V/A – The Minimal Wave Tapes Vol.1 (2010) [Stones Throw] // Grade: B+

This 14 track compilation is brought to you courtesy of Peanut Butter Wolf of Stones Throw and Veronica Vasicka of Minimal Wave Records. Odd combo I know, but Stone’s Throw and Peanut Butter Wolf in particular have always been very eclectic in their musical interests and pursuits. Given the transformation and embrace of synthpop that Hip Hop is seeing recently (thanks to the likes of Kanye and Kid Cudi), is a Hip Hop label putting out a compilation of mostly ignored and forgotten synth music all that odd anymore?  Maybe if this was came out in ’07 or ’08, but in 2010, especially when it’s Stone’s Throw, I just don’t think so.

Made up mostly from tracks from some of the lesser known bands of cold wave and minimal electro heydays of the early to mid 80s. Minimal Wave has done all the dirty work in tracking down these bands and their albums so you don’t have to. Most of the releases on this particular compilation and in Minimal Waves discography where self released in small numbers by the bands themselves and were only able to reach a small amount of people already in a very niche based music genre. There was no Pitchfork or Myspace to launch bands from local openers to rock stars in the matter of a week in 1981 and frankly many of the early Wave artists just weren’t the sort of bands built for larger audiences.

Of course there are those out there to whom some of these bands or even the whole Cold Wave, Dark Wave and Minimal Wave of synthpop is old hat (for which Veronica Vasicka deserves a lot of credit for). But in general this is still very much a small niche scene within an already small scene. What this compilation serves to do (and does really well) is broadening the reach and exposure of not really any of these bands, but the movement they took part in decades ago. The timing is perfect also since it seems a good chunk of the music media and all-around music fan is not only receptive towards this sort of exotic synthpop, but hungry to hear and learn about more of it. For instance, when listening to tracks like “Blurred” by short lived trio Turqoise Days your avid music blog reader in 2010 will get a very clear picture of where a band like Cold Cave have taken their cues from.

All of the albums 14 tracks are dark and danceable with some songs being little more then a sequence of bleeps and bloops with a vocal track like “Flying Turns” by Crash Course in Science to full on 80s New Wave jams like “Radiance” by Oppenheimer Analysis (a UK based duo that was initially only around for 2 years from ’82-’84 before reforming in 2006). The Minimal Wave Tapes Vol. 1 really help to connect the dots from the past to the present all while sounding pretty futuristic. It’s a dual snapshot of a bygone era and how the present is suddenly and strongly feeling it’s influence.

My only complaint was with a few of the song selections. I couldn’t help but feel that some of the less exciting songs such as “Mickey Please” by Bene Gesserit could have been swapped out for another from the vast Minimal Waves catalog…but now I’m just being picky as someone who has spent the past few years really digesting and loving this sort of stuff. Those of you with fresh ears will assuredly find a whole lot to like here, especially if you’ve been listening closely to bands like SALEM, Cold Cave and even Blessure Grave.

- Banana Wintour