Back catalogue: Coldwave/Synth

Review: You'd be forgiven for not knowing much about Plugpoint Music's sole album, Last Chance. It was recorded by German artist Reiner Ossmann in his home studio way back in 1987 and was subsequently released via a private press run of just 200 copies. It is, then, a genuinely little-known and overlooked gem that has been rescued from obscurity via the mighty Minimal Wave label. If you enjoy the more stripped-back and eccentric end of the new wave and cold wave spectrum, we'd definitely recommend it. Ossmann's synthesizer and drum machine arrangements are expertly minimalistic and alien-sounding, with gurgling melodies and spaced-out chords mingling with his own heavily accented vocals over the sparsest of beats. An ultra-rare gem that's well worth your time and money.

Review: Veronica Vasicka's Minimal Wave label turn their attention to European wave sounds once more with Earlier / Later, a retrospective look at the music of Belgian group Polyphonic Size. Headed by the bespectacled Roger-Marc Vande Voorde, the Brussels based outfit emerged in 1979 and built up quite a discography, releasing three albums and numerous 7? and 12?s over a 11 year period. One of mainland Europe's more enigmatic purveyors of primitive synth pop, Polyphonic Size were partial to singing vocals in numerous languages, forever changing line-ups and had the majority of their lyrics penned by Dominique Buxin, a band member who never appeared during performances or featured on any of their record sleeves. However, it's the band's working relationship with Stranglers bassist JJ Burnel that commands the most intrigue, and this collection offers a contrast between the early days of Polyphonic Size and how their sound evolved after the more rock based production input of Burnel.