Red Violet Red - Candy Cane-12 Miles Of Sky 12''

Candy Cane / 12 Miles of Sky is an ultra-rare, self-titled 12" vinyl single by the 1980s new wave band Red Violet Red, originally released in 1985 on Game Hen Records. For devotees of underground synth-pop, coldwave, and minimal electronics, this artifact carries massive legendary status: it represents the fascinating, direct precursor to the cult-classic darkwave band Eleven Pond.

Before Eleven Pond released their iconic 1986 masterwork Bas Relief, art school student and multi-instrumentalist Jeff Gallea formed Red Violet Red in Rochester, New York. Recorded in the summer of 1985 at Music America Studios on 24-track analog tape, the core lineup consisted of Jeff Gallea (vocals, Korg synthesizers, Roland drum machine), Cedric Herrera (vocals), Lyle Wells (guitar, synthesizer), and Jerry Dellapietra (bass). The 12" single stands as an incredibly scarce treasure for collectors, strictly limited to 300 copies, featuring custom hand-painted sleeves that were individually hand-numbered and signed by Gallea himself. Because it vanished into immediate obscurity for decades, original physical copies are known to command prices upwards of $450 on collector markets.

Musically, the Candy Cane / 12 Miles of Sky 12" occupies a brilliant space where raw post-punk instrumentation directly collides with lush, atmospheric synth-pop architecture. While it lacks the slightly colder, industrialized edge that Gallea would later bring to the Eleven Pond material, Red Violet Red leans beautifully into a melodic "lush-wave" aesthetic. The songs are defined by driving analog synth hooks, rhythmic drum sequencing, and intricate, jangly guitar lines that create a vast wall of sound.

What makes the release so captivating to modern collectors is its dual vocal approach. The tracklist relies heavily on catchy, heavily doubled lead vocals from both Herrera and Gallea, infusing the moody coldwave rhythms with a distinct pop sensibility and emotional urgency. Long out of print on vinyl, the tracks finally received a wider physical preservation when the Spanish archival label Domestica Records compiled them onto the 2011 retrospective LP Relaxed In Upstate Rain.

The true marvel of the Candy Cane / 12 Miles of Sky 12" is how effortlessly it captures the transition from gritty punk bands into the sleek, neon-lit landscape of mid-80s independent new wave. On "Candy Cane," the band constructs a sprawling, mid-tempo groove anchored by Jeff Gallea’s pulsating Korg synthesizer lines and a crisp, locked-in Roland drum machine rhythm. It is an incredibly kinetic piece of synth-pop that strips away any traditional goth-rock bleakness, opting instead for a bright, cascading melody that wraps around the listener like an electric blanket.

Lyrically and vocally, "Candy Cane" feels like a lost anthem of late-night suburban romance. Cedric Herrera and Gallea deliver an impassioned, melodic vocal performance, utilizing rich vocal layering to slice right through the electronic instrumentation. The song balances a sense of youthful optimism with a touch of melancholic yearning, capturing a distinctly American art school aesthetic that feels heavily indebted to British new wave icons like New Order or Echo & the Bunnymen while maintaining its own regional Upstate New York identity.

Flip the wax over to "12 Miles of Sky," and the band masterfully demonstrates their impressive instrumental synergy. The track shifts into a deeper, more atmospheric pocket where Lyle Wells’s shimmering, jangly guitar hooks take center stage, dancing beautifully over Jerry Dellapietra’s fluid, melodic electric basslines. The production values are surprisingly lush for an independent, self-released mid-80s budget; the audio mixing allows the bright synth pads to swirl through the background like a dense fog, giving the track a cinematic, wide-open grandeur that perfectly matches its soaring title.

Ultimately, this single is much more than a historical footnotes or a mere trophy for rare vinyl hunters on Discogs. It stands as a brilliant, fully formed artistic statement from a group of musicians operating at an absolute peak of youthful inspiration. By blending driving analog rhythms with irresistible melodic hooks, Red Violet Red left behind a magnificent, leather-clad time capsule that serves as an essential, high-octane piece of the American minimal wave puzzle.

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The original 1985 Game Hen 12" single features two sweeping, extended cuts:

A: Candy Cane (5:50)

B: 12 Miles of Sky (5:08)