunting
13. Rain Of Despair: Death In June
14. Pornography: The Cure

download

Here's a mix that I made. It has absolutely no theme, just things I've been listening to lately while I hang out in Salt Lake City, which is everything I thought it would be after watching SLC Punk! (yellow smog, lack of coffee, lack of everything). Harsh noise, japanoise, grunge, punk, power electronics, psychedelia, and French coldwave-minimal synth are all represented.

Tracklist:

1) Cortigiana Dal Velo: Onna
2) Hunger Artist: Leather
3) Field Of Artificial Flowers: Les Rallizes Dénudés
4) Threw A Day: Lilys
5) We Fell Apart: Siamese Twins
6) Earl Grey: Black Age
7) New Force: Ramleh
8) Sleep Creep: White Lung
9) Mourir À Madrid: Rome
10) Tsumannai: Shoujo Ningyou
11) Pronóstico Indefinido: Staccato du Mal
12) The New Breed: Sutcliffe Jügend
13) Breathing In: Libyans
14) The Searcher: Kitty Cat Spy Club
15) Heart Strings: Broken Water

download

Label Profile: Wierd Records

Wierd Records (started by Pieter Schoolwerth in 2006) is NYC's resident analog synth label, which has released a steady string of incredible French cold-wave and industrial records. Wierd Record's popular DJ nights are held at the Home Sweet Home bar in the Lower East Side. (I highly recommend stopping by on a Wierd night for a good dose of dark, ethereal synth pop.) I respect Wierd Records for its devotion to authenticity. I guess you could criticize Wierd for sticking so closely to cold wave/industrial, and not branching out and discovering new talent. However, when so many labels are under pressure to choose talent based on the potential for popularity (cough cough Captured Tracks...and sadly, you too Sacred Bones), Wierd sticks with what suits it, good, solid minimal-synth music. With a reverence for the archaic 1980's analog sound, and an eye for talent both local and international, Wierd Records is quickly becoming one of my favorite labels.

Tracklist:
1) Die in Bed: Frank (Just Frank)
2) Baltimore: Kindest Lines
3) You Today: Martial Canterel
4) Rendez-vous d'or: Xeno and Oaklander
5) Schéma Corporel: Automelodi
6) poll gorm: Led Er Est
7) Odessa: Blacklist

Wierd Records Mix 

New Xeno & Oaklander single!

So good.

I have a long post in the works but I apologize for being such a lazy, non-contributing zero in the past few weeks. More will be posted soon.

Xeno & Oaklander: The Staircase 

Xeno and Oaklander's Sentinelle is on my list of things I need to review. Classic French cold-wave sound with some Detroit electronic thrown in as well. Delicate, dripping synthesizer creations--and beautiful French vocals.