The Minimal Wave Tapes

This came out like 2 years ago. It was on my radar, I saw it on the wall at record shops, and it definitely caught my eye (how could it not with that cover?! that typeface?!!) but the blurb of weirdo 80's synth music didn't really get me excited.

The short version, I gather, is a label "Minimal Wave" started putting our these reissues in 2005 of obscure, private label 80's synth gems from around the globe. Stones Throw made a comp and released it a few years ago.

When I saw that Stones Throw announced that Vol 2 is on the way I thought I'd see if I could finally check Vol 1 via Spotify. It's there, and it's dope!

I see it kind of like Numero Group is to funk/soul or Iron Leg blog is to psych/garage... extracting gems from the deep deep underground and sharing to the masses. Except here, instead of funk or psych, it's early Depeche Mode-esque "Sprockets" synths and drum machines. And similar to Iron Leg, a lot of it is so bad that it comes full circle and it's awesome. Also reminds me of the "In The Beginning There Was Rhythm" comp on Soul Jazz, if you feel that.

Check it out (if you haven't already) if anything here sets off your Spidey Sense. I've been doing the robot for three days.

dc