All posts from 2013 are now re-upped

If you would like something I posted earlier, leave a comment and I'll get to work on it.

Watching The Dance - Aerial FX

A few other blogs have already posted this, and some of their links are still working, but I figured I'd post it here too because it's fucking fantastic and everyone should have it.

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Iron Curtain - "Tarantula Scream"

The perfect marriage of post-punk guitar work and minimal synth melodies.

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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)

Ancient Methods: Methods 1-5

First Method

Second Method

Third Method 

Fourth Method

Fifth Method

Antonin Artaud - Pour en Finir avec le Jugement de Dieu

There seems to be a dearth of spoken-word downloads on the interwebs lately, so hear you go. Because the voice actors in this recording are so evocative, it's pleasing to listen to regardless of whether you understand or agree with Artaud, (he's a bit nutters).

"After the Second World War ended, French radio opened up in a big way to some of the most challenging artists, suppressed in the Nazi-controlled Vichy regime. [Antonin] Artaud was slated, and between November 22 and 29, 1947, recorded his valedictory work, the radiophonic play Pour en finir avec le jugement de dieu (To Have Done or To Make an End of the Judgment of God) for the ORTF. Artaud proclaimed it "at last, a first rendering of the theater of cruelty," but never heard his work broadcast over the air as the program was banned and not broadcast until the late '70s; the perpetually impoverished Artaud died, sitting at the foot of his bed with a shoe in his hand, on March 4, 1948." - via AllMusic

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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."

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Tuxedomoon - Desire

Post-punk does psychedelic. Desire is one of the strangest records I've ever heard: as it seems to embrace both minimal synth and prog-rock templates equally.  With a wide range of stylistic experimentation, this record somehow remains coherent and compelling for all ten tracks.

Tuxedomoon takes cues from White Light/Heat (in particular, "Sister Ray" and "Lady Godiva's Operation"), Taj Mahal Travellers, The Comsat Angels, and Swans. There are a few weak points in the album, namely the last few, dwindling minutes of "East" (of which the first half is excellent), and a touch of overexposure to Winston Tong's dirge-like vocals. However, the absolutely killer basslines and totally refreshing use of a saxophone is more than enough to make this record memorable, and utterly sophisticated.

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