Saturday, August 12, 2023

V/A - 1984: The First Sonic World War 1984

This great Compilation is not really new in Blogland but this is my copy and all scans are within and I think, the 1984 serie by the French label New Wave Records has spawned a remarkable series of international combos over time that sooner or later made it to some notoriety. The first part consists mainly French sounds, but that changed with each additional one and bands from all over the world were asked to send their demos for the following volumes and exclusive, four comps in all, were created. Rare items these days I would say. A short review: "This French Sampler contains a wide variety of Punk styles: classical, garage, thrash, skunk (big in France), and drum-machine/synth Punk (which the French seem to have cornered the market on). Some choice thrash, and there’s lots of good stuff and a dozen more. Tres bien!" (Tim Yohannan, MRR #15 • July 1984) A little Oi! stuff is also there. I like the slab for its perfect mix of songs and the artwork is also excellent. Never boring and selectable at any time. It's getting warm today, so a little trip to the lake... music on.

1.Benefactor Of People - HUMAN BEING
2.Nucléaire Mon Ami - LES CADAVRES
3.New Clear War - ANGRY RATS
4.The Kind - ABJECT
5.Paul Tibbets - STAKHANOV SS
6.Mitterand - K.B.T.
7.Don't Be The First - SUB KIDS
8.Hazler Reir - LOS TOREROS
9.Schlag - HEIMAT
10.Just Wanna Be Myself - ELECTRONAZE
11.Alleluia - R.A.S.
12.Agenouillé Dans Les W.C. - COLLABOS
13.Les Poings Levés - L'INFANTERIE SAUVAGE
14.Hurt - HURT
15.Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien - PANIK
16.Les Dix Commandements - RICDU'S CHAOS
17.Svetlana - KREMLIN KONTINGENT
18.Psalm № Ⅱ - DEADLOCK


Friday, August 11, 2023

COSMIC PSYCHOS - Blokes You Can Trust 1991

As I write this post I'm sitting here at the computer, drinking my third beer and listening to relaxed music that doesn't belong here, but I know this record by Australians Cosmic Psychos by heart, and you attentive followers know I dig these guys with their "arty kind of Punk noise" and for their third album, the band signed to Amphetamine Reptile Records for the American market. Unfortunately, they only gained limited recognition, but those who don't appreciate their music are just simply stupid morons in my eyes. Known for their droning, fuzzed-out bass and wah-wah guitar with repetitive lyrics, the Cosmic Psychos have a simple sound that works well in context and remained largely untouched since they formed in 1982. You will find excellent examples ☝ in the blog and I especially want to recommend the live slab to you: dynamic driving Punkrock like I love it which they continue with ten goodies on this album, no foot & ass stays still, I promise. The Cosmic Psychos are a fantastic combo, an essential part of the Melbourne scene and in general Punkrock music... believe me! And today soccer is finally starting again, life is superb (in some moments). ENJOY!!!!


Thursday, August 10, 2023

STRYCHNINE - Je Veux 1981

Second album by Strychnine on Disc'Az. Coming from the Punk wave of 1977, the group made up of five friends from the François Magendie high school in Bordeaux and took part in the Mont-de-Marsan Festival. A year later they recorded the first album Jeux Cruels in 1980 and one more fucking year later this piece of wax and broke up nine months later and reactivated in 2008 and the third album, Tous Les Cris followed in 2010 and earned mostly positive feedbackThey're also featured on lots of nasty Compilations which want to be found. Twelve songs that are a bit more wave oriented than the debut and for my taste it lacks a bit of power, but still some highlights and my short review: nice and acceptable.


Sunday, August 06, 2023

DIESTINCT - Se Men Inte Röra 1981

Three young piece from Sundsvall and Diestinct consisted of Jan (vocals/guitars), Mikael (bass), Jörgen (drums) and was a magnificent live band, a hard-hitting trio that delivered pop-punk at a level no other band could at the time. Hundreds of gigs, two albums and four singles were released before disbanded in 1985. This is their first full-length on Mistlur with ten PowerPop/Punk nuggets, some of them have more than four minutes, which I find a bit long among others, but overall the three make it mostly acceptable and therefore not uninteresting. Also rewarded on numerous Compilations, which you check out for yourself. Good record.


Friday, August 04, 2023

SCHLIESSMUSKEL - Sehet, Welch Ein Mensch! 1989

Two years after their great debut, the second album followed on We Bite Records with thirteen cool goodies with again sharp & nippy lyrics plus fast music. Schliessmuskel is, I think, a splendid band name, but transported the four immediately into the Fun-Punk category, which they always rejected for good reason. "Their songs are mostly between one and two minutes long and present the band from their funny and crazy side nad the songs gives you a peculiar, sick mood, which is reinforced by the rarely life-affirming lyrics. Humor is an integral part of the four. Although their understandable words regularly speak of self-doubt and fears - or gloomy, grotesque stories are told, her simple rhymes almost never lack a portion of irony or comedy." I recommend the CD Compilation 1986-89 which contains their first EP plus both albums, a brutal explosion of blood, sweat and Punkrock. Weekend rings!


Thursday, August 03, 2023

CEREBRAL BALLZY - Jaded & Faded 2014

Formed 2008 in Brooklyn by Honor Titus (vocals), Jason & Mason (guitars), Melvin (bass), Crazy Abe (drums), Cerebral Ballzy released their debut 2011 and shot immediately through the roof. Their love for energetic Eighties Punk is unmistakable and the third and final album Jaded & Faded (released via Cult Records) features thirteen tracks in just under twenty-six minutes and demonstrates this in an impressive way. Distorted fuzz sound meets fast solid tempo, that's exactly what a decent Punk record needs, no one sleeps or dawdles here, the five wash the dust out of your brain and kick ass hard and the level is constantly tense, plus sounding melodic and aggressive characterizes the band. I'm telling you, if you've had a shitty day at work and need the boost back, put this music in your player and you feel yourself alive again, guaranteed. Info at the end: following their release of Jaded & Faded, Cerebral Ballzy parted ways with guitar player Mason. They performed with Mason on Last Call with Carson Daly on 6 May 2014. It is alleged that Mason left the band shortly after while they were on tour with OFF! in 2014 and the band eventually broke up in 2015. What remains? A few singles and three very good albums from an extraordinary combo. Superb!!!


Wednesday, August 02, 2023

DISTORSIÓN - Esto Es Para Kitar El Stress 1991

Second album by Distorsión from Barakaldo (Basque Country) on Discos Suicidas with thirteen solid numbers and line-up were Josu (vocals/guitar), Karlos (guitar), Tito (bass), Gan (drums) and in principle it has everything a good Punk record needs: melodies, very good vocals, drive and positive vibes and a reasonable playing time. I would have liked a little more hardness but life is not a request concert. They are invited to numerous Compilations and some of them are not uninteresting. It's worth keeping an eye out for those. So let’s find out what they can do for you! 


Tuesday, August 01, 2023

V/A - Συνταγή Αντί Θανάτου 1986

Interesting Greek new wave Compilation on FM Records and I hope the translation of the songs is somewhat accurate. The Anti-Death Recipe features eight bands that gained a little notoriety in Hellas in the Eighties and some released a single or even an album. Was sent to me by a stranger a long time ago and I found the slab on the hard drive and listened to it, didn't even know what kind of stuff was on it, but here it is now. Musically, we listen to solid melodic catchy New Wave sound with nice electro vibes plus guitar power, although not every title meets my taste, but all is audible. 2013 re-released via B-Otherside in partially limited colored vinyl. Discover!

1.Orchestra Rehearsal - CLOWN
2.Against - ALTERNATING
3.Symbols And... - BUTTONHOLES S.A.
4.Rusty Solitude - SCORIA
5.Calypso - MESS
6.No Chance - ARNAKIA
7.All Are Ghosts - ARNAKIA
8.Stop Talking About Death - ANTI...
9.A Secret At Last - THE NIGHTINGALES


Saturday, July 29, 2023

V/A - Alles Aus Hagen 1982

For a relatively small town, Hagen had a number of good bands and a versatile underground scene, some of which are still well known today and anyone who comes from this city can certainly confirm what's going on there in the early Eighties. Tonträger 58 Hagen collected some of these illustrious personalities and encouraged them to send their musical outpourings to the label. The result is an interesting Compilation that impressively reflects the Hagen spirit in a variety of sound elements, Punk, New Wave, Minimal, Experimental & Rock. The record comes with a 32-page "fanzine"-style A5 booklet which, for unknown reasons, is unfortunately not included here. But that shouldn't do any harm, because the record is still available, not cheap, and if you want more music from Hagen, a second volume was released in the same year. You see, there was something going on in this town! One post for now, maybe a second later.

1.Zugverkehr - HIMMELSWILLEN
2.Donald & Die Bullenschweine - KEIN MENSCH!
3..Volmestrand - KLEINKRIEG
4.Bänke Für Den Park - MICHAEL MUNDER
5.Alleestraße - H.W.WIEGAND & KANTHAKEN QUELLFISCH
6.Grün & Grau - RADIOPASSIV
7.Einkaufsvision - NO NAMES
8.Ich Steh Auf Hagen - WOLFGANG LUTHE & THE WIRTSCHAFTSWUNDER
9.Keine Eile - VRONTAL
10.Hagener Wellenreiter - EROC
11.Komm Nach Hagen - MARIANNE ROSENBÄR & EXTRABREIT
12.Hagen Und Überhaupt - DIN-A-4
13.B 54 - BETAMAX
14.Hagen Information - X-QUADRAT
15.'22' - JÄGERSCHNITZEL
16.Hagen Ist Tot - FROHNATUR
17.Für Rudi - SPERMÜLL


Friday, July 28, 2023

THE DAMNED - Final Damnation 1989

My top ten live albums include the following great The Damned record! Released via Essential! Records and this beauty was recorded at London Town & Country Club 13.June 1988. All their well-known classics performed at the highest level with power and energy, an absolutely rip-roaring audio document of an unique Gig. Wiki info: "The set begins with the original line-up and morphs through the various line-ups of the band, each playing on the tracks which that lineup recorded in the studio. It was recorded at a time when the band were in a chaotic state, without a record contract, after being dropped by their only major label." Seventeen smasher in one hour and you can start the whole thing again and again, because the sound is so brilliant and infectious. For me an intense kick into the weekend, Cheers!