Matador (Germany) 1982-1991

Matador was a female fronted German band founded in 1982 by Gudrun Gut, Manon P. Duursma of the cult band Malaria! and Beate Bartel of Liaisons Dangereuses. They spent the early years mostly focused on live performances and contributing to avante-garde films since all were still involved with their respective bands. In '87 they finally managed to put down some tracks and release A Touch Beyond Canned Love which is an intensive debut with just the right amount of experimentation and by far the darkest of their three albums. Songs like 'Komm' and 'Abortion' are ladened with sexy and icy vocals, booming thundering drums, bleak sampling and sequences and a haunted blaring Trumpet looped in the mix. You hear more of an influence from their previous bands in this first album which I think is far from a bad thing. Their second release Sun is steeped more so in a goth rock atmosphere with the use of more guitar and bass but still managing to use dark pop elements especially in their dooming but catchy version of 'Stop! in The Name of Love'. Then you have songs like 'Sun' that is just pure sexual black magic. Over all you can tell in this album the three stepped more out of their familiar elements they were use to in their previous bands and started to create more of a cohesive and specialized sound that is Matador. Their last and final release Écoute even though it was released in the 90's still managed to have that 80's feel with back to back tracks of gloomy and chilly synth pop which is most deliciously presented in the songs 'Memory' and 'Mother'. Matador was something that stood apart from the rest of the Trash Pop that was coming out in droves during this time in Europe. Their dark and unorthodox approach to pop and wave music kept them just under the radar, and sometimes that is not always a bad thing, music like this just doesn't burn and sizzle out it stays branded on the hearer and is easily not forgotten.

A Touch Beyond Canned Love (1987)

Komm

On The Boat

Abortion

Low

Release

Angel

Nite Time

You Made Me

Searose

 

Sun (1989)

Dancetrance

3 Coins

Hold Me

Smoke & Fire

Sun

Stop! In The Name Of Love

Red Light

The Man

Missing

Paradise

Écoute (1991) 

Pushing

Gumbo

Words

Frucht

Nobody Knows

Going Home

Tore Stadt

Schreiender Tag

Memory

Promise

Mother

Nan

Marilyn's Army - Golden Paradise (1990 ) Germany

This is the first full length from German band Marilyn's Army. I posted a few months back their first single ' Puppet's of a Broken Dream ', which had a bit more of a darker sound then this debut album. Some tracks on Golden Paradise tend to lean more on the indie pop side, which might turn a few people off but it is no reason to dismiss given it a listen, the self titled track alone is worth it ! Included in with the rip is scans of band info, history, and lyrics.

Short Romans - Short Romans 1987 (Germany)

To change it up a bit from The Sound and Adrian Borland bootlegs I've been posting lately. This is the second self-titled album from German band Short Romans. Their sound is guitar driven, dark and catchy as hell. At times yes, they sound a bit over-produced, perhaps even cliche!? Still... tracks like Linda and Jealous Way manage to lodge it's way deep into the inner recesses of the brain and you find yourself putting it on repeat... needless to say I absolutely Love these guys !

I'll be posting their 1st release 37 Guitars and more info about them shortly.

Will appeal to those who like Comsat Angels ,
early Marquee Moon, and Laughing House

www.short-romans.de/

Marilyn's Army - Puppet's Of a Broken Dream 7 " (Germany)

Sorry for being MIA for the past few months folks, had an incredibly busy summer with a new move and all the other lovely things life throws at you. But that all said.. I have a few new things to put up, the first being from an obscure band from Essen, Germany.

More info about them will be spread out over a few of my next posts, since I will be putting also up from them the very limited 'Golden Paradise'. Put out in 1989, The Puppet's of A Broken Dream 7" was limited to 507 copies, printed in 4 different colours or (I guess what was available at the copyshop) and each handfolded.
With tribal drumming and violins, Marilyn's Army proves to be some interesting goth fare .

You can also grab their full length Lp Golden Paradise here

Marilyn's Army at this time were :

*click to enlarge*

Puppet's of A Broken Dream 7"

Side A . Puppet's of A Broken Dream
Side B . Welcome to the Bitter Times

...A Fuzzed Out Horror A Go-Go !

The Famous Monsters

Were based in New Orleans an was an all girl surf-oriented garage rock outfit that played around with 50's-era horror movie themes. Consisted of Devil Doll, ex bassist of White Zombie Sean Yseult, Vampire Girl, Katielynn Campbell of Nashville Pussy and She-Zilla. Kitschy and overly campy, In The Night is filled with B horror maddening tunes to shake your booty to!

Famous Monsters - In The Night CD (1999)
+Estrus Records +


Murder Beach U.S.A.
In the Night!
Lone Wolf Massacree
Destroy Puny Earthlings!
Bloody Mary
Haunting of Planet Earth
Hairy Eyeball
Outerspace Deathrace #13
Satan Sends a Rat!
Vampire Cosmonaut
Oil Monstre, Oui
F Is for Fiend
Clock Strikes 10 *Cheap Trick Cover*
International Monster Presentation
When I Grow Up**The Groovie Goolies theme*

The Legendary Golden Vampires were based in Berlin, Germany and released at least two 12"s and a four song ep. A few of their songs appeared on compilations in the late 80s. A cross between X and The Cramps with a fuzzed-out 60s rave-up.

The Legendary Golden Vampires - Creeping Poison 7" (1985)
+Exile Records+

Creeping Poison
Rebel woman

White Rose Transmission 1995(Germany, UK)

White Rose Transmission started in 1995 as a collaboration between Carlo van putten (vocalist of The Convent and Dead Guitars) and Adrian Borland (The Sound). The name is inspired from two different things, the story of Hans and Sophie Scholl, two members of the german anti-nazi organisation "Die Weiße Rose" (The White Rose). They dropped anti-nazi propaganda flyers at several universities in Germany during the second world war. Both were executed by the nazi's. That's how the first part of the name came about. Secondly It was Borland's idea to add the word 'Transmission'.

"We keep transmitting; hope you are receiving".

Many other artist participated in the following albums including Mark Burgess (ex Chameleons,The Sun and The Moon, Bird) Amanda Palmer (Dresden Dolls) Marty Wilson Piper ( The Church, All About Eve) Yves Altana (guitarist for Bird and The Sons Of God). The first self-titled release is filled with back to back tracks where each one is stronger then the one that procedes it. The shining star of the album is 'Silver Age', where the vocals and orchestration omit a yearning and a suffering beauty all accompanied by incredible lyrics .

White Rose Transmission (1995) +Indigo+

Unkissable
Die Dunkle
In Your Hands
Sister Sweetness
Vapour
Street of Flowers
Allein
Thorn of a Rose
The Silver age
Indian Summer
The Hell Of It
Kugel der einsamkeit

Nichts 81-83 Germany (Reunited 2009)

Nichts

Nichts was one of this German Bands that came up just when this awful NDW (Neue deutsche Welle) was picking up momentum. Thanks to the fact that it was created by two Members of the legendary Punk Band KFC it was far from this Euro-Trash that floated around the Record-Stores around this time. Nichts may have borrowed a few things from what was going on in the music scene in Germany back then, but kept it’s Punk flavor.

Their first Demo Tape “Made in Eile” was picked up by the local Record-label “Schallmauer-Records”. It became a surprise success. After some ridicules controversy about releasing a single over CBS Records, they released their second album “Tango 2000” in 1982. The song “Tango 2000” became a huge hit, and is what the Band is most remembered for. This second album is still fun, but at least feels a lot closer to the dreaded NDW then their first one. After the release the base and the guitar player decided to leave the Band. In 1983 the Album “Aus dem Jenseits” was released, played by a new lineup.

In my opinion the very first Album/Demo Tape is still the best, it carries the strong punk vibe that seemed like a leftover from the KFC days.

If you are interested in German music that was sold under the Flag of NDW but in reality was a beast of it’s own, you should really give it at least a try.





01 Radio
02 Eingeschlossen
03 Hallo Kartoffelsalat
04 10 Bier zuviel
05 Allein zuhaus
06 Scheisse
07 Wer du bist
08 Made in Eile
09 Nichts

DOWNLOAD

In 2009 they reunited with a new lineup (yet again) and are playing gigs again. Hopefully with the same rough chaotic force they were famous for when they started in 1981.