It’s tempting to call Adult. electroclash; the synth duo of Nicola Kuperus and Adam Lee Miller debuted in 1998, coinciding with the style’s peak, and they’ve collaborated with notable groups in the genre such as Fischerspooner and Ladytron. But while the Detroit-based husband-and-wife team share some traits with the genre—particularly the way they pair an […]
Tag: new wave
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A new retrospective brings Barbie Army back to the front lines
If it weren’t for YouTube algorithms, the music of Barbie Army might’ve vanished like dust in the wind. Like so many underground garage-rock bands, this Chicago group played live constantly but didn’t pay as much attention to releasing recordings—during their lifetime, from 1986 till 1991, they put out one self-titled, self-released seven-inch and a few […]
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Neo: where misfits fit in
In summer 1979, Suzanne Shelton hatched a dream to open a punk dance club. She had two priorities: it had to play lots of new wave, and it needed clean bathrooms. Shelton had been DJing at a failing Lincoln Park disco called Hoots, but she spent all her free nights at O’Banion’s, a run-down gay […]
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Farewell to unsung house-music architect Rodney Bakerr
Rodney Bakerr led early Wax Trax! group Strange Circuits, ran underground label Rockin’ House, and wrote ubiquitous house-music rhythm patterns for Roland.
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The B-52s gave Chicago one last gift at Riot Fest
Even if the B-52s really are retiring from the road, they’ve left a permanent mark on the city through their influence on house music.
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This week on FilmStruck: Deep in the heart of Texas
FilmStruck finds more than western films deep in the heart of Texas.
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The Pixies’ deflating Indie Cindy and 15 more record reviews
Future’s conscience-stricken coke rap and 15 more reviews of recent releases
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Ibn Inglor’s searing “Damaged”
The south-side MC’s newest track from his forthcoming New Wave 2 mixtape is an industrial rager shot through with loneliness.
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“Cathy Don’t Go”: A religious cult’s lost new-wave gem
Perhaps some jangly power pop will convince you that bar codes are evil.
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Nick Lowe’s Classic Labour of Lust Finally Available Again
Yep Roc reissues Nick Lowe’s classic Labour of Love, which has been unjustly out of print in the U.S. for more than two decades.
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Rock History Is Written by the Victors
Jackie Leven’s take on rock history from the losing side
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A Cult Artist’s Cult Artist
Who’s Jackie Leven? Ask Johnny Dowd, or Ron Sexsmith, or Pere Ubu’s David Thomas.
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Work for Love
Local duo Gatekeeper have infected me with their love for 80s digital synths, and that love has led me to this mix by Altair Nouveau.