INSTANT AGONY - No Sign Of Life! 7'' 1983

Interesting UK combo from Birkenhead called Instant Agony, active from 1979 to 1984 and members were Hocky (vocals), Ant (guitars), Tabby (bass), Bazza (drums) and they released four singles during their original time together before things went a bit wrong for them. This is their third one on Flicknife Records with two catchy tunes which get you on your feet! "A bit slower than their first two 7Inches with more melodic lead guitar. They still sound undeniably Punk while having come up with a sound that was pretty unique amongst their contemporaries." The band reformed in 1996 and their last life sign was the One Man Army album from 2005. Guest appearances on compilations are also numerous.

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ONE WAY SYSTEM - This Is The Age 7'' 1983

Hmmm, I thought I'd posted something about the following combo, but apparently in my old Blog, well.... I'll catch up on this immediately, because they are among the heroes of early, typical trembling UK Hardcore/Punk sound. One Way System were formed 1979 in the Fleetwood area of Lancashire and shuffled through several different line-ups before settling into a quartet that would make the band's first life possible: Gavin (vocals), Craig (guitar), Gaz (bass), Tez (drums). They made their first mark on the Country Fit For Heroes compilation on No Future Records in 1982 which helped launch the debut EP Stab The Judge on Beat The System!! Records. They didn't release an album until 1983, when they switched to Anagram Records where consequently the debut All Systems Go appeared, based on the single Give Us A Future followed by the second album, The Writing On The Wall. 1984 came the next EP entitled Visions Of Angels, which raised hopes of a US tour as opener for the legendary Circle Jerks. Unfortunately Keith Morris (leader) broke his neck just before the start of the planned tour and the dream was over. One Way System played two shows in the States in lieu of the unrealized tour before deciding to go home and quit. Ten years later, in 1994, punk rock reissue specialists Captain Oi! re-released their two albums, followed by Anagram releasing a best-of in 1995, leading to a reunion. After that, Gavin and Gaz decided to continue and were replaced by Andy (bass) & Lee (vocals) respectively. New material were recorded for a few different labels and they've been rockin' & rollin' to heart attack ever since.

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VENDETTA - Modern Rockers 7'' 1978

Phew, this shitty winter is really taking its toll on my mood and the stupid work doesn't leave much time for creativity and posting. But today I have another cool darling for you. Barely known by record collectors is this rare and wild 7Inch on Les Disques Star Records and it's the only release by moustache rockers Vendetta from Ottawa, and the band consisted of Duggie (vocals), Mitch (guitars), Mr. Ron (bass), Vulture (drums). Both tracks are laden with shredding guitars, vigorous singing and a high octane rhythm section that keeps the listeners attention from start to finish. 2018 reissued by Supreme Echo in a limited edition of 500 copies in form of a flexi 7Inch. Rarely featured on compilations, only on the bootleg Canada's Pissed Vol.3, which I'd be interested in, can anyone send it?

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V/A - Punk Dead - Nah Mate.... 1983

... The Smell Is Jus Summink In Yer Underpants Innit." (whatever that means...). Yeah, this is the little musical ode by Pax Records with English bands that had their, partly, short active life span in the early Eighties, and twelve rough delicious smasher in finest sound quality await you and this compilation is another solid example of great early UK Funk. All tracks are mostly exclusive and not released on Singles or anywhere else, at least not in that time. A short review: "Is Punk dead?” The musical answer is provided by six bands from Sheffield and the surrounding area, each with two songs. All bands play British-style anarcho-hardcore punk. Mau Maus, who had just released their first two 7"s on Pax, open with the demand "Give Us A Future", followed by Xtract and Anti System, who are represented with songs from their demo tape. In their song "The Thatcher" Septic Psychos draw the picture of a monster that eats small children at night and rules the country during the day. Any resemblance to the Prime Minister at the time may have been purely coincidental. Xpozez and Mania complete the line-up of the album, which gives a little insight into the very agile punk scene in central England in the early eighties. The record comes in an elaborate gatefold cover with a typical black-and-white look. All the bands' lyrics are printed inside. Marcus Featherby, the operator of Pax, then used almost the entire area of ​​the back cover for his views on the question "Is Punk Dead?" - Now you know and fucking Thursday is saved and I'm awarding a gold medal to this little bugger.

1.Give Us A Future - MAU MAUS

2.War Heroes - XTRACT

3.Man's World - ANTI SYSTEM

4.Power To The People - MANIA

5.Factory Fodder - XPOZEZ

6.Not Wanted - SEPTIC PSYCHOS

7.Breakout - ANTI SYSTEM

8.Aftermath - XTRACT

9.The Thatcher - SEPTIC PSYCHOS

10.No Respect - XPOZEZ

11.Clampdown - MAU MAUS

12.Stick Together - MANIA

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THE KELPIES - Official Bootleg 1986

It's time to pay tribute to another favorite band of mine that set high musically standards, but unfortunately they were only two years active and released far too little. So this damn rare fucker came via Aberrant Records and 507 copies of this superb slab exist. Fourteen goodies in a very good sound quality and I love their raw and pure personality. Excellent liner notes which I would like to quote: "During their brief existence, beginning March 1981, the Kelpies produced some of the best, wildest and most memorable gigs seen in Sydney, developing a knack of being banned from venues as quickly as they packed the out. Combined with internal personal problems, this eventually led to their demise in August 1982, with only one single on Phantom Records and three tracks on the first Aberrant compilation Flowers Of The Dustbin. This tape, released with permission of the band, was recorded sometime in 1981 during a rehearsal in the mattressed basement of 51 Stanley Street, Darlinghurst, also known as The Dungeon Tapes. Its release it to make available the classic material that should have been an album for a band that could have had the world." The Kelpies: James (vocals), Brian & Mark (guitars), Con (bass), Ashley (drums), were (and still are) a real highlight of Australian underground music. A Must Listen!

Living In A World Of Fear/Love Is A Revolution/Rich Man/I Don't Know Why/Dead Meat/Underway/Brand New Cadillac/Life Looks So Good Through A Beer Bottle/Change/Die/Ride/Without The Pain/Naked Flesh/Television 

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BRÄNDA BARN - Allt Står I Lågor 1983

After two 7Inches Brända Barn from Sundsvall recorded their first album on Mistlur and their musical inspiration goes now more into new wave on this and Jan Strandquist joined them as new band member on keyboards and percussion, but in 1984, Brända Barn took their first break from touring, and also as a band. Eight songs with a distinctive voice and very melodic and I can't think of any more, except, the grandiose cover is worth mentioning. Not a bad album, but in this genre, the bands from the UK are in my opinion catchier and far more attractive. Apparently still active, mainly in their homeland. Test it!

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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CAREFREE - Das Innere Des Tieres 1991

After their solid sign of life, the very good Eating Your Own Words EP from 1989, Weed Productions released the debut of Carefree, a four piece from Lüdenscheid, and it's not fair that this combo didn't get the attention they really deserved in my opinion, because they recorded ten cool songs in the legendary DaCapo Studio in Monheim (other heroes were already guests there) for their first longlayer. Musically, I have nothing to complain about, on the contrary, very varied, a bit reggae and first-class, partly balladic excellent mid-tempo songs with offensive lyrics against this and that. But that's how the machine works, and it's no different with punkrock. You have no name, you have no reputation!, and that's why people like me are important to change that. Well, I can heartily recommend this record to you, of course a bit difficult for those who don't understand a fucking deutsch word, but that shouldn't matter. Enjoy! wherever you are based now for great music!

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THE HOAX - Quiet In The Sixpennys 12'' 1980

Puhh, somehow I'm not getting going today, weak and mentally sluggish, and also that I was a bit happy yesterday after the victory in Stuttgart, I don't know why I'm so listless.... well..... because I'm bored now and have nothing else better to do, next post: four songs and the third record in form of a 12Inch from Manchester's The Hoax, released along with all their other records on the band's own Hologramme Music label, ca 2000 copies exist. The bands line-up changed shortly after this release and after a last EP (1981) some of them became Emergency, who released the acclaimed Points Of View EP in 1983 on Riot City Records. I don't want to leave unmentioned a few compilation appearances and also noteworthy their only album So What which is terrific.... and now; continue chilling!

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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MAU MAUS - The Singles Collection 1996

The Olympics have started, but to be honest, I'm not interested in that, although I'm enthusiastic about sports, but I think choosing a venue that has little to do with winter sports and ignores human rights is pretty stupid and ridiculous. But let's leave this topic, back to the music. A strong 80's band wich release five solid 7Inches during this time is Mau Maus and all of these can be heard on this excellent compilation. A bit info: Named after the 1950's secret political faction from Kenya, and inspiried by a US Hardcore act of the same name, Sheffield's Mau Maus formed after leaving school in late '79. Consistng of Chris (vocals), Andrew (guitar), Kevin (bass), Paul (drums), they had no equipment and no rehearsel room. But enthusiasm overpowered these problems and within months the band saw themselves playing a dire set of cover versions and poor original pieces at local Youth clubs. But that changed quickly and 1981 they were opener for the Angelic Upstarts @ the Marples Club. With the inspiration from US bands, they combine this with the inevitable influence of the contemporary British punk scene and create some of the hardest-hitting, most rough UK82 sounds how I love it. As far as I know, Mau Maus are active again, playing gigs and who knows, maybe a new album will follow soon.

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DEAD KENNEDYS - Give Me Convenience Or Give Me Death LP + Flexi 7'' 1987

When I say goodbye I wanna be buried with this record. Give Me Convenience Or Give Me Death is the last amazing album by the brilliant Dead Kennedys, my favorite band from the States, which appeared on Jello's Alternative Tentacles label after their dissolution in 1986. And it's become a compilation with all their 7Inch tracks plus rare live goodies, an awesome farewell by a great band. I quote the wiki entry here because these are really fitting words for this album I think: "The album consists of songs (or in some cases, different versions of songs) that were not released on the band's studio albums. The original vinyl version had tracks 16 and 17 on an extra flexi disc. The album was certified gold by both BPI and the RIAA in December 2007. The title is a play on the ultimatum by Patrick Henry, "Give Me Liberty, Or Give Me Death!", and is intended as a commentary on American consumerism. Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death was the last Dead Kennedys album that Biafra approved the production of, which also led to it being the last album released through Alternative Tentacles.

The slab includes "Pull My Strings", which was played only once on March 25, 1980, when Dead Kennedys were invited to perform at the Bay Area Music Awards in front of music industry bigwigs to give the event some "new wave credibility". The band spent the day of the show practicing "California Über Alles", the song they were asked to play. About 15 seconds into the song Jello Biafra said, "Hold it! We've gotta prove that we're adults now. We're not a punk rock band, we're a new wave band." The band, who all wore white shirts with a big, black S painted on the front, pulled black ties from around the backs of their necks to form a dollar sign, then started playing "Pull My Strings", a satirical attack on the ethics of the mainstream music industry. The song also referenced the Knack's biggest hit, "My Sharona". The song was never recorded in the studio but this performance, the only time the song was ever performed, was included on the album.

Also included is "Night Of The Living Rednecks", which was recorded during a show in Portland, Oregon in 1979. East Bay Ray snapped a string on his guitar as the band finished their song "Chemical Warfare", and to pass the time Jello decided to tell a story, with an accompanying bebop-style instrumental from the rest of the band, about how on the last trip the band made to Portland, he had a confrontation with some "dumb rich kids" in a "life-size Hot Wheels car" that involved him throwing a rock at their vehicle after they sprayed water on him and later trapping himself in a telephone booth when they retaliated."

In principle, there is only one word for this record: Masterpiece! In the file I have attached the booklet as pdf, if you prefer jpeg click on the orange button.

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