NEWS - That Girl 7'' 1980

That Girl is the third and last 7Inch of the early stages by Melbourne based News and these two goodies were recorded by Adam (vocals), Russell (guitars), Kim (bass), Dorland (drums), Graham (keyboard) and released via Missing Link. This time not as rough and dirty as its two predecessors, but still excellent and a worthy finale. In 2018 another retro 7inch, Lemme Alone, was released on Buttercup Records in a limited edition (400 copies) in two different versions containing two demo songs from 1978. Also worth mentioning is a CD (probably a bootleg) release from 2009 called Punk Never Happened??? which includes all songs by Babeez and News. Heart-warming songs that are always good for me and always demand a short break from everyday routine work. Time for a cool beer, an Ibu and that's the end of today's Blog care. Cheers!

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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FORD'S FUZZ INFERNO - The Book Of Fuzz (Selected Verses Part 1) 2022

It's fuzz time again and you know which band is known for that?.... That's right: Ford's Fuzz Inferno from Kekerdom and the last two years they released three splendid EP's and this little compilation is made for those who prefer a little round silvery packaging, and an unreleased song is added to the three singles and in total we have eleven songs which achieved maximum results with only drums, guitar and reverberant vocals, very classy. Hans & Patrick do a first class job and are by far the best duo I know and their wild and unbridled sound is pretty damn appealing and makes me think of old times as I savage to Septic Death or Raw Power etc... Pogo danced and this feeling puts a smile and a little melancholy on my face, it's been a long time and getting old physically really sucks, and I think, you know that as well. And there's news to announce: In January 2023 their new EP Death To The Fuzz Family will be released with five more fuzzed-out Punk executions and the vinyl rip will follow as soon as I can rip again and it's my turn to change that, but at the moment I'm still a bit off the mark. Patience dear friends.. patience!

And as usual, I want to give you a short and appropriate review (and there are only positive ones, which doesn't surprise me): "Walls of garage-damaged, blasted combo amp guitars topped with sweet in-your-face croons; these chaps serve up hit after should-be hit. They don’t rely on the heaviness, but they get there because they just want to crank the shit out of those guitars, you know…to fuzz ‘em up." (Robert Collins, MRR #467 • April 2022)

And what the two say about this bloody Sucker can you read now and even if a download is available here, buy this CD and support the band because they deserve it: "Hi Boys & Girls! A while ago Mr. Hans & Mr. Patrick found out some of you don't own a record player and don't care very much for them digital download things either. But still, you do need to hear - and feel - Ford's Fuzz Inferno's crushing fuzz punk awesomeness blasting through your rooms, don't youi?!. Each and every day that is! Well, there's no need to be sad, because Mr. Hans and Mr. Patrick love you just as much as they love all their other young friends. That's why they selected 11 tracks from their first four EP's and released them on Ford's Fuzz Inferno's first CD! Especially for you! So buy that disc, enjoy the tunes, eat your vegetables, destroy the neighborhood and fuzz on!" I love FFI!

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DAS KAPITAL - Lili Marlene 1984

Well folks, now an interesting band from the far north of Europe and you know, extremely cool music comes from there, sometimes snotty and cheeky, sometimes melancholic and dreamy and these Gentlemen are more in the second area, but read for yourself: Das Kapital was a short-lived band, fronted by Bubba Morthens, at a time when he was living fast. By this time Bubbi had been drinking heavily and was burned out, he had released five solo albums over a four year period, three albums with Utangarðsmann and three albums with Egó. When news broke in early 1984 that he was going to the United States to act in films, the nation went along with it and wished him well, unaware of his drug use. He also said in interviews that he had formed a new band with Danny Pollock and other western musicians under the name Das Kapital. The name, as most of course know, comes from the work of Karl Marx. Bubbi went west in the spring but came back a few weeks and still hadn't formed a band. In July, however, news broke that Das Kapital had become a reality. Besides Bubba, the members of this group were Mike (guitars) and Bubba's friend Björgvin (guitars), Jakob (bass) Guðmundur (drums), but the last two came from Tappi Tíkarrass. Bubbi himself was the third guitarist and vocalist and Gunnar played keyboards for a time.

Initially, the intention was probably to play only at Laugahátíð during the shopkeeper's weekend, but then it was decided to continue the collaboration and make an album. Bubbi had suggested songs that were actually all in English, but the lyrics were quickly translated into Icelandic. Before the band went into the studio, guitarist Björgvin left. However, two assistants were hired for the recordings, saxophonist Jens and cellist Arnþór. The album was made in a hurry and was released by Gramm and was titled Lili Marlene after the only cover song on the album, the wartime hit immortalized by Marlene Dietrich. Lili Marlene was generally well-received and sold well, even though the critics of the newspapers were unimpressed, the album barely got anything but shitty reviews in Morgunblaðin and Þjóðvillin, but much better in Helgarpóstinum, and became the third best-selling album of  1984. In the same year, they held a solidarity concert at Lækjartorg  but then there was a BSRB strike, the strikers were invited to give speeches between the band's songs, but by the time it was over, the band had been pushed off the stage and the strikers were taken over the program, Das Kapital thus became guests in a secondary act at their own concert. Soon after the end of the year or in January 1985, the news arrived that Das Kapital had gone on hiatus, but she had then retired, the reason being that Bubbi had admitted his problem and gone to treatment. He would re-emerge later that year after the treatment with one of his best albums, Woman. However, Das Kapital's story was not completely over, because they reunited at Bubba's birthday concert on June 6, 2006, which was recorded and released under the name 06.06.06, where you can hear three songs with the band. (source: glatkistan)

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V/A - Trash On Delivery 1983

Bad news, my computer crashed yesterday and so there are no more freshly ripped records for the next time and I have to reorganize everything. It sucks, but it was inevitable. Having said that I want to make sure I keep posting and therefore an older rip with an excellent description: "The holy grail of bands who looked to conquer theses sleazy streets of London in the early '80s are contained in the almighty 1983 compilation Trash On Delivery. Not quite "third wave glam" (but if you like-y, be sure to check out Jook or The Radio Stars) or third Wave Punk (not quite the Anti-Nowhere League, but check out the UK Subs new threads! "Trash On Delivery" stands on it's own as something completely unique to itself. A snapshot into a brief space of time when the previous glories of '70s Glam Rock, Punk, & Heavy Metal met in perfect harmony for perhaps the 1st time. Twenty odd years later it remains a perfect sleaze punk record and a guaranteed blueprint for those who'd help further commercialize the scene later in the decade (see The Quireboys, Wolfsbane, Wildhearts, Tattooed Love Boys, & Soho Roses just to name a few.) 

The compilation, put together by Flicknife Records' Frenchy Gloder (also of The Genocides, whose scorcher "Private Hell" is included on the comp) features a hodge podge of classic gems ranging from crash and burn trash rawk of emerging scenesters like the awesome Marionette and The Babysitters to the then present day projects of Post-Punk era upper crusts like The Barracudas, The London Cowboys (Glen Matlock, Barry Jones, & Steve Dior) and ex-Swell Map Nikki Sudden (with his Bible Belt project). Add in some one off gems like Bad Detective's lost power pop classic "Favorite Record", Suffragette's "Do You Want My Love", and "I Heard The Devil" by Little Roosters frontman and future Eastenders TV Celeb, Garrie J. Lammin, as well as the first recorded release of an embryonic Dogs D'amour and Ray Zell cover art, and you've got one primo slab of proto Sleaze Punk! Reissue 1988 by the spanish label Aspa Records." (Adam T. in "Sleazegrinder.com")

1.Everybody Loves You - THE BABYSITTERS

2.Private Hell - THE GENOCIDES

3.Let's Get Crazy - THE LONDON COWBOYS

4.My Baby Sucks Real Bad - MARIONETTE

5.Favourite Record - BAD DETECTIVE

6.You Gonna Miss Me - THE BARRACUDAS

7.Too Far Gone - MARIONETTE

8.Teenage - DOGS D'AMOUR

9.Do You Want My Love - SUFFRAGETTE

10.I Heard The Devil - GARRIE J. LAMMIN

11.Waiting For The Siege - NIKKI SUDDEN & THE BIBLE BELT

12.Livin' Out Rock'N'Roll - THE BABYSITTERS

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YOUTH BRIGADE - Come Again 12'' 1992

Good news first, my turntable is working again and I'm excited. Was thinking of buying a new one but there is a repair shop in my town that solved my problem within two days. And for a blogger or ripper there is nothing more terrifying than a broken turntable, believe me. A positive intro which leads me seamlessly to the next post and it's the splendid comeback mini album by Youth Brigade on BYO Records after the split up in 1987. And these six Nuggets have it all, melodic fast and catchy songs, and if sounding great isn't enough, these brothers are pioneers and legends of the independent record label society and one of the finest Hardcore combos to emerge from Los Angeles during the Punk era. Still active as far as I know, even though the last album (the split record with Swingin' Utters) came out over twenty years ago. Now enjoy this little triumph at breakfast!

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RADIOAKTIVA RÄKER - Verkligheten EP 1993

Ohhh my dear followers, bad news: my turntable is kaputt, the needle said goodbye and now I'm standing in the woods. Even shaved legs are of little use, believe me, damn damn damn. Well, now it must the stock of friends and sleeping rips to serve and the first combo is a freshly ripped 7Inch from Sweden and the combo is called Radioaktiva Räker, a TrallPunk (Trallpunk is a Swedish subgenre Punk style that is based on trall-friendly melodies, fast drum beats and often political (mostly left-leaning) or narrative texts. The pioneers of Trallpunk are said to be Asta Kask and Strebers, however, there are divided opinions about this. Trallpunk gained increased popularity during part of the 1990s) band which formed 1991 by teenagers Johan (vocals/guitars), Danne (guitars), Jimmy (bass), Jonas (drums) in Hofors, Gästrikland and disbanded in 2003 after a small summer tour. After two demos they caught in summer 1992 a record deal with Beat Butchers and all records, three albums & two 7Inches, came out there. Their fast, sing-along melodic songs came to symbolize for many the Swedish Punk/Wave that culminated in the mid-1990s.

The band reunited on 25.09.2009, for an evening with the celebration of the Beat Butchers 25 year anniversary. This occurred on Södra Teatern in Stockholm together with a number of other bands that have collaborated with Beat Butchers.

- Special Thx to Fredrik -

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NEWS - Dirty Lies EP 2018

It's rare that I post a record twice but the following record by Melbourne's News was re-released by Buttercup Records in 2018, this version in 200 hand numbered copies on orange vinyl, with two more previously unreleased rarities on the fip. One from their 1978 demo, the other a live recording and both in an awesome qualitiy. The thing was released in different formats and with good reason. A brilliant combo with a great spirit and splendid songs and a perfect opener for this sunny weekend. Liner notes plus a sticker within, but getting a copy after four years won't be easy and cheap. Good luck with your search. 💋

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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V/A - Punk Territory Vol.5 - The English Speaking Punk From Late 70's To Early 80's [1996]

Volume 5 of the legendary Punk Territory series on Anthology brings us only English combos together with their rare Gassenhauer that surely everyone knows. Very successful mixture in my opinion and only released on CD, on vinyl there are the goodies on other relevant compilations. This brings the long Easter weekend to a worthy conclusion, enjoy the last free hours and turn up the speakers to full volume.

1.Just Head - NERVOUS EATERS

2.N.Y. Ripper - VIOLATORS

3.Hillside Strangler - HOLLYWOOD SQUARES

4.Kill Yourself - THE LEWD

5.Horizontal Action - PSYCHO-SURGEONS

6.Time Enough For Love - FUN THINGS

7.When The Birdman Fly - FUN THINGS

8.Hanging On - ROCKS

9.Tell Me Why - THE NEWS

10.Get Stuffed - NERVOUS EATERS

11.I Only Panic When There's Nothing To Do - THE LEFTOVERS

12.This Generation's On Vacation - SHOCK

13.Damn You - ROCKS

14.Blues - THE CHEIFS

15.51% - DEFNICS

16.N.C.B. - LLYGOD FFYRNIG

17.Kick Her Out - ROCKS

18.Hologram - URINALS

19.Son Of Sam - CHAIN GANG

20.Pseudo Punk - 'O' LEVEL

21.Bummer Bitch - FREESTONE

22.They Saved Hitler's Brain - UNNATURAL AXE

23.Loretta - NERVOUS EATERS

24.Rock With Me - NERVOUS EATERS

- Great Thx to Reinhard -

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THE SAINTS - Eternally Yours 1978

Sad news my friends and that's the reason for this post. Chris Bailey died on April 9, 2022. He was singer of the fantastic Brisbane combo The Saints, which originating in 1973. One can really say that the world has lost another important underground voice with him. I really don't know what else to write, it's always bad when people die and you've experienced a lot of emotions and good as well as bad moments with their music. Always shows me that everything is ephemeral and that I'm an dirty old sack, hehe.... Well, to commemorate him, here's the band's second album, a bit background: The album was originally titled International Robots, and recording initially commenced at Wessex Studios. The tapes from these sessions reveal the songs in a stripped-down form more similar to the band's previous recordings. The sessions also include "Champagne Misery", which was not released until 2000's Wild About You compilation. Chris later said, "For me, it's our first proper release because (I'm) Stranded was just a load of demos. Although we still had the same energy as the first album, the added horn section seemed to confuse people and the record sort of disappeared." - Retrospective reviews of the album have been far more positive. Writing for AllMusic, Mark Deming reflected that while the album "didn't sound like a standard-issue punk album in 1978, [...] it's stood the test of time much better than most of the work of punk's first graduating class." "With consistency and tasteful variety (handling sharp acoustic ballads as well as the standard burners)," wrote Trouser Press, "the LP is deservedly regarded as a Punk classic". An album you must hear before you die. R.I.P.

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KLICHÉ - Supertanker 1980

Debut by this Danish New Wave band (1977-1985) from Aarhus on Medley Records that turns out to be a pleasant surprise and relief for tired ears. Energeric, screaming, a hopping bass, shrill guitar and cynical synth influence, with that catchy and upbeat sound Kliché hit perfectly the nerve of the early New Wave phase, artistically & versatile which they continue to expand and refine on their second longplayer Okay Okay Boys. The band has released two albums and a few singles in their eight years of activity and a few sampler contributions also jumped out. Well, what does humanity need? I tell you: relaxed music for relaxed people, far away from the madness of tense horror news and with this record they have their chance.

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V/A - The Master Tape Vol.2 2xLP 1983

I hope you're not fed up with awesome stuff from the Eighties because I can present now a rare, fantastic, famous, splendid and delicate double album and this is only possible because the network of maniacs works brilliantly. This damn cool monster compilation on Affirmation is the final & second Master Tape after the awesome Volume 1 from 1982 and it's again full with exclusive songs/bands (mostly from the midwestern US) who show solid potential, wrote catchy tunes and almost released little further material, surely no surprise by the competition in this country, but that's why compilations are devised, they too can gather a small fan base around them and get and deserve attention in other regions/countries. Forty-three examples have been captured on vinyl, of which "End Result" doesn't really fit on these records, at least not with me. But as always, it's a matter of taste and, as always, who fucking care. Open a beer and get high on these hot goodies as I do.

1.Society Rules - VIOLENT APATHY

2.Desperation Takes Hold - VIOLENT APATHY

3.Ignorance Is Bliss - VIOLENT APATHY

4.Hopeless - MALIGNANT GROWTH

5.Killing Time - MALIGNANT GROWTH

6.Tired Of Life - MALIGNANT GROWTH

7.Try & Get Out - IDIOT SAVANTS

8.School's Prison - IDIOT SAVANTS

9.Teenage Life - SAND IN THE FACE

10.I Wanna Be Dead - SAND IN THE FACE

11.Pencil Pusher - POISEN CENTER

12.Typical Chick - POISEN CENTER

13.Hate Them Okay - SACRED ORDER

14.I Just Do - SACRED ORDER

15.Tortured Thought - NO LABELS

16.Society's Problem - NO LABELS

17.D.W.I. - FRONT LINE

18.Front Line - FRONT LINE

19.Slash - END RESULT

20.Children Die In Pain - END RESULT

21.Lash Out - REPELLENTS

22.New Image - REPELLENTS

23.My Motel - REPELLENTS

24.Happy Mutants... - KILLING CHILDREN

25.Certain Death - KILLING CHILDREN

26.Surf Bandits - THE FETISH

27.Before Not After - THE FETISH

28.Killer Klowns - MECHT MENSCH

29.What D'Ya Feel? - MECHT MENSCH

30.Infant Doe - GYNECOLOGISTS

31.Black Network News - ZERO BOYS

32.I Need Inergy - ZERO BOYS

33.Blind Patriots - DELINQUENTS

34.Under Age - DELINQUENTS

35.Death From Above - DELINQUENTS

36.The Ocean - TAR BABIES

37.Triplets - TAR BABIES

38.Junta Man - WASTED TALENT

39.Not Anymore - WASTED TALENT

40.Off To War - WASTED TALENT

41.Gun Control - ANTI-BODIES

42.After Life - ANTI-BODIES

43.Seeds Of Destruction - ANTI-BODIES

- Big Thx to Billy -

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V/A - Powerpearls Vol.1 1998

🎸 In spring, I wowed you (and me) with another great collector series that some detectives created in the late 90s and this beauty focuses on PowerPop rather than Punk though a few goodies featured wouldn't be out of place on a Punk compilation; We're talking about the Powerpearls Explosion and each Volume has a healthy serving of the best from this genre (those were Hans Knut Hohlhand's words, an avowed four chord lover whose inspiration brought many hermits together to form great bands). Decent selection for the first part in my opinion and the eighteen time travelers shoot you into the weekend, and I'm sure that even the annoying corona virus will shrink back on this foamy wave and shut up for a while. 🎸

1.Everyday, Everyway - REALLY 3RD'S

2.One Out All Out - STRAIGHT UP

3.Feel The Pain - THE BUREAUCRATS

4.Language School - TOURS

5.Modern Time - THE GENTS

6.One Last Night - THE ATLANTICS

7.Nora's Diary - JIMMY EDWARDS

8.That Girl - TECHTONES

9.Who's Kissing You - FAMOUS PLAYERS

10.Fashion - TWEED

11.It Doesn't Bother Me - THE DISTRACTIONS

12.Playing With Fire - TV 21

13.The Kids Are Dancing - THE NEWS

14.It's Your Birthday - FASTBACKS

15.Susan's Day - THE ROUSERS

16.No Fear - THE SQUARES

17.Liberty - SMALL WORLD

18.Blast The Pop! - LOCAL HEROES

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FLUCHTVERSUCH - s/t EP 1985

Euthanasie/Anomie Records brought this only record by Fluchtversuch in a limited edition of 1100 pieces out. Founded in Bochum by Linse (vocals), Kühlie & Pinky (guitars), Rolly (drums) and we enjoy four decent, and for the Eighties typical, Deutschpunk hits which are remarkably solidly arranged (who plays bass?). In 1990 the band added a new xeroxed cover to the original one and sold it as a hand numbered limited edition (rest). The band is represented on numerous compilations, mostly released as cassette and after their breakup, some members continued as Bad News. Fazit: chic record with good lyrics.

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NEWS - Dirty Secrets EP 1978

Today are the first two quarter-finals and I'm already excited about the games and I hope they promise as much tension and drama as the round of 16. And all on a Friday, perfect! But first a killer record by the News from Melbourne and this is their ultra rare second one and it's a limted edition with a newspaper clippings on band. Bringing some healthy publicity for the reformed News, there was new vinyl imminent. Gavin had assisted Bruce Milne with 'The History of News', a double 7Inch pack. One is (at last!) the Pulp Flexi, the other a regular reissue of 'Dowannalove' and 'Hate' from the Babeez EP. Gavin's work was on the cover, which included dozens of press clippings on the band. Don't miss the Dirty Lies 7'' and feel the enthusiasm sound of this extraordinary combo.

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WASTE - The Lost Tapes EP 2021

Now to a damn hot record which I'm very happy to present to you, and which comes straight from the band's headquarters, sent by Mister Hans personally and exclusive for wdthtc! "Daar ben ik heel dankbaar voor en wil je eerst mijn hartelijke groeten, maat 💓" On this little slab are five fast fantastic uncompromising, unpolished killers who exude pure energy and I like them immediately after the first note, the level is consistently kept high and brings the emoitions of the early 80s into your four walls, I have seldom heard such great stuff from the neighboring country... and I mean it, folks! Tasty infos from the backcover: "These five tracks were recorded between the summers of 1981 and 1983 at the band's practice room, which was located in a monastary in Oudenbosch, a village in the south-west Netherlands. Waste consisted of Nonkel RR (vocals), Hans (guitars), Klaus (bass), Fred (drums). Back in the early 80s they played at venues all over the country, including Paradiso in Amsterdam. Their sought after History Repeats EP was released by the Breda-based Miranda label in December 1982. Now, almost forty years later, the band's modest discography gets expanded with this new EP of rare, archival material. The sound is primitive, raw and totally awesome! WARNING! This is truly scorching hardcore punk! So for your maximum listening pleasure, play this slab as loud as possible!" Limited to 300 copies and I guess, all already sold. Good news at the end, Hans and Patrick founded a new band called Ford’s Fuzz Inferno and they recorded some totally awesome, completely fuzzed-up, ultra crushing punk goodies and a new record Deniers Of Fuzz Will Be Executed E​​P was made and is available from June 30th via their bandcamp site. Enough with words, let the music into your house and let it rip at full volume and several times in a row.

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ISCHJAZZ - La Kælven Leve 7'' 1981

Unfortunately only a draw yesterday and now it's going to be difficult if the SGE wants to play the Champions League, damn... nun, warten wir's ab, noch zwei Spiele und sehen welche Liga es anschließend wird. Continue with good news: It gets less on the Wanted-List and today with the second and last 7Inch by this four piece from Drangedal on Maza Records and they recorded two more difficult to classify songs. Not punk or Powerpop so remains New Wave, and I think this genre fits best into it, drawer or not. I think, they are a bit different on the way as on the debut Nyføtt, which is more powerful and I almost think the four didn't want to do dirty, snotty punkrock the way it was also created in Norway in the early eighties, and we all know Punk is emotional, colorful, versatile, impulsive, flexible, different... I guess they implemented that with their music, and back then many played fast, aggressive and loud and we like it so. Well, fact is: Ischjazz have a preference for country life; is an interesting band that immortalized music of a special kind with their both slabs for the upcoming generations; are not a warm stale beer.

- Great Thx to Reinhard -

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NEWS - Dirty Lies 7'' 1978

Modest little 7inch from Down Under now: Formed in Melbourne by Gavin (vocals), Jaryl (guitars), Joy (bass) and John (drums) as Babeez but quickly changed into News, they had always been a non-image band, playing in jeans, T-shirts and leather jackets. On their side was a healthy cynicism about punk itself, especially when rock & roll success and fashionable interests encroached on the revolution. This is their first record I think, self-released and most with one-sided lyric insert. The sleeves were hand screened by the band using black and fluoro yellow ink on cheap inner bags with the record inside. Two awesome killer tunes!

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MODERN MINDS - Go! 2007

The Modern Minds were a PowerPop combo from Edmonton and consisted of Moe (vocals & guitars), Bob (bass) and Kim (drums), founded in the bedroom community of St. Albert. All three had known each other for years and had played together previously, the band in its present form and attitude was formed in January 1979. They made their debut in June '79 at Bordon Park as The News. In January 1980 the name was changed to The Modern Minds. In the same year they met an enchanting creature and Theresa's World on Bumstead Records from 1981 is their only record and in her Bungalow Rock we find three golden goblets with exquisite northern Italian frangolino, the taste of which reminds us of ripe red strawberries, and invites us to pluck the endless fields of temptation.

The band has been accused of being too raw and unpolished, of having potential but who can't or won't refine themselves into a slick suitable for mass market appeal, they have struggled with this attitude and with the difficult Edmonton music scene since their beginnings. This struggle may be a result of the fact that the Modern Minds feel no obligation to anyone or anything except themselves and the music they feel is important. Due to the negative vibrations of all these assholes, their Rock'N'Roll ghosts slowly faded and the band broke up; It's Gone! In the last several years, Theresa has gained some notoriety and, along with some additional recordings, released on this small compilation with eleven melodic and raw songs as CD in 2007 through a small Japanese label called 'Base' & finally reissued as vinyl in 2018 by UglyPop Records (1st press in red/300 copies & 2nd press in black/500 copies). Solid release with massive infos within & high explosive 💣💣💣

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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LES LORDS - 1979-1980

 

The working year 2020 is over and four days off are comin'. Let's see, how I will end it musically and the opener is a treat, and this slab was released by Vidi Vici Records 2013 in edition of 300 copies. The Les Lords were Britz (vocals), Richard & Fifi (guitars), Laurent (bass), Lelett' (drums) and founded 1979 in Caen. And since nobody knows these guys until now, it is time for detailed information from the great creators of 45vinylvidivici which I would like to quote at this point:

1979: The musicians of the Caen punk group R.A.S. are orphans of a decaying movement. Britz, the singer-songwriter, mourns Sid Vicious. The others are starting to clearly prefer the power-pop energy of Jam, Skids, XTC or 999 to the neo-baba wanderings of the Cure or other Simple Minds.

The 60’s aesthetic and winks of the Who are already very present in punk, from black suits and string ties to the T-shirt with cockade of Billy Idol (Your Generation). Not to mention the Jam, of course. But when some members of R.S. land in Britain, it’s the shock. This one lives at the hour of "Mod Maydays", powerful revival which creates its own underground scene (Merton Parkas, Chords, Mo-Dettes, Squire...) in reaction to a punk now in the process of integration. "We hate the punk elite" sings Ian Page of Secret Affair. The musicians of R.A.S. are conquered, shop at Carnaby Street and return to Caen to tell friends about London news. The group is prompt renamed Les Lords.

As a result of this radical turn on the aesthetic level (because the songs remain the same) it appears fairly quickly that everyone gets into the idea of breaking their mouths, starting with the hard core of punks, more and more more influenced by the skinhead renewal and the “OI” wave. During the Lords' second concert in Lisieux, the skins came in force and have every intention of pissing off as much as possible. The chairs fly and the fans fall back on stage, somehow trying to send them away while the group continues to play. Arrival of the constabulary and relighting of the lights. We resume all the same and the Lords end in apotheosis by a resumption of "My Generation" of Who respecting to the letter the spirit of the original, that is to say accompanied by a methodical destruction of the material and the overturning of the columns sound system. Lying on the ground, arms outstretched to hold the

sound system lying on him and not to perish crushed, its owner, an old baba, manages to whisper "it's great, it's great...".

Great it is. The Lords continue the momentum of the most fit but harmonically rich punk, say Generation X to locate, incorporating 60’s influences, pre-psychedelic reminiscences (Creation, Move) and especially by tracing a new road, theirs. The group does quite a few covers: the instrumental The Persuaders ("Amically Your") as a concert intro, "For Your Love" by the Yardbirds mid-set and "My Generation" as a reminder. For the rest, it's a slaughter: slamming drums, metallic and melodic Rickenbacker bass, rhythmic Gibson "sound wall", dazzling escapades from the soloist on Telecaster. And there is the front man, with limited vocal capacities but remarkable texts and unparalleled charisma. It was obvious to who had once seen these kids in concert that they had fantastic potential. Because these are kids we are talking about, 17 years old at the time of history and just over 18 when it ended. Not really a "sex, drugs and rock n’roll" story, shot by the punk generation. No, just another story of tormented and rebellious teenagers. A story of music lovers who convert Gérald, the full barter shop of Throbbing Gristle to boots and frilled shirts. In return, he introduces them to Kinks and Small Faces, but also Real Kids, Charlie Mingus, Faust or Mother’s Finest. It is a story of rain (Normandy...), at night, of endless walking. Mopeds were rare, so scooters... It’s a story of cavalcades and frantic leaks, in the sad France of the end of the seventies whose "peripheral rascals" were so well sung by Renaud at the time.

On this front the Lords take radical measures by weaving an alliance with the gypsies, which allows to calm quickly done well the skins and to bring them back to feelings of healthy camaraderie. As for the neo-Mod movement, it is developing like wildfire. In two strokes of a pot spoon, there are more than 200 Mods in Caen. Punks converted after concerts, fans of the Specials or Joe Jackson, high school students who wanted to piss off their parents. Barely 16 years old, Laurence gives up everything to join Fifi, the rhythm guitarist of the Lords and returns on a scooter at the end of the hutch to give the teachers honor by shouting "We Are Mods", as in Quadrophenia. Britz, Laurent and I are going to see the film dozens of times at the cinema of the Carrefour shopping center, in Hérouville, one of the working-class suburbs of Caen. So we pass and we pass again in front of a band of thugs, "Arabs" as they said at the time, who stagnate on the benches of the shopping center and do not take long to look for the fight. It degenerates for good and ends with a punch outside. "We are the Mods"! Impressed, the most devious of the so-called "Arabs" quickly bought a costume and asked to join the mods.

In Caen, these are a mass movement from the proletariat, the working masses. With guys who in case of confusion are more quick to fight than to parley... There is José who fights after the group has won the French flags in a party on July 14, Franck says "Barjot" the former rocker and fisherman, "Clash" who crushes my parents' flowers in a Vespa and shoots the rockies on Saturday afternoon in the middle of traffic jams, with a WWII Luger. And then other groups that are formed: Dandys, Holly Boys and Neckties. These are 13-14 year olds who have had little time to learn English. Suddenly they proudly adapt the Who in French, "I Can’t Explain" becoming "the Caennais complain."

The Lords play in Paris at Golf Drouot. They finish well last of the "springboard rock" but fuck a happy mess and meet that evening the fabulous Stunners. A core of Parisian fans of the Lords is formed around Laurent ("Stax"), Denis, Thierry and soon Patrice Bertrand, former Hells Angel turned Mod who sells US garage rock records in the Scooter shop in Les Halles. The Lords don't pretend. They provide the first part of the Olivensteins whose equipment they demolish ("My Generation"), the Dogs from which they steal the show and a whole bunch of others. They make all the fire, open for Valérie Lagrange and even go on tour for a few dates opening for Caravan, an old British progressive rock band.

Soon the mod-revival spreads in Paris then in the provinces. Lords are heroes and kings, but there is a misunderstanding. Basically they have little to do with twinks disguising themselves as twist dancers, petty bourgeois in polka dot dresses and groups making desperate efforts to sound "garage". In fact, while the Parisian skins led by Farid - a ringworm - are having fun persecuting this bunch of little wankers from fine neighborhoods, they carefully avoid attacking anyone who wears a "Caen" patch on their jacket. Britz and the hard wing of the Caennais accentuate the demarcation with the installers by calling themselves "Glory Boys" and adopting black shirts and white ties. But hey, it's all starting to go around in circles. Especially since despite their multiple trips back and forth in the capital, where I settle as a manager, the Lords are still out of recording contract. There are indeed some contacts with Antoine De Caunes, Marc Zermati or Patrick Eudeline, the tour of record companies, a photo in the monthly Best, but nothing comes out. Meanwhile, the sken-mod conglomerate of Caen feels winged. After two years of intensive fights against rockers (very bad in those distant times) and all that hung around as thugs in the Normandy countryside, these became real terrors. Wounds that set everything on fire and blood during the Jam concert in Rouen. The Lords are victims of Sham 69 syndrome: overwhelmed by the movement they have instigated and the excesses of their audience.

The tension rises with the rhythm, Fifi, a simple heart. Then with the bass player who stands in solidarity with him. Finally with Britz Notre Dame, icon of mods, always so frosty and uncontrollable who does not want to understand that such a radical trip cuts the group from a wider audience. In a few weeks everything crumbles. Fifi and Laurent will try their luck with another group. Britz moved to Paris where he succeeded in a few months in transforming a gang of Daddy's sons into a respected gang. Richard and Denis recruit a bass player and pursue the Lords in the form of a blazing power trio.

In the end, there will be nothing but wonderful memories and rehearsal recordings from this brief epic, in mini-cassette. Despite their obvious limitations, they will no doubt give a better idea of what the Lords were than the album they would have done at the time on a major, under the guidance of a survivor of the yéyé who was converted into a producer. And the fact that more than thirty years later RAS or Les Lords are arousing interest shows that at least the flame has been transmitted. So all is well that ends well. Raymond Debord (Summer 2013)

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