Ian Boddy is a British electronic musician and composer. In the early 1980s Boddy began experimenting at an Arts Council funded studio in Newcastle. This period resulted in 3 cassette releases on the Mirage label, which showcased Boddy's work with analogue synthesis and tape manipulation. 'Images' (1980), 'Elements of Chance' (1981) and 'Jade'. In 1983 Boddy's first LP, 'The Climb', was released, followed by two more LPs, 'Spirits' (1984) and 'Phoenix' (1986). In 1989 Boddy released his first CD, 'Odyssey', on the Surreal To Real label, followed by 'Drive' (1991). Following these releases, Boddy founded the Something Else Records label, releasing another 4 albums, 'The Uncertainty Principle' (1993), 'The Deep' (1994), 'Continuum' (1996), 'Rare Elements' (1997) and reissuing his first 3 LPs and one of his early cassettes, 'Jade' (1992). On Something Else Records he also released 3 collaborations, 'Symbiont' (1995) with Andy Pickford, 'Phase 3' (1997) with Ron Boots and 'Octane' (1998) with Mark Shreeve under the name of ARC. A cassette-only release of live recordings between 1980 and 1989 was also available for a short period. In 1999 he founded the DiN Records label. [SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA]
Tibor Csébits and Philippe Alioth formed Guyer’s Connection in Basel, Switzerland when they were only 14 and 15 years old. At the time they were in a new wave rock band called Kurtzschluss which they decided to break from in order to make purely electronic music. They began with two synthesizers, a drum machine, a 4-track tape recorder and a multitude of ideas. They channeled their unique and humorous vision into their first album, entitled 'Portrait' which they produced themselves and self-released in 1983. Over the years, the album became a highly sought after minimal synth cult classic. It stands alone as one of the strongest examples of Swiss Minimal Wave, and probably the only one that is in Baseldytsch (German dialect from Basel). [SOURCE: MINIMAL WAVE RECORDS]
Mircea Florian is one of the most peculiar Romanian musicians. His artistic ideas go beyond common borders of music, subscribing to performance art, happening or other avantgarde forms of communication. While he started his career as a folk-singer, with several calm and usual songs, Florian slowly began to get distance from standard means of expression.
Changes occurred first in his lyrics, later gradually in his entire musical output, while he obviously broke up in the end with everything that could be labeled as "conventional". Very much interested in experimental music and nonconformist views, Mircea Florian succeeds in presenting his vision only in his late project named Florian Din Transilvania (he prepared however his evolution in groups such as Curtea Veche 43 or Ceata Melopoica).
The 'Tainicul Vartej' album, released in 1986, is a musical creation that belongs to electronic music, a segment little explored in Romania. This kind of progressive, mainly crafted with experimental means reminds of Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze or Popol Vuh but at the same time resembles new wave and some post-punk structures present in the period contemporary to the album's release.
Together with Mircea Florian (voice, guitar, synthesizers, cobza -Romanian traditional instrument), the line-up that participated in this LP consists of: Valentin Andronescu (keyboards); Dan Cimpoieru (guitar); Doru Caplescu (synthesizer); Jolt Kerestly (electronic drums); Doru Istudor (drums); Mircea Baniciu (additional voice); and Mihaela Hoaja (violin). [SOURCE: NTS]
Experimental Products were a synth duo from Philadelphia / Northern Delaware USA. Members Mark Wilde and
Michael Gross produced 8-track gear recordings, then had their music pressed to vinyl.
In 1984 they released the 3 song 12" EP 'Glowing in the Dark', 2000 copies.
"Glowing In The Dark" proved irresistible to DJs and became a 1985 dance club chart breakthrough.
Today, many DJs and collectors consider it a "classic" synth record. Two years before 'Glowing In The Dark' they released a 10 song vinyl LP titled 'Prototype', 300 copies. 'Prototype' remained an obscure record until minimal synth collectors caught wind of
it in the late 90s. 'Prototype' became a high priced bidding item whenever the rare vinyl
showed up on E-Bay. It seems Experimental Products had again produced what
many collectors consider a "classic" 80s minimal synth record. [SOURCE: VINYL-ON-DEMAND]
Demolition Group comes from Slovenia. They started in 1983 under the name Gast'r'bajtr's. In those days they played their own typical variation of white funk. As Gastarbeiters they released two LP's in former Yugoslavia.
In 1986 Gastarbeiters transformed their music into a fusion of heavy metal, funk and electronic rhythms. They felt the name Demolition Group was right for the new style. They played many important European festivals such as San Remo Rock '88, Barcelona Biena '87, Berlin Independence Days ('89), Druga Godba ('86) and others.
Soon after their coming out (1986) they were signed by the Italian label Cruisin' Hiara Records (Modena), for whom they released two records, which were promoted in most European countries. Demolition Group's music is an energetic fusion of electronic and acoustic drums, rock and funk oriented guitars, neurotic saxophone and specific vocals. "They look and sound like Doctor Feelgood after 18 pints having a jam with Killing Joke's roadies" (NME, 1994). Being excellent musicians, the musical skills of various members of Demolition Group are also evident in the work of bands such as Laibach, Borghesia and many others (varying from rock to contemporary classical). [SOURCE: DISCOGS]
A bit fiery for most in the new romantic camp during the early '80s, China Crisis were inspired by similar sources but injected their pop songs with occasional political commentary and bluesy reggae rhythms. Comprising the core duo of vocalist / keyboard player Gary Daly and guitarist Eddie Lundon, the group formed in 1979 near Liverpool, England.
The first China Crisis single, "African and White", didn't appear until 1982, but it was quickly picked up by Virgin Records and made the U.K. charts. With drummer Dave Reilly on board, their full-length debut, 'Difficult Shapes & Passive Rhythms', arrived later that year and also charted. Another single from the album, "Christian", hit number 12. They recorded their follow-up LP, 'Working with Fire and Steel: Possible Pop Songs, Vol. 2', with bassist Gazza Johnson and drummer Kevin Wilkinson. It reached number 20 in the U.K. as well as charting in Canada and across Western Europe. It also produced the Top Ten hit "Wishful Thinking".
China Crisis' third album, 1985's 'Flaunt the Imperfection', was produced by the sympathetic Walter Becker (from Steely Dan), and resulted in the Top 20 singles "Black Man Ray" and "King in a Catholic Style". The album was their first to crack the Billboard 200 in the U.S., and it hit the Top Ten in the U.K. and New Zealand. A year later, 1986's 'What Price Paradise?', which featured Brian McNeill instead of Becker on synths, reached a career-high 114 in the U.S. but landed outside of the Top 50 at home. China Crisis worked with Becker once more on 1989's 'Diary of a Hollow Horse', which earned critical raves though not much commercial movement. It proved to be their final record with Virgin. Their sixth studio LP, 'Warped by Success', appeared on Stardumb Records in 1994 and was followed by numerous compilations, including Virgin's China Crisis 'Collection: The Very Best of China Crisis' (1997), and a long recording hiatus, though Daly and Lundon continued to tour on and off as China Crisis.
In December 2013, China Crisis reappeared with the song "Everyone You Know" in conjunction with a crowdfunding campaign for their seventh album. 'Autumn in the Neighbourhood' was eventually released in June 2015 and followed by tour dates in the U.K., the Netherlands, and North America. In 2017, Caroline released a deluxe edition of 'Working with Fire and Steel', which included demos and several BBC radio performances from the time of the album. [SOURCE: ALLMUSIC]
A punky footnote in NZ’s alt-rock timeline, Bored Games was the high school band of Shayne Carter, who would go on to stamp his mark with Straitjacket Fits and Dimmer. While attending Kaikorai Valley High School in Dunedin, Shayne Carter formed Bored Games with Wayne Elsey, Fraser Batts, Jonathan Moore and Jeff Harford.
Debuting at the school talent quest in 1979, the group subsequently played support to Toy Love, a group that (along with Chris Knox’s previous group The Enemy) proved to be a prime influence on the fledgling Carter.
When Wayne Elsey defected to The Stones in 1981, Terry Moore joined briefly before defecting with Fraser Batts to The Chills later that year. A year later, this line-up posthumously recorded Bored Games’ one 12-inch EP, 'Who Killed Colonel Mustard', with $200 provided by the nascent Flying Nun label. Featuring the deliriously catchy "Happy Endings" and the classic punk thrash of "Joe 90", it’s a minor gem. [SOURCE: AUDIOCULTURE]
Artefact is a French rock band.
The group was formed around Maurice G. Dantec, founder of the formation with Éric Vennettilli, Marc L'Azou, replaced by Jean-Paul Ruard, then Jean Ternisien. First called État d'Urgence, the quartet quickly changed its name to Artefact.
Several studio sessions brought together many tracks ranging from basic punk to more experimental music that some have brought closer to The Pop Group, mixing funk, pop, punk and new wave. It was only in 1980 that the band's first and only album, 'Agit' Pop', was released, preceded by the EP 'M.A.E.' in 1979. The band disbanded shortly after the release of the album, suffering from internal tensions. [SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA]
The first signing of the legendary New Zealand label Flying Nun, Christchurch-based noise pop trio The Pin Group, teamed singer/guitarist Roy Montgomery, bassist Ross Humphrey, and drummer Peter Stapleton. Their 1981 debut single, the Joy Division-influenced "Ambivalence", was the first release on Flying Nun, issued in an edition of 300 copies; the follow-up, "Coat", appeared later that same year. After a 1982 EP, 'The Pin Group Go to Town', the band dissolved when Montgomery traveled to London for a year-long study program; he and Stapleton later renewed their collaboration as members of drone merchants Dadamah, with the complete Pin Group lineup reuniting in 1992 to record a one-off single, 'Eleven Years After'. [SOURCE: ALLMUSIC]
