Showing posts with label Mo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mo. Show all posts

Thursday 18 March 2010

Oh... Young people - Mo

After their second single 'Fred Astaire' reached number 18 in the Dutch Top 40, attention for the Dutch synthpop group Mo was growing. They do a tour around the country, with mixes responses from the audience.

'Oh... Young people' is released as the third single from their debut album 'Mo' in early 1981, but it does not chart. Meanwhile, three members of the band, including woman singer Heili Helder, leave the band. After the summer of 1981, only drummer Harm Bieger remains from the original line-up. Ton van der Meer and Hans Nieuwint are recruited, as well as the new frontwoman Linda Bloemhardt. This new line-up records the second Mo album, which is released later on in 1981.

My collection: 7" single no. 4638
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Oh... Young people' / 'TV Talks'

Saturday 26 September 2009

Asia - Mo

The Dutch synthpop band Mo, it has been written on here many times before, was sadly underrated. It has become some sort of mission for me to hunt down their singles, and 'Asia' is the latest victory in that search.

'Asia' was released in April 1984 and it was, as far as I know, the band's last single. It was taken from their third and last album, 'Stop staring'. The beautiful sleeve of this single was designed by Ton Friesen.

My collection: 7" single no. 4092
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Asia' / 'He's so silly negative'

Thursday 19 March 2009

Nancy - Mo

The sleeve of this single proclaims that the songs are being performed by 'The Mo'. They were a new band at that time, but later they would be known as 'Mo'. As you can see, this is a rather simplistic sleeve. The 'Back Door' image comes from the record label, and on the back there's only an advert for starting bands to send their demos to Back Door.

For a debut single, 'Nancy' is a pretty impressive effort. The single stalled just outside the Dutch Top 40. But Mo would have some chart success later in their career.

My collection: 7" single no. 3219
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, October 12, 2000
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Nancy' / 'Release me'

Sunday 15 March 2009

Cheese - Mo

Although the Dutch band Mo released a dozen singles during their career, only two of them made the Dutch Top 40. This was the second one: 'Cheese', a short upbeat synthpop song. It was the first single of Mo with new personnel. Drummer Harm Bieger was the only original member. He recruited Linda Bloemhard, Ton van der Meer and Hans Nieuwint after the original band split up after the release of just one album (and three singles).

'Cheese' peaked at number 30 in the Dutch Top 40. It was succeeded by a handful of singles that didn't make the chart at all.

My collection: 7" single no. 3328
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, March 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Cheese' / 'Human race put on display'


Friday 6 March 2009

Ha Ha the sound of laughing - Mo

Mo released the title track of their second album 'Ha Ha the sound of laughing as the second single from that album. It met with muted response from audiences and critics alike. While the previous single 'Cheese' managed a low position in the Dutch Top 40, this single flopped entirely. 'Cheese' would prove to be their last chart success by the way: all the singles that followed didn't chart either.

You would almost think that Mo didn't make interesting music, but they did. Just listen to this track and the energetic B-side 'Stress' and you will hear that the band made glorious synthpop before the term had become popular.

My collection: 7" single no. 3004
Found: Geest, Den Haag, 2000
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Ha Ha the sound of laughing' / 'Stress'

Monday 26 January 2009

Old friend - Mo

The first single by Mo I ever bought was this one, the ballad 'Old friend' taken from their second album 'Ha Ha! The sound of laughing'. Contrary to most of their singles, this one was a ballad. The single version lasted three minutes and was one minute shorter than the album version, in an attempt to make it radiofriendly. Despite this, 'Old friend' didn't make the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 711
Found: All that music, Leiden, December 30, 1988
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Old friend' / 'Madman'
Download: here

Sunday 18 January 2009

Fred Astaire - Mo

'Fred Astaire' was the Mo's biggest hit in the Netherlands. It was released in January 1981 and reached number 18 in the Dutch Top 40. It was taken from the self-titled album 'Mo', which reached number 10 in the albums chart.

Ironically, out of all the Mo singles I have, it took me the longest time to buy this single. I couldn't remember how this song went, and when I finally did, the single didn't pop up in record stores and record fairs anymore. But in 2000 I succeeded in adding this one to my collection. It's a good thing, too: the B-side 'Band with bassoon' is just as good as the A-side.

My collection: 7" single no. 3220
Found: October 12, 2000
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Fred Astaire' / 'Band with bassoon'
Download: here

Monday 5 January 2009

Nothing's wrong - Mo

The first incarnation of Mo consisted of Clemens and Huub de Lange with Harm Bieger and singer Heili Helder. The group split up in 1981, but Harm Bieger set up a new line-up, consisting of himself, Hans Niewint, Ton van der meer and Linda Bloemhard. The second line-up released two more albums and a handful of singles.

'Nothing's wrong' was the last single released by Mo. It is a slightly melancholy song, which failed to make any chart impact. Unfortunately, the band then folded for good. Mo is still one of the best Dutch bands ever.

My collection: 7" single no. 3515
Found: Record Palace, Amsterdam, December 27, 2008
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Nothing's wrong' / 'Beat the computer'
Download: here
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