The talent of John von Ahlen isn’t limited to exceptional songwriting and prolific remixing. As this video shows, his ability to combine visual codes with deft animation hits the senses in ways that trigger all the right memories to accompany a sharp, dancefloor-friendly track. Can you spot all the references? If so, you’re so 80s you don’t even know it.
coldwarnightlife
Karin Park is one of CWNL’s favourite vocalists. The symmetrical Swedish export shows up in the fashion pages, guesting with other artists, propelling Norway’s Eurovision team – and, finally, with a new single. Shine is a slinky slice of electronica, more accessible than The Knife but with an undeniably experimental verve.
Reykjavik punks Q4U picked up a Roland TR808 in the 80s and became cold wave innovators. The Dark Entries label, which released a retrospective collection of their releases, tells the story of the band and the compilation:
Q4U was born the winter of 1980-1981 in Reykjavík, inspired by the British punk movement. It’s original members were Elínborg Halldórsdóttir (Ellý) (vocals), Berglind Garðarsdóttir (Linda) (vocals), Steinþór Stefánsson (guitar), Gunnþór Sigurðsson (bass), Helgi (drums) and Már (synthesizer). Helgi and Már soon left the band and Helgi was replaced by Kormákur Geirharðsson (Kommi) on the drums. By early 1982 they self-released a full length cassette, “Skaf Í Dag” and appeared in the documentary “Rokk í Reykjavík,” which showcased the Icelandic punk scene. This version of the band ended and only two members continued on. In the summer of 1982 Ellý and Gunnþór recruited Óðinn Guðbrandsson (guitar) and Árni Daníel (synthesizer) from the band Taugadeildin. Their drummer was replaced by a Roland TR-808 drum machine they named “Elísabet II”. signaling a change in the group’s sound toward synthesizer-driven post punk. In August 1983 Q4U reinstated Kormákur to record a final set of demos and then called it quits.
This compilation collects 16 songs from 1980-1983. SIde A features the original six songs from the “Q1″ EP, plus 2 songs from the “Rokk í Reykjavík” soundtrack. Side B collects 4 demos from 1982 and 4 demos from 1983, all presented on vinyl for the first time ever. Q4U began with a stylish, aggressive punk image before experimenting with drum machines and synthesizers, which almost nobody did in Reykjavík at the time. The later sound had gothic leanings,often compared with Siouxsie and the Banshees and Xmal Deutschland. Their body of work is united by the powerful vocals of Ellý, who mostly sings in Icelandic about controversial, political experiences, much like Ari Up of The Slits.
Eddie Bengtsson has a lot of music in him. With the last Page album, Hemma, still gaining momentum, he’s getting ready to record new tracks for his Sista mannen på jorden (SMPJ) project. Producer and collaborator Christer Hermodsson (Biomekkanik) will again join Bengtsson in the studio. An album of new songs is expected ahead of planned shows with Rational Youth and Psyche in May. To ease the wait, here are five SMPJ songs we can’t get enough of:
1. Hur lång tid kan det ta?
2. Stanna kvar
3. Luft
4. Egen rymddräkt finnes
5. Sekunder
German-based label, Vinyl on Demand, has earned a reputation for lovingly reproducing rare sounds from the heroes of industrial and electronic music. VOD presses lost classics in heavy-duty vinyl, collected as box sets, sometimes with artwork and other material that is a fan’s ultimate dream. In their list of releases for 2014, VOD have an exclusive Rational Youth box set lined up. We can reveal that it will reproduce the original releases from the band’s early period, in 180g pressings, with rare visual material from the band’s history. You heard it here first!
This song was our top pick for 2013, impressed as we were by its synthetic heritage and the emotions pulled from circuitry by veteran synthers Page. The band has now added visuals, which fit the modern-vintage theme perfectly. Inspired by the classics of space disco, Page have turned back the clock to 1978 for their new video, but the sound is right up-to-date – nostalgic but new!
With Depeche Mode touring a new album, thirty-two years after they played this show, there is a good chance that they will hang on as long as The Rolling Stones. They need no introduction, but this is a rare recording of a show with Vince Clarke, an all-synth set, a fabulous version of Tora! Tora! Tora! and steel drum presets for Just Can’t Get Enough – all set in the charming cathedral town of Chichester.
Vanguard are one of Sweden’s most talented synth acts. Their new album, Retribution, is scheduled for February 2014, and it will include this track. The single version features remixes from, among others, Psyche and Robert Enforsen of Elegant Machinery. Sweet Thursday listening.
Canadian synthpop duo, The Beautiful Spies, produce 80s-influenced music with classic style. Formed by Dave Rout (Datafreq, Rational Youth) and Dina Naskos (Colecovision), they already have one album notched on their synth stands and are preparing for a support slot when Rational Youth launch their new show in January 2014. This energetic track is from the Just Fascination album (no relation to the Cabs single of the same name).