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
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/.
While there wasn't much lyrically or artistically deep about Phobia, they did create a few charming diy German goth/wave tunes influenced by The Cure and Bauhaus that sort of reminds me of a combination between Also, Momento Mori UK, and the lighter side of No Critics. I know of one other tape called "Holidays Were Never Better!" that was shorter in length and consisted of many of the same tracks found here. I'm guessing the bands' "biggest" moments were their contributions to the CD compilations "Behind Mysterious Gates" ('92 with a re-recorded version of "Jack is Back" shortened to just "Jack") and their cover of "Shadowplay" off 1995's "Ceremonial" Joy Division tribute that was released in the US. Couple decent tunes if you have a soft spot for this sort of sound, and a very hard to find release.
Preview samples here:
Phobia - A Piece of Fear K7 (1991, Self-Released)
01. Wake Up
02. Only One Reason
03. Jack Is Back
04. World In Ruins
05. Into The Fire
06. Lost My Mind
07. Morning Mist
08. Susanne Never Knows
09. Age of Sin
10. Angel
11. Rattengift
12. *
Excellent compilation from the early 90s German underground scene with the exception of one US band (Missed In Diary)... and I was never 100% sure if The Convent were Dutch or German (or originally from the Netherlands - but living in Germany). Mix of guitar wave, goth, dark wave and a few darker indie/alternative/psychedelic bands. Couple of these bands have been posted on here before (Dusk To Dawn, Disorder, Screaming Fools)....
Preview samples:
VA: Brave Boys Keep Their Promises K7 (1993, Beton Tapes)
01. Substance of Dream - Rachel, Sweet Rachel
02. Decay - Christian Hydrophobia
03. Missed In Diary - Wonders Why
04. The Convent - Amsterdam
05. Disorder - Trees In The Storm ('93 Mix)
06. Dusk To Dawn - Where I Came From
07. Untitled - I'm Alright
08. Competition Deadline - Strange
09. Lo ! - L.M.C.
10. Almost Human - Flowers
11. Disorder - Ride of Giants (Remix)
12. Untitled - Killing Times
13. The Convent - All Night Long (Live)
14. The Cool Curtain - Happen To You
15. All Fools Day - Sex Isolation (Remix)
16. After The Rain - Zynical Reasons
17. Age of Heaven - Behind Walls
18. Screaming Fools - A Strange As This (Live) // not a typo
19. Lo ! - Andy Warhol
Nice melodic French coldwave/touching pop band comparable to Smirnov, Formule Tag, Little Nemo, Bad Young Think and that sort of stuff... This is the only release I've seen by them.
Bolzano Weierstrass - Vie D'Ivresse 7" (1987, Cabana Music)
New wave band from Albany, New York featuring Sara Ayers on vocals and keyboards, who is likely best known (to synth heads) for also being on the New Shiny Toys "Changing Colors" 7" in '82 that was reissued by Anna Logue Records. The A-side here is a standard new wave tune that I wouldn't consider anything special, but the b-side ("Waiting For You") is a great minimal wave track.
A.K.A./etc. - We'll Just Keep Laughing 7" (1982, Blue Lunch Records)
Rare Danish dark guitar wave band... have only ever seen them appear here. Honestly, I'm not 100% sure if they're from Denmark since I have seen sellers over-the-years also claim this release is Swedish... obviously the sleeve doesn't provide much info.. but have seen more people claim Denmark... so that wins for now.
