Minimal Wave

V/A The Minimal Wave Tapes CD/2LP/Digital

Minimal Wave: both a genre of underground DIY electronic music from North America and Europe in the late 1970s and 80s, and the name of the label devoted to unearthing these recordings. The Minimal Wave Tapes is the first official anthology (on CD, LP and digital) of Minimal Wave music from this label. Most of the songs were originally released on limited edition cassettes or vinyl by the artists themselves, and only a handful of people knew about them. They’ve been remastered from their analog source tapes and compiled here by Minimal Wave's Veronica Vasicka and Stones Throw's Peanut Butter Wolf. The double LP version is now exclusively available via Stones Throw and Minimal Wave. Purchase it here. Now available on CD. Release date world: January 26, 2010.

MW021 In Aeternam Vale - s/t LP

And finally, the fourth release in our series to celebrate Minimal Wave's 4 Year Anniversary is a full length album by cult French band In Aeternam Vale. Having made over 200 recordings, I.A.V. were one of the most prolific bands of the French underground scene. Headed by Laurent Prot and featuring Pascal Aubert, the band released many cassettes illustrated with Laurent's wonderful collage work. Their sound is extremely original, overflowing with character, and crossing between genres: electro, minimal, noise, and even garage. "With the passing of time, In Aeternam Vale's work remains astonishingly powerful, cold and caustic with its uncompromising minimalism, but also provocative and capable to smash your ass on the dance-floor"(-Douche Froide Magazine, 2002). The record is pressed on 180 gram clear vinyl and comes in a heavyweight matte jacket with cover artwork by Laurent. Check the sound samples and images here. Purchase it here.

MW020 Turquoise Days - Alternative Strategies

Minimal Wave presents a full length album by synthpop band Turquoise Days. Hailing from Jersey, Channel Islands, Turquoise Days was formed in 1981 by Luciano Brambilla and David Le Breton. Throughout the 1980s, they self-released many cassettes, as well as the renowned masterpiece Grey Skies / Blurred 7". They were selected for the Radio Luxembourg song contest in 1985 and received press for their releases and appearance there. Their music can be described as melodic, emotive new wave. Watch their Channel TV appearance here. The record is pressed on 180 gram white vinyl and comes in a matte heavyweight jacket designed by Phil Yamada accompanied by a matching poster. Check the sound samples and images here. Purchase this release here.

MW019 Das Ding - H.S.T.A. LP

Minimal Wave presents a full length album by Dutch electro pioneer, Das Ding. Das Ding is Danny Bosten, who was active in the early 1980s releasing his music and friends’ music via his own cassette label called Tear Apart Tapes. While studying graphic design in art school, he designed all the tape covers himself. Meanwhile, he recorded his own music as Das Ding. Powerful dark electro, some tracks are quite addictive and danceable while others are more for at home listening enjoyment. The dancefloor killer is somewhere between Reassurance Ritual and H.S.T.A. The record features lovingly remastered tracks, and is pressed on 180 gram vinyl with a printed inner sleeve featuring Danny's drawings. Click here for images and samples. Purchase this release here.

MW018 Circuit 7 - Video Boys LP

Minimal Wave presents a full length LP by UK band Circuit 7. Circuit 7 is Martyn Good and Andy Partington who made essential new wave, releasing two 7" singles in 1984, Video Boys and Modern Story followed by the release of two songs on a highly sought after compilation called The Offering Of Isca .
The LP features both previously released and unreleased tracks (including the single version of Video Boys as well as an unreleased studio version), is pressed on neon green 180 gram vinyl and comes in an inner sleeve printed with all their lyrics as well as a heavy weight outer jacket.
Check out the Video Boys single here, and their band photos here.
Click here for images and sound samples. Purchase this release here.

MW017 Moderne - 017 (double LP+poster)

Out now: A limited edition double 180 gram vinyl LP release of Moderne's: Moderne (1980) & L'Espionne Aimait La Musique (1981), remastered from the original analog reels and housed in a matte laminate gatefold jacket with an 18"x"24" poster featuring an interview, and band photo.
Moderne was a minimal/synthpop band formed in Tours, France in 1979. After releasing two albums & two singles between 1980-1981, nothing was heard from Moderne aside from "Switch on Bach" (released on the compilation So Young But So Cold). Moderne remains notoriously hidden in the past, and their albums and singles have become collectors' items. The albums were mixed by Joschko Rudas and Henning Schmitz at Studio Rudas Düsseldorf, the same studio Kraftwerk used for Man Machine (1978). The production is exceptional. This is French new wave at its best. Check the image samples here: front, inside, and back. Purchase the release here. (Order direct and receive a free CD version of the release!).

MW016 Bal Paré 4 song 7" EP

Out now! Minimal Wave presents a 4 song 7" EP by legendary German band Bal Paré. The band was formed in 1980 by Kirsten Klemm, Manfred Asmus and Matthias Schuster. Schuster, the brainchild behind the band, is also known for these projects: Geisterfahrer, Im Namen Des Volkes, Jeanette Und Das Land Z, and Das Institut.
The four songs were recorded between 1981-1984 and are all previously unreleased. The songs range from really original, danceable dark synth with an early industrial feel to warmer synth pop, the last song featuring Kirsten on vocals. On colored vinyl with a hand silk screened heavy card stock jacket, a beautiful release, limited to 600 numbered copies. Special thanks to Kristamas Klousch for the cover photo!
Check the sound samples and images here. Buy the 7" here.

Maskindans & 2VM now available

MW is happy to announce that we're carrying the 1st release from Hommage Records in Norway: Maskindans - a double CD exploring the electronic post punk of Norway in the 1980s. Tracks from Tromsø up North to Arendal in the South, tracks recorded as early as 1980 and up to 1988, tracks shorter than two minutes and longer than six, spanning dark wave, avant garde, synth pop and most genres in between; songs that were hits on Norwegian radio and songs that have been totally obscure for 20 years or more. Maskindans is an impressively broad and thorough presentation of the finest Norwegian '80s electronics. Two digipacks, 41 songs, and extensive booklet, all in slipcase! Limited quantity available, buy it here. Also added to our catalog, the last copies of 2VM's first 7" released on Genetic Music in Germany. Buy it here.

MW015 Stereo - Somewhere In The Night LP / CD

Out now, Minimal Wave's 15th release is an LP by Stereo called Somewhere In The Night. The LP brings together the French band's best material recorded between 1982-1985, including the cult songs Somewhere In The Night and No More. The release is also available on CD, both formats are limited edition. The LP comes with a printed insert of photos and the CD comes with a mini poster. They both include full versions of each song, as well as an unreleased track from 1985 : Lover On the Run.

For a preview of what the release sounds like, check out the archived East Village Radio interview here. Also listen to No More, here.
For notification about the availability of our releases, please subscribe to our newsletter. Purchase this release here. Read a review here.

MW014 Sudeten Creche - Are Kisses Out Of Fashion EP

In late January, Minimal Wave will be proud to present a 12" EP by UK band, Sudeten Creche. The EP includes their cult song Are Kisses Out Of Fashion? (originally released on the 1982 compilation EP Europe in the Year Zero ), as well as an unreleased version of Kindergarten (the original version was released on Illuminated Records in 1983). The songs are from their original tape reels, and they're pure electropop bliss.

For more information on Sudeten Creche, read our published interview here. Also check out their last release on Anna Logue. Upcoming release is pressed on 180 gram vinyl, hand-numbered and limited to 500 copies. Purchase it here. Note: record won't be available until Jan 30.