Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Trop Tard - Ils Etaient 9 Dans L'Obscurité LP


Thanks to Capa Nostra for this stupendous album. Finally I got the chance to listen to this. One of the best cold wave stuff I've heard from France.
Most bands from France are known for the -sometimes excessive- use of synths but Trop Tard (means 'Too Late') stayed far away from that. Only bass, guitar and a drum machine. On the French New Wave site, they state that the band had 3 members, even one on drums but I think the album was made by 2 guys.
And yes, Joy Division is the main influence but Trop Tard created something of their own with it. I really like the guitar work on the album. And the vocals are full of 'ennui'.
Seems that Trop Tard released a bunch of tapes as well. Probably impossible to find. Even the LP hardly turns up for sale. Think it was released in the mid-80's (1985-86).

Ils Etaient 9 Dans L'Obscurité LP (self released-F 001-198?)
1. Les Choses Qu'On Oublie Pas
2. Quelque Chose A Dire
3. Les Anges D'Aujourd'hui
4. Oublier La Vérité
5. La Chose
6. Maman
7. Trop Longtemps
8. Les Rêves De Peur
9. Oublier
10. Je M'Ennui
11. L'Analyse
12. Abandonné
13. Mort D'Une Ame

Link Removed. Buy the reissue on Infrastition!

41 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi!
I have another tape called "Photodramme" from 1987. If you are interested send me a message: coldfinger@free.fr .

Mr. Blank Dog said...

This has been on my want list for a long time, as is the cassette.

Thanks for putting it on here, I only had a CD-R with no track names.

I'd love to have someone give the cassette the same treatment.

Anonymous said...

does anyone know what year this album was released?

Anonymous said...

on vinyl collector website i learned that it was released in 1987:
http://www.vinyl-collector.com/records/lp/2842-Trop%20tard--Ils%20%C3%A9taient%209%20dans%20l'obscurit%C3%A9-private%20%20F001/
it certainly sounds more 1982 than 1987, but a good record nevertheless!
thank you!

Sheerinertia said...

Sounds awesome- speaking of French wave; looks like Complot Bronswick has put out a new 2CD set which has been long awaited:

http://www.musicnonstop.co.uk/product-view.php?productid=18975

Curious Guy said...

Checked that vinyl-collector site. A copy for sale for 130 euro!!
Infrastition does a great job on re-releasing those French cold wave bands. Still need to get a few of these.

frankie teardrop said...

i've been all about coldwave on Systems of Romance lately... let me know if there's any bands you want me to dig something up on. i need to pick up a lot of the reissues on Infrastition myself, but they're terribly expensive to import to the US.

otherwise- haven't heard this one, so hooray!

Anonymous said...

Hi Vincent!
Very glad you liked Trop Tard album, is a great collectible band..but as you said, their whole discography is almost impossible to find.

Greetings.

frankie teardrop said...

speaking of yr request list, i have that look back in anger caprice record uploaded here:

http://systemsofromance.blogspot.com/2007/11/look-back-in-anger.html

unless you're looking for the real thing, of course.

also, i have the entire opera de nuit discography (two singles + 1 lp, i believe) on my computer, will post on them soon, if you're interested!

Curious Guy said...

Very interested in the Opéra De Nuit. Never heard them but I'm curious.
About Look Back In Anger: it's the Caprice/Mannequin 7" I'm looking for. Posted the mini-album (with Flowers 12") myself sometime last year.

Anonymous said...

This was a good album, but.... the music could have definitely used a little more variation. Almost every track sounded just like the one before. This band definitely could play, but needed to break from the monotone. I heard about two different sounds in the whole 13 tracks.

soundhead said...

i love this...

thank you.

C B said...

Great stuff. Really like that circuitous guitar. Would love to hear more by this band.

Justin Vaccaro said...

this is fantastic and has been on heavy rotation ever since downloading it. thank you very much.

Anonymous said...

Does anyone have a lyric sheet that they could scan? Or if any one of you know the lyrics please post them!

Much appreciated, awesome album, thanks for the upload.

esedwards said...

I believe this download is not working properly. If you would repost it I would appreciate it.
I love this blog and thank you very much for putting the time and effort in.

Curious Guy said...

Yes you're right. Seems it would take more than 6 hours. I'll re-up soon!

Curious Guy said...

New link! Hope it goes well now. Enjoy.

Anonymous said...

merci, merci, merci. j'adorais ce groupe pendant mon adolescence.je cherchais à le réécouter depuis presque 16 ans. introuvable et collector.

Anonymous said...

Thanks! Nearly impossible to find.

Anonymous said...

TROP TARD info follow the link !!!
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=355432889

Anonymous said...

http://www.myspace.com/troptardsupportpage

Anonymous said...

Hello, I'm the builder of the Trop Tard myspace support page, I've some news, Philippe the bassist wants to release a posthumous Disc, enjoy!!!

Curious Guy said...

Hello Flo, great page you made and good news you bring. I'm in contact with Philippe as well :)

Anonymous said...

great :)

Anonymous said...

Reminds me a lot of Psychocandy era Jesus & Mary Chain

Anonymous said...

It's not really certain, but the release should take out in November on the Infrastition Label(Maybe you know ;))! And I put an interview for Photodrame K7 from Espoirs Ephémères fanzine (in french only:/) in pictures of the myspace page. Have a good Evening!

Flo.

Anonymous said...

;-(
Link is dosnt work

Curious Guy said...

New link. Enjoy!

Anonymous said...

SRY, but it still dosent work... ;o(

Curious Guy said...

It's a temporary problem. Check back a bit later.

Anonymous said...

Oh Jah! It works.... Thanx!

Anonymous said...

I'm really liking this a lot. Thank you for introducing me to this band.

KeithP said...

having quite a few issues getting this to unarchive

Curious Guy said...

Hi Keith, just downloaded and unarchived this file myself without any trouble. Don't know what could've gone wrong. Maybe try again?

frankie teardrop said...

hey curious guy,
do you have an email i can reach you at? looks like a friend of mine is planning a reissue of this record and is looking for high quality .wav files of this album. would you be able to supply them? i have a copy of the record sitting here myself, but it's got a bunch of crackle and pop on it!

let me know how to get in touch, or you can contact me at thespanglemaker@gmail.com. hope you can help!

Anonymous said...

if anyone's interested, there's a copy for sale on discogs:

http://www.discogs.com/Trop-Tard-Ils-Etaient-9-Dans-LObscurit%C3%A9/release/640594

Marian said...

Increible hombre!!!!
Muchas Gracias!!!!

Anonymous said...

my own vinyl rip (FLAC version)
cheers
v.v
http://viviane-morrison.tumblr.com/post/21205666018/trop-tard-ils-etaient-9-dans-lobscurite-vinyl-rip

Anonymous said...

Hi, now on CD in France ! ;o) Parzifal... http://www.infrastition.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=53&Itemid=1&lang=fr&vmcchk=1&Itemid=1

Curious Guy said...

I removed the link. People should buy a copy!