Minimal Compact - Returning Wheel (Classics) [2003]

Get the MP3 album (-V2 VBR) at Mediafire.

Minimal Compact were one of those new wave/post-punk/experimental bands that nearly touched mainstream success. Unfortunately, due to internal struggles inside the band, coupled with their absence from a couple of crucial venues for promotion kept them from the top. The band members fled Israel for Amsterdam and Brussels due the mounting tensions from war. Nonetheless, they are still regarded as one of the most successful contemporary rock groups from Israel.

What you find here is self-described non-musicians (with the exception of Berry Sakharof, who was a professional guitarist) creating refreshingly honest dark and experimental music. You can read more about them at Trouserpress, Wikipedia, and SwimHQ.

The album featured here is Disc 1 (Classics) of their retrospective anthology called Returning Wheel. Most of their albums are hard-to-find, but this release is relatively easy to find. The rest of the box set contains remixes and rare demos. The remixes are considerably different from the original songs, so it's definitely a different animal compared to the first disc of the set. Read more and purchase the set in various formats at Crammed Discs.

Discogs Info

Tracks:

01. Dedicated (unreleased) (5:03) [YouTube clip]
02. Statik Dancin' (3:42)
03. Babylonian Tower (3:33)
04. Creation Is Perfect (I Am A Camera) (4:21)
05. Next One Is Real (3:47) [Disc O' Dell extended remix on YouTube]
06. Not Knowing (4:06)
07. New Clear Twist (4:49) [YouTube clip]
08. The Howling Hole (3:19)
09. Burnt-Out Hotel (3:56)
10. I Imagine (4:10)
11. Autumn Leaves (4:25) [YouTube clip]
12. Returning Wheel (4:30)
13. Disguise (4:44)
14. When I Go (3:16)
15. Piece Of Green (5:18)

Blaine L. Reininger and Michael Belfer - Night Air Plus (2002)

Night Air on Sharebee

Night Air follows Reininger's and Belfer's personal journeys stranded in one of Europe's capitals. This sentiment is best captured in Birthday Song, where Reininger sings "There's Nothing, Nobody Home / Nowhere to Go, Nowhere to See."

Reininger, along with his other American band mates in Tuxedomoon, fled San Francisco in search of the Europe they admired. Everything turned out differently from what they hoped: they found themselves stuck in gray Brussels with little money, erratic touring schedules, expired visas, and many drugs.

Dissatisfied with working conditions, Reininger shortly left Tuxedomoon. A fortunate encounter with old friend and musician Michael Belfer set Reininger to begin work on the next "solo" album. Together they weave a tense mixture of light and dark textures: glimmers of optimism poking through the loneliness and cynicism. Before everything becomes too serious, Reininger's characteristic humor highlights the absurdity of the situation. Its beautiful melodies and haunting imagery will accompany you after listening.

This reissue includes the epic Crash from Tuxedomoon's What Use? 7" single. It also includes an alternate mix by The Residents.

You owe it to yourself to hop on over to Blaine's excellent Mundo Blaineo site for all things Reininger and Tuxedomoon. Also, check out the video for "Mystery And Confusion" on YouTube.

Release Info

Label: Les Disques Du Crépuscule (Les Temps Modernes)
Release: 1983 (2002 remaster)
Type: Album
Genre: 80s, ambient, electronic, experimental, rock, new wave, synth-pop
Length: 44:11 (1:14:11)

Alain Goutier - Bass and fretless bass
Blaine L. Reininger - vocals, violins, keyboards, piano, percussion, lyrics
Michael Belfer - guitar, electric guitar, lyrics
Steven Brown - organ, saxophone, and synths
Winston Tong - Backing vocals on (2)
Marc Hollander - Clarinets on (5)

Realized 1983 at Daylight Recording Studios, Brussels.

Track Listing
01. Night Air (4:01)
02. Birthday Song (4:10)
03. Beak People (4:47)
04. Mystery And Confusion (4:15)
05. Intermission (2:06)
06. Ash And Bone (6:19)
07. L'Entree De L'Hierophante (3:26)
08. Un Café Au Lait For Mr. Mxyzptlk (5:22)
09. Miraculous Absence (3:47)
10. El Mensajero Divino (5:36)

2002 Remaster Bonus Tracks
11. Mystery And Confusion (7" Mix) (4:01)
12. Bizarre Bizarre (3:58)
13. Windy Outside (6:42)
14. Broken Fingers (4:57)
15. Crash (5:29)
16. Crash (Remix) (4:38) / Remix - The Residents

Bill Nelson's Red Noise - Sound On Sound (1979)

Eager Be Bop Deluxe fans following Bill Nelson after he left the group were in for a shock. Gone are the guitar-driven glam/progressive rock solos for robotic anthems dripping in dystopia and irony. The guitar never leaves completely, but it takes backseat to the gurgling and bleeping electronics, synth melodies, blaring sax, and frenzied drumming. You'll never have a dull moment with tracks packed to the brim with odd noises and catchy hooks. The album flies by and before you know it, those 39 minutes are over. Highly recommended if fast-paced new wave with punk leanings (e.g. early Devo and Ultravox!) is your thing.

Revolt into style with Sharebee.

As a bonus, here are the B-sides accompanying the album (vinyl rips only). They have more in common with Quit Dreaming and Love That Whirls than Sound On Sound, however.

Tracks:
01. Don't Touch Me (I'm Electric) (1:50)
02. For Young Moderns (4:24)
03. Stop / Go / Stop (3:09)
04. Furniture Music (3:30)
05. Radar In My Heart (1:36)
06. Stay Young (3:11)
07. Out Of Touch (3:29)
08. A Better Home In The Phantom Zone (4:26)
09. Substitute Flesh (3:28)
10. The Atom Age (3:01)
11. Art / Empire / Industry (2:44)
12. Revolt Into Style (3:23)

Bonus B-Sides
01. Acquitted By Mirrors (4:50)
02. Wonder Toys That Last Forever (3:55)

You may find more Bill Nelson (in his New Romantic phase and beyond) at LA FOLIE DU JOIR. (The Two-Fold Aspect Of Everything is a great out-of-print compilation that captures his '80s period following Sound on Sound.)

Also check out Bill Nelson's own official website. He rarely rests from creating new music, and churns out at least 3 albums per year of varying style (lately more jazz and ambient pieces).