Das Kabinette - The Cabinet

Das Kabinette were known mainly for their underground hit The Cabinet, originally released as a 7” single in 1983, and inspired by a the classic silent German expressionistic film, The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari (its streaming on netflix if you haven’t had the pleasure).  So besides that 7”, they never had a proper release, at least until good ol’ Minimal Wave “…made contact with them in 2007 and aside from remastering the 7” single tracks, culled together a collection of unreleased studio tracks. Those were then released in January 2008 as Spy Thriller.”

Spy Killer was originally only pressed to 500 copies on 180g vinyl, and quickly sold out, so I was first introduced to Das Kabinette when The Cabinet was included on the V/A compilation The Minimal Wave Tapes : Volume 1 in 2010.  And now apparently due to popular demand, Spy Killer will be released with another 999 copies pressed.  Minimal Wave is a gold mine of 80s snyth gems, and besides curating some of the best kept 80s secrets to a new audience, I had no ideal they went to lengths that included tracking down artists and releasing previously unavailable music.  My already high respect for the label just went through the roof.

Das Kabinette  - Spy Killer LP is available again as a second pressing and Ltd to 999 copies on ultra clear 180g vinyl.  The LP is presented in a heavy weight matte die-cut jacket, with printed inner sleeve which shows through the window.  Grab yours from Minimal Wave here before they’re gone again.

Source: minimalwave.com

Collateral - Desire EP

Collateral is a mixed Parisian trio, polarised between synthetic hints and electric inspirations. Qualified experts in melancholic dance music (majoring in suburbian minimal wave and Italians Do It Better productions), they have remixed artists such as Keren Ann, Arnaud «Blackstrobe» Rebotini, Chad Valley or Tanlines, and recorded a couple of EPs in association with the blazing producer Villeneuve (collaborator of M83, Anoraak, Team Ghost…). First one will be released in April 2012 by desire. Performing live, they can rely on their monomaniac friend Rolande, devoted rhythm machine.

Not surprised to see the connection to Italians Do it Better.  These two tracks have a grand atmospheric feel, something sounding in between IDIB & a Minimal Wave release but more haunting.  Track two picks up the beat more, and almost has that electro dance balad sound of Glass Candy.  Stellar single through and through, and as a bonus there are super limited (25 to be exact) quantities of curated mixtape to accompany it with an exciting track list featuring many more unknown artists than recognized, at least by myself.  Check out the full track list below:    

Collateral - Ctrl 5 / Ctrl 3 12”  is on sexy white vinyl housed in a white on white printed sleeve, Ltd to 300 copies and can be pre-ordered here directly

Mixtape tracklisting:
Side A: Cöld
Kas Product
The Knife
Ya Ya Choral
Deux
Det Gylne Triangle
Villeneuve
Severed Heads
Kindness
Dark Day
Suicide
Dawd
AraabMuzik
Collateral (Team Ghost remix)

Side B: Pop
Mathematiques Modernes
Glass Candy
Gina X Performance
Linear Movement
Collateral (Aaaliyah cover)
Debbie Neon
Elli & Jacno
Pointer Sisters
Ashanti

Source: desire-records.blogspot.com

In Trance 95 - Desire to Desire (1988)

This is coming end of summer.  On the excellent heavy weight vinyl from Minimal Wave that you crave.  If you don’t recognize the label:

Founded by Veronica Vasicka in 2005, Minimal Wave has done the invaluable work of historical recovery, unearthing an entire subgenre for a new generation. Emerging from the brief postpunk moment of the late 1970s and early 1980s and created by a loose network of like-minded musicians in home studios scattered across Europe, Minimal Wave found the impulses of the early avant-gardes reanimated with help of analog synths. ~Mark Owens

“Founded by Veronica Vasicka in 2005, Minimal Wave has done the invaluable work of historical recovery, unearthing an entire subgenre for a new generation. Emerging from the brief postpunk moment of the late 1970s and early 1980s and created by a loose network of like-minded musicians in home studios scattered across Europe, Minimal Wave found the impulses of the early avant-gardes reanimated with help of analog synths.” -Mark Owens“Founded by Veronica Vasicka in 2005, Minimal Wave has done the invaluable work of historical recovery, unearthing an entire subgenre for a new generation. Emerging from the brief postpunk moment of the late 1970s and early 1980s and created by a loose network of like-minded musicians in home studios scattered across Europe, Minimal Wave found the impulses of the early avant-gardes reanimated with help of analog synths.” -Mark Owens“Founded by Veronica Vasicka in 2005, Minimal Wave has done the invaluable work of historical recovery, unearthing an entire subgenre for a new generation. Emerging from the brief postpunk moment of the late 1970s and early 1980s and created by a loose network of like-minded musicians in home studios scattered across Europe, Minimal Wave found the impulses of the early avant-gardes reanimated with help of analog synths.” -Mark Owens Source: minimalwave.com

Bal Paré - La Vie

Minimal Wave presents a 4 song 7” EP by legendary German band Bal Paré. The band was formed in 1980 by Kirsten Klemm, Manfred Asmus and Matthias Schuster. Schuster, the brainchild behind the band, is also known for these projects: Geisterfahrer, Im Namen Des Volkes, Jeanette Und Das Land Z, and Das Institut.  The four songs were recorded between 1981-1984 and have never been released before. The songs range from really original, danceable dark synth with an early industrial feel to warmer synth pop, the last song featuring Kirsten on vocals. On colored vinyl with a hand silk screened heavy card stock jacket, a beautiful release, limited to 600 numbered copies. Special thanks to Kristamas Klousch for the cover photo.

Found this from Minimal Wave, unfortunately on the OOP Bal Paré s/t 7”.  However, I was able to find it on the good ol’ what.  If you’re desperate and this isn’t on any open torrent sites, message me and I’ll send it to you.  Don’t wanna be a complete tease.

Srsly check MW out, too many excellent releases from obscure enough artists that weren’t online already to handle.  Its a rare time to find vinyl I can’t download to preview elsewhere, and the anticipation has me reelin.    

Source: minimalwave.com

Deux - Game and Performance

Do you love french minimal electronic gems?  Well I just got an overdose today when I stumbled upon the label Minimal Wave.  It was love at first site, and I promptly began pouring through their catalog and found three LPs I loved before stopping myself from snatching more.  Heavy weight 180g vinyl releases from obscure minimal electronic bands from the 70-80s = best.  Most of these gems I couldn’t even find digitals on the almightly what to preview, but fortunately Deux was up.  Reminds me l a lot of Ruth, if you’re into them.  

Minimal Wave is proud to present a 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. They also appeared on the V/A BIPP LP (2006) and most recently on V/A The Minimal Wave Tapes: Vol 1 LP. Check out their Felicita video here. The Decadence LP will feature selections of their old material, newly remastered. It is a hand numbered edition, pressed on 180 gram vinyl and housed in a heavy matte jacket. 

Grab Decadence by Deux, repressed from 1981 on heavy 180g vinyl here

Source: minimalwave.com