Thursday, January 04, 2018

THE STALIN - Stop Jap 1982

Original published on Climax Records this is the second record by Fukushima's band The Stalin and my copy is an unoffical one but that doesn't matter, is just as cool. Formed 1980 by leader and vocalist Michiro Endo, Atsushi on guitar and Jun on drums and their first single "Dendou Kokeshi" comes out via Political Records the same year. Tam replaced Atsushi on guitar and on X-Mas 1981 they released their first full-length album (half studio/half live) Trash. They toured immense, they had a couple line-up changes and released many singles and albums, among them a live record, and the band split up 1993. In 2001 there was a special Stalin concert entitled "One Night Dream". Michiro Endo performed with Keigo Nakata (ex:The Stalin) on drums, Shinichi Suzuki (Pulling Teeth) on guitar and Katsuta on bass. Other bands and artists also performed and paid tribute to the group, including Loopus, Cobra, Panta and Kenzi. The show was recorded and released as the Hakike Gasuruhodo Romanchikku Daze!! video in June 2001. The concert coincided with the release of the 365-A Tribute to The Stalin album, which has some of the bands that performed covering Stalin songs. Stop Jap is full with fifteen first-class snotty punk nuggets and is one of the best record from the land of the rising sun.

Sunday, December 31, 2017

THE MIRRORS - Dark Glasses 7'' 1978

Last post in 2017 and there is something new from the Wanted list and it's the second single by the Mirrors, a short-lived combo from South Wales, and on these recordings involved: Gary (vocals + rhythm guitar), Alan (bass), Bree (lead guitar) and Trevor (drums), released by the small London-based label Lightning Records. On the a-side we enjoy a lumbering four minute piece who monotonous pulls its laps and I can permanent listen to this fuckin' rhythm. They play exactly the drive as I love it, sure for some boring and uninspired but this soft bluesy melody listen I seldom and the four gentlemen do it very well. On the flip-side is a pleasant 2:30 mid-tempo KBD powerpop/punk goodie which rounding the record out. On compilations not often represented but Cure For Cancer was taken for the Young Raw Sounds UK #1 (Zeus Records, 1997) record, only bands/songs from Lightning releases and highly recommended. Enjoy or endure the music!

I wish you all a nice New Year's Eve and thanks to all who helped me this year, sent good music, gave some comments and we face the 2018 challenge!  


- Great Thx to Bristolboy -


TROTSKIDS - A Mort!...A Fond!!... 1986

Francophone punkrock between snot and hymn is comin' from Brittany and released via Terminal Records this is the 'second' Album by the Trotskids from Rennes. They play the typical hard fat French Punk sound and with this record they emphasize this in every way. I like this slab because I love an decent Oi! sound and the production is well rough. The band formed 1982 in Rennes by brothers Doumé (vocals) and Félipé (drums), Ivan (guitars), Ruff (bass) and occasionally Nono as second drummer. After many gigs their vinyl debut was made on the Chaos En France #1 compilation and in 1984 their first album with six songs was released via Chaos Productions. Chaos #2, line-up changes, a tape (4 Fois En 10 mn!!) followed inbetween until A Mort !...A Fond !!... comes out and in June 1987 the band split up for reasons of musical divergences.


Saturday, December 30, 2017

ATTAQUE 77 - Dulce Navidad 1989

Christmas is over but this record is currently running up and down because.... A bit info from wiki: "Attaque 77 is an Argentine punk rock group and were formed 1987 in Buenos Aires as a group of friends who got together to play their favorite songs, most of them by the Ramones, their favorite band and the one that influenced them the most. They started writing songs in the same punk rock style, lyrics with proletarian content (about exploited factory workers, etc.), and wore denim jackets, which became one of their hallmarks in their beginnings. Currently, only three members continue performing and recording. When they were just starting, they played the more traditional punk rock and in those years, the band became more popular by virtue of a more melodic style. High points in the band's history include the album El Cielo Puede Esperar in 1990, with the first band's big-hit "Hacelo Por Mí" and performing their first gigs at the Estadio Obras in October 1991." Many records have since been released and the band is still active and touring decent and maybe a new album will follow.

here

Friday, December 29, 2017

NEONBABIES - s/t LP 1981

Ahhh.... fine stuff now from the Neonbabies: they came together at the beginning of 1979 in Berlin. Among its founding members were the sisters Inga Humpe ("DiLemma") and Annette Humpe ("Anita Spinetti"). The group made its first appearance in the spring of 1979 at the Gasthaus an der Havel and the gigs were the highlight of the concert season 1979/80. Later they were able to make their first recordings at the senate's own Beat Studio with Nikolaus (guitar), Conny (bass), Toni (drums) and Reinhard (saxophone). The first EP (I Don't Want To Loose You) came out early 1980 and includes a first version of the later Ideal killer Blaue Augen, in autumn then the 2nd EP Nervös. The band were now an integral part of the Berlin music scene and were worshiped as cult. 

In early 1980, Annette Humpe founded the band Ideal and was replaced by singer Petra (Miko) but she was only heard on the debut album and this was released on the Berlin independent label Good Noise Records in 1981 and sold ca. 16.000 times, Nikolaus said: ''We were never ideologically defined. Good Noise said: we make the record with you - and then we signed a contract for a plate". The music is a cocktail of early german punk (KFC or S.Y.P.H.) and New Wave & Pop. 

In 1982, Dave Hutchins produced the 2nd album (Harmlos) @ Conny Plank Studio which was released on Ariola Records, followed by a tour through Germany. After the quit of Nikolaus, he was replaced by Toni Kambiz, the group engaged Drafi Deutscher as producer of the 3rd 7Inch 'Ich Bin Ein Mann' but the sale was very much less, far far behind expectations. The last album '1983' was recorded with Gareth Jones in Berlin Hansa Studios and also appears at Ariola. A short time later, the group broke up. Conny left and Inga participated around the project DÖF which was produced by her sister and the single Codo became a great fuckin' hit! With Eiskalte Engel the last Neonbabies 7Inch was done and it was a remix of the title Engel from the 3rd album and was considered as farewell gift for the fans. Enjoy now fourteen crunchy poppy bubbles from album #1.


ABWÄRTS - Beirut, Holiday Inn 12'' 1982

Abwärts is a German punk combo from Hamburg, founded 1979 by Frank Z. (vocals, guitar), FM Einheit (keys & percussion, drums), Mark Chung (bass), both left the group in 1982 to join Einstürzende Neubauten, and published with "Computerstaat" & "AmokKoma" two records that are on my Top Ten list of German punk records. Dissatisfied with the support provided by ZickZack, they now wanted to work more professionally and offer the next album to a major label. The work began fall 1981 in the Hamburg Hafenklang, a month of self-financed & produced studio recordings followed by a week of mixing in the London Townhouse studios and at the end of the year the album Der Westen Ist Einsam was finished and offered to various record companies and finally Abwärts signed at Phonogram. The reviews were shitty and in my opinion wrongly but that was the 80s journalists scum and Punk were Abwärts since already no longer. But it works for them and Mercury released then this 12'' with a new version of "Beim Ersten Mal Tut's Immer Weh" plus three more fine tunes, less punk and more Wave style, but worth hearing and as comparison you'll find their last ZickZack 7Inch "Roboter In Der Nacht" within (after that record, the hamburgers became uninteresting for me). Be nice to each other in your crisis area!


HUVUDTVÄTT & PICNIC BOYS - Split EP 1981

Huvudtvätt existed from 1981-1984 and were formed by brothers Mats and Torulf Nilsson. After the demise of Sundsvall's famous (and orthodox) punk band Massmedia in 1980, the two brothers moved to Linköping to study and they were eager to play again. It was originally planned as a solo project by Mats, but it resulted in Huvudtvätt (HT). With new influences from the US hardcore scene and England’s Discharge, they step towards in a wild/tougher style and they were noticed in the clubs. All the song titles have a cleaning theme and the ambiguous lyrics were humorous but serious at the same time. The band also appeared as Headcleaners, whose name came from a cleaning cassette and their music was as rough as HT, but the social critical English words were written primarily by Janne and they released one or two 7Inches via the Uppsala label Malign Massacre. On stage Huvudtvätt only performed once during their career. - From the Picnic Boys came the B-Side with two classic KBD tunes. They were a three piece combo (also Sundsvall) and that's all info I have for you. These both tracks are damn cool and I think this is all they pressed on vinyl. Unfortunately, I think a full length would become a killer LP.

Thursday, December 28, 2017

MARIA.023 - s/t EP 1979

Tokyo punk from Maria.023 with their lone record which was released via Gozira Records. Four friggle mid-tempo tracks with a brilliant crazy voice and I don't understand a single word even though they have english lyrics.. famos. What should I say? listen


Tuesday, December 26, 2017

V/A - Live & Alive [Special] 2017

It's time again to torture you with one of my superfluous self-made compilations and since I'm a Live person, this Machwerk is full with sixteen Alive goodies from bands which I have seen live multiple times, whose records I love and being a constant companion in the past and present. Simply strong songs that impress and touch me or which I just only like. The artwork came on its own and I hope it appeals to you. Take this as a small gift and listen to it while cooking, in the train/plane, while cycling or body sport... made to play loud! 

1.Not Another Hit - DISCO ZOMBIES
2.The Traveller - A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS
3.Remember Tomorrow - IRON MAIDEN
4.Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment - RAMONES
5.Ruperts Grün - TURBOSTAAT
6.A Forest - THE CURE
7.Shot Down In Flames - AC/DC
8.In Shreds - THE CHAMELEONS
9.Chelsea Monday - MARILLION
10.Shadowplay - JOY DIVISION
11.Such A Shame - TALK TALK
12.Halleluja - RAMMSTEIN
13.Staub - MESSER
14.Walking On Both Sides - PINK TURNS BLUE
15.Very Ape - NIRVANA
16.Weiter - EA80

here

V/A - OX-Compilation #53 2003

The OX is probably the best-selling punk fanzine in Germany and I think they were the first who put music with their Heftschä, first as a 7Inch and then as a CD. This gives bands the opportunity to get to know a bit, or to promote new releases, of course for a little cash. The compilations are usually very well mixed, great covers and there is also much to discover. Here's # 53 with thirty-one fat punk rock blasts (and the only X-Mas song).

1.Little Drummer Boy - EA80
2.Sang Sans Sens - OPÉRATION S
3.Total Teen Degenerate - REAL LOSERS
4.She's Hysterical - GIRLS
5.Thrill Me - UNDERTONES
6.Spit Me Out - THE SPITS
7.Get! Out! - THE TROUBLEMAKERS
8.Cold Cold Cookie - THE CHEEPS
9.A Blues You Oughta Get Used To - SUBSONICS
10.About Dirt - LO-LITE
11.Wrapped In Red - BLACK MONDAY
12.Devil Town - GROOVIE GHOULIES
13.Economia - BULLOCKS
14.Love American - GIVE UP THE GHOST
15.Artificial Sun Kills Ideologists - A CASE OF GRENADA
16.Shining Star - SOULMATE
17.I Killed Her But That's Not The Point - THE UNFINISHED SYMPATHY
18.Count It Down - K LINE
19.Points - BLOCKO
20.University - SOLANOID
21.Love Of Mud - YUCCA
22.R.O.C.C.O. - HEARTBREAK ENGINES
23.Blue Eyed Devil - DUMBELL
24.Hot Rod - GRINDOLLS
25.Der Mann Mit Dem Hut - CHEFDENKER
26.Herbst Im Herz - ORAL FLIPPERS
27.Cuba Libre - VIRAGE DANGEREUX
28.Runaway - DAMNATION KIDS
29.The Obituary Of Happiness - ADJUDGEMENT
30.More Than Less - MADSTATEWORLD
31.Pepe'ling - BARBARA ANN