Can you ID this band or singer?

[Alkali Ike]

Recorded from a Portland OR radio station, probably Q105, in the late 80s. This has a *lot* of people stumped on FB. One of the repeating phrases that's understandable is "I was only trying to make the world more personal".

EDIT: If this belongs under Recordings, feel free to move it.

 

[Brozzy]

I've never heard it before, but it is a very good mashup of 80s British wave/rock. The voice seems so familiar, and yet not.

 

[electracoyote]

If that ain't Modern English, I don't know... checking it out now, will report later.

EDIT: Nope

 

[ElectroVibe]

Singer sounds like Bernard Sumner. He was in a band called Electronica.

 

[Alkali Ike]

I keep thinking a mashup of Joy Division or New Order with The Smiths. But apparently that’s all wrong.

 

[ElectroVibe]

Right. Or maybe another band from Manchester.
Guitar reminded me of early Cure.

 

[Bret Music]

Sounds like Depeche mode or Modern english. Got me stumped.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Sounds a lot like Modern English, to me, too.

 

[elgecko]

Reminds me of the Psychedelic Furs kind of.

 

[farace]

Shazam turns up nothing.

 

[LBS-bass]

Well I usually try to identify things using Shazam or, if that's not possible, I try putting bits of the lyric into Google to see if something turns up.

If nothing turns up either the lyric is misheard or the song was never popular enough that someone wanted to reproduce it and put the lyrics online. That usually means small, local or regional band that didn't get much airplay. I hope someone can help you identify it.

 

[VolverseLoco]

I had an Eventide H3000 D/SX back in the 90's and it had a preset in it from the factory called 'Circles' and it made the clean guitar picked notes dance around with delay repeats in what can be described as a 'circular' motion/pattern, just like we hear on your 2nd sound example. I know it doesnt help with who it is though.

 

[lunarpollen]

reminds me of the Wild Flowers but it's not them

 

[George Dennis]

Not familiar with the song but very reminiscent of New Order - possibly some configuration after Joy Division / before New Order?
Vocals sound a lot like Ian Curtis and the bass lines like the work of Peter Hook.
Unsure if you know the album Substance (1987) but definitely worth a listen if you like this one
... Is there a prize?

 

[ElectroVibe]

There were probably lots of good look lesser known bands around this time. Maybe there's a forum devoted to synth-pop, new romantic, or whatever this style is called.

 

[ElectroVibe]

Flock of Seagulls is another band it reminded me of.

 

[Black Sabbatical]

The way its mixed sounds like maybe a local indie band. Very cool song, I would love to hear more from this band.

 

[baileyboy]

At first, I thought it was this...

 

[Rib 13]

Sounds like an early 80s Indie band trying to copy the early 80s U2 formula

 

[Bret Music]

Probably wrong again, but after listening to it again. Sounds like The Smith's.