Instant Hit: Philip Jap- Total Erasure

Philip Jap enjoyed some brief success with his only album which was released in 1983 thanks to the singles "Save Us" and "Total Erasure" which reached the UK charts in 1982."Total Erasure", his third single, was released in 1982 through A&M Records. The song was available as 7" and 12" inch and featured "Brave Lights" as B-side. Both songs were produced by Tony Mansfield. 

Instant Hit: 'Lectric Workers- Robot is Systematic

'Lectric Workers were an Italian dance act consisting of Franco Rago, Gigi Farina, X. Monneret. They made their debut with "Robot is Systematic" in 1982. It was their only hit which was released in several different remix versions in 2001. It remained a dance floor classic in the clubs throughout Europe.

Instant Hit: Section 25- Je Veux Ton Amour

Thirty years ago Section 25 released their third single "Je Veux Ton Amour", a french version of the track "Friendly Fires" which appeared on their debut album Always Now. "One True Path" appeared on a flipside, and for this release it was translated in Hawaiian becoming "Oyo Achel Ada". It was produced by Martin Hannett and released through Factory Benelux. 

Instant Hit: Perfect Strangers- My Kind of Love

Perfect Strangers were a duo consisting of Martha McGowan and Roderick Syers. During their brief existence, they released two singles in 1983 for Chrysalis. Their debut single "Without You" with a wonderful "My Kind of Love" as a b-side was produced by Anne Dudley of Art of Noise, who in the same year produced "The Entertainer" by the Belle Stars. 

Perfect Strangers- My Kind of Love
Perfect Strangers- Without You

Instant Hit: The Monochrome Set- The Ruling Class

"The Ruling Class" was a big hit for The Monochrome Set in 1984. A year before this song appeared on a compilation Volume, Contrast, Brilliance... (Sessions & Singles Vol. 1) with several other Monochrome Set hits. In the recent years the band mostly released compilations including Early Recordings: 1975-1977 "White Noise released last year. 

Instant Hit: Valerie Dore- The Night

Italian star Valerie Dore had her debut in 1984 with the melancholic synth-pop tune "The Night" which also became her biggest hit in Europe. The song was produced by Lino Nicolosi and Roberto Gasparini and it was released as both 7" and 12" inch record. Between 1984 and and today it has been released seven times on several different record labels. It also remained as one of the influential Italo-disco tracks which has been covered and remixed ever since the original release. 

Instant Hit- 2 Belgen- Lena

"Lena" was a hit for the Belgian group 2 Belgen in 1985. Before the song got its high energy arrangement, it was released as B-side single in 1982. Their 1985 version which was written and produced by Rembert De Smet became a club hit around Europe, bypassing the '82 original version.

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Instant Hit: Still Life- War and Technology

Still Life released their only EP with the title 'Desert City' in 1987.  The record was released on Cave Canem and Spray Records and contained five tracks. One of the outstanding tracks from the EP is the powerful and gloomy "War and Technology" with great female vocals. A good evidence that Italy had some great underground acts back in the day. 

Instant Hit: Furniture- One Step Behind You

"One Step Behind You" was the last single release for Furniture and the last record the band released. The song was released in 1990, both as 7" and 12" inch single on Arista. Three years, in 1993, later the song was covered by Marian Gold of Alphaville.

Instant Hit: Section 25- Crazy Wisdom

Section 25 released the brilliant EP 'Crazy Wisdom' in 1985. This 12" record included three songs, the title track "Crazy Wisdom" as well as the electro remake of "Dirty Disco", both produced by Be Music/DoJo team. The record was originally released by Factory Benelux (FBN 45) and it was also featured on 'Section 25 – From The Hip - In The Flesh: Live In America 1985'.

Instant Hit: One Thousand Violins- Locked Out Of The Love-In

The Sheffield based group One Thousand Violins which was mostly active in the second half of the 80's released three albums and several singles. They made their debut in 1985 with the single "Halycon Days" and two years later, in 1987, they released "Locked Out Of The Love-In" through 'Dreamworld' label. Like most of their singles, this song entered the UK indie charts.

Instant Hit: Dhuo- Walkin'

Italian producer Bruno Bergonzi and Mike Logan recorded several songs and one album under the name Dhuo in the first half of the 80's. "Walking" was the first single which was released from their only album Overflow in 1984. The band released two more singles in 1985 before disbanding.

Instant Hit: The Twins- Ballet Dancer

The German group the Twins has had several hits during the first half of the 80's mostly in Italy with their synth pop driven Italo disco tunes. "Ballet Dancer" was one of their biggest hits charting not only in Italy, but also in their home country. Very up-to-date, it was released in 1983 and appeared on their album A Wild Romance.

Instant Hit: He Said- Could You?

He Said was the stage name Graham Lewis of Wire was using for his solo releases during the 1980s. He released two albums and several singles between 1985 and 1989 for 'Mute' including this song which seems, has remained as the last single release entitled "Could You?".

Instant Hit: Days of Sorrow- Wild World

Days of Sorrow was minimal Post punk group from Germany. By the time they were releasing their single "Wild World", they were a five piece band with William D.Lennox on vocals. The song was released through Rough Trade Germany in 1986 with "Mysterious Eyes" as a B-side, produced by Frank Becking.

Instant Hit: End of Data- Sahrah

The minimal/ post punk outfit End of Data from France released two albums during their Brief existence. Their first LP Sahrah was released in 1984 through Divine record label and their second album followed the year after. This gothadelic tune perfectly represents the sound of the first album.
End of Data never officially released any singles and, sadly their albums never got reissued.

Instant Hit: Cyber People- Polaris

"Polaris" was the first single release for Cyber People in 1984, the same year as the project was formed. It proved to be only a minor hit, as it was only released in Italy, and later in Germany on ZYX Records. The songs features space synths, italo disco style with great melody line and vocoder inputs and in the internet era it has grown into a electronic italo-disco classic.

Instant Hit: The Naughtiest Girl was a Monitor- Front

Thirty years ago the Sheffield minimal synth pop group The Naughtiest Girl was a Monitor released their first EP on the Imaginating Music label. They released one more single before disbanding in 1982. Back then, there were rumours about an official album release which never happened. In 2007 the band released a self titled LP compilation with all the singles, b-sides and six previously unreleased tracks.

Instant Hit: Mick Karn- Sensitive

"Sensitive" is the first ever single release by Mick Karn who sadly passed away earlier this month. He will certainly be remembered as a great multi-instrumentalist, musician and songwriter. Rare Noise Records has arranged a very special tribute to Mick Karn called 'A Show of Love, Respect and Grace'. More info here.

Instant Hit: Obscure By Degrees- I'm Dying

"I'm Dying" is the only release by a rather unknown band called Obscure by Degrees. They released this fantastic single with "A Woman Like You" as a B-side. The single was released in 1981 for the KA records and it was produced by Phil Towner.