CAFÉ MOZART - Illusion Cassée EP 2018

I think it's time to pay tribute to a label that publishes absolutely fantastic & rare records and also present in the net with lots of details & information to that: Cameleon Records from Pantin (near Paris). This little piece of wax is a perfect example and part of the strictly limited 8 EP box De La Pure Came!! 32 titres Punk-rock-Cold Inédits 1977/1982. Let's read some interesting basics about the band: "Café Mozart was founded by Gilles, Fever and Marc at the end of 1978 at the university of Nanterre and from the fusion of two small incomplete groups: on the one hand guitar (Bruno), bass (Fever) and drums (Philippe), and on the other, keyboard (Marc), guitar (Gilles) and vocals (Frédérique). Half of the group comes from Rueil Malmaison, the other half from Maisons Laffitte & Paris. They rehearse at Fever's in Rueil (Special dedications to parents who eat their meals a few years ;-). March 28, 1979 Gilles, Fever and Christophe Nick (at that time student and journalist at Huma, then journalist at Rock'n'Folk and Actuel) organize a concert at the university bringing together elements of the punk and new scene - wave emerging from Paris and the suburbs: Gare Du Stade (pre Ici Paris), E330, Modern Guys, and Feed Back, the concert ends in riot on the campus of the university, in particular because of the confrontation between two bands, fans of Gare Du Stade led by Farid (the future first skins of Les Halles) and a group of the Autonomous movement who intervenes on stage during the Gare du Stade set, initially to make an announcement.... Bottles of beer flying, general fight, destroyed gear and van, tear gas, cops and Molotov cocktails extra, this concert will paradoxically sign the birth certificate of Café Mozart who, from this moment, decides to invest more seriously the new wave wave punk scene in Paris and to stop college. In March 1981 Gilles left the group to join Kamikaze on the Pigalle stage with notably Francis who comes from E330 and Ariane Gilles' girlfriend. The band will be part of the series of groups which regularly play Rose Bonbon (Taxi Girl, Indochine, Les Civils etc.). But the military service (still compulsory) will break the dynamic, Philippe leaves for the army to finally leave the group in September 1981, then it's Bruno's turn to go, and he too, after a few reversals, will definitively leave the group in January 1982. At first, after Fabrice, the drummer of the Civils, who ensures the concerts, it is Tonio (Studio drummer who played with the singer Busy) who will replace Philippe on the drums, and finally , Hugues Chichin (Gazoline), brother of Fred. Café Mozart decides to continue in a formation of four without guitars (Keyboard, Bass, Drums, Vocals). They will then take a guitarist again (Patrick). The new formation records new titles but nothing will come out. The Mozart adventure ends at the end of August 1982. They will all stop the music gradually, except Philippe who still continues to play, with his group Provisoire and other groups" (source: 45vinylvidivici). So now enjoy four rare cool synth-post-punk goodies from a fine French combo.

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STALAG - Date Limite De Vente 7'' 1981

Stalag was a short-lived four piece from Bordeaux, today their lone 7Inch on Studio Isis Records with two superb smasher. Info: It all started in the spring of 1978 when Kick, singer of Strychnine, friend of Thierry introduced him to two of his friends, one bassist, the other drummer: Richard and Jean. Following Chinoi's rapid passage to this post, deemed too old and technical, Vincent "Tungstène" Simonacci, a student from Dordogne, was recruited after having worked hard to impress his examiners. The audition of a first demo was almost fatal to the combo, but the real blow is dealt a little later when Richard, pillar of the band, leaves Stalag to join Strychnine. The savior will be Raymond Belliard, alias "Beber" & "Magic Ray", a roadie from Standards with an unforgettable look that our three friends flashed on. According to legend, Beber, who had a superb bass which he had never played in his life, surveyed the repertoire in a few days. The quartet was born and started with the anthem "You're not good for nothing!" their brief existence. The image of the bad wankers that they give off at the first appearance is contrasted by the committed statements, the sound and the self-sacrificing atmosphere of their concerts. Stalag works hard and Thierry shows in his lyrics with his magic pen with privileged themes such as fashionable Parisianism, society and the left behind, daddy's boys and the forbidden.

Their charisma puts them more in line with the Clash than the Pistols, and Stalag's many fans (who formed very quickly) chant these words as they gaze at the stage and pogo around, nurturing the group's darkest side. Stalag becomes identifiable to the institutions, who call it "public disorder". Some concerts are canceled as a precaution. It is both the excesses and the ultra-realism of the revolutionary message that make Stalag a historic group. Traces of their precocious power can be heard on this 7Inch and on some wild compilations. But Stalag is best enjoyed live. They will include more than a hundred appointments in total, which is not negligible for a group of the time! They owe this activity in large part to the work of Boogie Production, a company run by Richard and Fabrice, which gave birth to the famous Bordeaux rock tours. In 2003 Cameleon Records re-released their single in an edition of 300 copies and was sold out in a short time and 2007 followed a compilation Dernier Cri via Mémoire Neuve with all songs of their active days plus rare live goodies. Stalag rules, even today! 

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GAZOLINE - Sally 7'' 1977

Gazoline were formed in Paris 1977 by Alain (vocals), Olivier (guitar), Pierre (bass) and Grand Did (drums) they quickly recorded their first 7Inch on a Revox and released via Egg in September 1977. The second 7Inch Killer Man was released three months later, recorded in Barclay studios in nine hours, and Dynamite is playing the drums on this record and shortly after the release the first dissolution follows. A new formation was reborn in February 1978 with Hugues on drums and his brother Fred on bass who came from the group Fassbinder. They play at the Black Ball in March 1978, at the Gibus from April 18-22, then for the Olympia punk night from July 8-10, recordings of it were banned on the interesting Le Rock D'Ici A L'Olympia compilation, regrettably without Gazoline. Alain resume the first formation to release under his name the What Ever Happened To Alain Z. Kan album at the beginning of 1979. From this recording session (before the mixing), there remained an unpublished one, Gigolo which can be found today on the compilation Thesaurus Volume 5. An album followed in 1986 and its mysterious disappearance in 1990. Well, both songs on this slab are a little bit exhausting and everyone who has heard the fantastic Killer Man slab will be very disappointed with Sally, like me. Reissued by Cameleon Records 2016 in an edition of 300 copies.

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ANTI-GANG & ARLEQUIN - Split EP 2018

Here's a nice piece that was only released as promo in an edition of 40 copies and later an accessory of the eight EP box compilation De La Pure Came !! 32 titres Punk-Rock-Cold Inédits 1977/1982 is, published by the magnificent French label Cameleon Records. Anti-Gang was a four piece from Nice and were active in the eighties and apart from these three songs no further recordings exist, Arlequin from Angoulême has a 7Inch which they published themselves in 1979 and they were active from 1976 and split in the end of 1981. Solid record with five lost numbers.

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AFFECTION PLACE - s/t LP 2019

I got to know the following band through the ingenious EP compilation De La Pure Came!! of Cameleon Records and I liked their song so much that I was happy to get hold of their album. Let me give you a little info from the makers: Affection Place is a group from Lyon created in late 1978 by Peter Petersen (guitar/vocals, ex-Negative), Xavier Galliot (guitar) Pierre Leca (bass) and Christian Bonnet (drums). Managed by Bernard Meyet, who later became the manager of Carte De Séjour, the group is an integral part of what is known as Lyon Capitale Du Rock. Between concerts in Lyon (Molière Hall with Marquis De Sade at the end of 1979 and Electric Callas in 1980) and tours in the region, the band opened for MAGAZINE by Howard Devoto in Lyon, Valence & Grenoble. In the aftermath the group played at the Transmusicales of Rennes in December 1980. Excerpt from the book Frenchy But Chic: "Four Lyon dandies, the last magnificent survivors of what was the capital of the new Frenchy wave. Guitar/synth, guitar, bass , drums; abstract paintings behind each musician; wrapped around each microphone a green plant from which a unique green spot emerges, aquarium atmosphere.

Affection Place sings in English and plays modern psychedelic rock, music of sharpness and a rare intelligence. Urban swing and marble riffs, the soundtrack of a Ballard novel that would have become reality. They made the first part of Cramps in Bobino in Paris on June 6, 1981 (with Modern Guy), where their set will last forty minutes without interruption, the concert of Cramps will turn madly; that of Lew Lewis in Annecy and A Certain Ratio @ the Entpe on May 12, 1981. They refused to go to Montreux, the group broke up in mid 1981 after having recorded a demo of three tracks @ the DB Studios in Rennes. Petersen will continue with Petersen Les Emotifs and Xavier Galliot founded Raison Pure. This great record was released in 300 copies with printed insert. An error slipped before printing of the insert "newspaper", it is indeed Lew Lewis and not Huey Lewis for the concert indicated in the article concerning Affection Place. (source: 45vinylvidivici) - I can only say: fantastic music!!!

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TEENAGE HEAD - 78 2017

This rare record was released via Cameleon Records, 300 copies, and for the first time on vinyl: ten unreleased nuggets from 1978 by Teenage Head, a French band from Pau and they consisted of Ricky (vocals), Guy & Didier (guitars), Alain (bass) and Alain (drums). The five play solid catchy Rock'n'Roll including some sixties classics in a nice garage sound. Hard to believe that nobody took care of the band and it had to take over forty years before an album was finally released. You can listen to it on bandcamp and let yourself be convinced. I have to say, I get a little nostalgia when I listen to this music, and I feel like I'm back in the wild beat generation, a pleasant feeling... Top Record!!

- Great Thx to Nolti -

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V/A - Thesaurus #2 (Rock/Punk En France 1977-1979)

Second Volume of Thesaurus on Cameleon Records with rare goodies of the early French punk era, cobbled together on a double album with deatiled infos on the gatefold sleeve (unfortunately not within and I would be pleased about good scans). In addition to well-known songs that are almost always found contains this compilation many, for me, new interesting bands which made only a 7Inch or a demo but the numerous French posts in this blog make clear how big the underground scene was in this country and not only focussing on punk, also decent rock'n'roll comes from there and also wave, post-punk or garage stuff (see Volume 1), bla bla bla..... And now: open ears for twenty-eight glorious stars and have fun browsing the singles, should one be down leave a comment, I'll fix it immediately.

1.Dog Day Afternoon - LARRY MARTIN FACTORY

2.La Blonde Et Moi - ROBERT KARAYAN

3.5ème Roue Du Système - LA CAME AUX DAMELIAS

4.J'Attends Qu'Elle Ait Ses 15 Ans - CAMBOUIS

5.Phallo-Nardco - ROCK'N'ROLLER

6.L'Entraîneuse - SMILER

7.Pauvre Petit Con - THERESE FORMOL

8.Tout Oublié - ROTTERS

9.Gwerz Marv Jorj Jackson - STORLOK

10.Cancer - A3 DANS LES WC

11.Cellule Block - FRAKTURE

12.Air-Tight Cell - MARQUIS DE SADE

13.Suspect - STRYCHNINE

14.Régi Par Le Sort - CAFÉ MOZART

15.Suicide - PRIVÉS

16.Images d'Epinal - BONDAGE-T

17.Regards - MICKEYNSTEIN

18.Génération Paumée - ARLEQUIN

19.J'ai Vécu Tout Ça - CORAIL

20.Only Fools Pretend To Be Happy - CHECKMATE

21.Fidèle Au Poste - SAFETY

22.Prends Ça - BRAMSTOCKER

23.Dépression - ALARM

24.Fils De L'Acier - MISTRAL

25.L'Escargot - ELECTRICK GARBAGE

26.Je Suis Joueur - JEAN GUY RUFF

27.Qu'Est C' Que J' Deviens Dans Tout Ça - CHRIS ALICE

28.Sex Bazooka - ODEURS

- Great Thx to François -

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THÉÂTRE - s/t LP 2018

Small French nugget released on Cameleon Records in 300 copies. Théâtre were Philippe (vocals & Bass), Marcel & Tonio (guitars), Eric (keys), Jean-Noël (sax), Stéphane (drums), formed around 1977-78, like many groups, the meeting of three high school students of fifteen years, in Honfleur, and they were passionate about rock with guitars who will kick together in Punk and Coldwave. They made one 7Inch in 1983 'Ambiance Bar' on FLVM and this album contains material which was recorded 1982 and 1984, more info in the file. Twelve solid wavies which rolls you back to life.

- Great Thx to Nolti -

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