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)

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).