AGENT ORANGE - s/t EP 1980

The following band, who wrote an immortal classic with their debut EP, deserves definitely a fucking gold medal. I'm talking about BLOODSTAINS. Part of this 7Inch and a song like an orgasm: short, intense and lasting. The inspiration for the famous and brilliant bootleg Compilation series from the Nineties, which are now highly sought after and highly traded, and each one is a real gem. And I still enjoy listening to it because the trio, because they also one of my favorite bands. But the other two songs, America & Bored Of You, are also masterpieces and their content describes the current situation exactly forty years later and makes me feel young again. Nothing has changed! Small Bio: "Orange County Punk combo Agent Orange were the pioneers of surf Punk, melding the guitar figures of classic surf music with the fast-and-loud attack of dynamic Hardcore/Punkrock, and they became one of the truly enduring bands in the West Coast Punk community. Formed in 1979 by guitarist/vocalist Mike and completed by James (bass) and Scott (drums), they became one of the leading acts in West Coast Punk with the release of the awesome Bloodstains record in 1980, which received extensive radio support from iconic DJ Rodney Bingenheimer. The group's debut album, -Living In Darkness- (1981), became a touchstone in the skate Punk underground, and -This Is The Voice- (1986) found them adding some polish to their sound without robbing their music of its intensity. The group's recording activities dropped off in the mid-'90s after the release of third album -Virtually Indestructible- (1996), but Palm kept Agent Orange busy as a live act well into the 2010s, touring the world (look) and pleasing fans despite numerous lineup changes." (Mark Deming) Enough of the unnecessary words, give yourself the stuff, buy the record and enjoy life, hooray!

here

ORGAN BANK - Sie Bringt Den Tod EP 1981

Nice litte three track EP on Tschugamuga Records by this short-lived four piece from Bremen called Organ Bank and members were Petra (vocals/sax), Tommy (guitars/vocals), Susanne (bass), Joe (drums). The band is mainly on numerous cassettes, all recorded in the early 80s and unfortunately not much of it pressed on vinyl, although their music is not bad at all. I don't know the tapes but here are three catchy NewWave goodies with a pinch of Punk pepper. They also got a worthy appearance on a Compilation of my favorite label from this Hansestadt named Heimat Records. Is almost worth a gold medal...

here

THE LURKERS - This Dirty Town 7'' 1982

Not really new in Blogland but when the Lurkers invite me I don't say no, especially since the gentlemen from London will soon be celebrating their fiftieth anniversary and they are always welcome in my palace. This is another small 7Inch, released via Clay Records, from their large repertoire. On the A-side, a speedy number like I know and the flip comes with an excellent grooving and driving pisstake, wonderful! That says all and you don't need more details. Anyone who knows the band will appreciate them, anyone who has just discovered them will be thrilled.

- Great Thx to Nolti -

here

IDIOTS - Emmy Oh Emmy EP 1986

Second release on Mülleimer Records by The Idiots who were founded 1978 and have been actively celebrating their PowerPunk in this country to date. They contributed greatly to the fusion of Punk/Hardcore and Metal in the mid-80s and were thus able to make a name for themselves and gained a lot of sympathy among the Punx with their light-hearted songs, not only in the Ruhrpott area, all over this country. They released their current album König Der Idioten last year on their own label and I'm sure there will be more to follow. The Idiots are a band that doesn't actively express itself politically but still makes people think and disrupts in their own way and that for over forty years, Chapeau! This EP has three cool tidbits parat, for anyone who wants to know.

here

GANG GREEN - Another Wasted Night 1986

Time for a classic and we move to Boston and meet Gang Green, founded 1980 by Chris (vocals/guitar), Bill (bass) and Mike (drums) and broke up three years later. Chris reformed the band the following year, and they experienced numerous line-up changes until its dissolution for the second time in 1992. Doherty has been the band's only constant member and has kept Gang Green active from 2005 onwards. Unfortunately, the slab had to leave my collection many years ago due to financial problems and all I have left are the digital CD versions that were donated to me by a friend. Eight superb songs, each a killer, and I don't need to say more, read the reviews and the band's history online. I'm going to rip another record now and not drink a Bud. Original via Taang! Records, re-released numerous times.

here

SKI & DER REST - He's The One 7'' 1981

First 7Inch by the Munich New Wave Combo Ski & Der Rest on Lächerlich! Schallplatten with two homogeneous, warm-hearted songs, both pushed by the refreshingly driving sound, (the flip was later immortalized in another version on the Reifenwechsel Leicht Gemacht Compilation). These are my favorite recordings of the band; the sound is unadulterated, fresh and underlines the attractive, well-tempered charm of the young Eighties, when the air was still full of ideas and changes, and being active wasn't a strange thing... the music corresponded exactly this attitude of life and was an initial ignition for many, and quite a few fantastic bands gave free rein to their emotions and released records that nowadays highly sought after, the so called rarities. Too much shit is being produced these days that nobody wanna hear, the spirit is gone and Punk is socially acceptable. That's the way it is, my friends! But that doesn't matter. It's your heart that counts, not your wallet! - Ähhh, ja... nice Platte by the way!

here

THE MOTIVES - Mr. President 7'' 1980

One more rare shit is the first release of the Belgian Kleo label and it's sadly the only record of this five piece from Lier (ten kilometers southeast of the provincial capital Antwerp), and the Motives were founded at the end of the Seventies by Dirk (vocals), Stef & Werner (guitars), Filip (bass), Eddy (drums). A total of four songs are waiting to be discovered, two from this single and two from rare Compilations of the early Eighties. Catchy, melodic minimalistic wavie songs that immediately slip into your ear and stay there, crackling and making you hum and shake your head. You stop for a moment and say to yourself: "Holy Shit, Pretty Cool Stuff!" - You smile and are grateful to have gotten out of bed today. A new experience has been made and will remain forever... what else come next?

here

THE COURT - I Wüü Net 7'' 1985

It's not easy to write about a band when you can't find anything about them on the internet, but that just shows how damn rare this little round black one is, and today it comes by a four-piece band called The Court (Herbie (vocals/guitars), Andeas (bass), Leopold (keyboard) and Kurt (drums), presumably from Vienna, and this two-sided cracker was born by Karma Records. Musically, they move somewhere between Hardrock and Punk at a decent tempo, with a shrill voice in charming Austrian slang and, as far as I can understand, some solid lines. The Flip tries harder and seems a bit more cheeky, because the screeching keyboard wants to go through the ceiling like an alarm, it's amazing. I'm glad I finally managed to check my hard drive again, is sometimes like a treasure hunt with exquisite finds, enjoy!

- Great Thx to Reinhard -

here

RAZORS - Banned Punx 12'' 1982

Razors were part of the early Hamburg underground scene and Banned Punx is the fifth record on Konnekschen with five superb killers and they still damn gripping today and inspire with their rawness & aggressiveness - definitely a classic of German Punk and their origial records have been hard to get hold of anywhere these times. The band became known by its tracks on the Compilations Geräusche Für Die 80er and Soundtracks Zum Untergang, but in contrast to many of the other bands on it, had exclusively English lyrics and was otherwise strongly oriented towards UK sound. After a longer break and some line-up changes they reunited 2003 again and are still active today.

here

V/A - Heroes Of The Night Vol.2 2023

Now comes a recommendation, so don't be surprised if there's no download link available, but it is important to mention this brilliant record, because who has an overview of when and where which gem is released??? Not me, and since a lot of time and love is involved in this big nugget, it is worth to buy the stuff and enjoy the wonderful presentation, sound/bands and the essential liner notes. A few official words: Welcome to the second installment of the “Heroes Of The Night” compilation and this is picking up exactly where the first volume left off and featuring a cast of twelve of the best and scarcest D.I.Y., Powerpop/Punk and New Wave 45ers, all damn rare and released in a small edition. This litte sunshine continues Reminder Records’ campaign to showcase the talents of Post-Punk’s female musical innovators and pioneers. - Best regards to Olga!

1.Secret Love - SHELLY STEVENS

2.I Want To Be You - BRENDA PRESCOTT

3.Wonder Wonder - TERESA DEL FUEGO

4.I Should Have Kissed Him Then - CHOIRGIRLS

5.Who's George - WHO'S GEORGE

6.I Didn't Catch Your Name - THE WALK

7.July Girl - JACKIE

8.Get A Grip - L'HOMME DE TERRE

9.Fall - AQUILA

10.Edelweiss - THE ROCHDALE FAIRIES

11.Heavens Daughter - PLEASURE DOME

12.Fireball XL5 - THE KADETTES

here