Abwärts ("Downwards") is a West German post-punk group from Hamburg. Members Mark Chung and FM Einheit would leave the group in the early 1980s to join the Berlin-based band Einstürzende Neubauten. Their best-known recordings include the single 'Computerstaat' ("Computer State") (1980) and the LP's 'Amok Koma' (1980) and 'Der Westen ist Einsam' ("The West Is Lonely") (1982), the latter in particular being regarded as a classic of West German post-punk. [SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA]
Obscure but great sampler of ten bands who sound like updated Joe Meek productions, with drums and heavy bass driving the synthesizer sounds. If you love Ultravox, Tubeway Army, or early synth-pop like Thomas Leer, you'll love this.
On the first side the standouts are: Jonny Dee's "Stargazer" is an instrumental, The Truth's "System Thinking" is a thick electro-rocker, Those Attractive Magnets' "Fade Into Silence" is a passionate, noisy art-beat, Stranger Station's "Welcome To The Night" is funereal and dramatic, and Roman Holiday's "Waste of Time" is a flange-powered bit of theatrical post-punk.
Side B's standouts are Factor 10's moody pop, Biofeedback's goth rocker, and an excellent Robert Rental / Thomas Leer number by D.H.S.S. [SOURCE: RATE YOUR MUSIC]
Label:
Ebony Records – EBON 2
Format:
Vinyl, LP, Compilation
Country:
UK
Released:
Jul 1982
Genre:
Electronic
Style:
New Wave, Synth-pop, Minimal
Tracklist:
A1 – Jonny Dee Stargazer 3:48
A2 – The Truth System Thinking 2:45
A3 – Those Attractive Magnets Fade Into Silence 4:49
A4 – Stranger Station Welcome To The Night 3:12
A5 – Roman Holiday Waste Of Time 4:17
A6 – Liar Oriental Lady 4:01
B1 – Low Profile On The Run 3:43
B2 – Factor 10 Ever Since You Went Away 3:59
B3 – Biofeedback As Pure As The Cloth 3:19
B4 – The Motifs Cameras 3:54
B5 – D.H.S.S. Together 3:27
Notes:
Synthetic Romance - for people wanting a collection of modern and futuristic music. The groups are varied, from all parts of the country and all walks of life, with one thing in common - the synthesizer - perhaps the most sophisticated instrument of our century.
This album is intended to promote the best new groups performing their own material. It also demonstrates the imagination and foresight of these yet little known musicians.
All tracks have been produced by Darryl Johnston for EBONY RECORDS - an independent record company with its own 24 track recording studio - whose aim is to promote new groups.
A5 is incorrectly spelled Rowan Holiday on the LP label.
Originally called Youth For Christ, just to piss off the local Christians, the band got told to change their name.... or else. Their line-up was three piece, no guitar: bassist / Vocals Johnathon Ogilvie, Bassist / Vocals Grant Horsnell, and drummer Michael Daily. The band performed throughout New Zealand teaming up with Children's Hour for gigs. The band recorded and released one 6 song EP through Hit Singles, but split before they managed to release most of their best songs, including such favourites as "Black Train" and "Waltz". Y.F.C. were exceptionally inventive in their sound. [SOURCE: FAILSAFE RECORDS]
An intriguing composer and ambitious pianist, German musician Wolfgang Dauner has combined jazz, rock, electronic music, and elements of opera and theater in creating broad-based, ranging works. While at times these compositions may seem too far-reaching, Dauner's best work shows the links between idioms and genres and offers provocative musical and cultural concepts. He studied trumpet, piano, and composition at the Musikhochschule in Stuttgart, then joined Joki Freund's sextet in the early '60s. Dauner appeared at several German festivals, then made his recording debut heading a trio in 1964. It was one of the first European free jazz recording sessions. Dauner led Radio Jazz Group Stuttgart and wrote compositions for them in 1969. He formed the jazz-rock band Et Cetera in 1970, then, with Hans Koller, co-led the Free Sound & Super Brass Big Band. He helped organize the United Jazz and Rock Ensemble in 1975, and began featuring theater, opera, and dance segments along with his performances in '70s and '80s concerts. Dauner's composed music for films, radio, and television broadcasts, and a children's opera. He's recorded for Mood, Columbia, MPS, and ECM, among others. [SOURCE: ALLMUSIC]
Label:
ECM Records – ECM 1006, ECM Records – ECM 1006 ST
The final recording from Vice Versa before changing to ABC produced by Martin v.d.Leer and Peter Graute (uncredited) at Backlash Studio Rotterdam. After the recording session of the 'Stilyagi / Eyes of Christ' single, there was time left and producer Peter Graute suggested that the band "jam" a bit on guitars and the like and Martin Fry should do the lead vocal -which evolved into a 20 minute long improv called "I'm Just A Regular Guy". From this idea ABC was born and the rest is history. [SOURCE: DISCOGS]
Uvegraf is Juan Teruel, also involved in the scene of fanzines of the 80's ("Mental") and founder of the tape recorder Proceso Uvegraf in 1985, where he published the first work: 'A.C.I. / Enucleación' (C-40). He later edited the legendary compilation 'Conspiración' (1986) which counted on the contribution of some of the main protagonists of the electronic underground scene of Madrid (Esplendor Geométrico, Interacción, Depósito Dental, La Otra Cara de un Jardin, etc..) [SOURCE: GH-RECORDS]
Label:
Cassettes Proceso Uvegraf – CPU-1
Format:
Cassette, C40
Country:
Spain
Released:
1985
Genre:
Electronic
Style:
Ambient, Experimental, Industrial
Tracklist:
A1 Alteración Corneal Irreversible
B1 Enucleación
Notes:
- uvegraf es el nombre que recibe un determinado, no genérico, historial clinico oftalmológico
- esta cassette fui grabada durante los meses VI, VII y IX
- para una perfecta audición, utilizar dolby, bass defent, y loudness 0 - 10
'As Above...' was an album released in 1982 by Þeyr, a legendary Icelandic new wave and rock group and it was issued through Shout on a 12" vinyl record.
Formed by 12 tracks, 'As Above...' contained English versions of the group’s hits. A song that outstands from the rest is "Killer Boogie", a work deemed as an attempt by the group to achieve the international market.
"Killer Boogie" and "Rúdolf" are featured again in 'Rokk í Reykjavík' (Rock in Reykjavík), a concert compilation released in 1982 with the presence of other renowned Icelandic bands. There is also a video for this compilation which was edited on VHS format only.
"Rúdolf" contains a sample of Hitler saying "Around us is Germany. In us Germany marches. And behind us Germany follows". It was a fragment taken from "Triumph des Willens" ("Triumph of the Will"), a propaganda film directed by Leni Riefenstahl in 1934. However, the record inserts credit A. Schicklgruber as the impersonator of Hitler’s voice.
The title of the album is thought to be inspired by Killing Joke's 'What's THIS For...!' from 1981 and with sarcasm refers either to the band's name or their previous works (in the sense that "as above" is written on application forms). It is more generally considered to be half of the occult maxim "As above, so below," which originates in the second line of the ancient alchemical tract Tabula Smaragdina.
The remaining songs of this album were never reissued since the masters are believed to be lost. By 2001 Þeyr’s members and friends released a CD titled 'Mjötviður til Fóta' which included songs from their second album, 'Mjötviður Mær' and the single 'Iður til Fóta', both releases from 1981. [SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA]
