Rooms With Brittle Views

Wild Swans - The Coldest Winter For A Hundred Years

2011-06-12T14:52:00.001-07:00

The Wild Swans - The Coldest Winter For A Hundred Years

Okay, not a download this one, but a link to where to get it as it's all new and shiny and deserves huge wads of cash thrown at it.

The Wild Swans are one of those bands that could have, should have...but didn't. They never quite captured the promise of that first single, and how could they? How do you follow something like *that*. But they tried, by gawd they tried. Came close a few times as well. And now we have a new album, twenty years or so after the last. And Paul Simpson nailed it, no longer tilting at windmills but slaying dragons and being home in time for tea.

I remember being very ill a few years back (I'm thankfully in rude health nowadays). The details aren't important but I was basically living in a (actual, large) cupboard and stricken mute. It was annoyingly serious and quite frankly I'd bottomed out. Saying that this band saved my life is possibly an exaggeration but they bloody well helped. Revolutionary Spirit gave me a kick up the arse that gave me my fight back. And fight I did. Saw them live last Friday, and it really was rather special. The Wild Swans....festoon them with riches.

BUY IT HERE

Zwischenfall - Sandy Eyes

2011-06-12T14:43:00.000-07:00

Zwischenfall - Sandy Eyes

A single on the always beguiling Les Disques Du Crépuscule label from 1984, very stylish 'synth pop'...which is selling it short a bit I think. Certainly very slick, but with heart. The b-side (Flucht) seems to pop up on various minimal compilations a fair bit. This is the rerecorded version with female vocals.

And yes, I've been away for *ages*, apologies. Updates at some point soonish, unless it's later. Ish.

The Model - Various

2011-03-06T05:15:00.000-08:00

The Model - Various

Kraftwerk's "The Model" is probably their best known song, and it has been covered by various bands to an insane degree. Here's a collection of ten of the slightly less known ones, featuring Snakefinger (who might have been the first to cover it, though Hikashu might be in with a shot here, who's also included), Aviador Dro, Nullsleep's 8-bit version, Messer Chups surf rock attack and many, many more....

The Blue Orchids - Peel Session - 17/04/1982

2011-03-06T05:10:00.000-08:00

The Blue Orchids - Peel Session - 17/04/1982

Recorded after their stint as Nico's backing band, the second Peel Session from the Blue Orchids and they've come a long, long way from their first. Part of the Blue Orchids charm was based on their ramshackle nature on records, but they've really tightened up here without losing anything. No Looking Back here has never sounded more epic. We got a further EP in 82 (Agents of Change) and then the Blue Orchids were no more. Well, this version of the band at least. There was, thankfully, more to come....

Just noticed in the comments that Martin Bramah has a new band with a new album, which you can get HERE

And yes, I do really need to check my comments more often.

Hunters & Collectors - The Fireman's Curse

2011-02-22T19:39:00.000-08:00

Hunters & Collectors - The Fireman's Curse

Their second album and weirdest effort, this Conny Plank-produced record is roundly dismissed by the group, although that's not so surprising considering how they morphed into a pub rock outfit after 1986. It follows in the vein of the industrial art-funk of their debut but features added eccentricity and messiness coupled with often jarring vocals and lyrics from Mark Seymour. It's a little Birthday Party-tinged – not surprisingly, Seymour used to be a roadie for them – and perhaps there's some pretense to it, but it doesn't sound like much else out there aside from then-percussionist Greg Perano's later offshoot group The Deadly Hume (and maybe 2x45-era Cabaret Voltaire or early Shriekback if you really want to stretch it). Certainly it's miles better than their streamlined pub rock material and these days I find myself listening to it even more than The Jaws of Life or their self-titled album, even though I think both of those are better records. "Curse," "Sway," "Judas Sheep" and "Eggheart" are worth a listen at least.

Zero Zero - Irrenanstalt

2011-02-22T13:14:00.000-08:00

Zero Zero - Irrenanstalt

A 7" Single from 1982 (don't have a scan of it, so there's a picture of the 12" instead), Zero Zero were led by Gerald Klepka, formerly of the Munich Orchestra. A-side is pretty good NDW, but the b-side (Glasherz)...ah, the b-side. First came across it as part of the New Wave Returns tapes back in the day, stainless steal ice wave of the finest kind.

Been massively busy of late, so updates are back to being on and off again. Hoping to get a couple more posters soonish, so things should pick up again round about then.

American Music Club - Over and Done

2011-01-29T09:01:00.000-08:00

American Music Club - Over and Done

This isn't the version of this single that brims with live performances; this North American promo includes the title cut (the weakest thing on this single, actually) and two far more impressive and winningly-titled B-sides. I'm not sure what "The Amyl Nitrate Dreams of Pat Robertson" (shouldn't that be amyl NITRITE?) has to do with the homophobic evangelical prick from The 700 Club, but it's a weird little spoken-word number reminiscent of Tom Waits and perhaps even Jandek. "In My Role As the Most Hated Singer in the Local Underground Music Scene" is the best selection here, a driving little number about a frontman driven to murder.

The Fatima Mansions - Three EPs

2011-01-29T08:13:00.000-08:00

The Fatima Mansions - Nite Flights EP / 1000% single (CD 1) / Popemobile EP

Here are three fairly hard to find EPs collected all in one place. Nite Flights includes a somewhat commercial but fine and faithful take on The Walker Brothers' song alongside a remix of said song, a Suicide cover ("Diamonds, Fur Coat, Champagne"), and most importantly the B-side "As I Washed the Blood Off," which goes from soft to loud in the same manner of Mansions classics like "A Walk in the Woods" and "Angel's Delight." 1000% includes the title cut alongside a complete industrial reworking of the song – replete with screamier re-recorded vocals from Cathal Coughlan – and a pretty brutal take on Leonard Cohen's "Paper Thin Hotel." The Popemobile EP was only released as a promotional item in the States and collects a random but excellent smattering of tracks. You get the then-current "Popemobile to Paraguay" alongside one of the B-sides to "The Loyaliser" (the jungle-tinged "Gary Numan's Porsche") and the previously unreleased "Sleep of the Just." The EP additionally comes with two selections from 1992 with less tinny sound quality: Valhalla Avenue's "Evil Man" appears here, as does the spiteful version on Bryan Adams' "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" that provided the Mansions with their lone de facto Top Ten UK hit, even if it mainly banked on being included with "Suicide is Painless" as done by Manic Street Preachers.

Frank Tovey - Sam Hall

2011-01-23T12:42:00.000-08:00

Frank Tovey - Sam Hall

From 1989, the man who was Fad Gadget with a very different offering than his usual. Main reason we're posting this one is the BBC Session version of Fad Gadget classic Ricky's Hand. Done in the acoustic/protest style he'd taken up by this time. We've also got a cover of House of the Rising Sun on here and it's curio to say the least.

I wasn't entirely convinced by this direction when I first heard it, and to be honest I don't think it really clicked for him until '92, when Worried Men In Second Hand Suits came out. Which really is a massively underrated album. But anyway, Frank Tovey - Sam Hall, come for Ricky's Hand, stay one of the pioneers of industrial against industrialiation.

Vam Cyborg - Gods Valley

2011-01-20T12:25:00.001-08:00

Vam Cyborg - Gods Valley

Bit of italo disco from 1984 with a hint, just a hint of EBM about it. Who, what or whom Vam Cyborg are I could not tell you, which is half the fun of this sort of thing. There's countless faceless bands and producers churning this stuff out by the dozen. Although, Vam Cyborg did have another single out the year before (Actos de Maldad), which was a bit less moody and a bit more bouncy.

Anyway, more updates to follow. Been awfully busy since Christmas but more shiny things are on the way.

Cha Cha 2000 - Autobahn

2010-12-25T05:10:00.000-08:00

Cha Cha 2000 - Autobahn

Happy Christmas to you all. And what better way to celebrate than by posting a Kraftwerk cover. This was a 10" single from 1996, looks to be a side project from Mick Derrick and Pat Marsden of Prolapse. The cover of Autobahn is faithful enough, but using a synth that's making think of Lord Rockingham's XI Hoots Mon. Which didn't even use a synth. You'll know what I mean when you hear it. Possibly.

Life Without Buildings - Love Trinity

2010-12-09T09:35:00.000-08:00

Life Without Buildings - Love Trinity

Another request and another final single, one which was only released in Australia for some reason. Glasgow's Life Without Buildings had a brief life but their work has resonated far beyond their lifespan. I was never a big fan at the time but seem to have warmed somewhat to them over the years.

"Resonated?" Jesus. I feel dirty, like an NME journo with blood pouring from his nose due to a hilarious coke/Ajax switcharoo prank.

Werdwolfen - Christmas With Uncle Brian

2010-12-09T08:27:00.000-08:00

Werdwolfen - Christmas With Uncle Brian

A short break from the requests, Life Without Buildings, Band of Holy Joy and whatever else I was supposed to be posting to come.

Anyway, more Christmas joy. If this doesn't sap the will to stuff turkeys to within an inch of their life then nothing will. Werdwolfen is a thingy I'm occasionally involved in, and this one was a basically just a roomful of people getting arseholed on cheap gin until sounds came out. Er, here are those sounds.

Prolapse - When Space Invaders Were Big

2010-12-07T08:50:00.000-08:00

Prolapse - When Space Invaders Were Big

Er, yeah. Remember I said last time I didn't have any of the Prolapse requests. Turns out I did. Found a couple of other interesting related things that'll I'll get around to as well....

Anyway, I've gone on about Prolapse before so I won't ramble. This is from 1994 and was a ltd edition single of two tracks from their first Peel session. Both are fucking brilliant. Enjoy! Consume! Devour!

The Revillos - Midnight

2010-12-05T09:24:00.000-08:00

The Revillos - Midnight

Had a couple of requests over the last couple of months so I thought I'd post them. Again, I do read comments and things sooner or later, I'm just rather bad at replying or noticing I've had them until weeks afterwards. Oops.

Anyway, first up we've got a late single by the Revillos from 1984, possibly their last. Bit of an odd one this, sounds a bit like Mari Wilson in a strange way. This is not a bad thing. You can find the Revillos first single (Where's The Boy For Me) on this very blog. And if you haven't heard it, you should, as it's one of the finest singles ever recorded.

Had a few people ask for various Prolapse singles and man, I would if I had them. Sorry!

Christmas - Songs To Save Your Sanity II

2010-12-03T13:35:00.000-08:00

Christmas - Songs To Save Your Sanity II

It's Christmas again, as much as we love Jona Lewie it's gotten to the point where we don't want to stop the cavalry. We want them to rampage through the airwaves, putting the likes of Slade and Cliff Richard to the sword. Death! Death to them all! DEATH!

Or something.

Anyway, like last year, I'm doing another lesser played Xmas song collection. And here it be!
Tracklisting is....

1. Sad Lovers and Giants - Christmas on Easter Island
2. The Residents - Dumbo, the Clown (who loved Christmas)
3. Malcolm Middleton - We're All Going To Die (Radio Session)
4. Ren and Stimpy - I Hate Christmas
5. Coil - Christmas is Drawing Near
6. Werdwolfen - Christmas Pan Disaster
7. The Damned - There Aint No Sanity Clause
8. Flaming Lips - Christmas at the Zoo
9 . Pet Shop Boys - It Doesn't Often Snow at Christmas
10. The Fall - No Xmas for John Quays
11. Swinging Buildings - Praying for a Cheaper Christmas
12. Paul Haig - Scottish Christmas

Soooo, what do we have here? Highlights including the dense, slightly sinister electro pop of Swinging Buildings (who are possibly New Order and chums faffing around), the Fall bombing through John Quays on an early Peel Session. A rather beautiful instrumental from Paul Haig, even if it does sound a bit like it should be the backdrop to a sofa advert. Sprout based woes from Werdwolfen, Malcolm Middleton spreading Xmas cheer and lots more. Enjoy.

Stephen - Radar of Small Dogs

2010-12-02T18:59:00.000-08:00

Stephen - Radar of Small Dogs

More shabazz from New Zealand. While David Kilgour had another one of his sabbaticals from The Clean, he recorded material with this outfit between 1987 and 1990 alongside the likes of Alf Danielson (Goblin Mix), Geoff Hoani, and later on Stephen Kilroy (whose "45 Degrees Below Frozen" always has a place in my heart). They dropped one EP for Flying Nun, the jangly and propulsive drive of 1988's Dumb, before they disbanded midway through recording their debut. This 1993 collection features that EP, then some 1990 demos that sound pretty well realized, and closes out with two live recordings from a tavern in Christchurch. Some of this really anticipates musical developments of the Nineties; aside from the hints of The Jesus and Mary Chain and The Wolfhounds, songs like "Tape Machine" hint at My Bloody Valentine's Loveless and some of their material sounds a bit like what Pixies were doing at the same time. "Little Audrey" would have fit well on The Adventures of Pete & Pete next to Chug's "Flowers." Speaking of Chug, Kiwi luminaries like Norma O'Malley of the aforementioned group and Peter and Graeme Jefferies (Nocturnal Projections, This Kind of Punishment) make appearances on some of these songs.

Anna Domino - Take That

2010-11-30T15:21:00.000-08:00

Anna Domino - Take That

1985 single from Anna Domino, A-side produced by Alan Rankine (Associates) and B-side produced by Marc Moulin (Telex). I've never quite got on with Anna Domino, but when she's at her best (Land of my Dreams, amongst others) she's bloody good. I really should investigate past the first two albums.

Busy-busy at the moment, updates will be sporadic but updates there shall be....

Pulp - Get Frisky With Pulp

2010-11-09T13:30:00.000-08:00

Pulp - Get Frisky With Pulp

So Pulp are reforming. I make this topical post o'clock.

This is a bootleg album of live tracks released in 1995, and I think the first Pulp album I ever owned as I found it dirt cheap in what I think is the now dearly departed Third Base records of Dunfermline. Pretty much all Different Class/His 'n Hers era of Pulp, and a fine reminder of how good they were. And maybe, just maybe, just how good they'll be again. We can but hope.

Coming up. Some Wim Mertens, possibly some Ten Benson, or probably some more singles that sold about two copies and sound like they were recorded on a wax cylinder.

Jimmy McMillan - The Rent is Too Damn High

2010-10-25T18:19:00.000-07:00

Jimmy McMillan - The Rent is Too Damn High

This might be the weirdest thing I'll ever upload. In the past week or so, New York gubernatorial candidate Jimmy McMillan has garnered an increasing amount of attention in the wake of his decidedly spirited televised appearance in the New York governor debate, which went viral almost immediately. He's been in charge of the "Rent is Too Damn High Party" since roughly 2005 and has tried to get himself elected to mayoral, senatorial, and gubernatorial offices in New York since 1993. He's promised to bulldoze the Adirondack Mountains (Bill Drummond's proposal to bulldoze Stonehenge has nothing on McMillan's mountain top removal) and permit people to marry shoes if they'd like. Other notable things about him can be uncovered here. In the past week he's been parodied on Saturday Night Live and appeared on Hannity on Fox News. The link at the top of this post features songs of his that I downloaded from his party's website and a few more that I downloaded by way of looking up the page source to uncover embedded mp3s. Most of the files were recorded at a 128 kbps sample rate (save for the ones I converted from .wav files) but that just adds to the charm. It's totally the missing link between Wesley Willis, Dessarae Bradford, General Larry Platt and Da Twinky Man. My favorite moments include the Kraftwerk-ish R&B club banger "They Forgot About Us," "Crying Out Loud," the relatively chill "They Took 'Damn' Out Our Party Name" and its accompanying house-ified remix, his defeated rants on "The Only One," the reuse of the sample of him saying "THE RENT ... IS TOOOO- DAAAAMN- HIGH" in almost every song, and the frequent varispeeded vocals reminiscent of Prince's "Bob George" that appear in many of his songs.

P.S. If someone can find "West End" or the complete version of his ballad "My Guitar" I will be happy to re-upload this and include them both.

Cabaret Voltaire - Drinking Gasoline

2010-10-12T09:45:00.000-07:00

Cabaret Voltaire - Drinking Gasoline

From 1985, a double 12" single, one song per side. Cabaret Voltaire at the height of their electronic/funk/dance/whatever phase. Sleepwalking is probably the highlight here, edge of the seat electrofunk with a really bloody nasty feel to it. This is probably my favourite era of the Cabs, really filthy sounding electro that infuses you with the uncontrollable urge to get the fuck down.

The Divine Comedy - Indulgence No. 2

2010-10-03T16:41:00.000-07:00

Divine Comedy - Indulgence No. 2

I was going to post this just before my extended holiday, so here it finally is. The second Indulgence 7 inch, limited to 1000 copies apparently, from 1994. It's a selection of three live tracks from Promenade at a Hamburg show in '94, no covers this time but still a worthwhile download.

It's Bigger Than Both Of Us - NZ Singles 1979-82

2010-10-01T09:46:00.000-07:00

It's Bigger Than Both Of Us - NZ Singles 1979-82 (Disc 1)

It's Bigger Than Both Of Us - NZ Singles 1979-82 (Disc 2)

Here's a pretty decent primer into the early punk, pop-punk and post-punk sound of New Zealand, featuring records from the more prominent independent labels in the aforementioned country like Flying Nun, Propeller and Ripper, along with some other songs that appeared on smaller, sometimes self-released imprints. Two of New Zealand's most internationally revered bands, The Clean and The Chills, make appearances here. Other notable groups include Toy Love (the group that Chris Knox of Tall Dwarfs had the most success with in the Southern Hemisphere), The Screaming Meemees ("Sunday Boys" was a huge hit in NZ and "See Me Go" topped the charts—both are included), Pop Mechanix, The Swingers and Blam Blam Blam. (The latter's "best of" appears elsewhere on this blog.) There's a few things I'd nitpick over the exclusion of, like Mi-Sex, Riot 111, The Gordons and The Pin Group, but that's a minor gripe. Otherwise, this kind of encapsulates the nascent independent sound of New Zealand during the reign of Robert Muldoon, in the days where English music magazines would arrive over a month late, where revered singles and albums from abroad would take a year to get released and would debut in the upper echelons of the national charts after months of anticipation, and where Kiwis rioted over the national rugby team (All Blacks) having to play against Apartheid-era South Africa's Springboks.

The Band of Holy Joy - Tactless

2010-10-01T09:36:00.000-07:00

The Band of Holy Joy - Tactless

I've only recently got into The Band of Holy Joy, so I'm far from an expert but this is probably my favourite of what I've heard so far. 12" version of the single this, so you get Butterfly Beautiful Burns and Zombie as b-side and a different version from the album version of Tactless on the A-side.

Cabaret/end of the pier folk/indie or SOMETHING. I'm having trouble describing them but when you listen it all becomes clear. I was listening to this today in the pissing rain, walking around London getting up to whatever I get up to and listening to this made everything make sense. It did not stop me getting completely soaked though, which should have been the job of my umbrella if it hadn't fallen apart and been thrown into a bin with great force just as the heavens open. Bastard brolly.

David Westlake - Westlake

2010-09-29T13:27:00.001-07:00

David Westlake - Westlake

David Westlake and Luke Haines with a couple of members of the Triffids from 1987, the period between the first Servants line up and the second. Standout track is Rings On Her Fingers, which first appeared on the Servants Peel Session.

The Servants and David Westlake get lumped in with the c86 movement, and indeed even appeared on the famous NME c86 tape, but they were so very much *more* than that, if they were even that at all. Beautiful late afternoon songs. The beginning of the end of the affair. Lovely.

Anyway. HELLO AGAIN. I do hope you've all been keeping well. Apologies for my absence but we're back in business. Nice and smooth.

Oh yes, had a wad of requests over the last few months, I shall see what I can do in the upcoming weeks.

The Divine Comedy - Indulgence No 1

2010-05-23T10:25:00.000-07:00

The Divine Comedy - Indulgence No 1

A bit of Divine Comedy I think, as it's summer and all. The first of the two "Indulgence" picture discs from 1993, this features two covers (Hate My Way from Throwing Muses and better yet, Untitled Melody from Orange Juice) and finishes off with a remix of Europe By Train.

Will try and put the second one up in the not too distant future....

Prolapse - Fob.com

2010-05-15T11:01:00.000-07:00

Prolapse - Fob.com

I posted the first Ep/single from Prolapse a while ago and now I post the last. Claustrophobic grinding horror. Girl/psychotic scottish boy vocals. Fun for all the family.

Next: Some minimal synth stuff or some Italo. Or possibly both.

Poésie Noire- Starvation of a Mind

2010-05-12T08:31:00.000-07:00

Poésie Noire - Starvation of a Mind

From 1986, the third (I think) single from Belgium's Poésie Noir. From round about the same time as A Split Second but tended to veer more towards new wave/synth pop than the harder EBM stuff.

"She'll be looking at your trying to detect, all the little things your wife neglects". Haunting, slightly overblown kitchen sink synth pop for your listening enjoyment.

Also: Bit of synth brass. Fuck yeah.

Dislocation Dance - Rosemary (12")

2010-05-04T12:37:00.000-07:00

Dislocation Dance - Rosemary (12")

A classic guitar pop single from Dislocation Dance on the doubly classic New Hormones label. Later work would see them move into a Jazz influenced direction, which to be fair, wasn't half bad at times. But I digress, because what we've got here is pure undiluted 100% pop that'll make you go blind.

Ladytron - Peel Session

2010-04-30T13:52:00.000-07:00

Ladytron - Peel Session

The first and technically only Peel Session from Ladytron from 2001, though I think they did a live set the year after for him. Their first album (604) was pretty much one of the best albums of the last decade for me. You knew what it was drawing upon but it still had a sound of it's own. As they've went on they've kinda grew closer to a lot of the other electronic bands of the day so I drifted away but 604 will always be worth a spin or ten.

Oh yes, the session. Discotraxx, Another Breakfast With You, Holiday 601 and Zmeyka. Probably not in that order. Grand stuff.

Blue Orchids - The Flood

2010-04-29T13:31:00.000-07:00

Blue Orchids - The Flood

Debut from the Blue Orchids, formed by Martin Bramah and Una Baines, fresh from the first line up of the Fall. This is how you do a debut single, nuns singing as the psych keyboard kicks in and Martin Bramah starts bawling his head off. Fucking awesome. And the best thing is, they only got better after this.

I very much love this band. Never got into the Fall but this....man, this is something else.

Television Personalities - Three Wishes

2010-04-10T09:39:00.000-07:00

Television Personalities - Three Wishes

"If I had three wishes, I'd wish for three more"

From 1982, a beautiful otherworldly little pop song that saunters along looking fearfully upwards. Probably my favourite TVP single.

B-sides are Geoffery Ingram and Don't The Kids Just Love It.

Busy-busy-busy. Trying to keep up with posting on here again though, so more tomorrow....

Six Sed Red - Shake It Right

2010-04-09T14:43:00.000-07:00

Six Sed Red - Shake It Right

Hmm, should really make up for that last post. And this is a perfect way to do it....

From 1984, the first and only release from Six Sed Red. Featuring Cindy Ecstasy on vocals and produced by Cabaret Voltaire, sounds like the Cabs at their most poppy. Which is no bad thing, as this is nothing less than a lost classic.

After this, Cindy Ecstasy disappeared from history, her work complete. Flying off like some chemically enabled Mary Poppins to fields anew... adieu.

Menswear - Hay Tiempo

2010-04-06T08:24:00.000-07:00

Menswear - Hay Tiempo

So what do you do when it's all gone wrong? Well, if you're Menswear you thank your lucky stars for Japan and release a second album that is remarkably far removed from your first. Kinda middle of the road rock, with a couple of nods to their earlier days. Didn't really do much, and the band split for good soon after. But while it's not the best record in the world, I love stuff like this. It reminds us that it's a wonderfully strange world, so much so that you don't have to nip off to a parallel universe to find a second album by Menswear (though to listen to the krautrock/skiffle fusion that is third album you will, alas, have to smite the laws of physics and hope for a soft landing)

Fun Fact: Couple of sources tell me Sean O'Hagen of Microdisney/High Llamas did the strings for this.

I'm dangerously close to posting Babylon Zoo albums now, aren't I? Brrr....

Shark Vegas - You Hurt Me

2010-04-05T11:49:00.000-07:00

Shark Vegas - You Hurt Me

'86 Factory release from a German based band championed by Bernard Sumner. Originally mixed by Conny Plank and released back in '84 (on Totenkopf), the Factory version was remixed by Be Music and has Bernard adding a wee bit of guitar on the outro. B-side "But Now Your Flesh Lies Rotting In Hell" is alas, just another mix of the A-side. But what a title....

Despite supporting New Order on tour, only one more song (Pretenders of Love) saw the light of day on a later, US only, Factory compilation.

Prolapse - Crate EP

2010-04-03T05:38:00.000-07:00

Prolapse - Crate EP

And we're back with an almighty apocalyptic racket with the first release from Prolapse. They're at their most vicious here, sounds like audio napalm. Wonderful stuff, and just the tip of the iceberg of what they'd eventually become.

Been run off my feet with work and other projects, so updates have been somewhat scarce. Hopefully should have some more goodies for y'all in the next couple of days.

Tatty-bye.

The Young Gods - Did You Miss Me?

2010-03-18T12:17:00.000-07:00

The Young Gods - Did You Miss Me?

Swiss industrial godfathers' second single. A Gary Glitter cover, everyone's favourite kiddy-fiddler's magnum opus turned into a one second end of the pier snapshot repeated over and over with a sinister "Did You Miss Me?" overlaid. When they make the film of Glitter's life, this one will be the soundtrack to the Vietnam sex scenes.

Next up, Crass cover Jonathan King. Possibly.

Virna Lindt - Young and Hip

2010-03-14T08:03:00.000-07:00

Virna Lindt - Young and Hip

We'll give El a bit of a rest and look at another "concept" label in the form of the Compact Organisation. Perfect pop for young go-getters masterminded by the one and only Tot Taylor. Probably most famous for launching the career of Mari Wilson, there was many a gem to be had from the rest of their roster. Including this single from 1981 by Virna Lindt, probably my favorite Compact release and a perfect statement of intent for the label itself.

Robyn Hitchcock - Happy the Golden Prince

2010-03-13T02:27:00.000-08:00

Robyn Hitchcock - Happy the Golden Prince

A Flexi-disc free with A Bucketful of Brains magazine in 1986, Happy the Golden Prince is....well, it's odd. Even by Mr Hitchcock standards. A little story about Happy. Happy the Golden Prince. Strangely trippy.

Been awfully busy of late, so I've been neglecting this poor old blog a bit. More updates in the week....

King of Luxembourg - A Picture of Dorian Gray

2010-02-27T06:58:00.000-08:00

King of Luxembourg - A Picture of Dorian Gray

I'm afraid my scanner is buried under a pile of what can only be described as "stuff", so you'll have to make do with this rather charming picture of the King instead. Here we have the 12" single of A Picture of Dorian Gray, the main feature being a cover of the Television Personalities classic. There's a couple of b-sides here that I don't think have ever been reissued, a spirited cover of the Soft Boys Where Are The Prawns? and another one of his atmospheric instrumental pieces (Hasta Pronto), the sort of thing he did for the Jarman soundtracks. On top of that, you have another instrumental and a delightful cover of Lee Remick. Fantastic record.

That's probably the last of the El stuff I've got that's not seen the light of day since it's first release. Can't quite remember what else is out there, but if I remember I'll be sure to post.

Klaxon 5 - Hothouse

2010-02-14T10:08:00.001-08:00

Klaxon 5 - Hothouse

As promised, more El Records with the first Klaxon 5 single. Was trying to find a mp3 of this for years (as I don't think it's ever been reissued) but to no avail so I've tracked down the single and ripped it myself (with considerable help from my far more technical minded better half).

Later this week: King of Luxembourg - Picture of Dorian Gray 12" single.

Mayfair Charm School - Montague Terrace (In Blue)

2010-02-14T09:32:00.000-08:00

Mayfair Charm School - Montague Terrace (In Blue)

Another El Records release, featuring Adam and the Ants associate Mark Alleyne with actual Ants Marco Pirroni and Andy Warren. It's a Scott Walker cover and hey, not a bad one either. In fact I heard this before I heard the Walker original so I tend to think of this one more fondly. I know, I know....but it *is* rather good.

B-side is "Little Black Dresses", which is far more jaunty.

More 'El on the way. Trying to rip Klaxon 5's Hothouse single as we speak, and if my glamorous assistant can work out how to do it so it doesn't sound like complete crap it'll be up later on.....

Klaxon 5 - Never Underestimate the Ignorance of the Rich

2010-02-07T13:12:00.000-08:00

Klaxon 5 - Never Underestimate the Ignorance of the Rich

An old favourite of mine, the second and (I think) last single from Klaxon 5 on the ever glorious El Records from 1986. A Ealing romp of a song that deserved to imprint itself on the general public but, alas, sank beneath waves of indifference.

I know very little about Klaxon 5, I think Troy Tate had a hand in producing the b-side of this single and a couple of years before this they had another single out (Hothouse). Like many 'El bands, their names have been lost to history....

The Wake - Crush The Flowers

2010-02-03T12:58:00.000-08:00

The Wake - Crush The Flowers

The first release on Sarah from The Wake, who left Factory the year before and found Sarah Records to be a far neater fit. Lovely synth/indie pop from a massively underrated band.

Britpop bonanza postponed until I can't think of anything else to post. Which might take some time.

Marion - Sparkle Ep

2010-01-28T14:39:00.000-08:00

Marion - Sparkle EP

And so, it begins. Mother! I want to go back....to the 90's...

1998, to be exact. This was the final release from Manchester's Marion. A Japan only EP with a track from the second album and six other tracks. It's a perfect example of the Britpop era b-side. Acoustic version. Cover version and utterly beyond terrible remix. Couple of other non-album tracks on here that weren't anywhere else so it's worth a look if you're a fan (which I was, back in the day)

Vitor Hublot - La P'tite Gayole

2010-01-26T12:45:00.000-08:00

Vitor Hublot - La P'tite Gayole

A drastic cover of the Jules Beaucarne Walloon anthem, this Belgian band travel into the realms of the batshit insane (the video is well worth tracking down on Youtube). 80's surreal new wave pop japes for all. Also features a stunning bass line. Stunning I tells you.

I should warn you now, another shit Britpop singles bonanza is on the horizon. Duck and cover dear readers, duck and cover....

Force Dimension - Tension

2010-01-23T05:21:00.000-08:00

Force Dimension - Tension

Maxi single from 1989 from this Belgian group. Softer than EBM, harder than synth pop. They even had two versions of their first album, each of which adhering to one style more than the other. This is one of their early singles, features an extended version of Tension and a couple of decent b-sides. It all sounds like Amiga demo scene music which, of course, equals pure fecking genius. Enjoy!

Paul Haig - Running Away

2010-01-20T10:28:00.001-08:00

Paul Haig - Running Away

One of the first Paul Haig solo singles, I've never known quite what to make of this cover of the Sly and the Family Stone classic. I think it just about works, there's a certain wistfulness about it all and it's not overproduced to a painful extent like the following album. B-side (Time) is very interesting...a post punk hangover from the brief experimental period between Josef K and his solo career. I'd have like to have seen him develop that further, but then I've always liked the mad contrast between Josef K and his solo stuff. I've got a real liking for his (admittedly, rather variable) 80's output, and by the time he released Chain in '89, he'd finally released something almost meeting the (admittedly, rather lofty) expectations of him.

Echo and the Bunnymen - Rescue

2010-01-17T05:38:00.000-08:00

Echo and the Bunnymen - Rescue

Early Echo and the Bunnymen single (their second I think), Rescue is an anthem and a half and for my money one of their strongest songs, b-side Simple Stuff is a sneering dirge of a song and all the better for it.

Anyway, it's the Bunnymen. Can't go wrong. Well, anything before and including Ocean Rain at least. Then you can. Very much so.

Howard Devoto - Rainy Season

2010-01-14T08:22:00.000-08:00

Howard Devoto - Rainy Season

From 1983, one of the singles (the other being Cold Imagination) from Howard Devoto's post Magazine solo album. Featuring members of Magazine, it's somewhat softer and melodic than their earlier work but still feels like a continuation. The album itself is a bit of a mixed bag, but this single deserved to chart far higher than it did. B-side is a remixed instrumental version of the flip side.

Defuser - World Suicide

2010-01-10T13:06:00.001-08:00

Defuser - World Suicide

San Francisco Art Punk from 1982, synth rock/pop hysteria that bounces along like a out of control shopping trolley down a very steep hill. "WE WANT...WORLD SUICIDE" they shout at the chorus before a cheery fade out of "It's going to happen. It's going to happen". If you're gonna go, go with a smile....

This is *ace*. B-side isn't too shabby either.

Miaow - Break The Code

2010-01-06T02:30:00.000-08:00

Miaow - Break The Code

The final single from Miaow, released on Factory in 1987. Very different from their earlier indie/twee days, this is far more sophisticated stuff. Excellent lounge/synth/indie/post-punk/thingy. When you're having to resort to "thingy" to describe something, you know you're onto a winner.

Miaow would sadly dissolve after this (before recording a full length album), but lead singer Cath Caroll would release the rather excellent England Made Me in '88.

Aztec Camera - Mattress Of Wire

2010-01-05T04:32:00.000-08:00

Aztec Camera - Mattress Of Wire

I posted the first Postcard single a couple of posts ago and now I'm posting the last. This one always seems to get overlooked a bit, but this is nothing less than majestic and makes for a fine swan song.

"How can you sleep on a mattress of wire
Oh, how can you tire
Aspiring for sure to all that is pure

Of that I am sure"

Y'know, as much as I've got time for High Land, Hard Rain, I don't think Roddy Frame ever really recaptured the *something* he had with his first two singles. Lovely stuff.

Always - Metroland

2010-01-04T14:32:00.001-08:00

Always - Metroland

12" Single on El Records, Always was pretty much just Kevin Wright, who would record another album under the name Always, post El before going under the name Mr. Wright thereafter. A step away from the usual El whimsy, bit more melancholy and probably one of the finest things they released.

Short post as I'm horribly busy at the moment, updates from myself might be slightly sparser this month than usual.

Ooh yes, if anyone has a rip of 'The Balloon Club' Mr Wright 12" single, I'd be very interested in hearing it...on Suburbs of Hell from 1991 I think....

Isabelle Aubret - Isabelle Aubret [Chansons D'auteurs]

2009-12-29T10:47:00.000-08:00

Isabelle Aubret - Isabelle Aubret

This compilation dates back to about 1998 or so and compiles material from this French chanteuse/torch singer issued between 1961 and 1964. Serge Gainsbourg penned songs for her during this period, director Jacques Demy wanted her to play Genevieve in The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (up until she got into a car wreck in 1963 and spent almost two years recuperating, hence how Catherine Deneuve landed the lead role) and Jacques Brel gave her the lifetime rights to his composition "La Fanette"—included on this release. She made several appearances in the Eurovision contest, winning in 1962 with "La premier amour" (also included here) and appearing as a runner-up in 1961 and in 1970. Later on, she would be ignored in her home country for her radical left politics in the wake of the Movement of May 1968, but would return to fame in the 1980s. She still records music today.

The Gadgets - The Blue Album

2009-12-26T14:09:00.000-08:00

The Gadgets - The Blue Album

The Gadgets are a wonderful band shrouded in a degree of mystery and are normally mentioned in conjunction with Matt Johnston of The The fame, but also included John Hyde and Colin Lloyd Tucker. A completely studio based band, despite being in existence in various forms from 1980 to 1989, they never played live. This is their third album and possibly their finest hour, everything is much more structured but no less imaginative for it. Features 'We Had No Way Of Knowing', which is nothing less than brilliant.

Orange Juice - Falling and Laughing

2009-12-25T08:26:00.000-08:00

Orange Juice - Falling and Laughing

The first release by Orange Juice and indeed, the first release on Postcard records. The title track used to be a staple of any mixtape I used to make for myself (I didn't give up walkmen for a very, very long time and would probably still use one if I hadn't received a iPod one Xmas) when I would wander around Cambridge and try and make sense of numerous heartaches I'd inflicted on myself and indeed others. Wonderful, wonderful song.

B-sides are the instrumental Moscow and the almost instrumental Moscow Olympics. As a bonus, I've added the Flexidisc of Felicity (which was included with most copies of this single) which is a rather ropey live version but still rather charming.

Merry Christmas everyone, thanks for your comments and support over the year. Have a good one.

xxx

This Kind of Punishment - In the Same Room + 5 by Four

2009-12-22T05:31:00.000-08:00

This Kind of Punishment - In the Same Room + 5 by Four

This third and final LP from the brotherly New Zealand duo of Peter and Graeme Jefferies (both formerly part of Nocturnal Projections) before they split and went solo mostly tends to eschew the piano-oriented strains of their earlier efforts, often harkening back to the more straightforward post-punk days of their old group—albeit with a slightly noisier and more lo-fi approach despite being recorded in a proper studio. They even work a few old NP songs like "Don't Go", "Words Fail Me", and—on the 5 by Four EP—"Out of My Hands". Fellow Kiwi luminaries like Shayne Carter (Straitjacket Fits, DoubleHappys) and Michael Morley (The Dead C.) assist them from time to time on 1987's In the Same Room; meanwhile on 1985's aforementioned 5 by Four, the group opts for a more experimental approach reminiscent of the more oddball numbers from Wire and Swell Maps, replete with a spoken-word track, an acoustic number and some minor freak-outs.

Cabaret Voltaire - Janice Long Session - 1986

2009-12-16T13:11:00.000-08:00

Cabaret Voltaire - Janice Long Session - 1986

Enough Christmas gubbins I think, I've had Product Patrol stuck in my head the last couple of days so I thought I'd share this tonight instead. A session from August 1986 that has (I think) the only recorded version of 'You Like To Torment Me' which is a great lost Cabs song that deserves to be heard more.

Hey! Hey!, We've Got Heart and a cracking version of Sex Money Freaks make up the rest of the session. The band were perhaps past their high point but were really fucking going for it here. Well worth a listen.

Christmas - Songs to Save Your Sanity

2009-12-13T14:00:00.000-08:00

Christmas - Songs to Save Your Sanity

It's Christmas. You know it's Christmas because you hear the same sodding songs every sodding year and you want to tear your sodding ears off and shove them up your sodding arse because you are sick to sodding death of Kirsty McColl calling Shane McGowan a faggot. So behold, here is a little compilation of Christmas songs that haven't been played to death.

Tracks are...

Associates - The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot
Blacksmoke - I'm Dreaming of a Black Christmas
Cocteau Twins - Frosty The Snowman
Demin - I Will Cry At Christmas
Half Man Half Biscuit - It's Clichéd to Be Cynical at Christmas
Kid Creole & The Coconuts - Christmas on Riverside Drive
Louis Philippe - The 13th Day Of Christmas
Melt Banana - ''White Christmas''
Mr Martini - Christmas In Capri
Paul Haig - Christiania
St Etienne - I Don't Intend To Spend Christmas Without You
X-Ray Pop - Fuzzy Christmas

I'm rather looking forward to Christmas this year, but that's more to do with the fact if I don't get a holiday soon I'm going to throw the entire contents of my office out the window into the Thames.

Cristina - Things Fall Apart

2009-12-11T11:56:00.000-08:00

Cristina - Things Fall Apart

This is easily my favourite Christmas single, relentlessly grim, Christmas on skid row as the Queen of Ze Records faces bleak horror. Featuring such gems as: "I caught a cab back to my flat. And wept a bit. And fed the cat". Genius. Probably one of Cristina's finest moments.

We really are in the middle of Xmas meltdown at the moment, I'm hearing Live Aid, I'm hearing Phil Spector (hey, I LIKED the Xmas album once, but by the 46th listen it drags a bit) and I even heard Alvin and the Chipmunks. End times. But hey, ya can't beat 'em, join 'em, and I'll have a Xmas compliation up in a couple of days.....oh ho yes....

Various - If You Can't Please Yourself, You Can't Please Your Soul

2009-12-06T12:27:00.001-08:00

Various - If You Can't Please Yourself, You Can't Please Your Soul

The second Some Bizarre compilation, released in 1985. A fantastic collection with nary a duff track to be found. Things kick off with Jim Foetus' jolly The Only Good Christian is a Dead Christian, we've got Cabaret Voltaire with Product Patrol, Coil with the Wheel, Marc Almond, The The (a rare b-side), Yello sounding strangely demonic and tons more. Far more varied than the first Some Bizarre compilation, this is essential and more importantly, *interesting* listening. Enjoy!

The Sound - Heyday

2009-12-05T12:44:00.000-08:00

The Sound - Heyday

I haven't posted anything by the Sound yet I think, which is a woeful state of affairs. This is an early single and finds the Sound spitting out three minutes of fucking awesome. Adrian Borland always had this nervous energy about him and he just lets rip here. B-side (Brute Force) is somewhat more subdued but no less powerful for it. Classic single by a classic band. I don't think I've seen the words "underrated" and "criminally ignored" used as much with a band as they have with The Sound but it's with good reason. Why they weren't *huge* I'll never know....

Art - The Only Band In The World

2009-12-02T06:04:00.000-08:00

Art - The Only Band In The World

Sometimes music journos doing records can work, and here's a fine example. A brilliantly vicious record, the A-side (Ugly People with Fancy Hairdos) mercilessly eviscerates hipsters everywhere. It worked then, and it only takes a glance in the direction of Hoxton to show it works now. It's like You'll Dance To Anything ramped up to the Nth degree. Laugh, feel depressed it's subjects are alive and well and then weep bitter, bitter tears. Sob.

I might be missing the last track on this, I can't remember if there's two b-sides or not. Bah.

Eternal Triangle - Nothing But a Friend (12")

2009-11-29T12:26:00.000-08:00

Eternal Triangle - Nothing But a Friend (12")

From 1984 and on Situation 2, I don't know a great deal about this band, seems to have been made up from the keyboard player from Fischer-Z and a chap from the Berlin Blondes. A minor synth pop classic that was somewhat hampered by rather *meh* remixes for the single (I've included the album version so you can see what I mean).

The Dentists - Strawberries Are Growing In My Garden (And It's Wintertime)

2009-11-27T01:57:00.000-08:00

The Dentists - Strawberries Are Growing In My Garden (And It's Wintertime)

Mid/late 80's indie band who sort of got lumped in with the c86 thing a bit but were far more psych/60's influenced. This was their first single (from '85) and is a lovely little number to go wandering around with a vague idea to get a sausage roll from the bakery down the road on a wintery November morn. Which, funnily enough, I've just done. Nom nom nom.

B-sides are also pretty cracking, especially Burning The Thoughts From My Skin.

Kling Klang - Rocker/Vander

2009-11-24T13:09:00.000-08:00

Kling Klang - Rocker/Vander

Possibly the first (though I could be wrong) single from Liverpool's Kling Klang. Violent, apocalyptic space prog that marches upon Earth, wipes it clean of all life and sets it's flag upon it as a warning to others. Wagner, Holst, the beards of a thousand hippy Germans noise mongers marched as one upon the dawn of the 21st Century. This is epic, and possibly one of my all time favourite singles. You put it on and you want to prance around like some sort of green skinned space dictator. On the crack.

Anyway, this is glorious. Listen and love!

Naked Lunch - Make Believe/Breathe

2009-11-22T15:46:00.000-08:00

Naked Lunch - Make Believe/Breathe

I've seen some Naked Lunch singles doing the blog rounds but I don't think I've seen this one (haven't looked for a bit though), so here it is. Naked Lunch are your classic early 80's synth act who through straight under the radar and into a wall, leaving nary a trace....at least they would have done if it wasn't for the legendary Some Bizzare Album compliation, having one track (La Femme) included.

The A-side of this is a stab at doing chart friendly synth pop, it's alright. Not bad. Not great. You can see why it didn't do much and you can see why it would have done something if it did. The b-side though....ah, quite another story. A gloriously sleazy romp, with synths of questionable morality, words sustained long past the realms of decency and is generally a bloody good track.

Best thing this band ever did (for my money, at least), was a track called "Horror Shock Horror" that only surfaced on a compliation of synth pop acts back in 84ish. If I can find the whole thing, I'll post it later....

Charles De Goal - Dancing

2009-11-19T10:00:00.000-08:00

Charles De Goal - Dancing

From 1986, this was released just before the album 'Double Face' and features a remixed version of (Retour Au) Dancing from said album. We've also got a rather spirited cover of Ballroom Blitz, titled "He's Gonna Step On Your Ballroom Blitz". The whole thing is polished off with (what I think) is a remix of Clic Clac.

I'm pretty sure Charles De Goal have reformed lately, though they managed to last through most of the 80's, releasing at four or five albums.

Busy, busy, busy at the moment. Thank you for any comments through the archives, I do read them I just have very little time at the moment so replies are somewhat sporadic. Requests are happily catered for if I've got it.

Should be rearranging a few things in the coming weeks, guest posts etc, keep 'em peeled....

Carol - Breakdown

2009-11-18T12:06:00.001-08:00

Carol - Breakdown

This wonderful, wonderful new/cold/whatever wave single from 1981 features an A-side written by Snowy Red (and who would re-record said A-side with Carol again in 1984 on one of his albums) and a beautiful B-side with tears twinkling long into the night. Gorgeous.

Snowy Red would have several albums out but as for Carol there is little sign. There was no other singles that I can find and apart form her brief return in '84, she twinkled no more.

The (Hypothetical) Prophets - Person To Person

2009-11-14T05:27:00.000-08:00

The (Hypothetical) Prophets - Person To Person

One of my favorite singles, delightfully unsettling, a seemingly mundane glance through some personal ads set to minimal synths and dry vocals. B-side (On The Edge) with altered spoken word vocals and sax over the synths keeps up the unease. The (Hypothetical) Prophets had three singles and an album before disappearing around 1983. Difficult band to pin down really, follow up single Fast Food could almost be described as a novelty song and in some parallel world is probably mentioned bitterly by Ultravox as they lament their lack of a Number 1 hit.

Gloriously enough, there is a video for this (can be found on Youtube *HERE*) that lives up to it's soundtrack. Fast Food should be around as well....

Eberhard Schoener - Why Don't You Answer

2009-11-10T15:26:00.000-08:00

Eberhard Schoener - Why Don't You Answer

Eberhard Schoener appears to have been some kind of German disco Rennaissance man according to his Wikipedia page, influenced by headily credible classical composers as much as the contemporary pop/electronic experimental scene around him, and even producing traditional operas alongside his synth stuff. I know nothing of this because I am a philistine. However this is a great record, mysterious and minimal and spacey italo-disco. And yes, it does have Sting on it, but miraculously it works, his yelpiness is complemented very well by the detached darkness and eerie samples going on around him. I like the phone-box intro as well, and the way the dial tone is incorporated into the synth-drone of the rest of the record - very noirish.
(The image used is for a different version of the song which was later released, with Hazel O'Connor on vocals - unfortunately I've been unable to find that but I can't quite imagine what that would sound like and frankly I'm a little scared at the prospect)

Bad Dream Fancy Dress - Curry Crazy

2009-11-10T13:36:00.000-08:00

Bad Dream Fancy Dress - Curry Crazy

Fun with 'El Records. Simon Fisher Turner gets drunk with two schoolgirls and does an album. Hilarity ensues. A-side is about Curry and about being crazy about said dish, the B-side is a tribute to the King of Luxembourg himself ("it's time to buy his records, he needs a sodding hit") .

Fun, silliness and champagne. What else do you need?

Hard Corps - Lucky Charm

2009-11-07T08:34:00.001-08:00

Hard Corps - Lucky Charm

Excellent synth pop from 1987, Hard Corps supported the Cure and Depeche Mode before evaporating sometime around 1990. Daniel Miller produced, but sounds a bit different from his normal work. Slightly more evolved, which is understandable as it was one of his later works. An interesting single.

Hugely, massively busy at the moment. Updates when I can fit 'em in....

The Nosebleeds - Ain't Bin To No Music School

2009-11-03T06:33:00.000-08:00

The Nosebleeds - Ain't Bin To No Music School

My favourite punk record. Not amazingly obscure but rare enough, and absolutely stellar, this is by the band Morrissey was briefly in before he rose to indie-hero fame (although he joined after this record was released). Featuring Vini Reilly going mental and spacey on guitar inbetween all the standard (but very well realised here) punkabilly freneticism. Glorious, energising, thrashy - but highly intelligent - stuff.

The Associates - Radio 1 Sessions 1984-1985

2009-10-27T16:18:00.000-07:00

The Associates - Radio 1 Sessions 1984-1985

The second out of print collection of Radio 1 Sessions from the Associates. We start with new versions of older songs, Matter of Gender, Affectionate Punch, a far poppier Message Oblique Speech and a cover of Simon Dupree and the Big Sound's Kites. After this things get a little less vibrant, but still well worth a listen.

The last three songs seem to be lifted straight from the album Perhaps, not entirely sure why....

Prince Far I - Health and Strength

2009-10-27T11:31:00.000-07:00

Prince Far I - Health and Strength

Another in the On-U-Sound/Pressure Sounds vein. This 1979 effort from the legendary deep-voiced DJ/toaster went missing and undiscovered for 18 years until a dubbed copy turned up. Prince Far I's voice booms over a couple of Gregory Issacs riddims, but most of the backing tracks feature appearances from Sly & Robbie, "Style" Scott, Crucial Tony, Earl "Chinna" Smith and even some melodica flourishes from Augustus Pablo as well. Personal favorites include "Easy Squeeze", "Health Warning" (inspired by the Surgeon General's warning on the packets of cigarettes), the militant and Biblical "Frontline Speech" and an order to "Leave Babylon".

The Associates - Radio 1 Sessions 1981-1983

2009-10-27T05:15:00.001-07:00

The Associates - Radio 1 Sessions 1981-1983

Another request. I wasn't aware that the Associates Radio 1 Sessions Collections were out of print, but judging by the silly money they're currently going for, it would seem to be the case.

We've got the first four sessions the Associates did for Radio 1 here, two with the classic Mackenzie/Rankin line up (including an early version of Waiting For The Love Boat and a slightly dubby version of Australia), a couple of torch songs that he performed at Ronnie Scott's and something from around the time of Perhaps (the songs here perhaps more lively than the somewhat overcooked versions on Perhaps, includes an entertaining alternate version of Perhaps with Steve Reid on improvised vocals that was never aired for some reason...). Solid gold in every song. Enjoy!

(Part 2 coming soon...)

Family Fodder - Playing Golf (With My Flesh Crawling)

2009-10-23T19:17:00.000-07:00

Family Fodder - Playing Golf (With My Flesh Crawling)

We've gone from starving you to force feeding you m'dears, now with the first single from the gloriously hatstand Family Fodder. Somehow it was the first thing from them I ever heard as well, I think from some ye old Napster binge back in the day. The A-side concerns itself with the horrific fate of rotting in suburbia as our hero contemplates suicide as an escape route. Far more jolly than it sounds. B-side is more of the same, but about how the missus is off her face on happy pills. Think of the two sides as His 'N Hers burning in hell to some hysteric lift music and you're half way there.

This is as good as time as any to direct you to the new Wild Swans single (which can be bought from THIS LINK HERE). English Electric Lighting was probably my single of the year (unless something else pops up before December, which is depressingly unlikely), and the new one (Liquid Mercury) isn't far behind. £4 for the single and they'll even send you some high quality mp3's as well. Bargtastic!

Alison's Halo - Eyedazzler 1992-1996

2009-10-22T07:43:00.000-07:00

Alison's Halo - Eyedazzler 1992-1996 (Part 1)
Alison's Halo - Eyedazzler 1992-1996 (Part 2)

This is a collection of various odds and ends from a lo-fi dream-pop out of Tempe, Arizona. They recorded their music primarily on 4-track and sounded reminiscent of Slowdive, Cocteau Twins, My Bloody Valentine or Bleach if they hunkered down in New Zealand and went for the production aesthetic of groups on the Flying Nun and Xpressway labels. Expect washes of guitar worthy of Robin Guthrie, schoolgirl vocals and very understated drumming. It's a little spotty, but "Chime", "Slowbleed", "Torn" and "Melt" are pretty gorgeous.

The Missing Brazilians - Warzone

2009-10-22T06:35:00.000-07:00

The Missing Brazilians - Warzone

I made mention of this release in my Mark Stewart and the Maffia post. It seems that after Prince Far I was murdered, producer Adrian Sherwood lessened his focus on roots and dub and became interested in digital sounds and trying to create built-in distortion. The Missing Brazilians was a one-off from yet another collective of musicians he assembled in the wake of The New Age Steppers and Singers & Players, most notably featuring the input of On-U-Sound co-founder/in-house artist Kishi Yakamoto, who provided most of the keyboards and some of the bass lines. Most of this inorganic release straddles the line between warped dancehall and mutant dub brimming with wild and watery phaser effects, booming square wave crunches, washes of noise, (mostly) synthesized polyrhythms and some Oriental keyboard motifs. Two vocal numbers pop up in the form of "Gentle Killers" featuring Annie Anxiety (ex-Asexuals, collaborated with Crass and countless others) and "Savanna Prance" (featuring wordless singing from Shara Nelson, who would later provide the vocals for Massive Attack's "Unfinished Sympathy"). This album, like its more playful and less bewildering cousin, Voice of Authority's Very Big in America Right Now, was originally slated to be released on Cherry Red, but—unlike the VoA effort—it was too weird for them. The production also had to be scaled back a bit because the music wouldn't fit in the grooves, but the remaster restored the original sound of the album.

Dr Calculus - Designer Beatnik

2009-10-21T12:46:00.001-07:00

Dr Calculus - Designer Beatnik

Another post, as we've been neglecting you of late.

Dr Calculus is, of course, Stephen 'Tin Tin' Duffy under an pseudonym from 1986. Ooh dear, how the hell do I start to describe this? I'm not sure I can. It's unique, which is reason enough to give it a listen really, isn't it?...eh?....hmmm?

Oh *OKAY* then, I'll have a go. Tin Tin doesn't actually sing on this, he has a terribly posh girl do it instead. Except she doesn't really sing, more talks. Sort of. Lots of brass, strings and synths. There's strange rapping at one point. Odd samples. The French. The joy of invention born out of absurdity. Ecstasy through madness. Rejoice and take heed.

Hot Gossip - Geisha Girls and Temple Boys

2009-10-21T12:30:00.001-07:00

Hot Gossip - Geisha Girls and Temple Boys

Hot Gossip, the 80's dance troupe who featured on the Kenny Everett Video Show, are probably best known for backing Sarah Brightman on "I Lost My Heart To a Starship Trooper"......but there was more. Oh yes boys and girls, there was more. Enter Martyn Ware and the BEF hit device. Which was on the blink that day, as this sank without a trace. Featuring Heaven 17/Human League/The Men songs (including Circus of Death!), this album also has time for a Sting and Talking Heads cover. Crikey.

This album should not exist. There is no reason for it to exist. It's very existance tears at the very fabric of reality. Somewhere in here is the Black Hit of Space. Approach at your peril.

Very busy at the moment, updates may be a tad more scarce than usual for a few weeks.....

Mark Stewart and the Maffia - As the Veneer of Democracy Starts to Fade

2009-10-15T11:16:00.000-07:00

Mark Stewart and the Maffia - As the Veneer of Democracy Starts to Fade

This record probably needs a bit of a remaster or at the very least should be played REALLY LOUD so one can discern the full impact of the often punishing old-school hip-hop oriented beats, the hyperactive sampling and the sheer sonic crunch of white noise prevalent in this release. Stewart already gained infamy five years prior for being an alum of The Pop Group, who (as you might already know) blended funk, punk, dub, free jazz, blues, noise, and lyrics ranging from the bleak to oblique that featured frequent sloganeering. Groundbreaking stuff, but on this effort Stewart and the Maffia — comprised of Sugarhill Records' house band — amped it up to another level by taking cues from producer Adrian Sherwood's built-in distortion obsession that he pioneered on The Missing Brazilians' 1984 LP Warzone. (In fact, one of the bonus tracks on this effort reworks "Igloo Inn" from the aforementioned album.) Almost every instrument sounds burdened by crushing distortion, from Skip MacDonald's guitar and Stewart's own commanding shrieks and hollers to the pummeling, stuttery drum programming. Stewart evokes the fear of the military-industrial complex, technocracy, the silencing of political opposition and more while occasionally quoting his old songs from The Pop Group (in case his warnings from the prior decade were yet to be heeded) or hits from the likes of Tavares either to seemingly lighten the mood or further disorient the listener. The production dates it a bit and lessens its impact, but this was very radical for 1985; only Swans and a handful of other groups would succeed at conjuring up anything this disturbing around that time. Meat Beat Manifesto, Tricky, the Maffia themselves — under the guise of Tackhead, not to neglect to mention Keith LeBlanc's worthy solo effort Major Malfunction based on the Challenger explosion — and the author of this entry had their conception of music utterly warped by this album.

Foetus - Peel Session 1983

2009-10-14T11:59:00.001-07:00

Foetus - Peel Session 1983

Jim Foetus. Clint Ruin. Frank Want. Philip Toss. Whatever he's calling himself, J.G. Thirlwell never fails to be interesting. This Peel Session (which I *think* was his only Peel Session) is slightly less crowded than the studio stuff while still keeping the same sonic brick to the teeth quality.

See THIS LINK HERE to see him with Soft Cell covering Ghost Rider. Fucking epic. Also featuring Gary Barnacle from the Leisure Process.....

Owada - Nothing

2009-10-09T13:54:00.000-07:00

Owada - Nothing
Remember when the Turner Prize was won by smiley Scottish bloke Martin Creed turning the lights in one room on and off at perfectly regular intervals? It seemed to cause the most intense press furore amongst the likes of the Daily Mail Representative Watercolours Of Flowers Or Bust (But Not That Kind Of Bust, Obviously, That Would Be Rude) brigade with regards to modern art that I'd ever seen (quite surprisingly, considering the fact that there was nothing even vaguely sensationalist a la Chapman Brothers about the work).. Well, he has a band, who in about 2002 released this very odd but strangely accessible and quite charming album of conceptual-yet-still-very-poppy tunes, which are vaguely reminiscent of the Fall. They clearly aren't hugely musically aspirational or pretentious, but have an infectiously sweet approach to writing songs which is quite similar to the feel of Creed's art; simple, mysterious and oblique, but all rather friendly and celebratory. The title is in keeping with Creed's body of work which all concerns reaching some kind of zero point or equilibrium. My personal favourites off this are probably Hello and Thirty Thirty. So there we are. Enjoy!

Til Things Are Brighter - A Tribute To Johnny Cash

2009-10-08T10:23:00.000-07:00

Til Things Are Brighter - A Tribute To Johnny Cash

A 1988 tribute compilation on Red Rhino Records, created to raise funds for the Terrance Higgins Trust. Featuring (among other things) Cathal Coughlan doing a cover of Ring of Fire, which is the main reason I tracked it down. Other highlights included Stephen Mallinder from Cabaret Voltaire doing a fine cover of I Walk The Line and Marc Almond doing Man In Black.

A strange curio rather than an essential listen, but well worth a punt.

The Chameleons - Live at the Academy

2009-10-01T10:31:00.000-07:00

The Chameleons - Live at the Academy (Disc 1)
The Chameleons - Live at the Academy (Disc 2)

Christ, even this has fallen out-of-print now, too. This set of material was recorded in Manchester in 2002 or thereabouts during their brief reunion and it's a very solid performance all around. Only "Monkeyland" and "Up the Down Escalator" sound a bit lackluster in execution, but luckily there are some stunning run-throughs of songs like "A Person Isn't Safe Anywhere These Days", "Second Skin", "Caution" and "Swamp Thing" to make up for it. According to the liner notes, the neck of Reg's guitar broke and went flying into the audience during "Soul in Isolation", so to make up for that omission the band included three semi-acoustic numbers (recorded in Münster, Germany in 2001) at the end of the second disc. Pity that most bands can't sound this good twenty years after their initial heyday.

The Human League/The Future - Dance Like A Star EP

2009-09-29T09:56:00.000-07:00

The Human League/The Future - Dance Like A Star EP

Golden Hour of the Future was a fantastic compilation of early Human League (and pre Phil Oakey, as The Future) songs and demos that came out in around 2002. Just before it came out, a limited 12" EP of tracks that weren't collected on the album came out. We've got a couple of different versions of Dance Like A Star, the disco funeral march of C'est Grave and a few more instrumentals besides.

I love this EP, mainly as it's got the massively snotty intro version of Dance Like a Star ("We're the Human League, and we're *much* cleverer that YOU"). Ah, for a time when electro pop used to be interesting... what have we got now? People like La Roux. And it's always the same old formula, girl backed by much older gentleman(or men) doing nothing that hasn't been done much better a million times before. Yuk.

One day, something *interesting* will happen. It has to. It will.

And after all that, I'm probably going to post something like Roman Holliday next.

(I'm not going to post Roman Holliday)

(maybe Haircut 100 though)

(hang on, how did I remember Roman Holliday had two l's?....eep)

The Fauves - Tortured Soul

2009-09-28T13:26:00.000-07:00

The Fauves - Tortured Soul

From 1988 (and not to be confused with the Australian band of the same name) a rather fine c86 indie record. They're probably most known for having Grant Morrison on vocals but from what little I've heard they were a pretty good band in their own right. Most of this band (if not all) were in the Mixers, who had a couple of tracks on a Whaaam! compilation back in the day. There was talk of some sort of CD of GM related stuff being collected a few years back but I don't think anything ever came of it. A pity. Anyway, I have no record sleeve scan, so here's a picture of singer and cat. Meow.

Coming up next....er, stuff. And possibly a new contributor. Everyone should have a third man (or woman/donkey/sentient Tonka toy) and we here shall be no different, by jingo. Actually, if you *are* a sentient Tonka toy and you want to write for us, do let me know. Don't fib, we shall be checking the cut of your die-cast chassis.

2009-09-23T14:23:00.000-07:00

Fred - All Rights Reserved

Minimal synth pop/wave from the early 80's. I think. I have no information on who/what Fred is. They did one single and disappeared, the title track found it's way onto a few of the Flexi-Pop CDR's (as did Reactor Lightning I think) but apart from that I've got nothing. And it's a pity, as it's a cracking single. Wistful, vintage synthpop, one of the many tracks kept alive by the Return Of Flexi Pop/Shockwaves/etc series of compliations. Any information would be gratefully received.

But yes, no sleeve for this one so I did a picture of what I think Fred could be. A giant mad scientist head floating through space. We can but hope.

John Cale - Music for a New Society

2009-09-16T11:54:00.000-07:00

John Cale - Music for a New Society

More like music for the bleakest soap opera imaginable. I've been listening to this in heavy doses for the first time in roughly five years after realizing how much influence this record and older Cale songs like "Hedda Gabler" probably had on old keyboard-dominated Fatima Mansions numbers (particularly "The Door-to-Door Inspector"). The comparatively cheerier and more accessible tracks on this release mostly remind me of Elton John on the verge of self-immolation. Don't get me started on the others. This rip comes from the ridiculously out-of-print 1993 CD reissue on Rhino. I managed to acquire it for a steal of $17 several years ago, but otherwise I've never seen that edition of it offered anywhere else until looking around just now, where it fetches $55 on GEMM and about $100 on eBay Buy-it-Now listings. Ouch. How the fuck does Sunny Day Real Estate and the entire Beatles catalogue get needlessly reissued while this effort (one of Cale's most acclaimed, mind you) from a former member of the goddamn Velvet Underground languishes in relative obscurity for nearly fifteen years because no one has half a mind to make it available again? Oh, music industry, you deserve to burn in cassingle and 8-track Hell. But yes, the bonus track "In the Library of Force" is included here.

NOTE: I started writing this three days before I LOVE TOTAL DESTRUCTION made a similar post. Bah, thunder stolen, but it's nice to know someone else is on the same wavelength.

Linoleum - Black Session

2009-09-15T09:37:00.001-07:00

Linoleum - Black Session

Not my cup of tea but I've had a bit of interest in uploading it so call it another request. Linoleum were a Britpop band who were on the outskirts of fame, but they were based in London so they had a fair run. For early singles (and the album Dissent I seem to remember) sleeves were made out of linoleum, which does not lend itself to fit neatly into one's record shelves. Tsk tsk. Anyway, they did a Black Session back in '96 (I think) and here it is. Enjoy.

Come to think of it, I always had a soft spot for She's Sick.....

Next: Something completely different.

Associates - Live at the Marquee 1980

2009-09-13T22:46:00.000-07:00

Associates - Live at the Marquee 1980

Request time! A bootleg from the Associates at the Marquee in 1980, around the time of the Affectionate Punch. Despite this, there are early versions of Nude Spoons, It's Better This Way and other Sulk tracks (nothing from Fourth Drawer Down though). It's the Associates at their most frantic and hysterical and is therefore completely essential.

As a bonus, another gig from 1980 in Holland. Similar tracklisting but longer, I think this is possibly because it's got some crossover tracks from the Marquee gig which is probably why I didn't post these before. Ah well, a little bit of amateur hour never hurt anyone. Enjoy!

Blam Blam Blam - The Complete Blam Blam Blam

2009-09-10T18:12:00.000-07:00

Blam Blam Blam - The Complete Blam Blam Blam

The title of this collection is slightly misleading, as it lacks songs like "Agency", "Pensioner Love" and "Cachunga Cachunga", but otherwise this disc comprises most of the material that these Aucklanders issued during their brief career in the early Eighties. Most of their output sounds reminiscent of a drier Talking Heads augmented with lyrics that serve as sociopolitical satire of then-current events (homeland espionage, wrongful imprisonment, social unrest) in their native New Zealand, but the moments when they musically break from form prove to be the real standouts. Selections like the insistent B-side "Learning to Like Ourselves Again" (the most classically post-punk number in structure on here), the shifting textures and moods of the romantically suspect "Don't Fight It Marsha, It's Bigger Than Both of Us" and the unofficial Kiwi national anthem "There is No Depression in New Zealand" — a winsome song title if ever there was one — are worth the colloquial price of admission on their own. The latter two numbers are particularly beloved in their native country, making the NZ Top 20 in spite of minimal radio airplay, and frontman/French horn player Don McGlashan actually resurrected "Marsha" for his later and more successful vehicle The Mutton Birds.

It's really quite a pain to find this outside of New Zealand, particularly sans credit card — unless you have a cool Kiwi benefactor, of course — but if you have one of the former, then SmokeCDs might be the only place you'll be able to track this (and many other Kiwipop releases) down.

One Year On....

2009-09-07T12:10:00.000-07:00

Odds and Sods - Vol 1

Just noticed today that this blog has been going for a whole year. Bloody hell. Thought I'd better do something to mark the occasion so I present to you a compilation of stuff. No real rhyme or reason, just *stuff*. Seems somewhat apt. Here's to another year of random gubbins.

Tracklisting

1. Prefab Sprout - King of Rock and Roll (demo)
2. Sepp Meier's Gloves - Ambition
3. Force Dimension - Ice Planet Asteroid
4. BBC Radiophonic Workshop - Fourth Dimension
5. Tin Tin - Only Ladies Play Croquet
6. SPK - Will To Power (12" Version)
7. Performance - Pilotes
8. My Bloody Valentine -Map Ref. 41°N 93°W
9. Moomins Theme (First Version)
10. Pavillion 7b - Les Révoltés
11. The Future/Human League - C'est Grave
12. Fatima Mansions - Only Losers Take The Bus (Dangers mix)
13. Caravan - Golf Girl
14. Esqueletos - Radio 222
15. Coil - Hellraiser Main Theme

Enjoy!

Colourbox - Jensen Session and Sex Gun

2009-09-07T04:05:00.000-07:00

Colourbox - Jensen Session and Sex Gun

Kid Jensen session from 1982. Rather less overproduced than their studio stuff and possibly slightly better for it. The version of Punch on here is a real eye-opener.

As a bonus, I've included Sex Gun, which is a demo version of Just Give 'Em Whiskey. Much rawer, more guitar, more Prisoner samples and as much as I love the later, 'proper' version Sex Gun has got this energy to it that just pips it.

Possibly coming up soon: Linoleum Black Session, Brian Brain, some more Howard Hughes (got hold of all four singles in the end) and Zwischenfall. Or possibly something else. Possibly.

Quando Quango - Love Tempo

2009-09-01T08:02:00.000-07:00

Quando Quango - Love Tempo

Influential synth-funk-dance-latin-disco on Factory. Their second single, and probably their most famous. Certainly can be argued that it foreshadowed a lot of the following Chicago House scene. Tore up the dancefloors, didn't really trouble the charts. But it didn't belong in the charts, this was music for the feet, not the ears, the heart, and not the mind.

Mike Pickering (vox) formed M-People some time after QQ's split, If this wasn't enough, he then got into A&R and now pulls the strings of the Gossip, Kasabian and the Ting Tings. God only knows what horror he shall unleash on the world next. Plague? Eternal darkness? A Britpop revival? Keep watching those skies.

Anyways, top tune. Seek out Go Exciting (the original mix if you're being picky, which I am) if you want more of the same.

Gal Costa - Gal Costa (Não Identificado)

2009-08-28T16:24:00.000-07:00

Gal Costa - Gal Costa (Não Identificado, 1969)

I'm on a tropicalia kick again, but where most of my American contemporaries find themselves prone to worshiping at the altar of Os Mutantes when it comes to the ephemeral but kaleidoscopic musical movement — or more accurately, the small collective of psychedelia-loveswept musicians that spear-headed it — I typically find myself coming back to Gal Costa's first self-titled album (of two) from 1969, which I acquired on Brazilian import a few years back. Plenty has been written about the circumstances surrounding the album's recording, but in a nutshell: oppressive right-wing Brazilian military junta + inept students who thought the tropicalia movement too radical + socialists that found Caetano Veloso/Gilberto Gil/et al. and their love of psychedelic pop too imperialist + riots at national music contests + overall societal upheaval = "If you are the same in politics as you are in aesthetics, we're done for!" [The aforementioned quote being Veloso's during a performance of the Situationist-inspired "É Proibido Proibir" with Os Mutantes at one of the national music contests in question, the Festival International de Canção.]

As for the music, we have an utterly delectable brew of psychedelia, jazz, samba/bossa nova/MPB (Música Popular Brasileira), occasional atonality, lush arrangements, and THAT luscious voice teetering from soft and playful to startlingly commanding and excitable. I would love to really get into depth about this record, but I'd rather you listen and discover this album's delights for yourself. However, personal highlights for me include Costa's rapid-fire delivery on "Sebastiana", the swinging "Se Você Pensa", the heart-meltingly lovely "Baby" and political pop at its finest — replete with the greatest exclamation(s) of "WOW!" this writer has ever heard — on the Veloso-penned "Divino Maravilhoso". The Dusty Groove label issued Costa's other, wilder — and possibly even more mind-blowing for it — self-titled album (often referred to as Cinema Olympia on account of its opening track) in the States last year; hopefully they'll do the same with this one soon.

The Auteurs - Interview/Acoustic CD

2009-08-25T13:03:00.000-07:00

The Auteurs - Interview/Acoustic CD

Yes, it has the same bloody cover as How I Learned To Love The Bootboys. I bought this years ago because I thought it *was* How I Learned To Love The Bootboys and I thought I'd got me a bargain for a couple of quid for a fairly new album. As it was, I picked up a rather nice curio instead. This is a promo CD containing an interview with Luke Haines and four acoustic songs from Bootboys. Well, I say interview....it's the answers to an interview that you can conduct with the questions that were on the back cover, even has a couple of idents. Very industrious.

Acoustic tracks are the Rubettes, 1967, Some Changes and Lights Out. I've sort of misplaced the scanner (and finding it would involve tidying up. No ta), so you'll have to work out the questions yourself. Such larks.