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information society - new wave's last gasp?

PostPosted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 9:55 am
by bpdp3
ok, maybe that's a bit extreme, but something drove me to play their debut tonight and it still sounds amazing to me. They were ON to something. All the songs have something aurally-worthwhile in them. The keyboards are right up your alley, trust me.

Sure it's kinda pop-fluff. But if you don't have a place in your heart for pop-fluff, you have no business being here, dammit!!

The 1988 release date is obviously well past new wave's prime but this still has the same flavor to me, albeit with updated (for the time) drum machines and sampling/sounds. If you remember the video for 'what's on your mind' they were a quirky-looking group, could have easily have been from 6 years earlier.

By the way, I remember a thread a while back about what was the 'last true new wave album' and alot of people responded the When in Rome lp. I just pulled it out and was surprised to find it had an '88 release date as well. (17 years ago....ouch.)

PostPosted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 10:21 am
by Frau_Blucher
New Order's 2005 Waiting For the Sirens Call isn't bad either. [:D][:o)]

PostPosted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 10:58 am
by MARV
[quote][i]Originally posted by Blir[/i]
<br>New Order's 2005 Waiting For the Sirens Call isn't bad either. [:D][:o)][/quote]

Ahem, Depecehe Mode's Playing the Angel [:p]

Info. Soc. were definitely on to something. I remember playing that when I worked in the mall around '88-'89. People dug it, without question.

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PostPosted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 11:20 am
by Frau_Blucher
[quote][i]Originally posted by marvymarv[/i]
<br>Ahem, Depecehe Mode's Playing the Angel [:p]
[/quote]
Heh, nice. [;)]

In that case I'll also cast votes for Heaven 17's Before After, Echo & the Bunnymen's Siberia, and Simple Minds' Black & White 050505. What last gasp?!!!


PS. Sorry to be OT bpdp3. I think you're right, Info Society, When in Rome, The Church, etc all had late great "last gasp" type efforts that were great. But my point really indeed is that there's plenty of breath still left!

PostPosted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 11:33 am
by 2Nu
<br><span style='width:30%; text-align: center; font-size: 20px; font-weight: bold; font-family: moderne MS; color: black; background-color: ;'>(((((Pure Energy)))))</span>

<IMG SRC="http://www.thewarpcore.com/db/crew/tos/spock/spock-027.jpg">

<IMG SRC="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/richp62/Icons%20Avatars/inot.gif">

PostPosted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 11:42 am
by MARV
Midnight Oil also had a strong presence during this time.

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PostPosted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 1:44 pm
by LovePlusOne
[quote][i]Originally posted by marvymarv[/i]
<br>[quote][i]Originally posted by Blir[/i]
<br>New Order's 2005 Waiting For the Sirens Call isn't bad either. [:D][:o)][/quote]

Ahem, Depecehe Mode's Playing the Angel [:p]

Info. Soc. were definitely on to something. I remember playing that when I worked in the mall around '88-'89. People dug it, without question.

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[/quote]

Two albums right there that are proof positive that, when made well, synthasized rock music can be relevant even 20 years after the so-called hey day of New Wave.

I'm so glad with Angel DM has maintained their continuity, and not abandoned their roots like some of the bands and artists mentioned on this board before.

PostPosted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 7:29 pm
by bpdp3
I was thinking "new artists as a last gasp of the original era" when I originally posted....Info Soc also had that "one-hit wonder/two or three albums at best" inherent in many of the bands from the original era.

If there's two schools on this board: those who think new wave had a temporal constraint (ie - ended at some point) or those who think it never ever ended, I'm in the former. But of course good music that appeals to us never ended.

Your point's well taken Blir, marvy, Loveplus, certainly OUR 'warhorses' like New Order, Depeche, Cure etc continued to put out significant stuff through the 90's and even now. I was thinking more of debut releases by a new band continuing the tradition. (anyone who hasn't should look at the '90's music for 80's people' thread on 'Genres and Styles' board; it's quite good).

If anything new wave's actually had a resurgance - - it's been relatively 'cool' to have a 'new wave influence' to your band for the last 5 years or so, no questioning that. Seeing that 15-yr-old kid in the X "Los Angeles" t-shirt at the mall tells it all; all truths in america will be told in the foodcourt of your local mall.....

PostPosted: Thu Nov 17, 2005 2:55 am
by birdmadgirl
Funny you posted this ...

I found their debut (well, I thought it was their only album) for $3 bucks in a used CD bin over the weekend. It's been in steady rotation this week in the car. They're one of those bands that I liked a long time ago and just forgot about.

I think the album actually is really good. Sure, it's fluffy and sort of silly and cheesy--but in a good way. It doesn't sound really *as* dated to me like some of the older dance/New Wave music out there.

I don't think there is a New Wave revival coming on--I mean, I can see its influence a lot more than I used to and there are the so-called Next Wave bands (but I only hear influence. None of them are true New Wave to me, I guess because they all seem so guitar driven). I wish that would lead to a revival. Wouldn't it be cool if some of the "old" bands like Info. Society popped up again? I'd love to see what some of those bands could do now.

***wishful thinking***

PostPosted: Thu Nov 17, 2005 2:56 am
by birdmadgirl
Funny you posted this ...

I found their debut (well, I thought it was their only album) for $3 bucks in a used CD bin over the weekend. It's been in steady rotation this week in the car. They're one of those bands that I liked a long time ago and just forgot about.

I think the album actually is really good. Sure, it's fluffy and sort of silly and cheesy--but in a good way. It doesn't sound really *as* dated to me like some of the older dance/New Wave music out there.

I don't think there is a New Wave revival coming on--I mean, I can see its influence a lot more than I used to and there are the so-called Next Wave bands (but I only hear influence. None of them are true New Wave to me, I guess because they all seem so guitar driven). I wish that would lead to a revival. Wouldn't it be cool if some of the "old" bands like Info. Society popped up again? I'd love to see what some of those bands could do now.

***wishful thinking***

PostPosted: Thu Nov 17, 2005 2:58 am
by birdmadgirl
Funny you posted this ...

I found their debut (well, I thought it was their only album) for $3 bucks in a used CD bin over the weekend. It's been in steady rotation this week in the car. They're one of those bands that I liked a long time ago and just forgot about.

I think the album actually is really good. Sure, it's fluffy and sort of silly and cheesy--but in a good way. It doesn't sound really *as* dated to me like some of the older dance/New Wave music out there.

I don't think there is a New Wave revival coming on--I mean, I can see its influence a lot more than I used to and there are the so-called Next Wave bands (but I only hear influence. None of them are true New Wave to me, I guess because they all seem so guitar driven). I wish that would lead to a revival. Wouldn't it be cool if some of the "old" bands like Info. Society popped up again? I'd love to see what some of those bands could do now.

***wishful thinking***

PostPosted: Thu Nov 17, 2005 4:42 am
by birdmadgirl
Ooops. Sorry for all the repeats!

PostPosted: Thu Nov 17, 2005 5:16 am
by i_like_lectric_motors
Bpdp3, I remember thinking at the time the album came out that they were kind of a throwback. I think you're right on the money with your assessment.

PostPosted: Thu Nov 17, 2005 8:51 am
by Ollie Stench
If you guys are talking about the InSoc LP with "Pure Energy "on it, that's actually their 3rd release (barring singles). The first InSoc EP is NOTHING like the Tommy Boy stuff, much more experimental and minimalistic (with a great cover of James Brown's 'Get Up Away From That Thing'). It's got a plain white sleeve with a capital "I" in a circle in black. Then they had a 12" single for "Running" who's sleeve was the opposite: white "I" and circle on a black sleeve. Then there was the EP/LP 'Creatures Of Influence' which was made with little or no input from Kurt Harlen. These 2 EP's and single were released on the Mpls lable Wide Angle Records. "Running" made its way to the East Coast where it became a hit in the Puerto Rican clubs, and was brought to the attention of Tommy Boy.

Sorry to be a know-it-all, but hey, InSoc and I come from the same town!

PostPosted: Thu Nov 17, 2005 8:54 am
by tha_farfetch
Information Society is one of my favorite bands from 1988. What's On you mind, Repetition, Think !, Walking Away, Peace & Love Inc. are some of their highlights.

FarFetch.