Various ‎– Subtle Hints [LP] (1983, Sane Records)

'Subtle Hints' is the holy grail of the electro-pop/minimal synth genre. Ever growing in popularity this brilliant and highly sought-after compilation LP is highly prized amongst collectors of rare vinyl. This unique snapshot of early 80s creativity has had many a listener question why the obvious potential within those spiral grooves was never realised? Those that have read Louis Barfe's "Where have all the good times gone? the rise and fall of the record industry" may have part of the answer the other part has always existed in Ad Astra's track (the light years ahead of its time) "A&R". 

Well, this rare compilation is proof how much music is there to discover. 'Subtle Hints' is a collection of Electropop, Post-Punk, and New Wave bands, some of them who appeared exclusively in this compilation. Most of the songs are demos but they all sound clean and pristine. Lots of hidden gems in here and some bands actually released some albums after this: Art Interface, My Pierrot Dolls released a couple of singles.....I think that's about it. My point is that this compilation is great. Some of the stand-outs (or favorites) include: Mon Amour "Always Tomorrow's Rain", Hidden Pleasure "Beautiful Lady", Time Statues "Statue of the Night", New Vices for the Jaded (Such a kickass name!) "Follow Careers in Modern Love", Squid Diddley "Always There", My Pierrot Dolls "My Pierrot Dolls". It's a shame when such good music is overlooked and garbage is praised on the radio or whatever. But it's out there waiting to be heard. So take that first step and look for it. Try looking for this comp on the internet seeing how it's long out of print. Most of these bands never made it big but for one moment they managed to belt out one or two songs and they came out with some fucking great tunes. Check it out. [SOURCE: RATE YOUR MUSIC] 

Label: Sane Records ‎– SANE 001 

Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation 

Country: UK 

Released: 1983 

Style: New Wave, Synth-pop, Minimal, Minimal Wave, Minimal Synth

Tracklist:

A1 – Squid Diddley Always There 
A2 – Chain Of Command Some Aspects 
A3 – Mon Amour Always Tomorrow's Rain 
A4 – My Pierrot Dolls My Pierrot Dolls 
A5 – Hidden Pleasure Beautiful Lady 
A6 – This Side Of Paradise Witchcraft 
A7 – Ad Astra A&R 
B1 – Time Statues Statue Of The Night 
B2 – Picture Book Success 
B3 – Ind-X If It Happened To You 
B4 – Synchronization Pseudo Rich 
B5 – New Vices For The Jaded Follow Careers In Modern Love 
B6 – Art Interface Beneath The Calm 
B7 – My Pierrot Dolls Picture In Oils 

Notes:
"14 Electropop Trax from "undiscovered" new bands." 

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