V/A - Oi! Of Japan 1985

Leaving Europe heading east and we stop in the Land of the Rising Sun and check this nice Compilation from AA Records which showcases goodies from the Japanese Oi!/Streetpunk scene, and that was/is not small. Praised for its classic sound, which combines "chunky beats with sing-along chants and some wackiness". Reviewers describe it as a fun and crazed collection with a range of styles. It captures the essence of the British Oi! scene from its heyday, featuring classic raw songs. It has a "fun and crazed" atmosphere, blending traditional Oi! anthems with some unique Japanese flair. A diverse of cool bands, showcasing the range of talent in the Japanese Oi! scene at the time and is significant release, bringing a variety of bands to a wider audience and is still considered a quality record, particularly for its authenticity, unfortunately without the inner sleeve. Enjoy!

1.I Don't Care - COCKNEY COCKS

2.Picky Boys - THE WANDERERS

3.Our Future - CRACKER JACKS

4.Youth On Your Feet - S.A.

5.Temptation - GENBAKU ONANIES

6.Bad Dreamer On The Hill - LOO'S HALLOWEEN

7.Nuclear Power - BAD VALTURES

8.To Much To Many People - THE PEATERS

9.Out Of Control - BAD VALTURES

10.Bad Boy - COCKNEY COCKS

11.No No Boy - GENBAKU ONANIES

12.Way Ward Riders - THE WANDERERS

13.Nothing Ness - S.A.

14.Animal Life - CRACKER JACKS

15.Drinkin Boys - NEW ROTE'KA

16.Long Live Oi! - BULL THE DOUGS

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ANGELIC UPSTARTS - Woman In Disguise 12'' 1982

Ready for more UK Punk classics? Then we must talk about the Angelic Upstarts and this goodie was a single from their Reason Why? album, which marked a turning point for the Upstarts, taking them away from the commercial path of EMI and thus making the band what they were: a Punk band and not pop puppets. Three brilliant songs delivering a scathing critique of Margaret Thatcher's iron-fisted government, and two non-album tracks. A great leap forward, a blend of angry socio-political lyrics with a controlled and melodic sound attack that also deserve no special treatment. I hope, your breakfast tastes a bit more delicious, and today is my last day at the old company location, as a move is underway and I'm already looking forward to the new one. This is called a change, and I am grateful to be experiencing it. I believe, this will be fine for myself and I can get rid of some useless baggage... Well, I'll will see, gelle.

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XS ENERGY - Use You 7'' 1979

Another lost gem is XS Energy from Lincoln. The four-piece consisted of Freddie (vocals/guitars), Max (lead guitar), Nicky (bass), and Mark (drums), and in their short creative period they produced two excellent 7Inches; 'Use Me' is the last and comes with two decent midtempo classics, fantastic dirty riffs and catchy chorus... Hell Yeah, this makes your mouth dry and necessitates drinking a lot of high-proof liquid while listening. Both tracks also be found on a few cool Compilations, one is the great Bloodstains Across The UK slab. And that's it for today. I don't have any more infos about the band, the beer's all gone and love is cruel. Stay strong!

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COCKNEY REJECTS - Bad Man! 7'' 1980

Founded in London's East End in 1978, and with some interruptions, the Oi! Punks are still on the road, delighting young and old with their songs and live performances. The Cockney Rejects were one of the first bands I encountered in my young outsider existence, and I'm sure I'll grow old with them; their early works are all classics throughout. And I give you this as a recommendation if you don't know anything about these gentlemen. This is their third 7Inch with two Smashers from the debut album and what should I tell you? The music and words speak a clear language that needs no further explanation, listen or perish!

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SCHEMATIX - Jagged Edge EP 1981

Another rare EP now and we move to sunny California, home of the Schematix which formed 1979 in Santa Cruz as the X-Dreamists. Original members were Jill (vocals/keyboards), Debby & Mike (guitars), Marco (bass) and Jeff X (drums). Released via Subliminal Records and garnished with three synthpunk cocktails with wild femme vocals. They gigged frequently at smaller venues like Santa Cruz Art Center (where nearly 150 people showed up for their record-release party in 1981) and built a small fan base in their region. Unfortunately, they never released any further records and finally disbanded in 1983. The band features on some interesting Compis and leaves behind a 7Inch with heart and passion!

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DISGUISE - Hey Baby 7'' 1978

Superb 7Inch by Disguise from Hartlepool on Chiswick Records with two outstanding killer tunes. The A-side entices with a melodic power-pop treat that somehow reminds me of a band from Liverpool, well, a little bit at least. The flip comes along with a punky banger that'll make your bodyhairs stand on end. I seriously wonder why this little gem didn't get more attention? There are far worse records out there, but tastes differ, so Disguise didn't have much of a chance, which is a shame. The band really had potential. Well, both songs were featured on a few Compilations, and that's a bit of recognition.

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REVENGE - We’re Not Gonna Take It 7'' 1978

Rare stuff now and from North London came this short-lived three piece combo called Revenge and they consisted of Lol (vocals/guitars), Ian (bass), Dave (drums) and this is their second 7Inch on their own label Loony Records. The recordings are extremely raw, even by Punk standards-particularly but that's exactly what's fascinating, and we all know the typical UK sound: fast, hard and dynamic. Revenge are different, and that's why I like this fucking record. Unfortunately they received little attention and vanished without a trace. At least the detectives honored them for their essential Compilations. That's the first prank, the second will follow later.

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DRUNKEN NUNS - Furto Con Destrezza EP 1995

Let's stay in the Nineties and visit a small town on the Mediterranean. There we meet the Drunken Nuns, a short-lived Oi! band from Savona, consisting of Simone (vocals), Master (guitars), Tony (bass), Roby (drums), and were active in this decade. They did manage to release a 7Inch featuring four classic Oi!/StreetPunk pieces and was released via Knock Out Records. Their lyrics, comes with lyric sheet in Italian and English, often dealt with proletarian themes, nonconformity to the system and social injustices. Catchy riffs, rough and underlines their reputation as an energetic and politically engaged Oi! band. They made a more brief appearances on a few Compilations, and that was it. In summary, the strength of the songs lies in their authenticity and intensity, not in technical finesse. For fans of the genre, they are "pure working-class anthems" that perfectly capture the zeitgeist of the Italian Punk scene of that time. A brilliant record with no musical experiments; grab it!

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RUINERS - Blank Your Life! EP 1999

Early morning, always a shitty time, but the next record changes that: the Ruiners were a four piece from Cleveland and consisted of Chris (vocals), Paul (guitars), Bobby (bass), Wedge (drums) and this is their lone EP with seven superb Nineties Hardcore goodies and 300 copies were pressed and released via Non-Commercial/Bloodclot Records. The songs address personal pain and frustration, delivered with a "violent vehemence" and a defiant attitude and the lyrics are introspective, yet accessible to a wide audience. They focus on failed relationships and general life frustrations without descending into melodrama, and I'm sure many of you can relate to them. Add to this is the high-energy sound, which characterizes the raw, unadulterated form of classic Hardcore, blending melody and aggression. It's consistently intense, and anyone who enjoys a wild, aggressive sound will be well served. Enjoy a coffee with it and come good through this day!

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FLIEHENDE STÜRME - Licht Vergeht 2005

The sixth album by Fliehende Stürme is one of their best and consistently delivers a high level, I love listen to and it doesn't matter which feeling I have. It's always fresh with its ten emotional volcanic eruptions that get under your skin and speak volumes. It shines with the typical lyrics that are threatening, hopeless and illusionless, leaving no doubt that life and the world are inextricably linked to suffering. But those who listen closely will be equally enthusiastic; certainly not for do-gooders or anniversary celebrations, but those who know themselves and see through the mundane society will find confirmation in it. And today I am in exactly this mood in view of the coldness and hard-heartedness of some contemporaries; it's always the same, but doing nothing isn't a solution and the approaching Christmas season is rather inconvenient. Sometimes it's good to look back; the engine is restarted and the journey forward can begin again, even if the sun isn't shining.

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