A.T.R.O.X. - Water Tales LP

I must admit that my knowledge of Italian postpunk/wave is quite limited. Too bad there's no site dedicated to it like the French New Wave one.
A.T.R.O.X. was one of those bands that always intrigued me but info is very scarce. Once read they were 'Tuxedomoon-like'. Not that A.T.R.O.X. are Tuxedomoon copyists, it's more a matter of musical approach. It's the atmosphere of the songs that make this album a fine listen. Actually you can't compare A.T.R.O.X. with anything else. 'From The Highest Rock' is the hardest track on it especially of the use of some guitar-like sound in overdrive. The B-side has some shorter instrumentals.
'Water Tales' is the band's second album. Both their records aren't easy to find these days although this one shows up for sale more than the first one. It was released on the bigger Italian indie label Contempo. The first one 'The Night's Remains' was released on the small label Trinciato Forte. Couldn't find a copy yet but I would really like to hear it. You could make me happy with a decent rip of it. I also want to hear how the band evolved from their early stuff to this one.
As stated on the back sleeve: this album collects some tales that might suggest you about the future effects of the famous mixture of hydrogenum and oxygene.

Water Tales LP (Contempo-L.P. 001-1984)
1. Overture To The Tales
2. Overflow Me
3. From The Highest Rock
4. The Warm Current
5. In The Playtime
6. Frosting Of Cloudless Nights
7. At The Surface
8. The Journey
9. Time Is Like A Whale
10. To The Nile's Delta

Link removed. Buy the 2CD on Spittle.

I Spartacus - Crank 12"

This is probably my first Australian post here.
I Spartacus was recommended to me by a few people and it's indeed a great record. Strongly influenced by the dark UK goth sound.
The 'Crank' 12" was released by the band in 1988. But they already existed as Dog For Jonathon, later I'm Spartacus, already from the early 80's. Their first release as I'm Spartacus is the 'Donna Is Distressed' 7" from 1983.
After the 'Crank' 12" followed the 'The Greats' LP. Never heard this one but they were going for a more mainstream approach I was told, although still an enjoyable listen.
For those interested in the history of band, should check this page here.


Crank 12" (No Label-1988)
1. Prelude To The Greats
2. Paramount
3. In Rome Like Chicago
4. It Never Can Happen Again
5. This Love Alive
6. The Sound Barrier

File was corrupt. Here's a new link:

I Spartacus

Bed Of Nails - Prey Upon The Wheel 12"

Well let's make Fritz happy with this one.
Bed Of Nails were from Minneapolis and only released this 12". It's late 80's indie/goth rock with an extra role for the violin. Also has female vocals. She's called Data and also plays keyboards and acoustic guitar.
No further info to be found on Bed Of Nails.

Prey Upon The Wheel 12" (Vore Productions-VRR 8801-1988)
1. Islam
2. Girls
3. Alex
4. Denium Tribe

Bed Of Nails

A Modest Proposal - s/t LP

Thanks to Capa Nostra Syndicate for letting me post this record that I wanted to hear for a long time. Never heard it before but I was intrigued because it's on the Rosebud label of Mekanik Kommando after they were dropped from Wereld Record (an EMI sublabel).
It didn't disappoint me listening to this one. Great electronic, sometimes experimental wave with female vocals.
Keyboardplayer Bert Van De Grift later active in many other electronic/techno acts. He passed away in 2005, aged 41.
Only 500 pressed, fetching over 100 euro on eBay. Hopefully it gets reissued one day.

This is a high quality rip (320) including front & back sleeve scans.

A Modest Proposal LP (Rosebud-RBD 0100-1986)
1. Ite Missa Est
2. Hamna
3. The Experience Of Falling
4. Rain Disturbs
5. New Way Out
6. The Clearing
7. Shed But Not Wasted
8. Love Mania

A Modest Proposal (Mediafire)

A Modest Proposal (Rapidshare)

Surface Mutants - Anaesthetic 7"

Here's the first release of the Surface Mutants, a not so wellknown band out of Sheffield.
They can be compared to Clock DVA or Cabaret Voltaire, although a bit less experimental.
First time I heard them through the Fantod Under Glass blog, who posted the 'You Take Me Somewhere Strange' 12" which is the band's second release.
To complete the discography, Surface Mutants also appeared on the 'Four From The Floor' comp. 7", together with Hula, Bass Tone Trap and They Must Be Russians. Check also other posts on this recently discovered and interesting blog No Recordshops Left.
So for those with a strong interest in the early 80's Sheffield bands a definitely must!

Anaesthetic 7" (Clönic-CLÖNIC 1-1982)
1. Anaesthetic
2. When Are We? (Now We Are)

Surface Mutants

Secret Troop - Frequency 7" / Junction 16 EP 12"

Here's the other band besides Ides Of March ( posted a while ago) that released a record on the small RS Records label.
The 'Junction 16 EP' is the first release on that label. Prior to this one, Secret Troop did a self-released 7" 'Frequency'. This one came without a sleeve.
That's all I know about the band. Nothing spectacular but good enough to check out.

Frequency 7" (no label-SRT5KS471-1985)
1. Frequency
2. Secret Troop


Junction 16 EP 12" (RS Records-RSAT 1-1985)
1. Waiting For A Call
2. Concrete Garden
3. Situation Red

Secret Troop

The Poors Of Reign - Cherish/Ordinary 7"

Very first release of this Manchester postpunk/indie band.
Can't find a lot of info on the net. Seems that they were active until the early 90's with other records released that I never heard (as Poors Of Reign). This includes the 'Plenty' mini-album, 'Soundtrack Of The Film' 12", 'Weird Scenes Inside The Cyprus' 12" and the 'Wrecked' LP.
I like this one 'cos it has a bit of Echo & The Bunnymen in the sound.
Chris Yates (trumpet & vocals) is now a painter and part of the Stuckist movement. He also did the cover artwork of all their records (except this one I guess).

Cherish/Ordinary 7" (Lo-Type Records-LYT001-1986)
1. Cherish
2. Ordinary

The Poors Of Reign

Haunted Staircase - "Flutters" 7"

Another obscure gem from the UK. Don't know when this 7" was released but I guess mid-80's.
Haunted Staircase claim this single as a homage to Hitchcock as they use the cut-up technique used by Hitchcock in his films.
They also wanted to create a new kind of love song as well as a new kind of dance music. There's a manifesto that accompanies this 7" which I scanned and included in the file.
Actually it's quite nice synthpop with a cabaret-like feel.

"Flutters" 7" (Rabbit Records Ltd-STEW 101-198?)
1. Flutters (A New Kind Of Love Song)
2. Something For The Children (A New Kind Of Lullaby)

Haunted Staircase