V/A - Geschichten Aus Der Zwischenzeit 1999

Gude Morsche liebe Gemeinde and welcome on this wonderful sunny day off. I start postin' today with musical delicacy from the land of poets and thinkers. Romantic, melancholic masterpieces of literature, painting, art and of course music were here created. And that we can still do such nuggets is demonstrated by this splendid compilation, the first release from the Sturmhöhe label, and there are seventeen of them. The Créme De La Créme of gloomy bands has gathered to set real feelings to music, to reflect on yourself, to allow dark times and still enjoy life. Most of them are exclusive tracks to my knowledge and unfortunately not released as vinyl. Nun denn, enjoy the music, also suitable for non-German speakers and search for more slabs from the bands in the blog.

1.Für Mich - VERBRANNTE ERDE

2.Sternenleichen - FLIEHENDE STÜRME

3.Re-Missing - SERENE FALL

4.Time... - HUMAN TIMEBOMB

5.Ausgangsziel - TRISTESSE

6.Zerstörung - PETER FIELD

7.Wait - WANK

8.Stella - DIE BLUMEN DES BÖSEN

9.Schwarz - L.S.K.

10.Höllengott - SUBSTANCE OF DREAM

11.Dosentod - KRANKHEIT DER JUGEND

12.Trust - SERENE FALL

13.Asche & Stein - L.S.K.

14.R.+J. - VERBRANNTE ERDE

15.Techno Plastik Love Affair - WANK

16.Toter Winkel - DIE BLUMEN DES BÖSEN

17.Down - HUMAN TIMEBOMB

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NÜTZLICHE IDIOTEN - Wir Sind Lebendig Begraben EP 1985

Very rare German slab by DNI, better known as Nützliche Idioten and they were from Düsseldorf and consisted of Hank, Heavy, Matze & Rometsch. The first appearance on vinyl was 1982, a split album together with Chor Der Gefangenen on Runde Sache Records (200 copies). Musically we listen to typical gruffy rough 80s german punk which you can certainly pack on a selfmade compilation with rare & obscure stuff (get active here and send me the clutter). Reissued 1998 on the Die Deutschen Kommen Zurück! record by Loud, Proud & Punk Records with four other rare deutschpunk nuggets. Now I can't think of anything... I hope you enjoy the extraordinary times, read the daily press and watch much TV, and if you find this is all normal, throw your beer in the garbage and go to the monastery.

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M.I.A. - After The Fact 1987

One of the first punk bands from Las Vegas were M.I.A. and this is their last album which came out via Flipside Records. Before I leave you with an excellent review from their homepage, briefly the note about their debut split 12'' Last Rides together with Genocide that illustrate their musical roots and is a damn big eruption (Vesuvius is kindergarten). "After the Fact is one of the best US punk records of the late 1980s, mostly because it mixes many post-punk influences and innovates where other punks cling totradition. The two guitars rarely play similar parts, there are dynamics & mood settings, contemplative sound and even a Killing Joke inspired tribal backbeat. The production on After the Fact is far superior to M.I.A.'s past efforts, with real bottom, kick, drive and guts. Check out the cover of "California Dreaming" or the effortless “Edge Of Forever” for proof that punk can be a fresh aural pleasure, even at this late date. M.I.A. ultimately paid the same price that the original TSOL and Effigies did when they went against the grain and tried to take punk to its next step: the group split up in early 1988." – Jack Rabid/Trouser Press - I would like to add; in 2001 Alternative Tentacles brought out a cool double record set called 'Lost Boys' (the first 1000 in orange) with thirty-seven rare old blasts, great stuff!

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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RADIKAL HC - Venganza 1988

Solid debut by this three piece from the iberian peninsula and the band consisted of Panko (vocals/bass), Alvaro (guitars), Javi (drums) and the album was released on the legendary Spanish label Discos Suicidas and Radikal Hardcore play fast, no-frills pieces mixed with a few three minute numbers, but keeping the pace high and amazingly melodic. Also present on some compilations, one of them the famous Diez Años Discos Suicidas slab. The three count among the best from the Basque Country and five albums have been recorded so far and whether the band is still active is beyond my knowledge.

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FRITES MODERN - 6Met 10'' 2018

Great release by Frites Modern from Amsterdam who were active between 1982 to 1985. Guitarist and singer Arjan Boonacker formed the band after his departure from Tröckener Kecks. Contrary to the prevailing oi and later hardcore trend of the time, the band made melodic punk and early pop punk. The band was originally called Duphar, named after the chemical factory that had dumped thousands of poison barrels in the Volgermeerpolder. On the way to a performance in Belgium, the band saw a burnt chip shop standing by the side of the road, the nameplate of which still proudly announced that it was a "Friterie Moderne". And that gave them the idea for the definitive band name. 6 Met10 was released on cassette in 1983, it became a great success and ended up being the best-selling Dutch indie cassette ever. The tape contains, amongst other tracks, the ultimate punk version of Sesamstraat and Bionic Adventure, which ended up on compilation albums (all re-upped) several times over the years. "Your speakers are running wild: arrow-fast riffs, a screeching solo and vocals to kiss. Frites Modern works according to the old craftsmanship of the songsmith, with exciting verses and beautiful choruses. An ode to The Undertones." --OOR Magazine #10, 21.May 1983 - Now self-released in my favorite format as 10'' and now listen to six dutch nuggets.

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NERVEBREAKERS - Politics EP 1978

Weekend in Texas and we visit the Nervebreakers, Thom (vocals), Barry (guitars), Bob (bass), Carl (drums) and they give us a present with their first EP on Wild Child and the name of the slab reflects perfect the current situation worldwide due to the crazy Corona pandemic in which the fucking politicians paralyze retail with regulations that no one understands, impose conditions that get on my nerves extremely. To the music... first, it's not my rip and so it's not the best but I pushed it a bit and we listen to four nice mid-tempo pieces with great guitar riffs and brilliant lyrics and they released three 7Inches before they broke up in 1982 or so. Vocalist Thom "Tex" Edwards has fronted bands including “The Swingin’ Cornflake Killers”, “The Loafin' Hyenas” and most recently “Out On Parole”, guitarist Barry Kooda had a great run with late 80's band “Yeah Yeah Yeah” and as one of three front men in the 1990's country outfit “The Cartwrights”. But those are all other long stories so for now let’s just stick with Nervebreakers. Their album “We Want Everything” (recorded 1980) did not see the light of day until 1994 when Texas rarities/reissue label ‘Existential Vacuum’ released it to rave reviews. This was followed by a single reuniting of the band for a release party at Trees in Deep Ellum. Shortly thereafter this effort was picked up by garage/punk label ‘Get Hip Records’ and made available worldwide. In 2000 Italian label “Rave Up Records” woke up and released Hijack The Radio a collection of singles, rarities & live cuts. Years after they laid the groundwork for thousands of other Texas bands, Nervebreakers were finally getting their due. In 2009, Nervebreakers returned to live performance, with several shows in Austin & Dallas + they're still alive.

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THE BATES - Pleasure + Pain 1995

At home in the north of Hesse, we visit again the bubblegum punx from Eschwege. Pleasure + Pain is the fifth studio album by the Bates and this was the band's breakthrough in the mid-1990s. Unfortunately I almost want to say, I think they lost a little identity thereby. And the useless MTV videos didn't do them any good either, only financially and Punx with a lot of money produce a lot of shit. Well, Vergnügen + Schmerz offers the typical Bates style and contains mostly quickly played three-chord numbers, which branch out with melodic highlights and smooth ballads. A special feature is the cover version Donna Clara, an old hit from the 1920s. It is the only German song on the record and Bela B. & Farin Urlaub (under the pseudonym "Kill Kill Gaskrieg") from die Ärzte took over the background vocals. The lyrics of the slab are relatively simple. No political slogans were used, instead the punk attitude was tried to be implemented, and the magic of love also appears again and again. The Bates were here: Zimbl (vocals/bass), Michael (lead guitar), Thomas (rhythm guitar) & Frank (drums). Records by the four bring fun because they dig out pop pearls in order to roast them in their unmistakable way.

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TIVOLI - Millionen 7'' 1982

Early Ska band from Örebro with their second and final 7inch on Svenska Smash Records. The band consisted of Arne Svensson (vocals/bass), Christer & Lennart (guitars), Björn (drums) and Anders (keyboards), that's all info I have. I'm not a big fan of Ska music but every now and then I can get enthusiastic about it. At that time there weren't many ska bands, I think, and probably only a few from Sweden but the five have the rhythm in their blood and let the dance leg swing properly. Certainly not a record to become a Ska Maniac, but usable for a start.

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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LONDON - Animal Games 1978

Delicious catchy music form the British Island is coming up next and I will inform you with existing words: London is a four-piece punk band formed in London in 1976, best known for their wild stage act. The original line-up was Riff (vocals), Dave (guitar), Steve (bass) and Jon (drums). They recorded in their short lifespan two singles, a 4 track EP and an album for MCA Records in 1977 actually released in February '78 after the group had disbanded. Most of their songs were written by Riff (including the first two singles Everyone's A Winner & Summer Of Love) or by Riff and Steve. All their records were produced by Napier-Bell at the IBC Studios in London. After an absence of more than thirty years the band returned to live performance and subsequently released the album "Reboot" in 2012 with line-up Riff (vocals), Steve (bass), Hugh (guitars) and Colin (drums). Animal Games is the only album recorded by the original line-up of the Band. The album contained all the band's singles. They toured extensively throughout 1977, including a major UK tour with the Stranglers and their final gig was @ the Marquee Club in Wardour Street on the 8th December 1977. The band broke up shortly afterwards. On leaving, Moss joined the Damned and then formed Culture Club with Boy George. Riff released solo records on MCA and CBS before reverting to his real name of Miles Tredinnick and becoming a comedy writer; Steve formed a new band The Original Vampires and Dave following stints in Metro and Holly and the Italians reverted to his real name of Colin Wight and became an academic (recently appointed Professor of International Relations at the University of Sydney). Simon Napier-Bell went on to manage George Michael and Wham! before becoming a best selling author of rock 'n' roll books. In 1997 Captain Oi! Records released a best of London CD called "London-The Punk Rock Collection" with fifteen smasher... Now pay attention to the four for good forty minutes, because they deserve it and don't forget: a good deed every day!

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BETAMAX - Modern 7'' 1980

Sole release of Betamax from Hagen with two New Wave tunes on Tonträger 58 Hagen, the first record by this label. I can be wrong, but I think on the Micro is a man named Kai Havaii, who is/was the front man of Extrabreit that time, at least the flip comes from his pen. Otherwise I can't tell much about the four, a few compilation contributions and that's it. Musically comes mild monotonous noizes out from your boxes, whereby the A-side has more drive and is the winner for me. Fazit: A nice slab, not for everyone; but for everyone who wants to take it easy after a long, shitty work day and without visiting the dentist.

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