DIE SCHWARZEN SCHAFE - Julia + 2 EP 1988-1989

Slowly becoming more pleasant again and there are still two days until the weekend for me, these are good prospects. Today a small 7Inch package from Düsseldorf by Die Schwarzen Schafe and offered are the Reagan On Speed ('88), Julia & Wir Haben Noch Lange Nicht Genug! ('89) singles. I bought the singles at a concert by Barny, Incognito Records, in Hamburg/Marquee at the end of the eighties (good times those were). Since 1985 they make finest D.I.Y. Punkrock and the current line-up consists of Armin (vocals), Volker (guitars), Hendrik (bass) & Warze (drums). Many, many gigs have taken the band all over Europe. From the small AZ to the big festival stage, everything was there. It was never about the big career, but about the scene, and that's still the case today. The sheep sing about the beautiful, but also about the bitter sides of life and wrap these lyrics in mid-tempo punk rock with lots of melody and a sing-along factor (oh-ho-hooo everyone can!). The band positions itself and doesn't like gray areas, fascists, sexists and homophobic idiots. The gentlemen shine with eleven '77 style numbers with unconventional, very personal German & English lyrics, appealing.

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MISCAST - s/t EP 1990

Miscast were Lothar (vocals), Thomas (guitars), Didi (bass), Stefan (drums) and formed around September 1983 by people in and around Olten, at a time when American hardcore swept into Switzerland. Back then I was working with Felix Fischer at Jamming Distribution and we were probably the first in Switzerland who were trying to sell stuff like This Is Boston Not L.A. & Flex Your Head comps, 7Inches and 12Inches by SS Decontrol, Negative Approach, Minutemen, White Cross, Minor Threat and the like. Miscast played somewhere around thirteen shows in Switzerland, among them one supporting Toxic Reasons and another playing after Die Toten Hosen. There were several smaller gigs too, one of them we did along with Haine Brigade at an anarchist meeting in Lamastre (France) on July 13th, 1984. It was a time bereft of enthusiasm (the "Youth Movements" had been crushed), various gangs of fascist scums kept attacking gigs, Punks beat up on each other, and so forth. There wasn't very much happening in the way of bands either, most of them were musically and ideologically still rooted in '77, except for a few... GKH for example, from Baden, who were very young (average age: 15) and therefore had quite a devil-may-care approach (meaning guitars with strings missing etc.). Still, they managed to get one song on the second Flipside compilation.

One of them also published the first Swiss hardcore fanzine before he changed sides and became a nazi-skin (with all but the drummer and their later bassplayer doing likewise... The drummer is now in Jaywalker). Brutal Menekken, Decontrol, Attax and Kosili too were early, moderate (and tame!) attempts at hardcore. None of them, however, were quite as fast, original and hard as Miscast. But sometime in Autumn 1984 the story had already come to an end, about half a year after the Miscast demotape was released on Stechapfel-Vertrieb. (words by Simon and translated from the liner notes.) - Cool Eighties Stuff!

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EPICYCLE - Residential Area 7'' 1979

Epicycle were founded 1977 in Chicago by Andrew (vocals/guitars/keys), Terry (guitars), Robert (bass), Keith (drums) and during the years 1979-1981, they released three 7Inches and a twelve song album entitled "Special First Edition" all on their own label Cirkle Records. These records are now long out of print. The most sought out record being their "You're Not Gonna Get It" EP which has gone for as high as $400 in the collectors market. Most of Epicycle's live performances took place in the Chicago area, the four performed their last show January 1982 @ the Winnetka Youth Center. The group then disbanded. Epicycle has been regarded as one of the more influential bands from the late-1970's/early '80's Chicago Power-Pop/Punk scene all done during a time when most of the band were still in their teens. (Source: Ellis Clark)

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CHARLIE HARPER - Warhead 7'' 2017

Let's come to a legend and he's been making music for over fifty years: Charlie Harper. English Punk icon and best known as the lead singer of the U.K.SUBS. His first solo album Stolen Property, which he released in 1981, proves that he can do it different by grabbing a few instruments himself. In addition, he founded a side project, Urban Dogs, which is active since 1983. As you can see, this creative mind doesn't get tired and that's a good thing. 'Warhead' is probably the most famous song of the Subs, covered several times by many bands and always up to date and it was time to sew this classic a new dress and this 7Inch is this: 500 copies (yellow blue splattered 150, yellow 175, blue 175) of this brilliant goodie were published by Punkerama Records and brings us the acoustic version, unplugged if you want, of this anthem. The flip has the 'Rebellion Song' from the 2017 Yellow Leader album in the same "quiet" quality. Very nice record and one more expressive side of this exceptionally likeable contemporary. A Must!

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A SUDDEN SWAY - Jane's Third Party 7'' 1980

Sudden Sway was a three piece from Peterborough and formed 1980 by Mike (vocals) and Steve (guitar) after disbanding first generation Punk combo The Now. They recruited Pete (bass), Shaun (guitar/keyboards) and Colin (drums), with various others contributing in their early days. They were initially influenced by bands such as A Certain Ratio and Shriekback. Their first releases were two self-financed singles, Jane's Third Party and the To You, With ReGard, in 1980 and 1981 respectively. The latter was sufficiently successful to attract major-label interest from CBS & Virgin Records, but after a further single on their own 'Chant' label, and with guitarist Simon added as a permanent member, they signed a deal with Warners subsidiary Blanco y Negro, debuting on the label in 1986 with eight versions of the single Sing Song. After releasing the Spacemate double LP, book, poster, set of cards and instruction manual, packaged together in a soap box container and designed by Jon Wozencroft, the band moved on to indie label Rough Trade, where they would stay for the rest of their career. Their fondness for remixes was evident on their first Rough Trade release, a 7Inch featuring eight, one minute songs and titles Autumn Cut Back Job Lot Offer, released in early 1987. The following year, they released their second album, '76 Kids Forever, which they described as a "soap opera musical". With Childs departing, the band continued for one final effort, 1990's Ko-Opera album, a very different proposition as they utilized contemporary dance beats to deconstruct early '90s consumerism, before splitting up.

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T.S.O.L. - s/t 12'' 1981

 

Damn cool debut record on Posh Boy Records by this great combo from Long Beach/California. T.S.O.L. (True Sounds Of Liberty), formed 1978 and when this 12Inch came out the bands original line-up was Jack (vocals), Ron (guitar), Mike (bass) & Francis (drums). A review: "In the beginning, T.S.O.L.'s tempos were unapologetically fast, and its ultra-political lyrics were characterized by anger and rage. Full of blistering attacks on the U.S. government. T.S.O.L. is obviously left-leaning -- whether the lyrics are more Marxist or more anarchist is open to debate. Some of the lyrics employ Marxist rhetoric; 'Property Is Theft', for example, echoes the communist belief that no one should own private property. But on 'Abolish Government/Silent Majority', the band seems to have more anarchist leanings. Marxism/Socialism and Anarchy are two radically different schools of thought; Marxists, socialists, and communists want a lot of government, whereas anarchists want to do away with government altogether -- and it's unclear which of the two T.S.O.L. prefers. What is clear is that this record hits its mark musically even though its lyrics can be nebulous. Whatever you think of T.S.O.L.'s politics, this EP is an inspired and exhilarating slice of early '80s Punk." (Alex Henderson) - A lot of politics in it; I would simple say: Fantastic Record, definitely listen!

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V/A - Canada's Pissed Vol.3 2011

Winter comes back and I'm glad I don't live in Scandinavia, brrrrrrrrrr..... I'm not made for cold. I get warmer with the following unofficial compilation and this CD-R is full with Canadian Punk rarities 1977-1983 and is the last one of this little mini-series. A few 7inches by the bands you can find in the Blog and I can only recommend you to look for them. Volume 1 is also essential and brings you the full blast. That should be enough to start April, and the weekend sensibly.

1.Down Town Boy - THE ACTION

2.Transmitter - THE RED SQUARES

3.Modern Rockers - VENDETTA

4.Bureaucracy - THE BUREAUCRATS

5.Can't Let Go - SECTION 8

6.Twist'n Up The Beach - CURTAINS

7.Television Child - RESTLESS VIRGINS

8.Welcome To The Cruel World - THE SPY'S

9.South Windsor Punk - DRY HEAVES

10.Weekend Wrestler - THE ONITS

11.Kill Me If You Can - HOT NASTIES

12.In Sympathy With Poland - PLAN NINE

13.Piss On You - SUBURBAN SLAG

14.Hit And Run - THE UNUSUALS

15.Nuclear Hall Of Fame - CUTZ

16.Disease - THE PRESENCE

17.Organized Religion - RIOT .303

18.Kids Are People Too - SILICONE INJECTION

19.Lookin' Around - THE VERDIX

20.Calgary Girls - K TONICS

21.Penchant - THE NERVE

22.Punk Violence (Live) - MODERN MINDS

23.Wild West - ROCK & ROLL BITCHES

24.Reaction - BLANK GENERATION

25.Crude City - MALIBU KENS

26.The First Studio Bomb - 222

27.You Make It Hard - THE REMEDIALS

28.The Kids Arrived - THE REACTION

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SLIME - Yankees Raus 1982

March, last post and I dedicate this one to a sublime sound experience by Hamburg's most famous Punx named Slime on Aggressive Rockproduktionen. In 1981 they met Karl-Ulrich Walterbach, who signed the young band to his recently founded label and after the two samplers tracks on Soundtracks Zum Untergang, he first released the self-financed debut album and then continued to support the Five in the realization of their follow-up albums. Shortly after the release of Slime I, the band had separated from their drummer Peter "Ball" Wodok, who was unreliable due to frequent drinking. Christian brought Stephan into the band, the two had previously played with Screamer. The band itself wasn't satisfied with the recordings, because the sound was too 'thin...flat' produced, but I would say the music is still fresh and dynamic after more than forty years and Slime are definitely one of the most important combos in my life, among other things they paved the way for my current existence. And in all these years they're never been taken in by any fucking political scene. 'Alptraum', 'Gerechtigkeit', 'Demokratie' or 'Wenn Der Himmel Brennt' are still great songs and make every tired ass think. Yankees Raus is powerful, straight forward and written during the Reagan era and captures the harsh climate, gray betong canyons and morbid times of the early Eighties brilliantly, a tough part of the town. Do the POGO!

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U.K.SUBS - Dance And Travel In The Robot Age 1980

We are slowly approaching spring and heating up once again on the penultimate day of March with the next record. Band: UK Subs Charlie (vocals), Nicky (guitars), Paul (bass), Pete (drums), label: Black & White, recorded live @ Milan Palalido, Italy on 16.02.1980. Seventeen rough classics and the recording was made by the late Tracy Crazy, from the Italian combo S.I.B., who also took the photographs used on the cover. Whilst not recorded with the most sophisticated equipment, but "Dance & Travel" captures the Subs at the height of their powers with a blistering set of what would become the classics that are the mainstay of their live performances to this day. The gig in Milan was part of a seven date European tour that the Subs played with the Ramones. Thus all is said, recommended for Punkrockers aged 12+.

You Can't Take It Anymore/Rat Race/I Couldn't Be You/I Live In A Car/Tomorrows Girls/Telephone Numbers/Kicks/Warhead/Public Servant/C.I.D./Rockers/Organised Crime/Brand New Age/Killer/Dirty Girls/Stranglehold/Emotional Blackmail

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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LA FRACTION - s/t LP 1996

After their famous Guerre D'esperance EP the Paris based four piece La Fraction, founded 1992 by Magali (vocals), Dédé (guitars), Thierry (bass), Boris (drums), released their amazing debut album two years later on DeCrash Disques with eleven melodic, dynamic and swinging pieces. Tuneful and passionate with a female vocalist like no other. Seasoned with political & poetical lyrics. Speaking up for the dispossessed, La Fraction carries France's most exhilarating voice of discontent. - I know I have the vinyl, but unfortunately I didn't scan the insert at the time, and damn it, I can't find the fucking record! Hmmm.... I'll keep searchin' again and catch up on the work if I can find it. - It's been sixteen years since the Parisians last released an album and I reckon they've broken up by now. A Must listen!

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