(07.08.08) From the depths of New York a new label has come to the surface. Minimal Wave is not like most electronic labels. It does not focus on techno, nor has it an affinity for electronica. Minimal Wave is a label concentrating on a forgotten sound, that of new wave, minimal synth pop and post punk electro. The label is set on discovering and re-releasing lost pieces of 1980s electronics, tracks forgotten on handmade cassette tapes and lost 7″ records. Since the label’s inception, in 2005, they have re-issued obscure works from artists such as Oppenheimer Analysis, Störung and Das Kabinette. The Minimal Wave sound is an analogue one that borders the line of warm and clinical, where lyrics are dead pan but filled with emotion, where elation and sorrow lie. One artist adhering to this sound is Graham Philip D’ancey. In the early 80s, D’ancey brought out two limited run LPs, Alluma and Chinese, as well as a single tracker 7″: Sacred Heart. It is Sacred Heart that the New York imprint has decided to bring back to the ears of today’s electronic enthusiasts, giving a remastered version of the original along with three more tracks in the form of The Sacred Project. So how does a sound that is almost thirty years old hold up in comparison to the computer generated electronics of today?
“Sacred Heart” opens the record. The piece opens calmly before brawny synthlines push through to produce a powerful analogue melody that drives the work. As the track develops these strong, yet streamlined, synthesizer chords give way to mellow vocals and a lighter tone. The piece has a real dispatched catchiness to it, with the hooks sitting dispassionately with the vocals to create an amazing work of interdependent synth-pop. “Sacred Blood” follows, coming to life in a bubble of ambience before D’ancey brings back his analogue chords. The lines are warm, with a light bass drum propping up the resonating synthesizer. D’ancey’s 80’s sound machines take over for this piece, with the artist creating a rich landscape of floating melody and beat.
The B-Side of this bright white vinyl enters with “Sacred Passion.” D’ancey’s analogue tones take on a somewhat sinister tone, with deeper dark sounds being emitted. Lyrics return, ones of a more shadowy nature than in comparison to “Sacred Heart.” This is a piece of post disco, post punk dystopia, minimal and dark; a fantastically moody work. “Sacred Dance” finishes off the EP. For the finale the synthesizer chords take on a more squalid, distorted tone and beats become more central to the composition. The work is perhaps the most synth based piece, but D’ancey offers some different elements with electric guitar strings being introduced near the track’s end.
What immediately hits the listener on laying the needle upon The Sacred Project is the freshness of this sound. D’ancey first created these tracks almost thirty years ago, yet these pieces have not aged a day. This EP has an indefinable vintage quality to it, warm analogue sound, amazing lyrics and incredible hooks. D’ancey, and Minimal Wave, through this release illustrate that electronic music is not about hi-tech equipment and computerized sound; electronic music is first and foremost about the music’s quality. The Sacred Project is a prime example of this mantra.
The Sacred Project is out now on Minimal Wave. [Purchase]
