For the past five years, New York’s Minimal Wave imprint has been busy tracking down the lost gems of futuristic European new wave. Over a dozen of rare and highly sought-after original recordings have been carefully remastered, reissued, and are now available in digital format.

Founded by New York artist and radio DJ Veronica Vasicka, Minimal Wave is a label with a singular passion: Documenting the musical era of European cold (or ‘minimal’) wave music, the burgeoning music style of the early 1980s that planted the seed of electro and techno and gave rise to pop phenomena like DAF, Visage, or Human League.

Many of the era’s recordings only appeared on limited tape and vinyl pressings, making them highly sought-after collectors items for many years. Minimal Wave’s lovingly crafted re-issues have since rekindled interest in the era’s influential music, culminating in the recent ‘Minimal Wave Tapes’ on Peanut Butter Wolf’s high-profile Stones Throw label. Commanding vocals on top of sparse drum-computer beats and hand-played synths are once again du dernier cri.

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