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The Units

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Location: San Fransisco, CA

Website: http://myspace.com/warmmovingbodies

Bio: The end of the 1970’s saw Units and their compatriots (Pink Section, Voice, Farm, Tuxedomoon, and Screamers) storming punk clubs like the Mabuhay with a ... (more) new electronic punk sound. The co-opted, predictable guitar rock of the era had given way to aggressive synthesizers, film collage, and punk DIY ingenuity. Units were a cornerstone of this unofficial movement, later called “synth punk” and which would come to define a greater west coast DIY culture combining new synthetic sounds, ranging from Nervous Gender, Screamers and Monitor to The Blackouts.

Units’ tight keyboard riffing, raw electronic texture, monotone delivery, raging synth arpeggios and growling Moog basslines practically define synthpunk’s futuristic, alienated disposition. Thematically, Units’ music explored and exploded the very nature of “unit-like”conformity- perhaps using their synth blasts to tear away the very fabric of it. “High Pressure Days” is a testament to the loneliness and urgency of the times, and one of synthpunk’s greatest anthems while at the same time becoming a dancefloor classic among dj’s like Danielle Baldelli.

Now, 30 years later, Relish Recordings is proud to be releasing “High Pressure Days” on 12”. In 2003 label boss Robi Insinna (aka Headman) already tried to include the track on his ‘Dance Modern’ compilation for Eskimo Records, but back then he was unable to locate the band to clear the rights. (less)