Ex-Voto - Don't Look Back 12" (1990, Poor Alice Music)

The first official release by Ex-Voto even though the band claims to have existed since 1982... certainly one of the least prolific! Throughout the 80's, they were apart of the Los Angeles goth / deathrock scene and appeared on the '88 "American Gothic" LP compilation alongside bands like Screams For Tina, H-Bomb White Noise, Death Ride 69, and Premature Ejaculation. This record has a very conventional American goth sound with some late 80's electro-industrial influences thrown in musically. Do remember being surprised several years ago hearing "97 Crosses" on one of Herve Hue's "Remember of the Past" mixes he used to post online to download.

Sometime during the 90's, the band relocated to New Orleans and released "Anno Domini" on cassette in '95 (later released on CD) that contained re-recorded versions of tracks from their '82-90 period (including some songs from this record). Other than that, they were a staple on many of the Cleopatra compilations and little else regarding recorded output... until the 2000s when they decided (or finally got the money) to start recording some albums.

Preview samples:

 

Ex-Voto - Don't Look Back 12" (1990, Poor Alice Music)

01. The Devil's Work
02. If I
03. 97 Crosses
04. Never Again

http://netkups.com/?d=6ea704561f20c
pass: kentuckyfriedwave

Chow-Chow - Hide MLP (1984, Antler Records)

I had heard one track in the past by Chow-Chow that I really didn't like off some Belgium compilation (guessing it is from their other 12"), so felt like I was taking a gamble with this here... luckily this one is overall good quality Siouxsie style goth / new wave. According to discogs, singer Bea Van Der Maat later worked as a TV presenter and this band reformed as the much less interesting Won Ton Ton in '87.

Preview samples:




Chow-Chow - Hide MLP (1984, Antler Records)

01. Mekka
02. Hide & Smile
03. Heaven Knows
04. Girl
05. Enemy Gods
06. The Best
07. Still

http://netkups.com/?d=ec80045368ce8
pass: kentuckyfriedwave

Aurore - Rock' Mantique 12'' (198?, Self-Released)

Cross Italo with some cold wave and you get this mysterious French (Trélazé) 12" by Aurore that I'm guessing came from the early 80's (no year listed). This is the only release I've ever seen by them, one archived ebay auction from popsike writes, "AURORE France only private locl pressing 12" angelina + instrumental version , check the great dark synth wave intro , the cold wave bass,  like if touching pop meets sad italo synth , great great tune, and the instrumental is fantastic !! don't need to look for it, you won't find any information on the web or anybody having it in stock , very rare !"



Aurore - Rock' Mantique 12'' (198?, Self-Released)

01. Angelina (Chant)
02. Angelina (Musique)

http://netkups.com/?d=4859f64e0e606
pass: kentuckyfriedwave

The Convent - The Endless Way 7" (1987, RMZ Records) / The Convent - Kicked Out of Time 7" (1989, Self-Released)

Here are the first two hard-to-find late 80's releases by German band The Convent (their only vinyl releases). Throughout the 90's and early 2000's they released quite a few CDs (more info at http://fuego.de/theconvent/ or discogs). Couple weeks ago I had two early 90's tracks by them posted off the "Brave Boys Keep Their Promises" cassette compilation. Very good guitar wave with what appears a great deal of influence by The Chameleons...

Preview samples below (low quality):



The Convent - The Endless Way 7" (1987, RMZ Records)

01. The Endless Way
02. Thank You

The Convent - Kicked Out of Time 7" (1989, Self-Released)

01. Take It On A Chin
02. Cold December 

http://netkups.com/?d=b0166c30fd2d5
pass: kentuckyfriedwave

Blurpz - Blurpz 12" (198x, Harmoneum Records)

Time for some rare dark post-punk, cold guitar sounds from the Netherlands. No year is provided, but I'm guessing this is from the early-mid 80s and from their own private label based on the catalog number... Check out the video below (which has the wrong song title):

Blurpz - Blurpz 12" (198x, Harmoneum Records)

01. Escape
02. Dr. Blurpz Goes Bezerk
03. Life
04. Social Diseases

http://netkups.com/?d=d075b14f1e410
password: kentuckyfriedwave

Emotional Outburst - Verloren K7 (1992, Self-Released)

Here's a request... the first release by Emotional Outburst. I first heard them with the track "Die Nacht" (included on this tape) from the "040 Hamburg Strikes Back!" compilation. Musically a mix of German dark wave and electro with both male/female vocals... quite dramatic and over-the-top at times... reminds me of De Vermis Mysteriis, Lore of Asmoday, Misantrophe, Relatives Menschsein, the theatrical side of early Danse Macabre Records... They released two more tapes after this and a CD in '97 that was far more mellow compared to these recordings and not very good/interesting in my opinion. Oddly, their website still exists: http://www.hhgoth.de/.

Preview samples:

 

Emotional Outburst - Verloren K7 (1992, Self-Released)

01. Die Nacht
02. Psycho
03. The Light
04. Evelyn
05. Amelias Revenge
06. Dancing Devils
07. Tote Seele
08. Verloren
09. Gefangen
10. Dreams

http://netkups.com/?d=0380740385a4f
pass: kentuckyfriedwave