Simple Minds - Empires And Dance - LP (1980), U.K.

To end the depressing year of 2009, I will celebrate by posting my first Simple Minds LP Empires And Dance. Remember Simple Minds? No? Remember the song playing at the end of the popular 80's movie teen drama The Breakfast Club? Still don't remember? Here are a few lines of the lyrics to refresh your mind ... "Don't You Forget About Me!" Oh that song! Yes that song! Don't You (Forget About Me) was played to death on radio waves back during the mid 80's and unexpectedly catapulted this Scottish band from obscurity (in the U.S.) to worldwide super stardom overnight.
The group at the time this album was recorded was led by Jim Kerr (vocals), Charlie Burchill (guitar and saxophone), Michael Macniel (keyboards), Brian McGee (drums and percussion) and Derek Forbes (bass fret). The band has gone through numerous line up changes and musical styles throughout the years and it's amazing to see the band still carries on to this day! Now before I go, I'd like to point out that this album is unlike the Simple Minds most people are familiar with. Along with the typical synth pop sound prevalent at the time, there are also hints of minimal synth, dark sounding reggae and other post-punk sounds in here that would make even a music snob take a second listen and forget all the bad insults they said about Simple Minds!

Details:

Simple Minds - Empires And Dance - LP (1980), U.K.

Side 1:

1. I Travel

2. Today I Died Again

3. Celebrate

4. This Fear Of Gods

Side 2:

5. Capital City

6. Constantinople Line

7. Twist/Run/Repulsion

8. Thirty Frames A Second

9. Kant-Kino

10. Room

Review

More Information:

Official Myspace
Official Website

Band History

Breeding Ground - Tales Of Adventure - EP (1986), Canada

My new discovery of the day leads me to Canada, home of heinous acts such as wanna be goth/punk/pop singer Avril Lavigne, ballad singer Céline Dion and post-grungers Nickleback. Not too long before they dominated the airwaves, there was a group formed in Toronto sometime in 1980-81 called Breeding Ground. The members of this group were John Shirreff (vocals), Hugh Gladish (guitar), Jonathan Strayer (bass) and Ken Jones (drums). Breeding Ground received good notoriety and sales from their 12" Single Slaughter/Reunion (1983) and were noticeably popular at the time in college radio stations with their one hit song Happy Now I Know. After the release of the EP album Tales Of Adventure (1986), the band went on a short hiatus and came back one more time with their first full-length LP Obscurity And Frail (1989).
The sound of this band is somewhat similar to New Order (in some ways) with sprinkles of darkness thrown in for good measure. It's no wonder that it has been on my rotation lately! My favorite songs are Turn To Dust, Epic and Reflections (In A Coffee Cup).

Details:

Breeding Ground - Tales Of Adventure - EP (1986), Canada

Side 1:
1. This Time Tomorrow
2. Turn To Dust
3. Epic

Side 2:
4. Tales Of Adventure
5. Happy Now I Know
6. Reflections (In A Coffee Cup)

Review (This link will take you to CAPA NOSTRA SYNDICATE's blog. This time I find it unnecessary to upload an album that is already available and plus Capa Nostra has the limited edition LP version with 3 additional tracks!)

More Information:
Unofficial Myspace
Discography

This Scarlet Train - Fimbria - Mini LP (1987), U.K.

What do you get when you combine echoey guitars, lush melodies and atmospheric singing? This Scarlet Train! Fimbria was a short but sweet very little known mini album released by Nightshift Records back in 1987. This album is perfect for introducing people who are curious about getting into the shoegaze and dream-pop genre without being overwhelming.
The three piece from Scotland were Stuart Nelson (bass guitar and voice), Robert Polson (guitar and keyboards) and Steven Docherty (drums). It's amazing how a small group of just 3 people can produce such a glorious sound! Soon after the album was released, the members split and went their separate ways never to be heard from ever again.

Details:

This Scarlet Train - Fimbria - Mini LP (1987), U.K.

Side 1:
1. Picture Frame
2. Autumnhood
3. Candice


Side 2:
4. Kistvaen
5. Still Rain
6. Lilyhaze

Review

More Information:
Unofficial Myspace
Discography

Breathless - Between Happiness And Heartache - LP (1991), U.K.

Melancholic, atmospheric, romantic, ... Breathless is all of these and so much more. This is one of those great discoveries that somehow go unnoticed for many years and make you wonder why you didn't find out about them sooner.
Formed somewhere in the U.K. (London?) in the early 80's, the group comprised of Dominic Appleton (vocals and keyboards), Gary Mundy (guitars and additional voices) and Ari Neufeld (bass and acoustic guitar). Former members included Tristram Latimer-Sayer (drums) and Martyn Watts (drums and percussion).
Between Happiness And Heartache has the perfect blend of shimmery bluesy style sounding guitars, bittersweet lyrics and dream-pop goodness. I've listened to this album countless times and never tire of it each listening session. It is also one of those albums to listen to for those times whenever you feel really down and out. Before moving on to the music, it is worth mentioning that Dominic Appleton was a guest musician with 4AD super group This Mortal Coil.

Details:

Breathless - Between Happiness And Heartache - LP (1991), U.K.

Side 1:
1. I Never Know Where You Are
2. Over And Over
3. Wave After Wave
4. You Can Call It Yours

Side 2:
5. All That Matters Now
6. Clearer Than Daylight
7. Flowers Die
8. Help Me Get Over It

Review

More Information:
Official Myspace
Tenor Vossa Records

Room Nine - Voices ... Of A Summers Day - LP (1987), U.S.A.

Here is a discovery coming from Seattle, the most unlikely place to find a band of this kind. Whenever I listen or read about Seattle and music in the same sentence, I get instant visions of the early 90's grunge scene. Everyone wearing flannel and ripped blue denim while listening to Alice In Chains, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam. Oh the memories!

Formed in 1980, Room Nine's band members consisted of Ron Rudzitis (vocals and guitar), Scott Boggan (vocals and bass) and Shawn Allen (he replaced Scott Vanderpool on drums). They didn't release an album until finally in 1987 with Voices ... Of A Summers Day.

Room Nine can be easily confused as another throwaway 80's indie jangle pop band, but upon further listening sessions you'll notice the music combines intricate elements of post-punk and subdued neo-psychedelia with some catchy dream-pop melodies. It is a very interesting album with standout tracks such as 1000 Years, Mirage and Seas Without A Shore. What a nice debut album! Sadly, Voices ... Of A Summers Day and the song Angels Sing (featured in Doctor Death's Volume I: Cette Enfant me Fia Mourir) are the only recorded material they ever released. Fans of The Wild Flowers, The Icicle Works and The Waterboys should give this album a try!

Details:

Room Nine - Voices ... Of A Summers Day - LP (1987), U.S.A.

Side 1:

1. Circus Floor

2. Revolving Door

3. Don't Look Back

4. Red Dog

Side 2:

5. 1000 Years

7. Mirage

8. Seas Without A Shore

9. White Summer

Review

More Information:

Band History

Discography

My First Post: Décima Víctima - Décima Víctima - LP (1982), Spain

Décima Víctima (tenth victim), was a Spanish Post-Punk band formed in 1981 and part of the "Movida Madrileña" or Madrilenian Movement in Madrid, Spain along with acts such as Parálisis Permanente and Alaska y Los Pegamoides. The band was originally a three-piece but quickly grew into a quartet of two Spanish (Carlos Entrena - vocals and José Brena - drums and percussion) and two Swedish members (brothers Per Mertanen - bass and Lars Mertanen - guitar and synths). Their sound is very reminiscent of Joy Division, but with a more somber and depressing tone. The singing is all in Spanish (of course) and figuring out what the lyrics are is not necessary to enjoy their music. Without further interruption and for your listening pleasure, I present you their first full length self titled LP!

Details:

Décima Víctima - Décima Víctima - LP (1982), Spain

Lado A (Side A):
1. La Voz Que Me Persigue
2. Más Allá Del Silencio
3. Inseguridad
4. Escombros De Un Triunfo
5. Otro Futuro
6. Almas Perdidas

Lado B (Side B):
7. Hacia La Luz
8. Fe En Ti Mismo
9. Detrás De La Mirada
10. Desde El Acantilado
11. Hasta El Límite
12. Decisión

Review

More information:
Unofficial Myspace 
Official Website 
Movida Madrileña