Mainframe / Greengate DS3 digital synth & band

[SilentRadio]

Thought some here might be interested in this ...I've Always been curious about synths and their history... one of the most unusual is the Greengate DS3 which was very briefly an English challenger to the German PPG and Australian Fairlight. . . up to now, I've not been able to find much about it, but stumbled across this website which gives some of the background, which was also closely connected to an early 80s synth band called "Mainframe" which I had not previously heard of. The site also provides free downloads of their vinyl-only releases.

There are definite echoes of GAOW era TD and a quite-funny parody of the Art of Noise to be found - http://mainframe-music.info/

It's quaint and dated, but still has a certain charm - what do you think?

[heretic]

Wow! Just wow! Check those mp3s out. Well worth a listen.

A

[drinian]

Definitely worth listening to at least once. Gives a sense of the kind of early synth experimentation that was going on. It's like being in 1983 and getting to hear a new band as they're up-and-coming.

[drinian]

I'm bumping this thread, because Mainframe's music has been growing on me, and it's earned a place in my regular rotation. Wanted to make sure other people saw it.

[98/1000]

Sweet! Like discovering buried treasure. Am definitely going download all of that and give it more listens.

Takes me right back to that era with lots of familiar sounds and production styles/arrangements. Vocals remind a little of The Korgis.

[SilentRadio]

Do any of you remember New Musik? (they had a few hits in the early 80s (Living By Numbers I think was the best known) Anyway, if you liked the Mainframe stuff, New Musik come from a similar place in time and synth technology. . . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Musik

[98/1000]

I loved New Musik! Had nearly everything of theirs, 2nd LP I ever bought was From A To B. Well worth a listen if you've neve come across them.

[Mark Gardner]

I'll check them out too, been a while since I listened to "new" material from here!

Sigh - getting a file corruption message on all links, will try again laer!