Losing Tracks

Minimal Compact - Deadly Weapons

Ripped from a vinyl album released on Crammed Discs (CRAM 030 LP) in 1984 to high resolution 24-bits of FLAC. As requested by blog follower thehappyone here's the next in line from those effervescent folks from the low countries, Minimal Compact. Beginning the next stage in their evolution, Deadly Weapons updates from the original post-punk sound into a crafted mix of experimental art-rock, dance beats and moody electronica. The Well is clearly a standout alongside the single, Next One Is Real. Contributions from Peter Principle and Blaine L. Reininger could well help in explaining this shift in direction.

A1 Next One Is Real
A2 Losing Tracks (In Time)
A3 The Well
A4 There's Always Now
A5 Nada
B1 Not Knowing
B2 Deadly Weapons
B3 Burnt-Out Hotel
B4 The Howling Hole

Cold Lives

Minimal Compact - One By One

Originally released as a vinyl album on Crammed Discs (CRAM 021 LP) in 1982. Ripped here from digital resources to high quality lossless flac. Firstly the cover does deceive with its re-enactment of what could be a seventies prog/folk sleeve. The first few seconds of music almost have the listener convinced of that too, but soon enough we are into some fine Belgian coldwave. They wavered from this their core sound in the coming the years, so for me as a fan of all things melancholic this was probably their finest moment.

A1 Invocation (For Things To Come)
A2 Cold Life
A3 Take Me Away
A4 It Takes A Lifetime
A5 Disguise
B1 Babylonian Tower
B2 Orkha Bamidbar (The Wandering Song)
B3 Head Section
B4 Morpheus Secrets
B5 Ships

Back To The Start

Minimal Compact - Minimal Compact

Originally released as a 12" vinyl EP on Crammed Discs Records (CRAM 015) in 1981. Replicated here from digital sources in lossless flac. When the first few beats of Statik Dancin' kick in, you'll quickly understand the title of this post. I've recently returned from a short trip to the low countries and took the chance to re-listen to some Minimal Compact. Not the most consistent of acts in my opinion, but if you take the time to sort the wheat from the chaff, you'll unearth some goodies.

A1 Statik Dancin'
A2 Creation Is Perfect (I Am A Camera)
A3 Ready-Made Diary
B1 To Get Inside
B2 Happy Babouge