HEY ASSHOLE, RUNNING DOESN'T GROW ON TREES!
Chicago noise punks and P-Rex label alums, RUNNING are back with their latest sonic assault, "Vaguely Ethnic" their third LP and first for Castle Face Records, who definitely know what they're getting into:
"The screech. The wail. The slanted-floor nausea. There's not a word for the signature cyclical howling that Chicago's RUNNING have harnessed and tortured into submission. They play with their food before they eat…flay into a terse punk trance, a Kraut-beat psycho riff for ages, mesmerize or terrorize…but invariably they unleash The Sound upon us just when it seems most likely to bring back your lunch. That they've built such a mean, spare, and evil band around such chaos is to our benefit - the circular mayhem alone would be a fascinating stand-alone curiosity - but lucky for us, they've captured their cacophonous, rotten heart in the black glove of blank-stare punk. Corrosive, serrated, and bilious, RUNNING have conjured a lurking creeper of a record in Vaguely Ethnic. It's nasty, it's antisocial, and we've got a feeling you'll like it."
We probably don't need to follow up that intro with any of our own words, cuz one spin of RUNNING's visceral gut-retching noise punk laid down in these grooves will have you grabbing for yer wallets in a sec. And it's no surprise to us that RUNNING can count Castle Face head honcho, John Dwyer, among their biggest fans, after all his pre-Oh Sees bands (Pink & Brown and Coachwhips) both had trodden those same blood-stained broken-glass, needle-strewn back alleys as RUNNING does to their own rowdy warehouse shows. After "Vaguely Ethnic" hits the shelves of record stores everywhere, Running might just be destined for that same kinda cult following as those legendary bands. Few groups buzzsaw such a whirlwind of guitar shredding, bass destroying, and krauty drumming into one wall of menacing feedback punk like RUNNING pressure cooks on "Vaguely Ethnic." We're talking an unrivaled, unruly, unholy cacophony of The Fall, Lamps, Rudimentary Peni, Christian Death, and CAN! This LP is easily one of the must-hear noise records of 2013 from one of Chicago's must-see live bands.
DUDES seriously, this ones MOTHER FUCKING RECOMMENDED!!!!!!!!
Moniker Records is on a tear and their latest release, "Obsession" by KC art punks LAZY, more than continues their winning streak:
"LAZY are anything but--after near-constant touring throughout 2012 the art-fucked troop from Kansas City has ponied up to deliver their brazen debut LP, Obsession, an all-fronts punk assault. Kinetic, hook-filled rockers bristle with the frantic energy of Wire or the Buzzcocks, while an experimental bent unifies their twisted anthems: chaotic guitar rustling, gnarled-out bass grooves, machine-gun drumming, desperate vocals.
Aiming for the outer reaches with flamethrower intensity and heartstopping pop sensibility, Obsession is a defiant collection of snotty, upbeat punk tunes with dual male-female vocals and a high-octane heart, snapping and crackling with unhinged exuberance and getting better and better with every upward nudge of the volume dial. Lean and nasty at nine songs and 23 minutes, LAZY's scorching summer platter will claw its way right in your skull."
Lean, mean, art damaged late 70's inspired punk rock? Yes please!!!!! With all nine songs anthemic and infectious enough to be singles and clocking in at just the right length for our ADD-addled internet-crazed minds, "Obsession" is the KBD influenced shot in the arm you need right now. Blazing kraut bent guitar riffs blistering lockstep with a thundering rhythm section succinctly concentrating all yer musical needs into two-minute doses of furious punk rock. From start to finish, these raucous analog melodies are gonna sear into yer brain where they're definitely gonna stay. Nary a modern band can mine late 70s punk with such killer effect as Lazy does. The Testors and Richard Hell would be proud, that we're sure of. We need not say it, cuz all it's gonna take is one listen and you'll be sold, but this one is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!!!
LP - Montibus Communitas - Hacia aquellos bosques de inmensidad - (mixed vinyl - Ltd to 500) - $11.99 - BUY
- LISTEN 
- LISTEN Another week is upon us and the Trouble In Mind folks drop yet another jaw dropper release. The TiM label enters new and fascinating territory with their latest; get the full scoop directly from the label:
"Nestled in the valleys between the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, lies the city of Lima, Peru where musical spiritual collective Montibus Communitas have quietly sculpted sonic devotionals to the holiness of Mother Nature since 2010. The four pieces recorded for ‘Hacia aquellos bosques de inmensidad’ were tracked live in the studio on November 4th, 2011 and written as they were interpreted - we hesitate to qualify them as improvisations, as the movements feel more like messages sent from another place, given life through the fevered hands of Montibus Communitas.
Fading in gently with the somber guitar strums of “Hanan Pacha”, ‘Hacia aquellos...’ slowly takes flight over two sides of graceful beauty that simultaneously pays tribute to and forbodes against the unbending will of nature and it’s spiritual demands on humanity. The collective uses mostly acoustic instrumentation; acoustic guitars, violin, pan flute, bongos, cymbals and the sounds of the human voice, leaving a little distance as possible from the sounds and their makers - the visceral connection of musician to instrument is unbound by the limitations of electrical current. “Hacia aquellos...’ is a journey, and one we at TiM hope the listener embarks upon with us. C’mon - what ware you waiting for? ‘Hacia aquellos bosques de inmensidad’ is the U.S. debut of Montibus Communitas, having released a s/t LP in 2012 on Cosmic Eye Records and is pressed on randomly mixed vinyl in an edition of 500 copies, and includes full-color insert and download code.
RIYL: Popul Vuh, Amon Duul, Kalacra, Follakzoid, Source Family, Trees Community"
Trouble In Mind knocks it out of the park once again with their latest offering from Peruvian act Montibus Communitas. Montibus Communitas's devotional tomes are truly a thing of mystery and sublime beauty. With just 4 long form tracks this ensemble channels a deep spirituality with droning full strum acoustic guitars, patterned hand drum rhythms, spiraling violin passages and haunting vocals making up the lion's share of earthly sonics on display here. This music is supremely hypnotic and while most certainly earthy/roots-y vibes permeate the sound, this music can take the devoted listener into reaches of their mind and spirit yet untouched. "Hacia aquellos bosques de inmensidad" is a truly remarkable release from a group we hope to hear more from in the future. All thee above mentioned RIYL acts are certainly apt comparisons and to add a few more, Montibus Communitas are supplying the spiritual sounds of Revolutionary Army Of The Infant Jesus, Cedars Of Lebanon and even some Dead Can Dance, so if you are diggin' any of the like minded acts listed here then grab this one immediately. You will not be disappointed. Absolutely Recommended.
Geeezzz-Louizzzee, German Army have returned once again to show everyone how it's done; this time around the mighty Monofonus Press label has the pleasure of inducing the pain:
"Other than echoing the production and musical assemblage of a certain English Industrial band that was around in the ‘70s, little is “known” of GeRmAn ArMy with any certainty, other than its knack for self-produced recordings; experimentations with synthetic rhythms, otherworldly melodies, and heavily modulated vocals. The anonymous duo CG and MM, has an enormous back catalog released on a range of international boutique and cassette imprints, though their new LP, Endless Phonics, for Monofonus Press diverges from the norm in a variety of ways. Conceptually, it continues to uphold the foundations pioneered across their early releases, particular emphasis being placed on the value of doubt and the role of uncertainty, perceptual drift, as well as the inersection of human social dynamics. Even so, Endless Phonics also manages to advance the form of the band’s recordings to new dimensions; the songs, originally recorded over the course of 2012, are the first from the duo not recorded on four track. Able to distance themselves more from how the album was being recorded, allowed a fuller immersion in the music itself. Still, the constant thread here remains the band’s dark timbres, usually doing vocals stream of conscious—a testament to the still pointed focus of the band’s subconsciousness—and macabre subject matter, allusions to a world long gone or never realized. This is uneasy listening."
German Army's eponymous LP on Skrot Up blew outta here quick like, which was really no surprise cuz that record fucking seriously ruled hard! And lo and behold the German Army are back on the attack and they just might've topped themselves. That statement up above about "uneasy listening" is no joke kiddies… German Army have honed in their particular take on unnerving minimal electro industrial weirdo music and upped the creep factor exponentially. "Endless Phonics" is a treat of dark industrial ghost stories that'll have your skin crawling at the first needle drop. This duo just keeps upping the ante and their latest is a killer of killers so hop on board, turn out the lights and crank up this sinister album of ennui infused dementia-adled night stalker. Ridiculously Recommended.
Limited to 300 Copies on White Wax!!!
We got a boss stack of this four way split LP from some of today's heavy hitters in the field of U.K. Psychedelia. The Hands In The Dark and All Time Low labels have teamed up to release this behemoth and they have the backstory here:
"Almost two years after the first opus but certainly worth the wait, the Travel Expop Series is back, landing this time in Great Britain. So a little reminder: the idea behind the series is simple. With each new edition we bring together a handful of experimental pop artists with a label of the same nationality that we admire, on a single vinyl.
Since the last edition we have been crafting this second volume-collage meticulously. The compilation is now set to draw together the finest current krautrock psyche-pop band in the land, The Oscillation, the kingdom’s most epic space rock group, Mugstar, the royalty of ambient drone poetry, Jeff Stonehouse aka Listening Mirror, alongside one amazingly talented guitar wizard, Ben Nash.
And the icing on top of the cake is that we will be co-releasing the record with our close friends, All Time Low – it’s a most British affair!
Let’s not forget the artwork. We are very happy that artist Michael Sallit is once again marking his name on the list of collaborators with a new sleeve design."
The Oscillation get things started with 2 of their patented tracks of scorching head nodder space rock that segues nicely into U.K. psycherock legends Mugstar particular brand of meaty kraut jams. Flip this platter over and get ready to float off to new dimensions. Listening Mirror and Ben Nash each supply a track of blissed to infinity dronescape ambience. Absolutely splendid outings from all acts involved are what one will find deep within these ultra limited grooves. This release is pressed up in an edition of 300 copies on white wax so act fast. Mega Recommended.
LIMITED TO 600 COPIES!
The Blackest Rainbow label lays out the praise on their latest release by P-Rex fave Carlton Melton down below, read on:
"CARLTON MELTON have been releasing some incredible improvised psychedelic jams over the last few years, released through their own Mid To Late label and the UK label Agitated. So after hanging out with these guys at their show here and being absolutely blown away, we're pleased to be releasing this prelude to their forthcoming new LP for Agitated later this year. This new four track 30+ minute 12"" EP is dripping with heavy riffs, thunderous drums, gurgling synth psychedelia, and mind altering bass. The Carlton Melton sound lies between drone and space rock entwined with loose jam band improvisation, and they blend it perfectly with a touch of baked stoner rock. The record features special guests BRIAN MCDOUGALL and JOHN MCBAIN (MONTSTER MAGNET). McBain also mastered the audio. Limited to 600 copies pressed on 180 gram virgin vinyl. UK import."
Carlton Melton have yet disappoint and every new release that shows up at the shop is guaranteed to get tons o' spins no doubt. And their latest on Blackest Rainbow is yet another psych-drone winner in our books; four long cuts of riff filled space rock that know how to stretch out and lay down a groove that is most certain to draw you into the fold. "Four Eyes" is a thick slab of droning psychedelia and only Carlton Melton would have the wherewithal to release a 30+ minute 12in as a pre-cursor of what's to come… what’s the full length gonna be… like a week long or some shit? We can only hope! Supremely Recommended.
Swan-song release from San Francisco's The Mallard, released once again on San Fran label extraordinaire Castle Face Records! Dig the deets straight from the mouth of Tha 'Face:
"Perhaps you've heard of the trajectory our beloved friend GREER MCGETTRICK and her cohorts in THE MALLARD have traced across the current musical landscape…a promisingly home-baked debut full of twists and turns that nonetheless felt of the time and lived in…tours and tours and tours…songs on splits and compilations, including both Son Of Flex and our covers record of The Velvet Underground and Nico…shifting band members and band members shifting instruments…the now infamous Noise Pop performance where they played as Throbbing Gristle at one of the oldest and most venerated venues in San Francisco, The Great American Music Hall, to a thoroughly bewildered audience…all the while getting faster darker and sharper…and after coming back from SXSW, the sudden dissolution—with an album finished, and already being printed and pressed with us, their now-swan song Finding Meaning In Deference. It's a conversation interrupted to be sure, but one that you should be listening in on. There's an unapologetic maelstrom of dark energy simmering beneath the surface of these tunes, but it never subsumes some of the group's best songwriting efforts yet. The myriad guitar/vocal interplay is sharp as ever, the pissed-off is turned up to 10, but there's an ever-present bop and hook to even the most bummed-out tunes here. If you never got to see them, I'm sorry - but this record catches them in excellent form at the zenith of their powers, a guitar somehow hung from the rafters for the rest of eternity - we're sad to see them go, but thrilled to share this excellent record with the world."
WOW. We almost can't believe this is the same band that recorded "Yes On Blood" last year! The band went thru numerous lineup changes before recording "Finding Meaning In Deference" and the 'Oh Sees lite" that peppered 'Yes On Blood' has been wife-swapped with a stunning and confident melange of strutting post punk, damaged art-rock and mutant pop sounds. We're picking up on echoes of Pere Ubu, Wire, Null and Void, Fad Gadget, Alternative TV and the like in these tunes, as well as contemporaries like (yes) Thee Oh Sees (more in their adventurous spirit than actual song melodies), Liars and Sightings! We're kinda floored by this record. Too fuckin' bad they broke up. DAMN. Grab this one while ya can though - we'd be surprised if there was a repress. As swan-song's go, it could be a lot worse - RIP Mallard - we hardly knew 'ye! Oh, and by the way - this one is RECOMMENDED. Duh.
The ever-amazing Minimal Wave Records is back with another outstanding collection of rare synth-wave jams, this time from Belgian outfit Polyphonic Size! Thankfully, Minimal Wave never shies away from an introduction, so read on:
"We are pleased to present an LP of selections from the prolific Belgian synthpop band Polyphonic Size. Headed by Roger-Marc Vande Voorde, Polyphonic Size formed in 1979. In December of that year, they released their first record, the Algorhythmic EP on Sandwich Records, an independent label founded by Michel Lambot. After a second EP (Pragmatic Songs), Roger-Marc got in touch with Jean-Jacques Burnel, who offered to produce the next single, 'Nagasaki Mon Amour.' This first musical collaboration was followed by many others, including an outrageous and robotic cover of the Rolling Stones' classic, 'Mother's Little Helper.' Although Polyphonic Size and JJ Burnel were very close to each other, the band always kept its own personality, which was less dark and more European than the Stranglers. The Earlier/Later LP are remastered selections, curated mainly from Polyphonic Size's early output as a band, from when they formed in 1978 to when they began working with JJ Burnel in 1980. The tracks on side A represent their early period were recorded between 1978-1980 and the side B tracks, recorded between 1980-1982, are representative of how their sound evolved whilst working with a producer. The LP is pressed on transparent red 180 gram vinyl, housed in a heavy printed sleeve with text overlay printed on a clear vinyl outer sleeve, and limited to 999 hand-numbered copies."
It's the sound of the future, 30 years ago! Like many of you out there, we were unable to afford the Vinyl On Demand 4xLP boxed set of Polyphonic Size material back in 2009, but thankfully Minimal Wave has distilled it into an all-killer, no-filler, single-LP collection of coldwave cuts covering the bands early output from 1979-1982! Taking cues from everyone from heavy-hitters like Kraftwerk (undoubtedly a MAJOR influence - some of these tunes sound straight offa 'Trans-Europe Express'), Throbbing Gristle and Cabaret Voltaire to other Minimal Wave label-mates like Pas de Deux, Felix Kubin, and Deux! You guys know the score, pulsing, minimal drum machines keep the rhythm, while cold synths pulse and bubble around the nonchalant vocals sung in French, English and sometimes German and even Japanese! The great thing about Polyphonic Size is that the music - while definitely owing a debt to the time and region it was created in - sounds more akin to the European modes just prior to it more so than the band trying to ape popular "new wave" sounds popular in the U.S. at the time. Pretty killer listen, and packaged to the hilt in a beautiful jacket housed in a heavy, clear mylar sleeve printed with the release info and pressed up onto clear red wax. It should come as no surprise that we recommend this whole-heartedly. TOTALLY essential and another fiber-optic feather in Minimal Wave's cap! RECOMMENDED!
After reissuing their first two full-lengths last year, Dark Entries drops Dark Day's debut single from 1979 onto a full-sized 12-inch and added a full side of extras! Dark Entries has the details, so pull up a chair and turn the lights off:
"Dark Entries continues to work in reverse chronological order to re-issue DARK DAY’s debut single “Hands In the Dark.” Dark Day is the minimal electronics brainchild of ROBIN CRUTCHFIELD following his separation with no wave band DNA. For the first incarnation of Dark Day, Robin recruited NINA CANAL from The GYNECOLOGISTS and later UT on guitar and NANCY ARLEN from Mars on drums. They recorded two songs for a 7” single, released in 1979 on Charles Ball’s Lust/Unlust label. Off-kilter jerk-like guitar and energetic acrobatic tom-tom tumbling fuse with queasy lurching keyboards and “cold medicine” vocals. This single stepped away from no wave towards what was going on in the UK with The Normal, Robert Rental and Throbbing Gristle. After this single Dark Day would regroup with Robin on synthesizers and vocals, PHIL KLINE on guitar, BARRY FRIAR on drums and guest STEVEN BROWN of TUXEDOMOON on saxophone to record the Exterminating Angel album. In 1981, the song “Trapped” was released as a 12” EP backed with “The Exterminations (1 Thru 6).” For these six instrumental tracks, Robin went back into the studio with the master tapes, flipped them over and played them backwards. Altering track assignments, speed and reverb effects, he rode the faders in and out, creating short “exterminations” of the original songs. The result is Crutchfield’s favorite Dark Day release. All songs have been remastered from the original reel to reel tapes for vinyl by GEORGE HORN at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. The vinyl comes housed in jacket featuring a self-made cartoon of Robin Crutchfield to announce the release of the 7” in 1979. Each LP includes a double sided 11”x17” fold-out poster with lyrics and photos and song notes by Robin and Nina Canal. Dark Day continue to inspire the current wave of stark, eerie, processional synthesizer music more than 30 years later."
Despite a slight twinge of wishing the 7-inch was a stand-alone reissue, we're comforted by the fact that the B-Side isn't loaded with unnecessary baggage! The two cuts that make up the OG single are STELLAR slices of "cold wave" or "new wave" or "wave-wave" or whatcha callit, that glow with the energy and freedom of No-Wave, but align themselves musically to a more UK-sensibility, utilizing synths in a more lyrical (musical?) way to create something that's not quite dance music, but you can definitely dance to it if you feel like it. The B-Side is six instrumental interludes crated by Crutchfield in the studio and definitely hold true to a credo of deconstructing something to create something new - they almost sound like the more mellow pieces done by Throbbing Gristle or some of the German stuff from the Seventies/Eighties. Whispers of Conrad Schnitzler or Moebius poke their heads up and say hello, before disappearing in the backwards ether. Includes a fold out 11x17 poster and is housed in a newly designed sleeve featuring a self-caricature by Crutchfield himself! A fabulous release that comes fully RECOMMENDED!
Edition of 200 Copies!!!
The Cardinal Fuzz label just doesn't let up! The Janitors album floored us and now this live Hills LP is blowing our minds. The Cardinal Fuzz folks will fill you in with the details:
"Cardinal Fuzz are proud to present from Gothenburg, Sweden, HILLS. Hills offer up two side long jams—each 15 minutes in length that channel the repetition of The Velvet Underground / Parson Sound, Terry Riley influenced meditations and add Ron Asheton atonal Fuzz. The spirit of Bo Anders Persson is kept alive and captured within the grooves of this wonderful vinyl. Hills got together to make music that focuses on the grooves, sounds and rhythms rather than classical songwriting structures. They are heavily dependent on improvisation, which creates a meditative space without rules. Hills give us two sides of ecstatic, ritualistic hyp-no-monotony. Originally a mega limited cassette only release, Hills have recorded a whole new side exclusively for Cardinal Fuzz. This is ahead of their upcoming release on Rocket Recordings. Limited to 200 for distro. UK import."
Well knock us over with a feather.... you coulda told us this was some live bootleg from the '70s and we would bought that story hook, line and sinker. Hills freakout psychedelia is alive and burning! This live testament is a fuzzed out drone ceremony of heavy psychrock a la late '60s/early '70s hypno love-in happenings. Another album of pure WIN all the way through. Super Limited and Mega Recommended.
Edition of 230 Copies!!!
The Cardinal Fuzz label drops a fuzz filled psych burner from The Janitors! Get the lowdown directly from the label peeps:
"Cardinal Fuzz are proud to present from Stockholm, Sweden, THE JANITORS. Fueled by folköl and an uncontrollable urge to hiss and make noise the Janitors went into their own studio Psych grottan and during 2012 gave birth to two EPs, a couple of singles and remixes and a lot of raised eyebrows from audiences and blogs from all over the world. The shamanic psychedelic trance of darkness and drone of the The Worker Drone Queen and Head Honcho EPs ended up on more than a few end of years best ofs. The recordings eventually found their way into the hands of Cardinal Fuzz who on the spot decided to release the whole shebang on a glorious 2x12"" gatefold vinyl. Also exclusive to this release are the AL LOVER remix of ""Death Song"" and STRSSMNT remix of “Coming Down,” plus a brand new track ""Nevereverism.” The Janitors give love to noise, monotony and pop songs and mainly consist of two people in love with the darker side of the ‘80s with heroes like Loop, Spacemen 3 and JAMC. We call what we do stökpsych or evil shoegaze boo-gie woogie, you decide for yourself. Head Honcho is voted best EP of 2012 by Tally Ho! Honorable mention on Styrofoam drones Top 10 EPs of the year! Limited to 230 for distribution. UK import."
Permanent Records would like to give a special shout out to our bud Andre for turning us on to this one! The Janitors are bringing slow burn, fuzzed out desert rock psychedelia and they are bringing it BIG! "Drone Head" is top-notch spacerock/shoegaze/psychrock from start to finish. An album of steady head nod rockers with fried guitars, pounding drums, searing drones and down in the mix vocals is what one will find on "Drone Head", so if you dig the above mentioned LOOP, Spacemen 3 and JAMC as much as you know we love them then grip this one now. Fans of Black Angels, The Doors and Wooden Shjips take note cuz Sweden's Janitors are mopping the floor with the competition. Wicked Limited and Super Recommended.
Get ready, cuz the latest platter from Alternative Tentacles, the debut LP from Death Hymn Number 9, is nothing short of a mind-blowing post zombie apocalypse outbreak of garage punk delinquency!!!!!! Don't believe us, read on to get the whole back story on how this album, "3rd Degree Moon Burns" ended up at the AT offices:
"The legend of Death Hymn Number 9 begins when a gutless Marvin Gaye abandoned his backing band at a run-down Baton Rouge gas station during his first national tour. The remaining members were penniless and homeless as they struggled to survive in the swampy heat. Left weak and vulnerable, the group was ambushed by a swarm of wretched zombies. Their half-alive bodies were left for dead and nobody knew what became of them—until 40 years later, when the band reemerged in Los Angeles after crawling their way across the country. Since their return, Death Hymn Number 9 have regularly assaulted clubs around the Los Angeles area with their frenetic concoction of violent garage rock. The spasmodic, bluesy 3rd Degree Moon Burns surges so hard, the needle jumps out of the grooves. These undead rockers have honed their murderous rumpus into a mania that is impossible to ignore. Imagine The Cramps wrestling Doo Rag in an electric-fence cage-match at the tail-end of a month-long crystal meth binge. Ghastly and urgent, Death Hymn Number 9 sizzles with power while never abandoning their ghoulish garage roots, delivering a din so pure rock ’n’ roll, it’s dangerous. A no-holds-barred, tumbling mania bubbling into a perfect cacophony, 3rd Degree Moon Burn has a biting sound that is refreshingly frightening and original."
Ok so maybe Death Hymn Number 9 aren't really the zombie backing band for Marvin Gaye, but the Mummies weren't really mummies and that certainly didn't detract from their balls-out budget punk rock mayhem. So yeah put "3rd Degree Moon Burns" in the same camp as "Play Their Own Records" and "Never Been Caught" and certainly file them next to the aforementioned Cramps and Doo Rag, but also don't forget to notice the same blown out chaos in Death Hymn Number 9 that we loved from Fireworks, the Oblivians, Man Or Astroman and the Drags. "3rd Degree Moon Burns" molotov cocktails punk, garage, surf, SoCal skatecore and rockabilly into one sure fire explosion bound to set yer speakers on fire and unleash yer uncontrollable urges. Death Hymn Number 9 shows apparently leave behind a lot of broken furniture and good memories, and this LP is sure to do the same. GRAB ONE NOW AND CRANK UP THE GOOD TIMES. UNRULY AND RECOMMENDED!!!!
LIMITED TO 700 COPIES
Praises to the vinyl gods once again! The Geometrik label has gone and done us all a solid by giving this loooong gone cassette the loving vinyl treatment. Get the whole story direct from the label:
"After their first single, Necrosis en la poya (1981), Spanish industrial band Esplendor Geométrico released their first cassette that same year: EG-1. A cult band and pioneers of industrial music, they were one of the first cases of true independence in the history of Spanish music -- not only financially and organizationally, but also in terms of creative independence. These first works were self-produced and distributed by the band themselves, before the appearance of Spanish independent record labels in the early '80s. The first edition of EG-1 (300 copies only) quickly sold out in the international underground circuit of cassette labels that was emerging during those years. It was reissued on the same format by different labels such as Datenverarbeitung (Germany, 1982), Ortega y Cassette (Barcelona, 1985), EGK (Madrid, 1987), and Línea Alternativa (Madrid, 1989), and later on there would be two CD editions. Without a doubt, EG-1 is one of the fundamental works by Esplendor Geométrico, where they started to develop their unique style of industrial music which would be such a great influence on other artists afterwards. Tracks like ""Muerte a escala industrial,"" ""Destrozaron sus ovaries,"" and ""Neuridrina"" are regarded by their fans as some of the best recorded by the band. On this vinyl edition (limited to 700 copies), the music has been remastered from the original tapes for the first time, achieving the best sound possible. "
Esplendor Geometrico's early industrial electro clatter is absolutely devastating. In the vein of Throbbing Gristle, Symphonies Of Sickness, DAF, Chris Carter, Etat Brut and Club Moral, this group makes unrelenting electronic industrial sounds with startling distorted rhythms, blurred monotone vocals, tape manipulations and feedback filled beats. Esplendor Geometrico makes sounds that are terrifying yet artful, noise-y yet hypnotic and undeniably influential. Finally on the preferred vinyl format, Esplendor Geometrico's long out of print cassette gets a second life for a whole new generation of noise niks and adventurous listeners. Super Recommended.
FIRST EVER VINYL PRESSING!
HELL FUCKING YES. FINALLY a vinyl pressing of the "Live 81-82" album from The Birthday Party - get ready to get wicked, dudes. 4AD loaded up the pistol and fired two shots, so let's pay attention for a sec:
"Though various live releases emerged over the course of the band's existence, no full-length capturing of The Birthday Party was approved by the band themselves until Live 81-82 was first released back in 1999, nearly 20 years on from when the recordings took place.
An essential record, Live 81-82 stiches together tracks from a London date in 1981, a German show in Bremen in 1982 and a ringer cut from a show in Athens, Greece (a version of the Stooges' 'Funhouse' with Jim Thirwell aka. Foetus on sax).
Until now Live 81-82 has never been pressed on vinyl. Finally coming out on July 29th, Live 81-82 is being made available on double vinyl with a gatefold sleeve and a CD inside. The tracklisting is the same as the original release."
THE best sounding live recording of (what we're told by folks who ACTUALLY saw them) one of the most feral and gnarly live bands to ever stalk the earth! The amount of danger exuded on the band's proper recordings is turned up to 11 on these live cuts - they absolutely DESTROY every tune and cuts like "Zoo Music Girl", "(Sometimes) Pleasure Heads Must Burn", "The Dim Locator" are somehow made even more frantic and scary! They even do THE most appropriate sounding and amazing cover of "Funhouse" by The Stooges (featuring Jim Thirwell on sax!) that literally rips open the sky from your turntable. Don't feel like this is some sort of cash-in release either, this is a totally ESSENTIAL part of The Birthday Party discography that fills in the holes to the story of (arguably) the greatest band of the Eighties.
Killer, ball-busting R'n'R from this little-known Los Angeles band who released one album for ABC/Dunhill in 1974 and then disappeared from sight. These tapes are demos cut prior to that album, with a full ten songs not featured on that release! The ever-reliable Lion Productions conspired with fellow jam-hunters Rockadrome Records to release these lost tapes into the wild, so read on:
"About forty years in the making, and finally the world has the second Stepson album. Utilizing tapes preserved by drummer Len Fagan then transferred to digital and mastered by bassist Bruce Hauser, this fine collection of twelve songs is as close as the world will ever get to a real second Stepson album. Some is raw, some is embryonic, but it's all prime stuff for fans to savor, reflecting the band's devil may care attitude and rock 'n' roll lifestyle. And just in case you don't believe that the band liked to party, consider that the exact recording dates (and even some locations) have long been forgotten. To borrow an old adage: If you can remember Stepson, you weren't there. Kicking off with a crunching riff by guitarist Joey Newman, 'Danger Zone' is the heaviest track Stepson ever cut, replete with an ominous atmosphere reflecting the seedy side of their native Los Angeles; 'Streets of Alameda' (1974) is an ode to vocalist Jeff Hawks' hometown, featuring a liquor store holdup and a stolen Lincoln used as the getaway car. 'Flesh and Blood' is the only track on here that got an official release, albeit by ex-Smith belter Gayle McCormick as the title track to her second solo album, released by Decca in 1972. This version showcases the riff in full glory. And if you don't believe that this riff is strong, consider that The Tonight Show band played it for approximately two weeks in 1976, prompting Fagan to confront 'author' Don Menza, who coincidentally did the 'Flesh and Blood' album's horn charts and was now claiming credit for the song under the title 'Instant Heart.' The song disappeared from late night TV show shortly thereafter. 'Bad Situation,' the only other 1974 track, describes the band's predicament that year: a track that should have propelled them to the big time, but instead bounced off a brick wall like a tennis ball. The maracas and funkified quasi-Bo Diddley groove hint at Stepson's growth and what might have been."
FUCKIN' A! The riffs DO NOT QUIT with this album! If you've had the good graces to hear Stepson's lone, proper album then you know what's in store; these guys were hittin' heavy on the proto-hard rock scene, powering thru tunes like contemporaries Thin Lizzy, Bad Company and hints at what would later morph (for better or worse) into "cock rock" in the early Eighties. Simply put - this is rockin' rock that rocks. Dudes. Just get it! But in all seriousness, guitarist Joey Newman's riffs are killer, blowing apart the blues scale and reassembling it into a leather-clad phoenix! Jeff Hawk's vocals cannot be understated though - powerful chops and a surprising emotional range for a rocker! We're diggin it HARD - RECOMMENDED for all you longhairs and riff-rangers! DIG INTO IT.
We're big fans of soul compilations 'round these parts - nuthin' beats throwing on an expertly compiled album of killer soul jams and winding away the day! This compilation is Volume 2 of the "R'n'B Meets Northern Soul" series, set upon documenting rare and killer cuts that have swiftly redefined the Northern Soul scene in the UK (which up until recent years had predominantly championed Eighties/Nineties Soul, Seventies Soul and Funk and "Uptown Soul"). This comp lays out twenty cuts of raw, TRUE R&B inflected soul jammers, from Sherri Taylor's raw hipshaker "He's The One Who Rings My Bell", to Jimmy Ricks' smoldering "Oh! What A Feeling" and everywhere in between - totally SOLID cuts to get that party started (or keep it GOING). This almost sounds like a few of those Crypt comps like "Hipshakers" or ""The Big Itch" but with a more soul-oriented twist. We're a fan and need more of this stuff up in our earholes! RECOMMENDED!
"Side 1:
01 Sherri Taylor - He's The One Who Rings My Bell
02 George Allan - Come On Home
03 Jimmy Ellis - Puttin It On Your Mind
04 Mary Ann Fisher - It's A Man's World
05 Cornerstone Trio - Summertime
06 Willie Mabon - Got To Have Some
07 Jimmy Braswell - Some Changes Made
08 Tony Clarke - Love Must Be Taboo
09 Tammy James - That's Fat Jack
10 Fred Lowery - Can't Get Enough Of My Baby's Lovin
Side 2:
01 Sarah Vaughn - Mama
02 A. C. Reed - I Got Money To Burn
03 Johnny Williams - Honey Child
04 Buddy Ace - True Love Money Can't Buy
05 Pat Hervey - Pain
06 Dorothy Price - I Lost A Love
07 Nelson Sanders - Your Sweet Love
08 Susan King - Building A Wall Around My Heart
09 Betty Everett - My Love
10 Jimmy Ricks - Oh! What A Feeling"
One of the best releases of ’06. Hypnotic Texas psychedelia that’s been in and out of print on vinyl inexplicably since its release. It’s back, for now and ready to be added to your collection. Trust us, you won't be sorry.
