THE STRANGLERS - The Great Lost Stranglers Album 1983

Fresh on the table and an excellent August finish with a real rarity and this interesting piece of vinyl is a Japan only compilation of non-album tracks, released via Liberty, by the Stranglers. Fourteen songs that underline their versatility, sometimes punk, sometimes poppy, but always unmistakably their sound with which they have earned a positive reputation worldwide and always remained true to themselves. Although they rose to fame during the initial explosion of UK punk, the Stranglers always stood apart from the other bands from the class of 1977. They had been together before punk became the "next big thing", and while they had a great talent for being suitably rude and transgressive, their music didn't sound or feel much like the fast-loud guitar-based fury of the well-known bands at that time. The Stranglers from Guildford are an integral part of the scene and belong in every well-stocked record collection and this slab is definitely one of them, even if difficult to obtain.

- Great Thx to Reinhard -

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AKUT SKJUT - Leva I Smyg 7'' 1984

In Karlskrona started 1980 this awesome band called Akut Skjut (their name means something like "can't wait to fuck your brains out") and the band consisted of Markus (vocals), Stefan & Mats (guitars), Nicklas (bass), Per (drums) and during their six years of existance they played a lot in southern Sweden. This 7Inch is their only release, handcrafted in small editions, and it contains two motherfuckin' numbers which burns hotter than hell ever can be. Rough and dirty guitars mixed with a hard melodic tempo and again this pretty cool swedish language. Fantastic!! - These two burners belong on every sophisticated Killed By Death compilation, but weren't discovered for this. The band broke up in 1986. In 2003 there was a reunion gig. That's all folks - listen!

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V/A - Bored Teenagers Vol.9 2016

And exactly what I described earlier applies to the following compilation; emotional authentic music by bands that perfectly reflect the zeitgeist and with their attitude towards life bought a few instruments and founded a band to express their emotions, some made it to a single and that was it. The baby is called Bored Teenagers and this is the Volume 9 in this highly collectable series that has done for Punk what the Pebbles series did for the obscure gems from the 60s. We have unearthed another batch of Punkrock Gems! This time only five bands but they had so many great tracks we couldn’t leave any off.

Info: First off is a band called the Crabs that most people are aware of as they appeared on the decent Farewell To The Roxy compilation back in 1978 with their ultra catchy track Lullabies Lie. Sadly no further recordings were released as the band folded in 1978 and became the backing band for Max Splodge but little did we know, the band did record four studio tracks for the highly collectable Lightning label and were scheduled for a release in March 1978. One thing led to another and the band never signed the contract and the tracks were shelved. Rough cassette copies circulated over the years but Tony the singer still had the master tape. This band should of made it and is criminal they are not up there with the likes of some of the bigger bands!

The second band to feature is FU-2 from Southend-On-Sea. Their roots can be traced back to late ’77. After years and years of trying to track this band down after seeing some Youtube footage, we hit lucky and found the singer. He had moved so many times and to our astonishment, he still had in his possession the original five trackmaster tape. The really interesting thing about these tracks is that all the recordings feature a certain lady who was made famous by appearing in the Sex Pistols film The Great Rock'N'Roll Swindle, Yes…. Helen Of Troy. Her vocals are so unique and some might say out of tune but blend perfectly with the opposing vocals of Terry Piper. All five tracks can be heard here! Be warned!!!! These tracks are catchy and you will be singing them all day! Once again, three out of these five tracks have never been heard before!

Next up is a band from Caterham in Surrey called Nuffin’ who were mates with The Damned & Johnny Moped. Their claim to fame so to speak of is that they had Roger Bullen (aka Dee Generate) as their drummer before being head hunted by Eater. Things were looking good for Nuffin’ as in November 1976 London Weekend Television broadcast a documentary by Janet Street Porter on a new youth cult called punk rock that was sweeping the nation. You can hear one of their tracks being played in that program. Here we have all four of their studio tracks that have never been heard before and are direct off the original reel to reel master tape.

The next band are Norwich’s first Punk band the Toads. These tracks that are featured are the essence of Punk, no messing about, straight in with 1234.. Bang! Short and sweet! After only a year or so theywere gone but the nucleus of the band re-appearing as Silent Noise.The last band are the Coils from out of Morpeth in Northumberland of all places… Once again, no  messing about, 1234 and singing about what was happening around them! Just take a listen to Fascist and Smash The Front! - Once again, a fucking ass kick on vinyl!

Enough for today, I'm tired and drunk, I only chilling now and I'm hungry...

1.Victim - THE CRABS

2.Save My Skin - THE CRABS

3.Lullabies Lie - THE CRABS

4.Blue Unction - THE CRABS

5.PG Tips - FU-2

6.Maybe - FU-2

7.Sorry - FU-2

8.Soho - FU-2

9.Sindy Michelle - FU-2

10.Centre Point Anywhere - NUFFIN'

11.Red Day Blues - NUFFIN'

12.We're Plastic - NUFFIN'

13.Pigs Can't Fly - NUFFIN'

14.All I Wanna Be Is A Star - THE TOADS

15.Suppression/Oppression - THE TOADS

16.I Don't Care About You - THE TOADS

17.In The Subway - THE TOADS

18.Nowhere To Go - THE TOADS

19.Bank Job - THE TOADS

20.Eyes - THE TOADS

21.Mixed Up Kid - THE TOADS

22.Blood On My Wheels - THE TOADS

23.Supermousse - THE COILS

24.Fascist - THE COILS

25.Upper Class Cretin - THE COILS

26.Land Of The Dead - THE COILS

27.Smash The Front - THE COILS

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THE CURE - @ The Zenith/Paris October 1992

There is music that remains timeless, emotional and will never be forgotten, and especially when the sound for years accompanies you through your ups and downs. For me it's the Cure whose records I own all the way up to the Wild Mood Swings record, from then on they weren't the same. I'm not sure, in addition to the numerous bootlegs, the first official live records came out in the early nineties, this one and the fantastic Show double album. Yesterday evening after ripping vinyl I listened to these two records after a long time and thought: what great music and why not post it? And then the thought occurred to me what a blessing to grow up with such a brilliant band. Nowadays there is no comparison and I regret the music lovers who grow up with the short-lived artificial formations whose music always sounds the same and completely shitty is and doesn't have any character, compiled by the majors, only to earn money, without a heart or attitude to life. That's the modern musical world; radio compatible, dumb, uncritical, non-reflective, mass-produced and a waste of time. And that's why it is important to rediscover such classics like this album. Of course, I recommend all those who aren't yet familiar with Cure records, get them and enrich your musical horizon.

The Figurehead/One Hundred Years/At Night/Play For Today/Apart/In Your House/Lovesong/A Letter To Elise/Dressing Up/Charlotte Sometimes/Close To Me/A Night Like This/Trust/A Forest

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THE DOUBT - Contrast Disorder EP 1980

On this rainy Saturday music is announced and before I rip vinyl a quick post by another band from Ireland with their only record that was only pressed 500 times, but was re-released by Incognito Records as Incognito Punkrock Classix Series 2015, also 500 copies. Info: formed in Bangor around 1978 by Hugh (vocals), Paul (guitar), John (bass), Steven (drums) and their main inspiration came from an earlier Bangor band called the Standards. After a few months John Clarke was replaced on bass by Robert Scott from recently disbanded Bangor outfit The Ski's. Over the next year The Doubt played as many gigs as they could. Arguably, their best show ever was a charity gig arranged by the band which also featured slots by Fifth Column and Belfast bands Ruefrex and The Androids. For the first (and last) time the Doubt had use of a proper PA and played a storming set to a crowd of several hundred. The band split in October 1979 despite having discussed releasing a single. As the principal songwriters, Corken and Scott decided to go ahead with the release of an EP and roped in Adrian Maddox (Fifth Column’s guitar player) to play drums on the recording while Corken took over vocal duties. Contrast Disorder was eventually released on Solo Records in early 1980 after numerous delays and sold a couple of hundred copies locally. It featured four brilliant tracks. In 2003, Rave Up Records released a compilation which featured the four songs of the EP plus ten unreleased demo sessions. When the Doubt split Steven and Hugh went on to play in the Co-Ordinates whilst Scott and Maddox formed Palace Of Variety. Later, Scott would form Carpenter Joe. Represented on relevant compilations, for example Bloodstains Across Northern Ireland I recommend for you.

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PUBLIC TOYS - Safety-Pins On Television EP 1998

Public Toys was founded in Düsseldorf 1991 by Fossi (vocals), Uwe & Guido (guitars), Roman (bass), Usenburger (drums) and they convey a whole attitude towards life that was long thought to be extinct. At the beginning of the 90s, a couple of guys from Düsseldorf get together and want to play punk. You'd heard it somewhere before - that's why various newspapers at the time associated: “The grandchildren of the Toten Hosen are now inheriting their inheritance!” But they go their own way and create their own style. "Punkrock has no idols!" and the Public Toys are certainly not a band that could be described as a copy of some punk greats. At the end of 1997 singer Fossi left the band and Pascal joined them as new singer, who from then on wrote many lyrics for the band. All in all, they have enriched the nineties with their refreshing sound and the result are three albums and a few singles (I don't even want to talk about the numerous compilation contributions). This little dittie was released through Pascal’s own label Dirty Faces and transports four catchy numbers in your house and give you peace. An Opinion: "The Public Toys are the last and only true punk heroes. So sweet that the girls lie to their feet, hard enough to hit it off with the punk scene and smart enough to write controversial lyrics that when brought together with the right music are so melodious that you don't want to withhold it from anyone..." (BUT Fanzine). Can stay like this.

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FLACKOFF - The Flackoff EP 1980

 

The rooster crows at an early hour and its wake-up call alarms and urges you to get the following awesome slab by this four piece from Leamington Spa on Sofa Records, and this is the only vinyl release by Flackoff with great female vocals and the band consisted of Claire (vocals), Arthur (guitars), Rod (bass), Rick (drums) and this infectious energetic catchy three song goodie is one of those great local one-off EPs that would get a spin on John Peel back in the day, brimming with an endearing and infectious energy that characterized the era. Re-released 2018 by Inflammable Material/Sofa Records in a limited edition of 300 copies and I don't think it's easy to get hold of one of them today. No wonder, three mercilessly brilliant songs who made it onto the essential Killed By Death #007 compilation. Top record of a short-lived combo that definitely had what it takes for more.

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RAT BASTARDS - 6 Song EP 2004

Now folks, it's getting loud and fast and this post is for all Hardcores out there and this fuckin' 6 Song EP is a great example for brilliant screamcore. Rat Bastards are from Chicago and the band started in the mid 90s featuring former Industrialized Autocracy members, along with late 80s scene member Pat Kelly. They are still playing today (after some lineup changes) and on this little noisecracker are Pat (vocals), Jay & Rick (guitars), Al (bass), Mike (drums), they made five 7Inches, this one on Kangaroo Records (Amsterdam label) and one album. For the collector nerds are the two singles on Will E. Survive Records very interesting, "Contaminated Minds" and the split with Dead Drunk. There's definitely been a shift musically since the early years, starting as a 80's style hardcore band which moved into a newer sound, incorporating into that both Swedish and Japanese H/C influences. They've all played in a lot of Chicago bands in the past and continue to do so. Now enjoy this classic hardcore stuff with the highest volume.

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MACKT & ON-BIRDS - Split EP 1980

On this record we have two combos from Linköping, Sweden and for both is their only vinyl appearance and this little record came via Jörvars Gosskör (punk fanzine & occasional label) in a few different color versions in an edition of 500 copies out. Mackt consisted of Batzz (vocals), Magnus (guitars), Jan (bass), Holger (drums) and they give us five excellent short '77 style biscuits, delicious stuff and I can shake hands with them, while the On-Birds (Jan, Mats, Nils-Göran & Sven) songs are real low-fi noises and if you like this kind of sound you will love them. It's a bit exhausting in the long run for my taste and I'm not a big fan of this but their soupbowl songs have charm, they're funny and they're quick over. Either you love it or not. More infos about both I can't find so search the net by yourself and maybe you find out something. So that's all for now, I'm leavin now because I need some cold beer and the temperatures are a bit benevolent now.

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V/A - See You In Valhalla 1997

Older compilation with international renowned bands that came out on Mad Butcher Records in the mid-nineties. Fifteen bands, including some good old acquaintances, who offer a refreshing streetpunk sound, partly unreleased and only on this slab. I think, here is something for every taste, young and old buddies, and with over forty-five minutes it's an attractive mix and worth listening and I can't make out any unnecessary filler. Lyrically, the mood is consistently positive and should you be moping, this is the right record to blow the gray veil off your mind. You can argue about the cover and the album title, I think it's not that successful, but fuck it, a passionate emotion is part of it and doesn't hurt anyone. Good Record & fertig!

1.Dead But Not Forgiven - STAGE BOTTLES

2.Our Own Way - SKIN DEEP

3.Down Under - THE BRADLEYS

4.They Tell Us - TIME BOMB 77

5.Com'on Palestinans - COMRADE

6.Fighting Times - NEWTOWN NEUROTICS

7.Skins & Punks Unite - REAR GUNNERS

8.Never Too Late - RED LONDON

9.L' Appel De La Cité - BANLIEU ROUGE

10.Hailbut Wars - BARNSTORMER

11.Aut Aut - AUT AUT

12.Businessman - JACK THE LAD

13.Catastrophe - SCHWEDE

14.Going Underground - VULTURE CULTURE

15.Andrò Dove Mi Porteranno I Miei Scarponi - BANDA BASSOTTI

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