A Number Of Small Things/Labels/Minimal WaveArtikel

The KVB - Immaterial Visions 19,99 €

The record is pressed on 160 gram ultra clear vinyl, housed in a high gloss printed heavy sleeve, limited to 999 copies.

The new release by the UK duo known as The KVB via the Minimal Wave sublabel Cititrax. Combining shoegaze guitars, minimal synth melodies, hypnotic drum machine rhythms and reverb drenched vocals, The KVB was first formed in 2010 as the solo project of Klaus Von Barrel. He was later joined by his girlfriend Kat Day, who added synthesizers and abstract visual elements. Their sound can be described as dark, layered, complex and moody – an icy atmosphere juxtaposed by the warmth of distorted guitars.

Aside from actively touring, they have had quite a few releases in this short time span, including a limited edition cassette on FLA Records (“The Black Sun”), a 10” vinyl EP on Downwards Records (“Into The Night”) and two releases on Clan Destine Records (“Subjection/Subordination” and “Always Then”). Inspired by these releases along with the recent inclusion of Dayzed on Downward’s So Click Heels Compilation, Minimal Wave felt the time was right to present a full length album of The KVB’s latest material.

In Trance 95 - Shapes In A New Geometry 14,99 €

After last year’s successful Cities Of Steel And Neon album release, In Trance 95 came together once again and have been working diligently in the studio on all kinds of new material. Aside from their recent raved about shows in Europe, this cassette is a taste of what they have been up to at Airdawn Studio in Athens, Greece. Quite dark, industrial and sometimes experimental (with glimpses of smokey dance floor atmosphere), these tracks are stark, heavy and cold. For the moment, the release is available as a limited edition cassette of 200 copies with stamped numbers, 100 black (odd numbers) and 100 red (even numbers). Grab it while you can!

Various Artists - Orgelvärk 25,99 €

Minimal Wave presents a newly remastered vinyl edition of the cult Swedish cassette compilation Orgelvärk, subtitled “en stadig samling svensk synthmusik” – “a solid collection of Swedish synth music”. Orgelvärk is a compilation of Swedish synthpop, experimental and industrial music representative of the underground tape scene that thrived there in the 1980s. Many of the bands didn’t quite fit into one particular genre, and most remained unknown. They lived in small villages and were making what can be described as electronic folk music.
Orgelvärk was originally compiled and released on cassette in 1986 by Tor Sigvardson, also known for his own musi- cal project 18:e Oktober and cassette label Neuköln. The vinyl edition includes five previously unreleased tracks which were submitted to Tor for the original 1986 cassette release but due to space limitations, never made it on there. All the audio has been remastered from the original tapes especially for vinyl by Tor himself. Limited edition of 999 hand-num- bered copies, pressed on 160 gram vinyl and presented in a matte gatefold jacket with a letter from Tor accompanied by further information on the bands.

In Aeternam Vale - In Aeternam Vale 19,99 €

Minimal Wave presents a full length album by cult French band In Aeternam Vale. Having made over 200 recordings, I.A.V. were one of the most prolific bands of the French underground scene. Headed by Laurent Prot, the band released many cassettes all featuring his wonderful collage work. Their sound is extremely original, overflowing with character, and crossing between genres: electro, minimal, noise, and even garage. “With the passing of time, In Aeternam Vale’s work remains astonishingly powerful, cold and caustic with its uncompromising minimalism, but also provocative and capable to smash your ass on the dance-floor”(-Douche Froide Magazine, 2002). The record is pressed on 180 gram clear vinyl and comes in a heavyweight matte jacket with cover artwork by Laurent Prot.

Deux - Decadence 20,99 €

Minimal Wave presents the 2nd edition of the full length LP by French duo Deux. Gérard Pelletier and Cati Tete formed Deux after meeting in Lyon in 1981. Their music can be described as minimal synth with stripped down rhythm compositions and suitably cold duets. Their influences are a perfect blend of Kraftwerk and French synthpop. Between 1983 and 1992, they released a cassette and several rare singles : Felicita / Game & Performance and Europe / Paris / Orly. They also appeared on the V/A BIPP LP (2006) and most recently on V/A The Minimal Wave Tapes: Vol 1 LP. The album features newly remastered demo tracks as well as their best studio recordings. Check out their Felicita video here. This LP is a hand numbered limited second edition, pressed on 180 gram vinyl, housed in a heavy matte jacket and accompanied by an insert. R.I.P. Gérard Pelletier (1952-2013).

Various Artists - The Hidden Tapes 15,99 €

A Compilation of Minimal Wave from Around the World ‘79-‘85. The Hidden Tapes features rare, unreleased, and licensed tracks from as far as Japan and the former Yugoslavia. Most of the bands on this compilation recorded on 4-track tape in their bedroom studios while two of them went further to collaborate by sending tapes through the mail. The sounds on this record range from raw proto-industrial to naive danceable Belgradian new wave, to filmic synthesizer music to more complex, vocal-driven melodic synthpop. The Hidden Tapes presents songs from DANTON’S VOICE, OSKAROVA FOBIJA, THE FAST SET, SYMPATHY NERVOUS, PAS D DEUX, UNOVIDUAL + TARA CROSS, SS-SAY, ROBERT LAWRENCE + MARK PHILLIPS, KYM AMPS and RESERVE, all lovingly remastered. Limited edition of 999 numbered copies, pressed on 180-gram vinyl, and housed in heavy printed jacket accompanied by printed inner jacket with photos and info.

Sympathy Nervous - Plastic Love 21,99 €

SYMPATHY NERVOUS is the project of Japanese artist YOSHIHUMI NIINUMA. Influenced by both classical and Krautrock, he began recording in 1979, and released several records on the highly coveted Vanity label. He continued to record and self-release much of his work throughout the 80s and 90s. His sound is intelligent and probably the most unique minimal synth to come out of Japan. Exploring dystopian themes, his music is well balanced and beautifully recorded. The Plastic Love album features songs Yosihumi Niinuma recorded between 1979-1980. These were originally recorded as studio demos and have never been released until now. The album is a follow up to Automaticism, which we released last year as benefit record to help Niinuma cope with the loss of his home and studio after the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011. Stylistically, these particular songs range from proto-techno tracks like “Anatawa Suguni” (1980) to post-punk ones like “Untitled 1” (1979) to a pure synthpop masterpiece from 1980 called “Butoubyou No Syounen” featuring his wife on vocals. The record will be printed in the same style as Automaticsm (on a heavy clear sleeve) and pressed on 180 gram white vinyl. Cover art by Gustavo Eandi.

Pas De Deux - Cardiocleptomanie 21,99 €

For their 31st release, Minimal Wave is proud to present Belgian pop trio Pas De Deux, best known for their participation in the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest. The group was formed in 1982 by Walter Verdin joined by Hilde van Roy and Dett Peyskens. They released two LPs and several singles along with some incredible video work produced by Verdin himself. Stylistically, their music is a bit post-punk and completely new wave with vocals reminiscent of the indie girl bands of the late 70s and early 80s. The slower tracks are quite dreamy, repetitive and hypnotic ? resembling dream pop. The title track Cardiocleptomanie (originally released as a flexi-disc in 1983 and recently made available on V/A The Hidden Tapes) has been described as ?a ?less is more? sum composed of drum machine, wood blocks and bongos, a few tasty minimal synth lines, and an overlay of repetitive female vocals that touch a Krafwerkian harmonic nerve.? The Cardiocleptomanie LP gathers the best of Pas De Deux?s newly remastered studio recordings and presents them as an edition of 999 hand-numbered copies on 180 gram blue vinyl. The record is housed in a printed inner jacket and spot color printed outer jacket with band photo and song credits.

Sandra Plays Electronics - Her Needs (1988 & 1999) 10,99 €

7” release of primitive D.I.Y. electronics by Sandra Plays Electronics, a project founded by Karl O’Connor (Regis) whilst he was a teenager living in Birmingham, England in the 1980s. O’Connor, mostly known for his pioneering work in the techno field (as Regis, Sandwell District, British Murder Boys, and various other entities) as well as his Downwards label, began playing and recording his own music when he was 16 years old. He collaborated with friends performing in short-lived bands such as Family Sex and also recorded on his own as Sandra Plays Electronics. He was heavily influenced by D.A.F., Liaisons Dangereuses, Cabaret Voltaire and Soft Cell, to name a few and would eventually collaborate with Robert Görl and also Chrislo Haas in the late 90s. The 7" presents two versions of the same song, Her Needs, both recorded in Birmingham, England. The first was recorded in 1988 during soundcheck at the College of Food And Domestic Arts and the second was recorded in 1999 (from the Man Has Responsibilities session) at the Ice House. Pressed on heavy weight 70 gram ultra clear vinyl, the 7” is housed in a matte double sided printed sleeve. Limited to 999 numbered copies!

Five Times Of Dust - The Dadacomputer 10,99 €

The Dadacomputer was the first incarnation of what would later become Five Times Of Dust. It was the result of a collaboration between Robert Lawrence and Mark Phillips who came together during the summer of 1981 living between Bristol and Cardiff, UK. They collaborated by sending tapes back and forth through the mail and also worked together in their respective home studios. Later that year, they self-released The Dadacomputer on both MAP tapes and Quick Stab. Roughly 100 copies were made in total and soon sold out.

The Minimal Wave Crew discovered the tape a few years back with great excitement and favored one track in particular, Computer Bank. Soon after they tracked down Robert Lawrence and licensed it for The Hidden Tapes compilation. The track was an instant hit, both at home and on the dance floor. The limited cassette run of The Dadacomputer is released in conjunction with the Brooklyn Flea Record Fair. It is essentially an introduction to the world of Five Times Of Dust. A double LP of selections from the vast Five Times Of Dust archives (over 15 hours of recordings) will follow!

The Actor - Unreal Personality 8,99 €

Flexi 7" printed on clear flexible vinyl with silver embossed ink, edition of 999 number-stamped copies accompanied by matte printed postcard of “August 1975” by Jennifer Griffiths.

The Actor is a well known but simultaneously quite obscure minimal wave project that emerged from the Dutch home taping scene of the early 1980s. The duo was formed by Marcel Reimer (vocals, keyboards) and Sander Horsthuis (keyboards) in Breda, The Netherlands in late 1981. Influences were DAF, Soft Cell, Depeche Mode and Fad Gadget. Guitars were no option, “because the amplifiers would mar the stage.”

The Actor caught the attention of cult cassette label Trumpett through their powerful live act and were signed to the label in April 1982. Their first, self-produced album was released in September 1982 as ‘Exploded View’ (an exploded view of a cassette tape was featured on the sleeve): Ten quite simply arranged synthpop tracks that were dynamic and danceable, with lyrics sung both in English and German, relating to the modern world, fashion, dancing, fame, appearance and self-image. The edition of 400 copies sold out within six months.

The track featured on this flexi-disc, ‘Unreal Personality’, is the opening track of ‘Exploded View’ and the archetypical The Actor song, with lyrics directly referring to the band’s name. The song was recorded during the summer of 1982. The music and lyrics were written by Marcel Reimer. The song was played and produced by Marcel Reimer and Sander Horsthuis. The equipment they used was the Korg MS-20, Crumar Performer, Casio VL-Tone, and Soundmaster SR-88 drum machine. It has been remastered from its original analog source tape for best possible sound reproduction.