Next Wave: HNN

Gregg Anthe, formerly know as a member of the band In Broken English is back with a new solo project. His new band project is called HNN and his music combines modern synth pop and vintage electronics with experimental and artistic vision. HNN's debut album "Pièce Radiophonique" has been released on September 11th and the official release party will be held in Paris (Le Klub) on the September 30, 2011. The release party will include a premiere live performance by Automelodi and HNN. The whole show which will also feature diverse DJ sets will be presented by La Forme Lente and Bunker Bal. Follow HNN on Facebook to get details about the main event.

http://www.facebook.com//HNN/

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. 

Next Wave: Claps

Claps are St. Paul Minnesota trio who play exclusively analog synthesizers and provide a dark view into the world of minimal synth-pop. The analog instruments used on their records create a sound that may be reminiscent of the late 70's early 80's minimal synth and synth pop movements. Their second EP 'New Science' is more than just an homage to minimal synth; It's a modern yet classic take on the genre. They released their debut album 'Wreck' this August and  "Across The Floor", a song from the album is available on their site.

http://clapsus.bandcamp.com
http://www.facebook.com/CLAPS

Parade Ground- The Golden Years

Parade Ground from Belgium will release a compilation album 'The Golden Years' on July 12, 2011. This compilation includes few songs from their debut album 'Cut Up' as well as their 12" singles released between 1984 and 1988, all remastered. 'The Golden Years' will be out on vinyl released through 'Dark Entries'

Next Wave: Soft Metals

Soft Metal is a duo from Portland consisting of Patricia Hall and Ian Hicks who met at the audition for a band. Their mutual love is early 80's Synth-pop, EBM, Krautrock, Post punk, and the first wave of industrial music set the course. After a few sessions together the partnership proved to be exactly what they had both been searching for and Soft Metals was born in 2009.

Their collaboration eventually grew  into a passionate love affair and the first result is a self-titled album release with Captured Tracks. They explore fantastical soundscapes which conjure the dramatic cinematic worlds of Dario Argento, Roman Polanski, Stanley Kubrick, David Lynch, and the Czech New Wave. Sounds very close to early William Orbit's outfit Torch Song.

Poeme Electronique Then and Now

Then

Poeme Electronique was an electronic synth pop band from South London whose line up included Dave Hewson (synthesizers, production), Sharon Abbott (lyrics, lead and backing vocals), Julie Ruler (backing vocals) and Les Hewson(bass). The core of the group was Dave Hewson who was doing the musical production and whose brother and two other members, the backing singers Julie and Sharon, were associated with the London based group Stagestruk.

After the split of Stagestruk, Dave formed Poeme Elctronique with  Sharon Abbott in 1981. The group went on to record new material but only managed to release one single back then. They released their only single "The Echoes Fade" in 1982 and it became their ultimate brand record and a very important song in the early history of minimal electro. Poeme Electronique faded after the first and only release, Dave Hewson embarked on a career in TV music and set up another studio and started to concentrate more on his own work.

Now

Almost thirty years after their debut in music, the PE is back. In 2009, the whole recording material including 14 previously unreleased tracks have been reissued as a 2LP deluxe edition on Anna Logue Records under the name 'The Echoes Fade'. There is also a brand new Poeme Elctronique home on the internet where you can get updates on what the band is up to. The most recent news is that the label 'Attractive!' has released a remix version of the song "She's an Image" in May. Stay tuned for more.

www.poeme-electronique.com

Reissue: Jacno- Jacno

Celluloid has reissued the debut album by Jacno which was originally released in 1979. Born as Dennis Quillard, he has recorded his first album in collaboration with Elli Medeiros. After this album they continued to record and release album under the name Elli et Jacno. The albums mostly contains instrumental tracks and features soundscapes of synth pop minimal style. Jacno died of cancer in November 2009 aged 52.

\

Absolute Body Control- Surrender No Resistance

A brand new Absolute Body Control EP "Surrender No Resistance" with 6 tracks, including unreleased material and remixes from Covenant, Millimetric, Crash Course In Science and Amictric has been released on 27 May. Absolute Body Control will combine the "Sorrow" and "Surrender No Resistance" EPs for a special vinyl album release called "Mindless Intrusion", on the 'Minimal Maximal' label in a limited edition of 500 hand numbered copies and scheduled for July 2011.

ABC appears with the exclusive "Surrender No Resistance - MassDefect Remix" on Electro For Japan 2011 on Band Camp. All the money for each download is instantly transferred via PayPal to orders soundispatch com for the "Minakami Blue Monkey Rescue Fund". 

http://users.telenet.be/djwattie/dirk/ 

Psyche- Insomnia Theatre Box Set

This month VOD Records will release 'Insomnia Theatre' - the original Canadian Edition of Psyche's 1985 debut. Now as a beautifully redesigned and remastered 3 LP Boxset including the recordings from "Tales From The Darkside" & early vintage tracks from '83 - '86. Added to the package are a 7" single with extended mixes of "Misery" & "Goodbye Horses". Plus a bonus DVD including the complete "Beyond Sensation" videos and a few more extra surprises!

http://www.psyche-hq.de/

The Hidden Tapes

A Compilation of Minimal Wave from Around the World ‘79-‘85 has been announced via Minimal Wave to be released soon. 'The Hidden Tapes' features rare, unreleased, and licensed tracks from as far as Japan and the former Yugoslavia. The sounds on this record range from raw proto-industrial to naive danceable Belgradian new wave, to filmic synthesizer music to more complex, vocal-driven melodic synthpop.

This is a limited edition of 999 numbered copies, pressed on 180 gram vinyl, and housed in heavy printed jacket accompanied by printed inner jacket with photos and info.

Check Minimal Wave for artist info and sound samples.

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.

The Actor- Exploded View 2012

The Dutch duo the Actor will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the original release of their debut LP 'Exploded View'. The album was originally recorded as a tape and it is integrally going to be released as a vinyl album, later this year. It will also a feature all of their demo songs for the 'Exploded View' tape – never before published. They are also planning a release of a new album with re-recordings of old songs, together with some new material. More about the Actor soon...

http://theactor.nl

Autumn- Synthesize LP

Autumn, the legendary minimal wave project of Peter Bonne and Geert Coppens will release a full length LP this February. 'Synthesize' the LP reissue will feature a selection of Autumn’s best material including the a "modest summer hit" "Synthesize" from 1982. (via Minimal Wave)

More info...

Martial Canterel- You Today

Wierd Records have announced the release of Martial Canterel's new album entitled 'You Today'. The album features nine songs with bright, urgent melodies that snake and and swagger between major and minor keys. The songs emanate a subtle melancholic darkness and a rhythmic, militant propulsion keeping things moving against all odds. You can preview few clips from the album via Wierd Records official page.

Next Wave: Silk Flowers

Silk Flowers are a synth-driven music trio based in New York. Their songs balance parts of pop and noise with melodies that evoke emotion from the listener. Countering typical notions of electronic music as a purely recorded listening experience, Silk Flowers write their songs for live performance, creating a visceral dynamic event that fluctuates between gleeful dance music and rough-edged dissonance. New album 'Ltd. Form' will be released February 8, 2011 on PPM. Produced by Amanda Warner.

Band info: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Silk-Flowers/
Silk- "Band of Colour" from the new album!

Snowy Red- The Ultimate Edition

'Onderstroom Records' will release a compilation 'Snowy Red 1980-84, The Ultimate Edition'. The five disc box set (vinyl or cd) contains the three first, demos, alternate takes, b-sides and a couple of unreleased tracks. Cover design by Michaël Thiel, based on a photography bty Stéphane Sergeant.

Check out this site for more information.

Next Wave: Led Er Est

Led Er Est were formed in New York in the early 2007 by Samuel Kklovenhoof and Shawn NoEQ and joined later by Owen Stokes who was recruited to the minimal electronic arsenal. They are among the leaders of the new cold wave and minimal synth scene. Their music is a smart combination of all the music styles that shaped the early 80's synth pop era, driving from minimal cold wave electonica to the dark sides of post punk. Could easily be put next to any great record of that time and style. Last year, they have released their debut 'Dust on Common' for Weird Records. Their most recent release includes their version of the Solid Space classic "A Darkness In My Soul"

http://lederest.com
My Space

Absolute Body Control- Shattered Illusion

Absolute Body Control, the first band of Dirk Ivens and Eric van Wonterghem will release an album of brand new material entitled 'Shattered Illusion' on October 15, 2010 on Daft Records. This is their first official release after releasing new versions of classic tracks like "Figures" and "Give Me Your Hands". Also available as of October 1 is the five-CD boxed set, Tapes 81-89, which collects the band's out of print material and was previously available only on vinyl.

http://www.myspace.com/absolutebodycontrolbelgium

Automelodi- Automelodi

Following the release of their debut EP last year, the Canadian outfit Automeldodi have released their self titled debut album. The album is out this summer, released through Wierd Records and it was produced by Xavier Paradis. The songs are mostly sung in French and influenced by the music of the early 80's French New Wave scene as well as by the examples of the early Mute Records like Fad Gadget.

http://myspace.com/automelodi

Vice Versa

Vice Versa was a synthpop group from Sheffield, England. The band was formed in 1978 by Stephen Singleton and Mark White. Their record label ‘Neutron Records’ played an important role in Sheffield’s late 70’s music scene. The group later transformed their sound into pop after Martin Fry joined the band and became a lead singer.

Vice Versa were formed in 1978 in Sheffield. They founded their own record label ‘Neutron Records’ and succeeded in gaining public attention with their blend of electronic which was inspired by Cabaret Voltaire and The Human League. In September 1979, they released their first record on ‘Neutron Records’, an EP called ‘Vice Versa Music 4’, including the 4 songs "Riot Squad", "Camille", "New Girls/Neutrons" and "Science - Fact". Their record label made sharp and intelligent statement with their music announcing the new decade in music. Vice Versa also won a NME’s famous song of the week. In 1980 the label released ‘The First 15 Minutes’ EP which featured unsigned, local bands of Sheffield including Vice Versa and Clock DVA. The group also supported the Human League during their first Sheffield gig.

Martin Fry who was running the fanzine ‘Modern Drugs’ interviewed the group and joined the group after David Sydenham left. Vice Versa made two more releases before they changed their sound. They released a cassette only '8 Aspects of' followed by their only single release “Stilyagi/Eyes of Christ”
During their Holland tour Martin started improvising on vocals and soon became a new lead singer after, while Mark White took over the song writing. The new concept was born. Vice Versa went pop. The rest of the history is ABC.