Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Oppenheimer Analysis


Oppenheimer Analysis is a Cold Wave duo consisting of weapons of mass destruction expert Andy Oppenheimer and Brighton musician Martin Lloyd.

Thus far they've produced only two sets of tracks: the New Mexico sessions from 1982, and the Der Wissenschaftler sessions from 2005. Their discography is rather short:
  • 1982 Andie Oppenheimer - demo tape
  • 1982 Andie Oppenheimer - New Mexico tape
  • 2005 Oppenheimer Analysis - New Mexico reissue on private CDR
  • 2005 Oppenheimer Analysis - s/t 12" of 4 tracks from New Mexico (500 numbered copies)
  • 2005 Oppenheimer Analysis - Songs From The Atomic Age compilation of tracks from New Mexico + unreleased '82 material
  • 2005 Oppenheimer Analysis - Der Wissenschaftler EP 4 new tracks + 2 remixes thereof
  • 2007 Oppenheimer Analysis - 2005 s/t 12" repress (500 numbered copies)
In both sessions, Andy Oppenheimer's disaffected, feminine vocals are reminiscent of those of Jenny "Looking From A Hilltop" Ross, perhaps with a hint of Neil Tennant and Alison Moyet. They fit neatly into the bed of transportive electro-disco pop supplied by Lloyd. The overall sound is moody early/mid-'80s in the style of early Pet Shop Boys, if PSB had only been a bit more like Yazoo, but bleak. It's very white, but steers clear of the excesses and clichés that dominated the latter half of the decade. A nice find.

Full track: Oppenheimer Analysis - The Devil's Dancers (Dance With Us)

The 2005 material sounds new but surprisingly recaptures the essence of the original sessions. One track, however, is dressed with a buzzy, inauthentic lead synth, the kind that has been an electroclash staple since the late '90s and really can't die soon enough.

Clips (direct MP3 links):

1. The Devil's Dancers (Dance With Us)
2. Radiance
3. Men In White Coats
4. from the 2005 sessions, Science

In 1981, an instrumental single was released by Martin Lloyd with Paul Ashley, under the name Analysis. It, too, is a lost gem for the retro synth heads. The two tracks from the 7" ("Surface Tension" and "Connect") can be heard on Lloyd's MySpace.

Monday, May 12, 2008

Moebius - "Urth"

Atlanteans, Lumanians, Lemurians, Welcome to Earth!

This is the first post in Hooked On Stereophonics, a music blog.


Moebius - "Urth": I was turned on to this over-the-top, vocal/vocoded synth disco track when I heard it in a Beppe Loda DJ mix on the Cosmic Disco and Beats In Space sites, but I had a hard time finding out the name of the song by Googling for the lyrics. To help other people who might find themselves in the same boat, I'm posting the lyrics here.

The song is apparently about ancient, lost, legendary civilizations of spacefaring superhumans returning to Earth. It was released on the group's self-titled album in Canada in 1979. The album was released 2 years later in Germany with the title Mirror Of Infinity. It's long out of print, of course.

In February 2008, Mutant Sounds made a post about the album which pointed to a place where you can download a rip of the whole thing (as MP3s in a .rar, hosted on RapidShare). The post attracted the attention of surviving band member Doug Lynner, who apparently is cool with it, although he'd like you to buy his recent album to show your support. The other band member, Bryce Robbley, is no longer living.

Anyway, to download "Urth", just get the whole album via the Mutant Sounds post. It includes "Urth" and their hit version of "Light My Fire", as well as some not-so-great tracks.

Welcome to Urth
Home of our birth
Welcome to home
We're not alone
Welcome to Urth
Home of our birth
Welcome to home
We're on our own

Lumanian
Woman and man
Children to be
Children of g
Supermen know
Super ego
Atlantean
Catch as catch can

Welcome to Urth
Home of our birth
Welcome to home
We're on our own
Welcome to Urth
Home of our birth
Welcome to home
We're not alone

Welcome to Urth
Home of our birth
Welcome to home
We're in the zone
Welcome to Urth
Home of our birth
Welcome to home
We're not alone

Lemurian
Lend me your hand
I am the moon
Welcome to you
Now that we're here
No need to fear
We hold the key
Be what will be

Welcome to Urth
Home of our birth
Welcome back home
We're in the zone
Welcome to Urth
Home of our birth
Welcome to home