V/A - There Is No Reason To Be Happy EP 1989

A pretty gem of sophisticated punkrock music from Europe is this little piece of plastic. I purchased this EP at a concert in Hamburg, a local club named 'Marquee' anno 1989 and I think I did it because of the cool cover, the bands at that time told me nothing. And sometimes that's not a bad reason. 4 bands/6 songs and all of them small works of art. Very impressive are the Yugoslavian parts, three short & aggressive firecrackers with a singer who has made the right decision for himself. This is a punkrock voice and I can not imagine him as a seller of shoes, hahaha...but also convince the other bands here with their songs. A small varied piece of 100% punkrock which hits the nail on the head, 500 copies on Artcore Records.

1.My Life - W.D.M.

2.Sto Stopnic - 3.KATEGORIJA

3.Brŝljan - 3.KATEGORIJA

4.Alkoholna - 3.KATEGORIJA

5.Differences - MARTIAL LAW

6.Fuggi Fuggi - I REFUSE IT

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THE ROUSERS - A Treat Of New Beat 1980

A real masterpiece of PowerPop classic is the debut record by this combo. The Rousers from Broek op Langedijk (near under the smoke of Alkmaar) were one of the first Dutch New Wave bands. Inspired by the new momentum in the British pop music the band was founded on 19 September 1977 by the brothers Cock (vox + guitars) and Jan de Jong (drums), along with Rob Marienus (bass) and Theo van der Plas. In the beginning they play their own work and some covers. They played songs by The Beatles, The Damned, The Ramones and The Buzzcocks and this combination would determine the sound that the band develops and that they refer to themselves as New Beat. In January 1979 the Wieb (guitars) and Bonne Zigtema (vox) brothers join the band, Theo left. In the same year the first 7inch 'Magazine Girl' was released on Ariola/Torso and became a legend. Quickly they became celebrated, no wonder with their bright guitars, polyphonic harmonies and rhythmic clapping, the influence of the early beat music is clearly cognisable. Nevertheless, the band has a distinctly contemporary sound. After this record the band released all in all three singles and a second album called 'Touched'. 1981 the band broke up and split into The Thought and The Shavers. If you want more from the Rousers visit Frank's ShotgunSolution blog for the rest. By the way, the grandiose cover reminds me a little of Hergé. A Treat Of New Beat is truly one of the best albums I've heard this year.

- Many Thx to Fredrik -

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NO MANS LAND - Anything At All 12'' 1988

No Mans Land were a Sydney band playing the traps from 1984 to 1988. They were fronted by the wild but gentle Dave Slade. Prior to No Mans Land, Dave was singing in The Mercy Killers (1984). They were in need of a new bass player and the obvious choice was Dave's friend Jim Leone. However, the band soon broke up and FRANKENSTINE was born with No Mans Land soon to follow. The early line up were Dave Slade (vox), Jim Leone (bass), Mark Welsh (drums), Peter Bennett (keys) and Mark Rostron (guit). When Peter left, Mick Duncan joined on guitar and keyboards, coming from the short lived Via Satellite where he was renowned for his frocks. Their first demo tape was released in 1985 and the first single plus a mini-album called "Savage Brides" followed a year later. Their last release is this 12'' here with two wavie gloomy numbers and I like the deep striking voice, beautiful melancholic and a damn good record. By the end of 1988 No Mans Land was no more and all band members are still active.

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DUESENJAEGER - Las Palmas O.K. 2004

Well, hard days now and it's good to go out and join a concert. Yesterday and today are Turbostaat in town and last evening Duesenjaeger were opener and it is sometimes nice when I see a band which is great and I not hear them long ago. The band was founded 1999 and after two nice EP's their debut album saw the light of day in 2004 on GoKart Records. "E minor, melancholic, impulsive and angry. German punk, punk rock with German lyrics", so the band describes their sound in a few words, and that's enough. More albums followed until 2008, then Duesenjaeger was history. 

End of 2010 they receive an invitation and play a concert. "It itched us again in the fingers". Quick their own label Grabeland Schallfolien was born and new songs were recorded, released and live presented (what they have clearly demonstrated yesterday)...and that's a good thing! Jungs, weiter so - Danke!

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V/A - For Our Beloved Departed! [Special] 2014

Exactly one year ago, I lost my love - R.I.P. my beloved Girl, still missing you!

1.In A Lonely Place - NEW ORDER

2.Gone - DAVID HOLMES

3.Jewel - CRANES

4.Into My Arms - NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS

5.The Sage - VAMPIRE STATE BUILDING

6.Nur Zu Besuch - TOTEN HOSEN

7.Kein Zurück - WOLFSHEIM

8.Der Tanz Der Schatten - THEATRE OF TRAGEDY

9.Where The Lights Won't Shine - PSYCHED UP JANIS

10.Atmosphere - JOY DIVISION

11.Roads - PORTISHEAD

12.Missing You - PINK TURNS BLUE

13.Let Your Fingers Do The Walking - SORT SOL

14.It's All Over - THE GOD MACHINE

15.Late Night - THIS MORTAL COIL

16.Exit Music - RADIOHEAD

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V/A - Burning Ambitions (A History Of Punk) 1982

Burning Ambition: The History of Punk, attempts to be a definitive overview of the British (except DK) wave/punk scene in the late 70s/early 80s and while it falls short of its goals, it's nevertheless an admirable effort. The Crème de la Crème are here to honor, only classics on it. Surely some of you, like me, have the original records at home but this double album should become a favorite of yours, because this record is one of the finest punk compilations which is ever released. Love to hear all these classic songs in this order and believe me.... you will enjoy it as a good fuck.

1.Boredom - BUZZCOCKS

2.Bingo Masters Breakout - THE FALL

3.12XU - WIRE

4.Life - ALTERNATIVE TV

5.Keys To Your Heart - THE 101'ERS

6.I'm Alive - 999

7.Gary Gilmore's Eyes - THE ADVERTS

8.Justifiable Homicide - DAVE GOODMAN & FRIENDS

9.Where Have All The Boot Boys Gone - SLAUGHTER & THE DOGS

10.(Get A) Grip On (Yourself) - THE STRANGLERS

11.Your Generation - GENERATION X

12.Baby, Baby - THE VIBRATORS

13.Identity - X-RAY SPEX

14.Read About Seymour - SWELL MAPS

15.I'm Stranded - THE SAINTS

16.Chinese Rocks - HEARTBREAKERS

17.Lock It Up - EATER

18.Ain't Got A Clue - THE LURKERS

19.Lady - ADAM & THE ANTS

20.Love Song - THE DAMNED

21.Looking After No. 1 - BOOMTOWN RATS

22.Where's Captain Kirk? - SPIZZ ENERGI

23.In A Rut - THE RUTS

24.Angels With Dirty Faces - SHAM 69

25.Stranglehold - U.K.SUBS

26.Flares & Slippers - COCKNEY REJECTS

27.The Wait - KILLING JOKE

28.No Goverment - ANTI-PASTI

29.Holiday In Cambodia - DEAD KENNEDYS

30.Dead Cities - THE EXPLOITED

31.Last Rockers - VICE SQUAD

32.Harry May - THE BUSINESS

33.Police Story - THE PARTISANS

34.Someone's Gonna Die - BLITZ

35.City Baby Attacked By Rats - G.B.H

36.Complete Disorder - DISORDER

37.Russians In The DHSS - ATTILA THE STOCKBROKER

38.Lust For Glory - ANGELIC UPSTARTS

- Huge Thx to Fredrik -

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NDT - s/t LP 1982

NDT was formed by Ex-Crazy bassplayer Markus Tremp with other members of other Ex-Luzern Punkbands and this is their first album. And like Crazy they played hard and uncompromising social-critical lyrics, sung mainly in Swiss-German, helped them gain a large following to this day. Their awesome presence, the great straight-forward sound and the subtle political undertone, inspired many others to also form a Punk band in the early 80s. Find it, listen to it and be completely thrilled by the fantastic songs on this record from a band that many perceive to have been Switzerland’s most convincing Punk act ever! This awsome album contains ten swiss punk killers and was a self produced release and is nowadays one of the rarest records which is also extremely offered to high prices. All artwork included and now let's get pogo!

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THE SQUATS - Noise Overdose EP 1981

80s Dutch punk band from Nijmegen here with their only record on Nep & Bedrog Records with five cool punk goodies with a nice Oi! touch. Excellent dirty kbd sound. Found much info from their web site and here's a small excerpt: 

The Squats are probably one of the most controversial bands Nijmegen has ever known. The kind of teenagers you better could not have living next door to you. It seemed that they ruined more or less everything that came along their way, conform the Punks most used term in that time: DESTROY! An unbelievable 23 years ago (1978) three guys aged 14 till 17 years old from the "Grootstal" district in South Nijmegen watched the Dutch variant of 'Top of the Pops' (TopPop) on the TV and saw Iggy Pop shaking the nation up side down with his performance of "Lust For Live". The boys used to listen to stations like "VPRO"' and John Peel on the BBC on an old tube radio and they were heavily bored. But one thing was sure: They not just wanted to listen to punk, they wanted to play it. First thing the trio did before even owing any instrument was to chalk the whole of Nijmegen with the (future) band name: The Bored. In the fall of 1979, the three were able to buy a bass guitar and drumkit, changed the name into "The Squats" and placed an add in the local news paper for a guitarist. In the months following, the band had their first appearance in the local venue "Doornroosje", shocked a school in Nijmegen during a highschool band festival, and did another gig at "Doornroosje".

The early 80s have been the most productive years, lots of gigs were played and they also started recording in the studio, result was a demo called "The First, The Best, The Last?" which was released on their own "Nep En Bedrog (Fake & Fraude) Records" label. In 1981 borrowed all the money, found a studio close to town, smacked down 5 songs on 8 tracks in a couple of hours and the 'Noise Overdose" EP was a fact. 500 copies were pressed, and again released on their own label and sold out in 2 months. For sure, notorious they were, obnoxious and rude as well, call them arrogant, irritant, and ignorant but what else should you expect from 17 year old teenagers on speed, on the dole, in the early 1980's playing in a punkband from Nijmegen? That's how teenagers should behave. And after all, musically, it was a great punkband!

The Squats on compilations: Oi! The Rarities Vol.2, Punkrock From Holland, Oi! Rare & Exotica Vol.2 and Oi! Made In Holland 2. Brilliant Stuff!!!

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STILLE HOFFNUNG - Falsch & Umsonst 1982

Stille Hoffnung were from Cologne and existed from 1979-1982/83? This is their only release on Paradoxx Records and we have here a nice wave/punk mix, but for me it's more punkrock. Somehow it seems this band had goin' down but I think the music is perfectly acceptable and even their very personally lyrics shows that the boys knew how to combine them with melodious music & their songs are strong. Again one of the bands that I think is completely undervalued. Reminds me little bit of Düsseldorf's Fehlfarben and lyrics like "problems which concern the world, don't touch me" shows in which direction Stille Hoffnung goes. I can only say this is a fantastic album with eleven flowers in thirty minutes, the fast-paced subculture slams around your ears.

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V.V.L. - Neun Pforten (Demos) 2006

From Oberhausen come V.V.L. (Verhängnis Voller Leichtsinn) and this post includes unpublished material which were recorded in 2006, I am not sure but 2009 these three gentlemen were as The Landlords active and they have self-produced CD published. First of all I must say that it's really sad that no label has discovered this band. Much new shit is thrown to the market which is not very innovative and bands which not against the state, society or beer drinkin' have marginal chances to gain a foothold here. There is little scope left. OK, I'm watching the market not really but when I get sometimes a catalog and among the many re-releases does not appear much shattering, you know. Then I listen to the new stuff on youtube then I think "No One Needs This". Maybe it's some of you as well. I hope any label get in touch with V.V.L. because they deserve more attention. Zur Musik hier: The band provides with their sound a melancholy undertone and walks the Mönchengladbach paths. Twelve Punksongs in 40 minutes all in all, distinctive voice + driving guitars, excellent combination of bass & drums and the very professional recording is another plus point. Lyrically critical, emotionally and rousing. Visit them on MySpace for more infos, gigs and songs. For me; great songs from an interesting band. Brett!!!

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