Forgotten Alternative

 

A few days ago I found in the deepest corner of my hard-drive a compilation of songs from the early 80's and I couldn't resist to give them a listen. Some of the artists were just a small chapter of history, others were well known and some are just obscure. But well worth to take a sentimental journey back to those days. 

Theater of Hate was a post-punk band formed by Kirk Brandon and their first album Westworld from 1982 was produced by Clash's Mick Jones. The lead single is typical for this era, were bands searched for new sounds. Based on a phenomenal bass-line and a tribal rhythm Do You Believe In The Westworld is still a song you can listen to with fun.

Theater of Hate - Do You Believe In The Westworld

Split Enz were formed in the 70's by Tim Finn and Phil Judd in New Zealand. The started as a good progressive/art-rock band to switch at the beginning of the next decade into power-pop and new wave. I Got You was their only remarkable song before they disbanded a few years later

Split Enz - I Got You

Stan Ridgway formed Wall Of Voodoo in 1980 after he tried to express himself in electronic sounds. Mexican Radio is probably their best known song and is the trademark of the band. Sharp guitars, steady rhythms and synths combined with surrealistic lyrics was the next big thing back then.

Wall Of Voodoo - Mexican Radio

One of Iceland's finest exports appeared in the late 80's. Influenced by the guitar and drum work of Siouxsie and the Banshees and  Cocteau Twins The Sugarcubes made it great with Birthday, one of their early singles. The difference to others was Björk with her mighty voice that could turn every song into another sphere. That this concept worked live as well I can testify when I saw them live at an open air festival in 1989.

The Sugarcubes - Birthday

I See Red

Back in the late 70's me and a couple of mates who also were DJ-ing in some locations in our town had a little competition who will find out the most exotic bands and play it to the audience. At this time has I have discovered for myself Split Enz, a rock and independent band from New Zealand. Not the next big thing for sure but Tim Finn wrote one of the best pop and rock song in these days. I forgot them for ages and I was surprised how good the songs sounds decades after their release. It is probably just because it reminds me to the glory days of my youth but these songs are timeless for me and Split Enz didn't got the appreciation they should have in musical history because they made music for their own and have not toadied to the mass taste.

Sweet Dreams

During the mid 70's until the early 80's Split Enz the New Zealand rock band formed by Tim Finn were successful in their native country and Australia. I remember the times when I was bored about most of popular music in the mid 70's and was looking for something new. My local record dealer introduced me to Split Enz and Second Thoughts. It was recorded in London an produced by Roxy Music's Phil Manzanera. It was handmade and well arranged music and totally different to many other artists in this decade. Before punk appeared they were one of those few bands that made the difference and I think many bands were inspired by their sound. XTC and Godley & Creme have many influences by Split Enz. And their outfit/performance like in this video were far ahead of their times.

Filtered Senses

Thinking of music and Christchurch, New Zealand, I think of the great Dunedin Sound in the early 80's and Split Enz but not on electronic music. Pitch Black and their newest album Filtered Senses were new to me. Investigating them I was surprised that they work for over 15 years as a duo releasing records in the New Zealand electronic scene. This record contains a lot of relaxed and laid back songs - mostly without singing. Their songs are full of percussive effects, deep-drop echoes and mostly a dubby atmosphere. Sometimes they remind me at Dub Spencer & Trance Hill but this is not a critic. All in all not the worst way to start the week.

Pitch Black - Filtered Senses
Pitch Black - Dub Smoke

That they can do it in a faster way shows their closer of the record:

Pitch Black - Pixel Dust