THE DREAM ACADEMY - INDIAN SUMMER 12" (BLANCO Y NEGRO [NEG 27T], REPRISE RECORDS [920774-0], 1987) [ENG]

The Dream Academy - Indian Summer 12"

(Blanco Y Negro – [NEG 27T], Reprise Records – [920774-0], 1987) [ENG]

A 12" single from a group I admittedly know very little about, The Dream Academy, but the title track here is a catchy little summer tune.

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MR. OIZO - FLAT BEAT (REMIX) 12" (NO DISC [ND 199], 1999) [FRA]

Mr. Oizo - Flat Beat (Remix) 12"

(No Disc – [ND 199], 1999) [FRA]

A remix 12" single from Mr. Oizo for his single "Flat Beat." This time released on an Italian record label and featuring 3 remix versions. 

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THE JESUS & MARY CHAIN - BIRTHDAY / HIDE MYSELF 7" (SUB POP [SP434], 1998) [SCOT]

The Jesus & Mary Chain - Birthday / Hide Myself 7"

(Sub Pop – [SP434], 1998) [SCOT]

A mid career 7" single from Scotland's The Jesus & Mary Chain. Released in 1998 on Sub Pop Records, the first single for the Sub Pop Singles Club V.2 that ran from 1998-2002. 

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SUNNYCHAR - YOU'RE MY BATTERY 7" (SHREDDER [SHRED-25], 1994) [JP]

Sunnychar - You're My Battery 7"

(Shredder – [SHRED-25], 1994) [JP]

A 7" single from Japanese indie pop group Sunnychar. Released on USA label Shredder in 1994.

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THE APPLES IN STEREO & THE OLIVIA TREMOR CONTROL - SPLIT 7" (SMALL-FI [SMALL-FI#4], 1994) [USA]

The Apples in Stereo & The Olivia Tremor Control

Split 7"

(Small-Fi – [small-fi#4], 1994) [USA]

A lo-fi 7" single effort from two American bands: Denver, CO group The Apples in Stereo split with Atlanta, GA group The Olivia Tremor Control. Released in 1994 on the esoteric and short-lived lo-fi label Small-Fi.

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PROJEKT A-KO & HOROWITZ - SPLIT 7" EP TWELVE (FILTHY LITTLE ANGLES [FILTHY 012], 2008) [SCOT/ENG]

Projekt A-Ko & Horowitz - Split 7" EP Twelve

(Filthy Little Angels – [Filthy 012], 2008) [SCOT/ENG]

A split 7" between Scottish group Projekt A-Ko, featuring members of Urusei Yatsura in another band named after a Japanese anime. Also on the split is English group Horowitz which I know nothing about!

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THE AUTOMATICS - I WISH 7" (AMERICAN POP PROJECT [AMPOP 2], 1997) [JP]

The Automatics - I Wish 7"

(American Pop Project – [AmPOP 2], 1997) [JP]

A 7" single from Japanese indie pop / pop punk group The Automatics, with a lovely cover on the B-Side of a song originally by The Primitives, "Secrets".

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FIELDTREE - FLEAS IN HIS COLLAR 7" (WINTER RECORDS [WIN-3], 1996) [USA]

Fieldtree - Fleas In His Collar 7"

(Winter Records – [WIN-3], 1996) [USA]

A 7" single from Michigan emo group Fieldtree, released in 1996 on Winter Records out of Canada. Classic Michigan sound, in my opinion. The A-Side used to go on many mixtapes back in the day!

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KARIA NOMOTO & YASUHARU KONISHI - WORLD IS WAITING FOR US 4 7" (READYMADE INTERNATIONAL [RMEP-0001], 2002) [JP]

Karia Nomoto & Yasuharu Konishi - World Is Waiting For Us 4 7"

(Readymade International – [RMEP-0001], 2002) [JP]

Another, and the fourth in the series, of Japanese lounge downtempo artists in a sampler series. This time it's a 7" split between two Japanese artists and not a 12" sampler. The two artists are Karia Nomoto and Yasuharu Konishi. Released yet again on Readymade International Records in 2002.

LINK

VA - WORLD IS WAITING FOR US 3 12" (READYMADE INTERNATIONAL [RMLP-0003], 2002) [JP]

VA - World Is Waiting For Us 3 12"

(Readymade International – [RMLP-0003], 2002) [JP]

The third  (and not yet final) 12" sampler from the 'World Is Waiting For Us' series from Readymade International records, yet again released in 2002 in Japan.

01. Konishi Yasuharu - The Spellbinder

02. Konishi Yasuharu - Floral Street Scene

03. Sunaga T Experience - Istonichcoff-Variation

LINK

VA - WORLD IS WAITING FOR US 2 12" (READYMADE INTERNATIONAL [RMLP-0002], 2002) [JP]

VA - World Is Waiting For Us 2 12"

(Readymade International – [RMLP-0002], 2002) [JP]

The second 12" sampler from the 'World Is Waiting For Us' series from Readymade International records, also released in 2002 and featuring Mansfield (again) with Sunaga T Experience.

01. Sunaga T Experience - Theme From "THE RECORD BUNCH"

02. Mansfield - Style Pt. 1

03. Mansfield - Style Pt. 2

LINK

VA - WORLD IS WAITING FOR US 1 12" (READYMADE INTERNATIONAL [RMLP-0001], 2002) [JP]

VA - World Is Waiting For Us 1 12"

(Readymade International – [RMLP-0001], 2002) [JP]

The first release in a multi-part compilation series from Readymade International records. Released in 2002 and featuring kind of jazzy or lounge sounding groups. Most of the groups are from Japan, but The Gentle People, is made up of members from the UK, USA, and FRA.

01. Mansfield - Take On Me [a-ha cover]

02. Mansfield - Portobello Samba

03. The Gentle People - I Love The Gentle People

04. Konishi Yasuharu - A Tribute To Simon Harris

LINK

MOUSEFOLK - HAZY TAMBOURINE DAYS 7" (TEA TIME RECORDS [SURF'S UP 02], 1988) [ENG]

Mousefolk - Hazy Tambourine Days 7"

(Tea Time Records – [surf's up 02], 1988) [ENG]

A 7" single from Bristol, England indie pop group Mousefolk released in 1988 on Tea Time Records. They had released a similarly named cassette tape album the same year with these four songs plus some live recordings. Not included here on this single.

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CATHEDRAL - STATIK MAJIK CDEP (EARACHE [MOSH106CD], 1994) [ENG]

Cathedral - Statik Majik CDEP

(Earache – [MOSH106CD], 1994) [ENG]

It's been a minute since I've posted any metal music, and this one hits heavy. A mid-90s CDEP release. from English doom/stoner metal group Cathedral. Awesome art, awesome sound. Lengthy 20+ track to close this one out, that I listen through every time regardless of how long it is. I love the difference of the opening track kind of sounding like disco-metal, and the other tracks sounding like straight doom.

LINK

THE WEDDING PRESENT - POURQUOI ES TU DEVENUE SI RAISONNABLE? 7" (RECEPTION [REC 011F], 1988) [ENG]

The Wedding Present - Pourquoi Es Tu Devenue Si Raisonnable? 7"

(Reception ‎– [REC 011F], 1988) [ENG]

Yet another 7" single release from prolific band The Wedding Present. This one is cool in that it features their popular song 'Why Are You Being So Reasonable?' sung in French! As well as an acoustic song on the B-Side.

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THE WEDDING PRESENT - YOU SHOULD ALWAYS KEEP IN TOUCH WITH YOUR FRIENDS 7" (RECEPTION [REC 003], 1986) [ENG]

The Wedding Present - You Should Always Keep In Touch With Your Friends 7"

(Reception ‎– [REC 003], 1986) [ENG]

A very early 7" single release from English group The Wedding Present, released in 1986 on Reception. 

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THE WEDDING PRESENT - KENNEDY 12" (RCA [PT43118], 1988) [ENG]

The Wedding Present - Kennedy 12"

(RCA – [PT43118], 1989) [ENG]

A 12" single from Leeds, England indie group The Wedding Present, released in 1989 on RCA. Awkward Tom Jones cover on the B-Side.

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FANTASTIC PLASTIC MACHINE - LOVE IS PSYCHEDELIC 12" (PURPLE TRACKS [PT 015], 2001) [JP]

Fantastic Plastic Machine - Love Is Psychedelic 12"

(Purple Tracks – [PT 015], 2001) [JP]

A rare 12" single from Japanese group/artist Fantastic Plastic Machine [FPM], released in 2001 on Swiss label Purple Tracks. The "Full Spoken Mix" remix by Christopher "Bob Sinclar" LeFriant is inspired by Tender Aggression ’s “Blackjack” from “Fly Disco Fly” LP on Morningstar Records released in 1976.

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MOGWAI & MAGOO - SPLIT 7" (FIERCE PANDA [NING 47], 1998) [SCOT/ENG]

Mogwai & Magoo - Split 7"

(Fierce Panda – [NING 47], 1998) [SCOT/ENG]

A split 7" between Mogwai, of Scotland, and Magoo, of England, each doing a cover song of Black Sabbath with unique and interesting takes. 

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URUSEI YATSURA & THE DELGADOS - STOLEN ECTASY 45 CHAPTER THREE - SPLIT 7" (100 GUITAR MANIA RECORDS [100GM-18], 1995) [SCOT]

Urusei Yatsura & The Delgados

Stolen Ecstasy 45 Chapter Three - Split 7"

(100 Guitar Mania Records [100GM-18], 1995) [SCOT]

Split 7" on red vinyl from the Japanese label 100 Guitar Mania Records between two Scottish bands; Urusei Yatsura & The Delgados. The third chapter as part of the label's Stolen Ecstasy 45 Series, that always features international groups paired together. Happy valentine's day!!

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POPSICLE - HISTRIONICS CDEP (TELEGRAM RECORDS STOCKHOLM [YZ943CD], 1995) [SWE]

Popsicle - Histrionics CDEP 

(Telegram Records Stockholm – [YZ943CD], 1995) [SWE]

Another Swedish band, this time Popsicle, with a CDEP released in 1995. This didn't strike a chord immediately -- but after some listening it definitely has grown on me. I'm hard pressed to find many Swedish groups who sing in their native language -- but I love them just the same because their handling and mastery of the English language is to be applauded and they write and create some brilliant songs. And it's not even in their native language!!

LINK

THE PALE FOUNTAINS - (THERE'S ALWAYS) SOMETHING ON MY MIND 7" (OPERATION TWILIGHT [OPT 009], 1982) [ENG]

The Pale Fountains - (There's Always) Something On My Mind 7"

(Operation Twilight – [OPT 009], 1982) [ENG]

The seminal first 7" single from English indie pop group The Pale Fountains released in summer of 1982 on Operation Twilight.

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THE PALE FOUNTAINS - THANK YOU 7" (VIRGIN [VS557], 1982) [ENG]

The Pale Fountains - Thank You 7"

(Virgin – [VS557], 1982) [ENG]

The second 7" single released from Liverpool, England group The Pale Fountains, released in 1982 on Virgin Records. What some would call 'indie pop' and the Japanese would call 'neo-acoustic.'

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