Minimal synth and Coldwave

**Electro_suze** · 09-07-2009, 01:19 PM

I've heard some really decent minimal synth and coldwave records recently - stuff like P1/E, moderne, Ruth, Charles De Goal, X-ray Pop, and a lot of stuff that would probably cross over into the post-punk tag. I love it - dark synthy soundscapes, pulsating basslines, motorik rhythms and many a dancefloor-friendly track on most LPs. Aside from the odd cringeable Liquid Sky-esque cheesefest there's some seriously good stuff to be found. Anyone else on here a fan of this stuff? If so, what have you been listening to?

**MPFlapp** · 09-07-2009, 01:31 PM

There is quite a good post over here Devine asked about this in May...

**Electro_suze** · 09-07-2009, 01:40 PM

Cheers for the link, having a read of that now...

P.s. for anyone who's interested, this is quite a good site;
http://www.minimal-wave.org/site/index.php

**Rich Hero** · 09-07-2009, 01:47 PM

Originally Posted by Electro_suze

I love it - dark synthy soundscapes...

Have you heard Peter Baumann's first LP? Not dancefloor friendly in any way but an excellent listen from start to finish and a great sleeve.

I played a tune from it at Brillo, once.

**Electro_suze** · 09-07-2009, 01:54 PM

No, I haven't heard that. I do have an LP of his, though I cant remember which. Ill check that out. Hopefully some blog will have it to satisfy my impatience.

Have you heard of Los Microwaves by the way rich?

**Soul-Fiend** · 09-07-2009, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by Electro_suze

I've heard some really decent minimal synth and coldwave records recently - stuff like P1/E, moderne, Ruth, Charles De Goal, X-ray Pop, and a lot of stuff that would probably cross over into the post-punk tag. I love it - dark synthy soundscapes, pulsating basslines, motorik rhythms and many a dancefloor-friendly track on most LPs. Aside from the odd cringeable Liquid Sky-esque cheesefest there's some seriously good stuff to be found. Anyone else on here a fan of this stuff? If so, what have you been listening to?

You shoulda been in the Big Chill bar last nite then, pure cold energy from the happy monster himself, Godsy. If you're lurking troop, gimmemibanana!

**e3sa934** · 09-07-2009, 03:06 PM

Suze, I've browsed that list and am pleased to see "I'm So Hollow" are included. I can't recommend them too highly, they were a Sheffield band, who were in existence between 78-81. I've seen them described variously as synth/goth/post-punk and all apply in some way I guess. I saw them play live a handful of times, a great live act.

They produced one single, one LP, and a couple of tracks which were included on a V/A ep and two V/A LPs.

ep/single: I Don't Know Dreams to fill the vacuum

They feature on a Sheffield band live cassette, and also performed a 4-song John Peel Session, which contains some otherwise unavailable tunes. Oh, and the were filmed live at Leeds Futurama, some of which appears on the DVD 'Made in Sheffield'.

The ep ('1980 - the first 15 minutes' ISH track is 'I Don't Know') and LP ('Emotion/Sound/Motion') pop up on eBay from time to time, as does their debut single ('Dreams to fill the vacuum'/'Distraction'), and a handful of tunes can be heard on the 3 I'm So Hollow' myspace sites.

The ep is worth tracking down as it also contains the pre-ABC synth combo Vice Versa, a cracking ClockDVA track and still-gigging Sheffield punks, Stunt Kites.

Jon

**KESSAKUSHU** · 09-07-2009, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by Electro_suze

I've heard some really decent minimal synth and coldwave records recently - stuff like P1/E, moderne, Ruth, Charles De Goal, X-ray Pop, and a lot of stuff that would probably cross over into the post-punk tag. I love it - dark synthy soundscapes, pulsating basslines, motorik rhythms and many a dancefloor-friendly track on most LPs. Aside from the odd cringeable Liquid Sky-esque cheesefest there's some seriously good stuff to be found. Anyone else on here a fan of this stuff? If so, what have you been listening to?

aye have stuff by those bands mentioned, really dig Charles de Goal especially. can be pretty expensive stuff mind, came across a few 7's in Spain while on holidays, all about 100eu a piece, needless to say i didn't jump. there is a comp called Bipp, has alot of bands you've mentioned there on it. for new stuff that sounds similar check these guys out, http://www.myspace.com/petitmalpetitmal DJ-ed at a gig they played at over here, deadly stuff, their also in a great band called Antifamily.
Spainish stuff seems to be slightly harder edge than French, maybe it's just the vocals mind. quality none the less.
american stuff around the same time seemed to be in tandom, check out the amazing Lust/Unlust label, especially Jeff and Jane Hudson and Dark Days. Also a band signed to Factory's american label was Ike Yard, they might up your street, not too dance floor friendly but worth checking out.

**KESSAKUSHU** · 09-07-2009, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by Electro_suze

Cheers for the link, having a read of that now...

P.s. for anyone who's interested, this is quite a good site;
http://www.minimal-wave.org/site/index.php

great label that, if not all there releases are to my tastes. kind of lost touch seems they've had a few releases since i checked it last. still give the Los Iniciados a hammering ever so often.
You know this show? http://www.eastvillageradio.com/modu...show&showid=10

should find plenty here. used to listen about 2 years ago when i could at the last job, i'm out and about more these days so don't get a chance, still seems to be going strong.

**Filthy Rich** · 09-07-2009, 04:49 PM

I went to Kosmische on Saturday and as I entered the dj was playing a track off this album which might fit the bill.

http://www.popsike.com/HECTOR-ZAZOU-...186558021.html

I was interested to see that he had used a felt tip pen to preserve the modesty of the previously naked underage girl in the centre of the record. I can see why someone would do that but it does seem something of a shame to draw on such a good/rare record/artifact.

**Filthy Rich** · 09-07-2009, 05:05 PM

I expect you know it but Go by Tones on Tail is a good dance-floor tune in this vein.

**Electro_suze** · 09-07-2009, 10:00 PM

Ive seen that Sheffield dvd Jon, interesting stuff. I'll have to check out the band in more depth...

KESSAKUSHU: Cheers for the label tip and the links, should keep me occupied for a while. I really like Ike Yard - I'm listening to 'A Second Fact' as I type this.

That album looks interesting Rich - hopefully something in the blogosphere so I can cop a free listen. What a price tag, eh? I haven't heard Go by Tones on Tail. Another one to check out. Feed me!

Sometimes it's hard to tell where post-punk ends and minimal synth begins. Isn't it just post-punk with an emphasis on synths? Also, it seems that it's an umbrella term that also encompasses a lot of French and German New Wave - correct me if i'm wrong. Wikipedia has it down as Minimal Wave, apparently because the 'wave' element of it indicates the use of guitars. I've been looking at the prices these records go for today as well -

. Mental. There are a few reissues floating about for the french stuff as far as I know, so hopefully I'll be able to get my hands on a few bits.

I'm loving it at the moment. It seems embody the logical progression from Krautrock, and encompasses loads of musical elements that I love; use of analogue synths, lo-fi DIY sounds, lots of moody industrial bits, repetitive motorik rhythms, dead-pan vocals (if there are any). I cant remember where I read this, but someone said something (it may have been in the Simon Reynolds Post-punk book) about monotony in music, and how this, far from being negative, could be something musicians aspired to. In fact, I imagine this was something to do with Krautrock. Certainly works with this stuff...

**pitch** · 09-07-2009, 10:52 PM

If there is 'coldwave' I demand to know what 'hotwave' is. I instinctively seek cool hotwave tracks - please advise.

Actually, to be consistent, I want 'maxsynth' too, can't be bothered with minimum synth - that just sounds mean and heartless. Please advise too.

**Electro_suze** · 09-07-2009, 11:13 PM

Originally Posted by pitch

If there is 'coldwave' I demand to know what 'hotwave' is. I instinctively seek cool hotwave tracks - please advise.

Actually, to be consistent, I want 'maxsynth' too, can't be bothered with minimum synth - that just sounds mean and heartless. Please advise too.

I know there's no tone on these things, but this seems like a pretty snidey remark to me. I hope I'm wrong in this assumption, but one of the reasons I didn't post on this forum for a while is because I felt my contributions were suppressed by rude and slight remarks. I hope this isn't one such example. Please correct me if I am wrong.

**Viva Chiba** · 09-07-2009, 11:57 PM

I think that may be a gentle ironic dig at the inadequacy of generic tags, rather than a belittlement of your enthusiasm. . .

Leave the rude and snide remarks to me, Steve.

**pitch** · 10-07-2009, 12:35 AM

Originally Posted by Electro_suze

I know there's no tone on these things, but this seems like a pretty snidey remark to me. I hope I'm wrong in this assumption, but one of the reasons I didn't post on this forum for a while is because I felt my contributions were suppressed by rude and slight remarks. I hope this isn't one such example. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Blimey!!!! Snidey? I've never been accused of that before. I don't think I have had the pleasure of contributing or debating anything with you before, so please forgive me if there are certain no-go areas. I was simply unaware of the terms - cold wave and minimum synth. They make absolutely no immediate sense to me - but I always test out descriptions with their direct opposites, and was happy to see that I understood these better than the originals. So you have simply been made aware of the inner workings of my sad outmoded mind....

But I genuinely enjoy the concepts of hot wave and maxsynth, so forgive me.

**Electro_suze** · 10-07-2009, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by pitch

Blimey!!!! Snidey? I've never been accused of that before. I don't think I have had the pleasure of contributing or debating anything with you before, so please forgive me if there are certain no-go areas. I was simply unaware of the terms - cold wave and minimum synth. They make absolutely no immediate sense to me - but I always test out descriptions with their direct opposites, and was happy to see that I understood these better than the originals. So you have simply been made aware of the inner workings of my sad outmoded mind....

But I genuinely enjoy the concepts of hot wave and maxsynth, so forgive me.

Fair enough. As I said there's no tone on here, so it's sometimes hard to tell if someone is joking and being friendly, or being rude and belittling. As you said, you've never really discussed anything with me before, so without any emoticons to indicate what your tone really was, I just assumed the offensive. Sorry for my contribution to any mix-up.

In one of my previous posts, I was merely inquiring about what constitutes minimal synth - as opposed to say, post punk, coldwave, or new wave. Being myself, fairly new to the genre, I was just trying to open up a bit of debate as to what people think the term means.

If you are interested, here are a couple of wikipedia links;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimal_wave
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coldwave

Hopefully you'll be able to do a better job of deciphering them than I have.

**Rich Hero** · 10-07-2009, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by pitch

I was simply unaware of the terms - cold wave and minimum synth.

Did you follow the link mentioned in the first couple of replies, Steve? It should give you a clearer idea of the genre.

For the record, that LP I posted is minimal synth, rather than Minimal Synth. But it still fits with the moody soundscape side of things. There are soundclips here and here, Suze, but they don't particularly do the music justice as all the tracks are slow builders. And a little patience should turn it up for a tenner or less (with postage!).

**emperor tomato ketchup** · 10-07-2009, 11:50 AM

To be fair Minimal as an adjective is often not a positive and so I can see exactly where pitch is coming from in terms of "it doesn't sound appealing".

The Wire's been talking about minimal techno for a while now and I just turn off at the very mention. Maybe I'm missing something great but it doesn't sound like much fun. I remember being sold on some of the minimal end of Detroit techno (Ritchie Hawtin to be exact) only to find that it could better be described as "very boring".

Maybe he made those logical conclusion type records that Simon Reynolds discussed i.e. stuff that will only appeal and be understood if you are immersed in the genre and so open to very subtle changes. Though I'd listened to, and loved, a fair bit of Detroit techno so I think Hawtin is just dull.

On the other hand Minimalist music like Glass or Reich isn’t boring and actually has lots going on, its just the chord changes that are infrequent.

**peretti** · 10-07-2009, 01:01 PM

Originally Posted by pitch

Actually, to be consistent, I want 'maxsynth' too, can't be bothered with minimum synth - that just sounds mean and heartless. Please advise too.

I think Europe's 'Final Countdown' should fit the bill.

**medlar** · 10-07-2009, 01:20 PM

Originally Posted by Electro_suze

minimal synth and coldwave

Originally Posted by e3sa934

synth/goth/post-punk

Originally Posted by pitch

hot wave and maxsynth

The crossover soul thread now makes perfect sense

**Electro_suze** · 10-07-2009, 01:29 PM

Originally Posted by emperor tomato ketchup

To be fair Minimal as an adjective is often not a positive and so I can see exactly where pitch is coming from in terms of "it doesn't sound appealing".

The Wire's been talking about minimal techno for a while now and I just turn off at the very mention. Maybe I'm missing something great but it doesn't sound like much fun. I remember being sold on some of the minimal end of Detroit techno (Ritchie Hawtin to be exact) only to find that it could better be described as "very boring".

Maybe he made those logical conclusion type records that Simon Reynolds discussed i.e. stuff that will only appeal and be understood if you are immersed in the genre and so open to very subtle changes. Though I'd listened to, and loved, a fair bit of Detroit techno so I think Hawtin is just dull.

On the other hand Minimalist music like Glass or Reich isn’t boring and actually has lots going on, its just the chord changes that are infrequent.

Have you heard any minimal synth? It's not really anything like Ritchie Hawtin, who admittedly, I do like.

**emperor tomato ketchup** · 10-07-2009, 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by Electro_suze

Have you heard any minimal synth? It's not really anything like Ritchie Hawtin, who admittedly, I do like.

Not knowingly. I was only comparing them in terms of the words in the genre tag and how minimal can be read as a bad thing.

**jakartajive** · 10-07-2009, 03:40 PM

Where does Phil Collins fit in here, then?

**Col Wolfe** · 10-07-2009, 03:49 PM

trio - da da da

**Electro_suze** · 10-07-2009, 03:50 PM

Originally Posted by jakartajive

Where does Phil Collins fit in here, then?

Oi! Get back to the soul-crossover thread you! We'll have none of your trouble-making here!

**Rich Hero** · 10-07-2009, 03:52 PM

Originally Posted by Col Wolfe

trio - da da da

Trio is actually pretty spot on. A good example of NDW. Well done Col.

**Electro_suze** · 10-07-2009, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by emperor tomato ketchup

Not knowingly. I was only comparing them in terms of the words in the genre tag and how minimal can be read as a bad thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OCGgODzpDc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTuTc...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jL5SDoBwEho
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enEOa...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiQ2S...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-5Cgjn2_VI

That's a pretty good intro to it right there...

**Rich Hero** · 10-07-2009, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by Electro_suze

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiQ2S...eature=related

I hadn't seen that before! I'm not fussed about the song but the no budget video is great.

**pencilface** · 10-07-2009, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by Rich Hero

I hadn't seen that before! I'm not fussed about the song but the no budget video is great.

it looks like a very frightening alternative to the Martin Circus video!

---this thread is great, i've really enjoyed checking out a bunch of groups i hadn't heard of. i think i would probably err towards the poppier/ more danceable stuff - -but i love the sound. the Los Microwaves has made the biggest impression on me so far - - that album sounds amazing!!! Damon played a song of it just the other night aswell...