Friday, December 29, 2006

Phoenix Hairpins on My Space ???

Well not exactly. But I came across these fanpages: one made for Twisted Nerve and one of Screaming Dead. Just want to let you know that it's not me behind these pages. The Screaming Dead page was originally called The Deathrock Stash and also had MP3's of Ritual, Breather and Look Back In Anger. The writing has been credited to this blog so that's all fine with me. If this can bring back some bands that sank into oblivion, the better. Just want to know who you are.
I want to thank Nuzz for putting up a link to my blog on the UK Decay forum and to Jon for doing the same on the Deathrock forum.
Also a big thank you to all those who leave comments and appreciate what I do. Some comments made me aware of other bands/records that I don't have in my possession, and/or which I never heard of. I will know what to do next year.
PS: I dl'd The Gift Of Tears/Mirror CD of the Revolutionary Army Of The Infant Jesus from the Lost-In-Tyme blog but track 3(The Miller) from The Gift Of Tears is somehow damaged. If someone could provide me this track I would be very greatful.

Until next year!

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Good Morning Mr. Presley


Well here's probably my last post for this year.
The 'Good Morning Mr. Presley' LP was released on Grunt Grunt A Go Go in 1985 (I think). It's a record that is not easy to find these days. It's like a cross section of UK indie bands from that period. Most bands appeared on labels like Abstract, Backs and In Tape. Some of the bands ring a bell like The Bomb Party, Marc Riley, Microdisney but there seems to be a few bands that only appear here as far as I know.
The record contains 2 live tracks: the one of Five Go Down To The Sea ? and one of The Botha Boys, who are no one else than The Three Johns off course.
Every compilation is a bit of a hit-or-miss so it's up to you which tracks you favour.
The Grunt Grunt A Go Go label only released 2 albums: this one and the 'It's My Dog, Maestro' LP of Eton Crop (Dutch band and friends of The Three Johns).
Cover art by Jon Langford.

V/A Good Morning Mr. Presley LP (Grunt Grunt A Go Go-GGAGG One-1985?)
1. Marc Riley With The Creepers - Poop Scoop
2. Yeah Yeah Noh - Crimplene Seed Lifestyle
3. The Bomb Party - Lifes A Bitch
4. The Janitors - The Devil Goes To Whitley Bay
5. The Botha Boys - English White Boy Engineer
6. Five Go Down To The Sea ? - Queen Grassy Arse
7. Microdisney - Pink Skinned Man
8. Les Garçons - Homo Kino
9. The Fire Hydrant Men - Baseball Bat
10. The Ordinaires - Virgo Intactica
11. Gee, Mr. Tracy ! - The Day The Shoes Bit Back
12. Ronnie Can You Hear Me ? - Chachis' Theme
13. The Finals - Quiet Time
14. Big & Beautiful - Stepping On My Heart
15. Laugh Away Rain - Love Stopped Shining

Good Morning Mr. Presley (new link)

Monday, December 25, 2006

The Veil - Manikin & Heavy Heart



For those who liked the 'Surrender' LP posted last month; here are the 12"s that The Veil released.

Manikin 12" (Clay Records-12 Clay 39-1984)
1. Manikin
2. Dreams Endowed
3. Panic
4. Manikin (extended version)

Heavy Heart 12" (Amdusias International Records-AIR 001-1986)
1. Heavy Heart
2. Watching (The Nite World Work)
3. Is This Sin ?

The Veil

Saturday, December 23, 2006

Party Day - Glasshouse LP


Here's another long forgotten wave band. Party Day were from Barnsley (same city as The Danse Society) but I don't know when they actually formed but I guess around 1981. Their 1st 7" 'Row The Boat Ashore', was released in 1983. In 1984, the band released another 7" called 'The Spider'. Next one is the 'Glasshouse' 12". This record was issued on Rouska Records, contrary to all the other records that were self-released.
The 'Glasshouse' LP was issued in 1985 and it's a great record IMHO.
Party Day released another album 'Simplicity' in 1986 before falling apart.
There is a Party Day fanpage here.

Glasshouse LP (Party Day-FXLP 401-1985)
1. Rabbit Pie
2. Firehorse
3. Carousel
4. Atoms
5. Boredom
6. Grace
7. Row The Boat Ashore
8. Athena

New link!
Party Day

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

The Three Johns - Atom Drum Bop


Here's another request: the first LP of The Three Johns.
If you did like the 12"s posted before, you'll definitely like this one.
Track 9 originally by Carlton B. Morgan (who??), who's original version appears on a MLP released on CNT in 1983.
Rock n' Roll Versus Thaatchiism !!

Atom Drum Bop LP (Abstract Records-ABT 010-1984)
1. Teenage Nightingales To Wax
2. Do Not Cross The Line
3. 3 Junk
4. Firepits
5. No Place
6. Dr. Freedom
7. Missing
8. Sun Of Mud
9. The Devil's Music (Merry At Their Toil)
10. (Class War)

Atom Drum Bop

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Look Back In Anger



And here's another not so well known, female fronted goth band. Formed in 1981, Look Back In Anger were from Southampton and did a lot of gigs together with bands like the Sex Gang Children, Play Dead, Blood & Roses and Brilliant.
Their first release is the self produced 'Caprice/Mannequin' 7". In 1983 the band released a cassette only single 'Foxhunt/Life's Dispute'. In this year Look Back In Anger went on tour as support for Death Cult.
The band almost had a contract with Expulsion Records but the label collapsed. They managed to release 2 records for the cult Criminal Damage label.
The 'Caprice' MLP was produced by Billy Duffy (Theatre Of Hate, Death Cult).

Flowers 12" (Criminal Damage-CRI 12-107-1984)
1. Flowers
2. Inamorata
3. Torment

Caprice MLP (Criminal Damage-CRI MLP-118-1984)
1. Grey Sky
2. Silent Partner
3. Executioner
4. Torment
5. The Dark
6. Inamorata

Look Back In Anger

Friday, December 15, 2006

Breather - Loves And Disloves


Here's a great, dark and experimental record only a few people seem to know. Once described as a mix of Joy Division and Psychic TV.
I can't find any info on Breather on the net. All songs were composed by Robert Bolman AKA Bliss Blast. Breather was from San Francisco.
This album has also been released on tape with 3 extra tracks. Anyone out there who has them ?

Loves And Disloves LP (Sonic Incision Records-SI 001-1984)
1. Radiation
2. Maya
3. Embrace On The Summit
4. Melting Of The Guns
5. Behold The Power (Behold The Love)
6. Miami
7. Dank Ashes
8. Watching You Grow
9. Bury The Mystique

Note: these couple of tracks ripped as 1 track: 4 & 5, 6 & 7 and 8 & 9.

New link!
Breather




Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Shadow Of Fear



Shadow Of Fear was a postpunk deathrock band from Cleveland, Ohio. They were strongly influenced by the British goth sound.
First time I've heard Shadow Of Fear was on the 'They Pelted Us With Rocks And Garbage' comp.LP. Other bands featured on this album are Death Of Samantha, Spike In Vain, The Offbeats and more. You can listen to this album on the Thisisanartthreat blog here.
Here are the 2 records of Shadow Of Fear, released on St. Valentine Records.

Shadow Of Fear MLP (St. Valentine Records-SVR 003-1985)
1. Song & Dance
2. Now's The Time
3. Puppet Life
4. Sick Sacrifice
5. Farce
6. "Untitled"

In The Flesh 7" (St. Valentine Records-SVR 008-1986)
1. In The Flesh
2. Heartbreak Hotel (live)

Shadow Of Fear (320)

Shadow Of Fear (FLAC)

Monday, December 11, 2006

Five Or Six new link

For those who have problems with the Five Or Six megaupload link; I added a quicksharing link.
It seems that megaupload wants us to download their toolbar and a lot of people are suspicious about it. There are almost no free download slots available here in Belgium and it seems that the same problem occurs in other places.
I'll stick to quicksharing in the future.

Sunday, December 10, 2006

Circle X - Prehistory



Circle X formed in 1978 out of 2 punkbands, No Fun and the I-Holes. Originally located in Louisville, Kentucky, the band relocated to New York to take part in the no wave scene. A 7" called 'Heartbreaker' was released in 1979.
Circle X stayed in France for a while where they recorded a 4 track 12" for Celluloid in 1980. The band went back to NY to record the classic 'Prehistory' LP which was released in 1983 on Enigma/Index. It was later released on the French L'Invitation Au Suicide label.
Circle X went on to release more 7"s and a full length for Matador in the 90's.
For more on Circle X, check this Matador page here.

Prehistory LP (L'Invitation Au Suicide-SD 3-1984)
1. Current
2. Prehistory One
3. Prehistory Two
4. Culture Progress
5. Under World
6. Beyond Standard

Circle X

Friday, December 08, 2006

Part 1 - Pictures Of Pain


Part 1 was a gloomy sounding punk band from the UK. The 'Pictures Of Pain' was strangely enough released on a US hardcore label called Pusmort. Pushead, singer of Septic Death and the guy behind the label was very impressed by Part 1. He even included some tracks on the well known 'Cleanse The Bacteria' comp.LP.(check the Good Bad Music blog for the rare bonus 12" that came with this record)
Off course, the hardcore kiddies didn't pick this one up so, if you look around, you still can find this album for a decent price.
If anyone has the 'Funeral Parade' 7", released prior to the album, and wants to get rid of it: I'm really dying to get my hands on it.

Pictures Of Pain MLP (Pusmort-0012 04-1985)
1. Possessed
2. Black Mass
3. Pictures Of Pain
4. The Corpse
5. Incest
6. Ghost
7. Hymn

Part 1

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

The Three Johns




The Three Johns started as a side-group to the Mekons, the other band of Jon Langford. Together with two other 'Johns' and a drum machine, the band created some great post punk. They mixed their socialist ideas and anti-Thatcher rants with a good sense of humour.
For more info on The Three Johns, visit the fansite here.
Here are the first records of the band. The 'Some History' 12" contains both first 7"s originally released on CNT.

Some History 12" (Abstract Records-12ABS 022-1982/83)
1. English White Boy Engineer
2. Secret Agent
3. Pink Headed Bug
4. Lucy In The Rain

Men Like Monkeys 12" (CNT Records-CNT013-1983)
1. Men Like Monkeys
2. Two Minute Ape!
3. Windolene
4. Marx's Wife
5. Paris 1941

A.W.O.L. 12" (Abstract Records-ABS12 019-1983)
1. A.W.O.L.
2. Rooster Blue
3. Image Or An Animal
4. Kick The Dog Right Out

Note: tracks 3 & 4 of the A.W.O.L. 12" ripped as one track.

Some History

Saturday, December 02, 2006

The Fifteenth



The Fifteenth were from London and Portsmouth, UK. I don't have much info on the band. This is their one and only release, issued on Play Dead's Tanz label. There doesn't seem to pop up many copies of this 12".
New Model Army is the biggest influence for The Fifteenth.
There is a promo leaflet included in my copy which I scanned and included in the file.
This one requested by English Paul. Enjoy!

Andelain 12" (Tanz Records-Tanz 3-1986)
1. She Isis
2. Marble Shire
3. Walk In The Garden

The Fifteenth

Five Or Six - A Thriving And Happy Land


Five Or Six were an experimental post punk band. This album was their only full length as well as their last release. Core members were David Knight, formerly of The Fast Set, and Ashley Wales. Both members would later join Karl Blake to form the Shock Headed Peters. Ashley Wales soon left and can be found in Spring Heel Jack.
David Knight also appears on records of Danielle Dax and Lydia Lunch. He also creates ambient soundscapes under the Arkkon moniker.

Note: tracks 3 & 4 ripped as 1 track.

A Thriving And Happy Land LP (Frizz Bee-Frizz Bee 2-1982)
1. Exhibit A
2. In Constructon
3. 22 Hours
4. An Occurance At Hand
5. Dave's Song
6. Anchors
7. Consider This

A Thriving And Happy Land

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Twisted Nerve




Here's the last post for this month.
Twisted Nerve from Edinburgh, Scotland are one of the most underrated but one of the best goth punk bands there were.
Started in 1978 as The Insults, the band played full on punk back then. First recordings of Twisted Nerve can be heard on the 'Mint Sauces For The Masses' comp. 7" on local label Playlist. The band released another two 7"s, 'Caught In Session' and 'Five Minutes Of Fame', on which you can hear their transition from punk to a darker sound.
After some line-up changes, the band released the 'Eyes You Can Drown In' 12" on Criminal Damage, followed by the 'Séance' mini album, a record they released themselves. Both these records are very hard to find now.
It's a shame that Twisted Nerve never got reissued until now. Maybe because they weren't from London or Leeds or so? Well, here's your chance to listen to this cult band.

Eyes You Can Drown In 12" (Criminal Damage-CRI 12-103-1983)
1. Medusa
2. Gargoyle
3. Geronimo

Séance MLP (+1 Records-Nerve 1- 1984)
1. Séance
2. Yes Man
3. Twisted Nevrosis
4. Freak Of Nature
5. Scaramouche
6. It's All In The Mind

Twisted Nerve (320)

Eyes You Can Drown In (FLAC)

Séance (FLAC)

Saturday, November 25, 2006

Inca Babies - Rumble


Here's the first album of the Inca Babies. Has a re-recorded version of 'The Interior' from the first 7" and the title track of the 'Big Jugular' 12" (see post below). Last track not credited on the sleeve.

Rumble LP (Black Lagoon-INCLP 005-1984)
1. She Mercenary
2. The Interior
3. Blindman (The Chiller)
4. The Diseased Stranger's Waltz
5. Leucotomy Meat Boss
6. Big Jugular
7. 16 Tons Of Fink
8. Cactus Mouth Informer
9. Grease Ball Mechanic
10. Untitled

Rumble

News!! there is an official Inca Babies website here. And the last track is called 'Rumble', a cover of Link Wray.

Friday, November 24, 2006

The Veil - Surrender


The Veil is another not so well known goth band from the UK. 'Surrender' is their one and only album they released. As with many female fronted goth bands, the band got easily dismissed as another Siouxsie & The Banshees clone. No wild guitars or tribal drumming here; the music is quite relaxed on this album.
The Veil rose from the ashes of Beast, a cult band that had Bryan Gregory(The Cramps) in it's ranks. Beast released 3 singles of which one is 'Love In A Dying World', a song that also appears on this album. I never heard Beast before so I can't compare both tracks.
The Veil released one 7", 'Twist/Sway' (both tracks appear on the LP) and two 12"s: 'Manikin' and 'Heavy Heart'. I will post these later.

Surrender LP (Clay Records-Clay LP 14-1984)
1. Twist
2. Hoax
3. The Rain
4. Love In A Dying World
5. Sway
6. Pale Hose
7. Closet Floor
8. Thy Will
9. Manikin
10. Surrender

Surrender

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Inca Babies





Inca Babies formed in 1982 and were from Hulme, Manchester. They were influenced by The Birthday Party, The Cramps and Link Wray. You can hear the influence of The Birthday Party very well on their earliest releases.
The band did 4 sessions for John Peel.
Here are the first 4 releases of the Inca Babies. The 7"s sound quite raw as these are 8-track recordings. For the 12"s, the band got into a real studio this time.
Inca Babies released 4 albums and another 2 12"s. I can post all these in time if people are interested.
There is an anthology CD released just recently on Anagram that has some tracks from the Peel Sessions.

Interior 7" (Black Lagoon-Inc 001-1983)
1. Interior
2. Sense Of Loss

Grunt Cadillac Hotel 7" (Black Lagoon-Inc 002-1984)
1. Grunt Cadillac Hotel
2. No Sacred Sound

The Big Jugular EP 12" (Black Lagoon-Inc 003-1984)
1. Big Jugular
2. Jericho
3. The Brain Cruiser
4. Brother Rat

The Judge 12" (Black Lagoon-Inc 004-1984)
1. The Judge
2. Bus Breaker
3. Cowboy Song

Inca Babies

Saturday, November 18, 2006

Something Stirs (The Dead Mourn The Living)


Well, here's an excellent compilation of experimental artists from the UK. There are some well known names on it. It was released on Adventures In Reality Recordings, a label run by the people of Attrition. This label was originally a fanzine/cassette label. I think that the first audio release was the 'Devoid' flexi of Attrition.Other bands who released tapes were Irsol, Stress and Velvet Monkeys. The 'Something Stirs' comp. LP was the first vinyl release.
Attrition is featured here with 3 tracks in the vein of their 'Reason Of Attrition' LP.
The Furious Apples are the least known band on here. They were from Coventry and I just found out that they released the 'Engineering/Belladonna' 7" on a small local label called Sonar Records.
Bourbonese Qualk offers 3 tracks similar to their debut 'Laughing Afternoon' LP.
The Legendary Pink Dots bring us a long track in the vein of their early albums.
Attrition and The Legendary Pink Dots are still around today.
Check these sites for the bands:
Attrition
The Legendary Pink Dots
Bourbonese Qualk
The Bourbonese Qualk site is very interesting as you can download all of their albums which I recommend to do so. You won't be disappointed.

note: the Bourbonese Qualk tracks could not be seperated so I ripped them as 1 track.

V/A Something Stirs (The Dead Mourn The Living) LP
(Adventures In Reality Recordings-A.R.R. 013-1984)
1. Attrition - Something Stirs
2. Attrition - Pain
3. Attrition - The Beginning Of The End
4. The Furious Apples - Ajmer
5. The Furious Apples - Girl On Fire
6. The Furious Apples - Almost The Truth
7. Bourbonese Qualk - Stop The City
8. Bourbonese Qualk - Sunset Sex
9. Bourbonese Qualk - Invocation
10. The Legendary Pink Dots - Jungle

Something Stirs

Friday, November 17, 2006

Screaming Dead




Screaming Dead were formed in 1980 and were a punk band with a strong interest in the dark and morbid. They described themselves as a horror punk band. Guitarplayer Tony Mc Kormak played an important role in the sound and image of the Screaming Dead.
The band released 5 records during their existence of which you'll find the 3 12"s here. The other 2 records are the 'Valley Of The Dead' 7" and the 'Paint It Black' 7" (which I don't own for the moment).
There has been a discography CD released in 1993 called 'Bring Out Yer Dead' but it is hard to find nowadays.
The band reformed in 1997 to do some reunion gigs and recorded the 'Death Rides Out' CD that contains re-recorded old songs and some new ones. The band split up again in 1999.
Tony Mc Cormak plays in pagan goth rock band Inkubus Sukkubus nowadays, that was formed after the demise of Screaming Dead in 1986.
This one goes out to Erik SN at Missionary Penetration.

Night Creatures 12" (No Future-12 Oi 25-1983)
1. Night Creatures
2. Angel Of Death
3. Necroaria
4. Twentieth Century Vampire
5. Ride Of The Crow

The Danse Macabre Collection 12" (Angel Records-Ang.001-1984)
1. The Lovers
2. Serenade Of Suicide
3. The Night
4. Sister Crow

A Dream Of Yesterday 12" (Angel Records-Ang.002-1985)
1. A Dream Of Yesterday
2. Johnnie
3. Tower Of Babel

Screaming Dead

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

The Smashchords


By request: The Smashchords from Seattle was a band of two members only playing guitar. Expect some lo-fi garage noise without drums and vocals. These guys played on cheap copy guitars and recorded in mono.
Chris Bohn of NME on The Smashchords: "Nostalgic for the day you got your first guitar? Can't relocate the excitement of that first gloriously untutored thrash? Well, if you really can't restrain the impulse, regress along with The Smashchords and experience again the idiot happiness of that early liberating rush of noise."
Smashtrade was a subsidiary of Rough Trade specifically created for the band. As far as I know, The Smashchords released two tapes: 'Deep And Dumb' and 'The History Of'.
My copy is a little warped so you'll hear some background noise, especially on the second side.

The Smashchords 12" (Smashtrade-Smash 1-1981)
1. Brand New Rambler
2. Smashattack Rock
3. Theme From The Discombobulators II
4. Ou La Oui! Park My Car At The Rhumbaparty Dub
5. Caveman
6. Country Ending

The Smashchords

Sunday, November 12, 2006

No Trend - Too Many Humans LP


No Trend were one of the most controversial bands to rise out of the Washington hardcore scene. In fact, they didn't play hardcore at all. They had a style of their own with sarcastic lyrics on humanity. There is an interesting article on No Trend here, with explanations from ex-band members themselves on the whole idea of the band. Really worth reading.
Sadly, original guitarplayer Frank Price took his own life in 1989. He is considered to be the architect of No Trend's sound and philosophy.
No Trend went on to release three other albums with different line-ups, with vocalist Jeff Mentges as the only member who stayed from the beginning to the end.
Original pressing on No Trend Records; here the French pressing.

Too Many Humans LP (L'Invitation Au Suicide-S.D.6-1984)
1. Family Style
2. Blow Dry
3. Reality Breakdown
4. Kiss Ass To Your Peer Group
5. Fashion Tips For The 80's
6. Do As You're Told
7. Too Many Humans
8. For The Fun Of It All
9. Mindless Little Insects
10. Happiness Is...

Too Many Humans

Saturday, November 11, 2006

Pump



Pump was a duo from the UK and released one LP on Final Image. Band members Andrew Cox and David Elliot were already making music before as MFH, who appears on the well known 'The Elephant Table Album' compilation. They also collaborated with Nurse With Wound on his 'Sylvie And Babs Hi-fi Companion' LP.
For the Shock Headed Peters fans; Karl Blake sings and plays guitar on 'Lung', together with Malcolm Lane of Metabolist.
Final Image was a small label run by the people of O Yuki Conjugate.

Note: tracks 1 & 2 ripped as one track.

The Decoration Of The Duma Continues LP (Final Image-FIB 3-1987)
1. Dance Without Music
2. Blind
3. A Veiled Woman
4. Drop
5. Lung
6. Brinkmanship
7. A Sort Of Accident
8. The Hammering Stops
9. Raft

Soon to be re-released! Check it out at Forced Nostalgia Bandcamp page.

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Vex


Vex hailed from London and the 'Sanctuary' 12" is their one and only release. It was issued on Fight Back, a sublabel of Mortarhate, run by the people of Conflict. Vex played gigs with Conflict, so they were more associated with the anarchist punk scene than the Batcave fair. But contrary to most anarchopunk bands from that time, they were not influenced by CRASS or Conflict. Soundwise, the band was more inspired by Killing Joke or UK Decay.
Another song called 'Rushing To Hide' can be heard on the 'We Don't Want Your Fucking Law' comp. LP, also on Fight Back.
'It's No Crime' also appeared on the 'Who What Why When Where' comp. LP on Mortarhate (and reissued on Get Back Records).
A great overlooked record, so check it out.

Sanctuary 12" (Fight Back-Fight One-1984)
1. Sanctuary
2. It's No Crime
3. World In Action
4. Relative Sadness

Sanctuary (re-up)

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

The Leather Nun



The Leather Nun formed in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1979. Their first record is the 'Slow Death' 7" released on Industrial Records. It shows the bands more punky side as well as their experimental one which they would later abandon.
On this mini album, the first side is the 'Slow Death' 7" but 'Ensam I Natt' is featured in it's full version here. Only the intro of that song is featured on the original 7". 'Ensam I Natt' was also released as 7" on Sista Bussen in 1982.
The B side contains a 15+ minutes live version of 'Slow Death' taken from the 'Live At Scala Cinema' cassette also released on Industrial Records. On this track, the band got help from Genesis P-Orridge on violin and Monte Cazazza on synthesizer.
The band went on to release some decent singles and the 'Alive' album, but I lost interest in the band after these. Some people will remember their version of the ABBA classic 'Gimme,Gimme,Gimme'.
The 'Slow Death' MLP was originally issued on the Criminal Damage label in 1984 and was later reissued on Wire Records in 1986.

Slow Death MLP (Wire Records-WRMLP 100-1986)
1. No Rule
2. Slow Death
3. Ensam I Natt
4. Death Threats
5. Slow Death (Live at The Scala Cinema)

New Link!
Slow Death

Sunday, November 05, 2006

Cindytalk



I first heard Gordon Sharp doing vocals on some of the songs of the first album of This Mortal Coil. While this album is dreamy and quite laidback, the music he creates with Cindytalk is that of a feverish nightmare.
Cindytalk was formed out of the ashes of punk/new wave band The Freeze from Edinburgh. Gordon Sharp has always been the core member of Cindytalk but on this LP, the other members, David Clancy and John Byrne, played a crucial role in Cindytalk's sound. 'Camouflage Heart' sounds very dark and uneasy. And Gordon's haunting vocals make it sound much more claustrophobic.
Mick Harvey (ex-The Birthday Party) plays drums on 'Under Glass'. All tracks recorded in 1984, except for 'Everybody Is Christ' which was recorded in 1982.
'Camouflage Heart' has been reissued on CD but the CD version is harder to find and way more expensive.

Camouflage Heart LP (Midnight Music-CHIME 00.06 S-1984)
1. It's Luxury
2. Instinct (Backtosense)
3. Under Glass
4. Memories Of Skin And Snow
5. The Spirit Behind The Circus Dream
6. The Ghost Never Smiles
7. A Second Breath
8. Everybody Is Christ
9. Disintegrate...

Link removed! Reissue now available on Wheesht, a sublabel of Abraxas.

Saturday, November 04, 2006

Marc Riley With The Creepers




Marc Riley was a member of The Fall from 1978 till 1982, first as roadie later as bassplayer but moved to guitar and keyboards. He was sacked from The Fall after a tour in New Zealand. But this didn't stop him to make his own music.
The 'Cull' LP is a compilation of the first 3 releases. On the 'Favourite Sister' 7", he got help from Steve Hanley, Paul Hanley and Craig Scanlon who were members of The Fall back then. On the second 7" 'Jumper Clown', the Creepers were already forming but the drum parts were done by Billy the drum machine (you can hear Marc shouting to 'Billy' in the beginning of 'Violins'). The other 4 tracks were originally released as the 'Creeping At Maida Vale' 12" and was the first session recorded for John Peel in 1983.
The 'Shadow Figure' 12" was the second John Peel session recorded in 1984. The '4 A's From Maida Vale' 12" was the third session recorded in 1985.
For more on Marc Riley, check this site here. Has a complete discography, press reviews and lyrics to all the songs.

Cull LP (In Tape-IT 005-1984)
1. Favourite Sister
2. Carry Mi Card
3. Jumper Clown
4. Violins
5. Cure By Choice
6. Baby Paints
7. Blow
8. Location Bangladesh

Shadow Figure 12" (In Tape-IT 009-1984)
1. Shadow Figure
2. Hole 4 A Soul
3. Shirt Scene
4. Snipe

4 A's From Maida Vale 12" (In Tape-IT 025-1985)
1. Bard Of Woking
2. Going Rate
3. Black Dwarf
4. Cold Fish

Cull

Shadow / 4 A's

Bone Orchard - Jack LP


Bone Orchard were one of those bands from the UK who where strongly influenced by The Birthday Party. But instead of copying, they created a sound of their own. While the first records still have The Birthday Party sound, their 'Jack' LP shows more variety by adding other instruments like piano, cello, violin and saxophone. And as always, Chrissy Mc Gee, the female vocalist, groans and growls in her own distinctive way.
There's a deathrock page on Bone Orchard here.
I will post some more Bone Orchard records in the future.

Jack LP (Jungle Records-Freud 6-1984)
1. Jack
2. Lynched
3. Marianne
4. Touched
5. Five Days In The Neighbourhood
6. Girl With A Gun
7. Tongue
8. Scarlett Ropes


Jack

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Anorexic Dread



One of the greatest records of goth punk horror.
Anorexic Dread were from the Southend, UK and were formed in 1983 but already split up in 1985. In their short existence, they managed to record some tracks for a record released on the Criminal Damage label. They were influenced by The Birthday Party, Killing Joke and the Cramps.
You can hear the Cramps influence very well on 'Tick Tock'. But the standout track is 'Tracey's Burning' and is still considered as one of the best goth punk tracks ever released. 'Epitaph' is more an outro to 'Tracey's Burning' so I didn't seperate this track on the listing below.
My only small complaint is that there could have fit a second track on side B.
For more on Anorexic Dread, check the Southend Punk site page here.

Tracey's Burning 12" (Criminal Damage Records-CRI 12-114-1984)
1. Tracey's Burning/Epitaph
2. Tick Tock

Anorexic Dread

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

The Cravats - DCL



As my good old friend The Thing On The Doorstep posted the Babymen 12", I decided to post some more music from The Cravats family.
First comes the 'The Land Of The Giants' 12", a really hard to find record on Reflex Records. Musicwise it goes more in the direction of The Very Things. 'The Shroud Of New York Chapter 2' sounds like you're listening to some musical song with Frank Sinatra! These tracks have just recently been rereleased on a 'best of' double CD on Overground. I already ripped this 12" before I realized this. So I encourage you to buy the double CD. It has some unreleased live tracks on it.
The second record is from DCL Locomotive, another alias for Shend and co. Here you get a great version of 'King Midas In Reverse' from The Hollies.
I also included two extra tracks from DCL. The first one was released as bonus flexi that came with the 'The Colossal Tunes Out' LP of The Cravats. The second one came as bonus flexi with the 'The Bushes Scream While My Daddy Prunes' LP of The Very Things. Not really songs but some serious spoken word tape collage.
Visit The Cravats website here.

The Cravats - The Land Of The Giants 12" (Reflex Records-RE 10-1986)
1. The Land Of The Giants
2. The Shroud Of New York Chapter 2
3. Execute His Will
4. The Shroud Of New York Chapter 1

DCL Locomotive - King Midas In Reverse 12" (Reflex Records-RE 4-1984)
1. King Midas In Reverse
2. The Kings Broadcast
3. The Last Black Tile
4. Kmir Test Five

Extra Tracks

1. Dadacravats Laboratory Series No. 1
2. Dadacravats Laboratory Series No. 2

Cravats-DCL

Pure Pop For Now People


I added an interesting link for those who collect vinyl. Joachim Gaertner of Get Happy Records and the band S/T collects all info on defunct independent labels. This book is called 'They Could Have Been Bigger Than EMI'. The first edition is almost sold out but he is completing the second edition which will probably be out early 2007. He also runs a site (see sidebar) that has already lots of entries but is not that updated from the book. As a regular contributor I strongly recommend to visit the site. Anyone is free to help Joachim to fill in the missing gaps, label logo scans or labels you think are missing (labels must be defunct!). So for those interested in music from the late 70's till now, check it out! Music ranges from punk, wave, experimental, garage, neo-sixties,psychedelic, postrock, hardcore, guitarpop and everything in between.

Monday, October 30, 2006

Ritual



Ritual started in 1979 and were one of the first goth punk bands but never got the same recognition as Sex Gang Children or Southern Death Cult. Many compare them to Theatre Of Hate as the band also had a sax player. Prior to the 7", Ritual released a six track demotape.They also recorded tracks for an LP called 'Songs For A Dead King' but was never released.
The band fell apart as drummer Ray Mondo and guitarplayer Jamie Stewart were asked to join Death Cult. Ray Mondo later switched the drummer seat with Nigel Preston (ex-Theatre Of Hate) to play in the last line up of the (early) Sex Gang Children.
Vocalist Errol Blythe and bassplayer Mark Bond joined Spon (ex-UK Decay) to form In Excelsis (of which I will post some records of in the future).

Mind Disease 7" (Red Flame-RF 712-1982)
1. Mind Disease
2. Nine

Kangaroo Court 12" (Red Flame-RF 1217-1983)
1. Brides
2. Conscripts
3. Questioning The Shadow

Ritual