Sleep on Mirrors: The 1982-1985 Tapes

Italian new wave trio Carmody only recorded a few demo tapes during their brief early-'80s lifespan, with just a few tracks surfacing on compilations until Anna Logue Records and Mannequin both issued collections of the band's work several decades later. Mannequin's Sleep on Mirrors, issued in 2015, brings the group's sound to vinyl, showcasing their cold, minimal style. As with many groups of that era, Carmody's songs typically featured primitive drum machines and keyboard melodies with longing vocals expressing feelings of isolation and heartache. Their songs avoided the noise and experimentation of industrial music, preferring to convey their messages directly through stripped-down electronic pop songs. A few songs such as "Ambiguous" and "Sleep On Mirrors" slow the tempo down and are a bit more abstract and atmospheric, recalling groups like Japan, but more driving tracks like "Messengers of Love" and "Most of You" get to the point with clear melodies, rippling guitar notes, and yearning vocals. "Psalm" has a bit of a midtempo disco shimmer, while the melody of "Space Invaders" suggests that it could've been offered as a demo to the Psychedelic Furs. Indeed, many of Carmody's songs would've fit comfortably on the radio if they had the luxury of big-budget studio polish. As they appear, they're decent enough and certainly of interest to fans of obscure '80s synth-pop.