Rock Rendez Vous: Música Moderna (Vinyl LP)

Post-punk and vintage synth aren't the first sounds that spring to mind when we think of Portugal, but that's all about to change with the arrival of Rock Rendez Vous: Música Moderna Portuguesa 1985-1986. This new compilation highlights nine of the best of the mid-80s Iberian underground as told through the lens of Lisbon's most legendary rock club. - Flying Out

The seductive sounds of Portugal swing to Dark Entries on Rock Rendez Vous: Música Moderna Portuguesa 1985-1986, a compilation of vintage Iberian synth, wave, and postpunk gems. The legendary club Rock Rendez Vous (RRV) opened its doors in Lisbon in 1980, heralding a new era in the Portuguese underground. Although touring acts like Killing Joke, Danse Society, or Echo & the Bunnymen graced its stage, RRV more vitally served as ground zero for a new generation of Portuguese bands, one simultaneously in touch with broader international musical movements while being invested in establishing a national sonic identity. Rock Rendez Vous culls 9 tracks of prime Portuguese indie tunes from the Música Moderna Portuguesa compilations released in 1985 and 1986, documenting the heyday of this movement. Jangly and brooding postpunk gems like “Levante” from Jovem Guarda, Projecto Azul’s “New Sides,” and Essa Entente’s “Festa Final” are well-represented here. Meanwhile, quirky Balearic-laced synthpop gems like D. W. Art’s “Mate” or Zona Proibida’s “Musak” add a subtly regional flare. Rock Rendez Vous: Música Moderna Portuguesa comes housed in a sleeve designed by Eloise Leigh featuring a photo of the club RRV, and also includes a double-sided insert with lyrics, photos, and liner notes.

Tracklist

Balladium - Andrómeda
D. W. Art - Mate
Prece Oposto - Homem Do Leme
Jovem Guarda -  Levante
Taquicárdia - Enfarte 11 
Zona Proibida - Musak
Der Stil - Flores Do Vício
Projecto Azul - New Sides
Essa Entente - Festa Final