MOEV - Rotting Geraniums (1982)

Tom Ferris - synthesizers / Cal Stephenson - synthesizers / Mark Jowett - guitar / Madeleine Morris - lyrics, vocals

Moev were from Vancouver, Canada. The band was founded in 1981 by Tom Ferris (keyboards, percussion) and Cal Stephenson (keyboards, vocals). Madeleine Morris (vocals) and Mark Jowett (guitar) joined later that year. They released two 12 inch EPs - Cracked Mirror (1981) and Rotting Geraniums (1982) - before their debut album Zimmerkampf appeared later that year.

After their first label (San Francisco based Go! Records) went broke in early 1983, band member Mark Jowett and manager Terry McBride formed Nettwerk Records in early 1984 to release Moev material. Nettwerk went on to become a massively important label and has released many cult artists like Frontline Assembly, Skinny Puppy, Severed Heads etc.

Canada, like Italy, has sure punched above its weight in quality synth/electro artists, and Moev, although their sound is kinda familiar, have an edge and a panache lacking in many of their counterparts. I'd say a useful reference point would be Australia's Single Gun Theory, also released on Nettwerk. Memorable synth riffs and motifs underpinned by fierce guitar lickage and high-pitch female vox - what more do you want?