V/A - This Is Mod Vol.1 (Rarities 1979-1981)

Let's round off the small mod phase on wdthtc with the following compilation called This Is Mod, a small series by Anagram Records and a total of six CD's were created in the mid Nineties. The focus is on rare 7Inches, mostly by English bands, which only made it to this format and very sought nowadays. The British mod revival may have been a fad, driven by fashion and most of the time too derivative, but it did produce some cool singles. Musically they move in a decent PowerPop area with smart clothes and the artwork is also impressive, plenty of infos about each band. Consistently interesting and the last post for today, Bundesliga is waiting, Cheers!

1.Opening Up - THE CIRCLES

2.Billy - THE CIRCLES

3.Can We Go Dancing - THE AMBER SQUAD

4.You Should See What I Do To You In My Dreams - THE AMBER SQUAD

5.Can't Sleep At Night - THE CIGARETTES

6.It's The Only Way To Live - THE CIGARETTES

7.Choose You - DEAD BEATS

8.Julie's New Boyfriend - DEAD BEATS

9.On No - DEAD BEATS

10.Nobody Loves Me - THE LETTERS

11.Don't Want You Back - THE LETTERS

12.Happy Song - THE NIPS

13.Nobody To Love - THE NIPS

14.Saturday Night - THE ODDS

15.Not Another Love Song - THE ODDS

16.Circles - THE CIRCLES

17.Summer Nights - THE CIRCLES

18.They're Back Again - THE CIGARETTES

19.I've Forgot My Number - THE CIGARETTES

20.All I Want Is Your Money - THE CIGARETTES

21.I've Got Me Parka - THE SUSSED

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V/A - This Is Mod Vol.3 (A Diamond Collection) 1996

Third part by this excellent series called This Is Mod by Anagram Records and we listen to six bands and twenty-two songs, among them are a lot of well-known cover versions that make this compilation even more interesting in my opinion. I find that always exciting, because sometimes the implementation is much more attractive than the originals, and also own melodies/ideas are thrown in, sometimes totally fucked-up but not in this case.... and we all know, it's all a matter of taste. Well, if you enjoyed the first two volumes and you're open for that kind style/sound, I say: you won't be disappointed, it's definitely FUN!

1.Looking For Love - THE SCENE

2.Let Me Know - THE SCENE

3.On The Streets Again - LONG TALL SHORTY

4.I Fought The Law - LONG TALL SHORTY

5.Promises - LONG TALL SHORTY

6.Something That You Said - THE SCENE

7.Stop-Go (Live) - THE SCENE

8.In This Town - THE MOMENT

9.What's Going On? - LONG TALL SHORTY

10.Steppin' Stone - LONG TALL SHORTY

11.Win Or Lose - LONG TALL SHORTY

12.England - LONG TALL SHORTY

13.One Two They Fly - THE MOMENT

14.Good Lovin' - THE SCENE

15.2 Plus 2 What's Music - THE SCENE

16.All I Ever Wanted - THE B TEAM

17.Bad Day - THE B TEAM

18.This Working Way - THE WAY OUT

19.Just The Girl - THE WAY OUT

20.Looking For You - THE RAGE

21.Come On Now - THE RAGE

22.Hallelujah I Love Her So - THE RAGE

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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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V/A - This Is Mod Vol.4 (Modities) 1996

I still have one for the weekend and the sound matches the setting evening sun that I am now enjoying from the balcony. Ladies & Gentlemen!, let's welcome Volume 4 of the This Is Mod series by the brilliant Anagram Records and the last I have. This Compilation feautures the rare 7Inches by these eight Modities which were published in the late Seventies/early Eighties and for some the only record. Like its predecessors, this little nugget is an absolute highlight of good songs by bands that hardly anyone knows anymore and purchasing one of these delicacies is not really cheap. You see, a real collector's item... like the original platten.

1.Blood Spattered With Guitars - THE ACCIDENTS

2.Curtains For You - THE ACCIDENTS

3.Three Bands Tonite - THE DIRECTIONS

4.On The Train - THE DIRECTIONS

5.Go Steady - THE LAMBRETTAS

6.Cortinas - THE LAMBRETTAS

7.Listen Listen Listen - THE LAMBRETTAS

8.I Saw Her With Another Guy - THE NIGHTRIDERS

9.London Town - THE NIGHTRIDERS

10.Flat 19 - MERTON PARKAS

11.Band Of Gold - MERTON PARKAS

12.You And I - THE ONLOOKERS

13.Understand - THE ONLOOKERS

14.Julia - THE ONLOOKERS

15.I Believe You - THE REPUTATIONS

16.Breaking Communication - THE REPUTATIONS

17.All Day & All Of The Night - THE REPUTATIONS

18.They Think I Don't See Them - THE REPUTATIONS

19.Protect Your Love - THE UNTOUCHABLES

20.Sister Salvation - THE UNTOUCHABLES

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V/A - This Is Mod Vol.2 (More Rarities 1979-1981)

I'll end the spring week with another compilation that's bursting with interesting music and a perfect start to recharge your batteries. A few weeks ago I started Volume 1 of this nice little series by Anagram Records which is brilliantly stocked with rarities, and the second ties in seamlessly with it. Seven more mod revivalists with their 7Inches are gathered here and intensifies this short-lived subculture with impulsive sound. And with this, a sunny weekend.

1.Twisted Wheels - KILLERMETERS

2.SX 225 - KILLERMETERS

3.Plane Crash - PURPLE HEARTS

4.Scooby Doo - PURPLE HEARTS

5.Gun Of Life - PURPLE HEARTS

6.The Fashion Plague - THE EXITS

7.Cheam - THE EXITS

8.Needs Somebody To Love - THE V.I.P's

9.One More Chance - THE V.I.P's

10.Stuttgart Special - THE V.I.P's

11.Who Knows? - THE V.I.P's

12.Janine - THE V.I.P's

13.Modern Boys - THE CROOKS

14.The Beat Goes On - THE CROOKS

15.Wild About You - THE CROOKS

16.Movements - THE CROOKS

17.All The Time In The World - THE CROOKS

18.Banging My Head - THE CROOKS

19.The Odd Man Out - TEENAGE FILMSTARS

20.I Apologise - TEENAGE FILMSTARS

21.Just A Little Mod - TERRY TONIK

22.Smashed & Blocked - TERRY TONIK

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V/A - Bloodstains Across Northern Ireland 1998

Rare to find is Volume I of the Northern Ireland Area and this record is more in a pop/mod taste as punk goodies. And this is damn cool stuff. I posted this on my old Blog and I remember there were still numerous downloads. Well, logo that I must do it again. Even more sound from the small tip of Ireland can find on Belfast Rock, which also kicks. This volume in the Bloodstains series is a definite stand-out.

1.Time To Be Proud - RUDI

2.The Perfect Crime - RUEFREX

3.Rich Bitch - MIDNITE CRUISER

4.Conscious - ELECTRO-MOTIVE FORCE

5.Wanted - ELECTRO-MOTIVE FORCE

6.The System Is Here - EX-PRODUCERS

7.Bondage In Belfast - THE ANDROIDS

8.I Wonder Why - PROTEX

9.The Teen Age - VICTIM

10.Cruisin' - DETONATORS

11.Behind The Door - EX-PRODUCERS

12.Sharon - PRETTY BOY FLOYD & THE GEMS

13.Fingers - THE DOUBT

14.Lookaway - THE DOUBT

15.Guilty Conscience - THE DEFECTS

16.The Heat Is On - XDREAMYSTS

17.You Said - THE MOONDOGS

18.Striker - MIDNITE CRUISER

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THE SAME - Movements 7'' 1980

Somehow this is the mod month in this blog and I can't tell you why but the next goodie is the only 7Inch by this Mod-revival band from Worthing and this is the French version of the record which came there via Blueprint Records. The Same consisted of Steve (vocals/guitars), Brian (guitars), Peter (bass) and Tony (drums). Brian left early the band and the rest carried as three piece and recorded this great piece which was original released via Wessex Records in a limited edition of 1000 copies. The band had some compilation invites and in 2018 Detour Records released a CD totaling twenty three songs, to be mailed to me immediately.

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THE CAUZE - Stockholms Bomb 7'' 1981

Holy Shit, these descriptions here are sometimes hurt my balls and read this anyone at all? - What shall I write about this band?? I don't know, never heard of them until now. Hmmm, what I know there is a song on the Killed By Death #99 compilation which is a tape but I never see this. Anyway, the Cauze is a total mystery to me, don't know where they from or any releases and this 7'' is I guess their only record. What's on it? Legitimate question, haha - two goodies of some sort of pop/punk/rock (mod) but not shitty you know. The songs have charm & the guitars cry out for toothpaste, both are sung in wonderful Swedish dialect and I like this a lot. I mean honestly, who make it with a song on a KBD sampler is a) rare and b) damn good, any doubts?

- Huge Thx to Fredrik -

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THE CROOKS - Just Released 1980

Hailing from North Londen and this is the only full-length by the Crooks on Blueprint with fourteen PowerPop/Mod goodies. Originally formed in late 1977 by Dino (vocals/guitar/), Tim (guitar/vocals), Chris (bass), Micky (drums). Well, this is the kind of music that passed me by and I can't review a lot. The guys are apparently to be assigned to the Mod revival Hype from 1979/1980 and I can read a lot in the net that they didn't really make the breakthrough. Probably it was due to the label or the strong competition, I don't know, but what I hear on Just Released are consistently catchy songs with power and excellent melodies. And next to the album they released two singles which are included here as a bonus. If you are interested, you can read a short review of the album on allmusic. I'm gradually becoming a friend of this sound and I don't wanna know, how many shiny 7Inches I missed.

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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THE ORDINARYS - I Wanna Be An Ordinary 7'' 1978

This amazing two sider of '78 mod is one more rarity from Love Child Records! Limited 250 press with original flip back sleeves... it surely is 1978 all over again. The Ordinarys should have been massive - an appearance on hit TV show "New Faces" and a fan in the legend that is Mickie Most should have got the band the recognition their talent deserved. But some reasons unknown they never released anything.... until now! Taken from the only known copies of the finished recordings the tapes have been masterfully restored by Dan Husayn and sound as crisp as intended back in '78 Love Child Records are more than happy to put out this long-lost piece of '78 New Wave/early Mod Revival lushness. First 150 copies come with free promo poster. Guest on Bored Teenagers Vol.4, and you'll know how awesome this series is... Enjoy!

- Great Thx to Bristolboy -

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THE BADGE - Complete Of King Years 2005

Anyone who thinks that only screaming wild Hardcore comes from the Far East will be proven wrong with the following terrific music and unfortunately I can't remember who sent me this little musical delight, well, my memory is really bad. But anyway, my vacation starts today, the second beer is intus and I'm talking nonsense, hahahaha. About the band: The Badge (these are the boys on the front cover of Powerpearls Vol.6 if you're interested) are a Japanese Beat/Mod band and were founded, I think, in Tokyo at the late Seventies and the band consisted of Shoji (vocals/guitars), Nobuaki (vocals/bass) and Tetstu (vocals/drums) and they released their first 7Inch Futari No Photograph via Continental in July 1982. They landed a deal with King Records and released five 7Inches between 1984-1985, and all are collected on this Compilation which came only out in Japan by MMR. Excellent melodic PowerPop, sung in English, is brought by the Badge into your home and I think they are very popular in their country and this for a long, long time, a new song was recorded in 2022 and released on a Split 7'' this year, if they are still active I don't know. Time for beer #3 and let's see if anything else comes today.

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THE MODERNS - Suburban Life 2021

Sweden's first and best mod-revival band The Moderns mixed the love of 60's pop with the intensity of Punk and had the big breakthrough around the corner during the short but intense career. Based in Malmö, the Moderns existed from late 1978 to 1981 and founding members were Mats (vocals/guitar), Tony (guitar), Jan (bass), Rickard (drums) and early 1979 they released their first self-financed 7Inch The Year Of Today. The record gained a lot of publicity due to the freshness of the sound and the fact that nobody else did this kind of music in Sweden at the time. Some line-up changes followed and eventually another single plus an album was released in the early 80's but the album didn’t sell as much as was anticipated, partly due to switch to the Swedish language, and so the band broke up shortly after. Busy Bee Production has once again created a real highlight on vinyl and along with the second single, songs from a couple of compilation albums and some completely unreleased tracks, this record is the definitive collection with The Modern's first line-up. Limited edition, 600 copies (400 black & 200 blue vinyl). Grab a copy if you get the chance, because this is interesting stuff for all outsiders & undergrounders.

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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CHUZPE - Love Will Tear Us Apart 7'' 1980

Chuzpe was very likely the first real punk band in Austria and was founded in 1977 by the Austrian Underground-/New-Wave-Band singer, guitarist and songwriter Robert "Räudig" Wolf with versatile cast and "Wiener Schmäh" (With Weaner Schmäh is popularly referred to one of the residents of Vienna awarded mentality, which is characterized by humor or the associated state of mind: often somewhat melancholy, sarcastic or morbid, humorous and belittling, sometimes slightly cunning and mischievous, often grantelnd (misanthropic), usually accompanied by a smile and friendly.The term libel is not associated with an insult in conjunction). They sang English and Viennese. Under the influence of the Ramones and Sex Pistols, their music evolved more and more into punk. In 1978 they recorded in the gorilla studio a few songs and which four were selected for a single. This would have been the first punk release in Austria but the production was, unfortunately for cost reasons, set prematurely (Two songs were posthumously released on the noteworthy Austro-punk compilation Es Chaos Is Die Botschaft from 1997). In May 1979, Chuzpe appear with three songs on the Wiener Blutrausch compilation. The band performed in 1979 for a short time as Robert Räudig & The Beat Boys and published in the same year, the first Chuzpe single and their style already went towards into neo-garage and mod-wave. This was the beginning of a development that Chuzpe were known as one of the Austria's most successful new-wave bands. The absolutly brilliant cover of Joy Division's 'Love Will Tear Us Apart', which made it to number 8 in the Ö3 charts is awesome and one of the best covers I ever heard. As Chuzpe77 the band released in 2003 a 16 song album with their old stuff in heavily guitar-based versions. After a farewell gig in 2004, the project Chuzpe77 was buried.

- Big Thx goes to Reinhard -

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TRASH - This Is Complete Trash! 2011

I remember their first 7Inch was posted on my former blog and since then this great band has been forgotten until I was asked for this compilation which was published by Only Fit For The Bin Records in an edition of 200 copies only as CD six years ago. Twelve rare goodies, the pieces of their singles + unreleased demos & live material and an radio interview from 1977. Trash formed 1976 in Weybridge/Surrey and signed to Polydor (!) and released two singles. Auditioned in front of Roger Daltrey and John Entwistle for the role as a mod group in the film 'Quadrophenia', but didn't get the part. Trash split in 1979. Not much on compilations represent but the detectives immortalized them on Killed By Death #F.U.2 and Killed By Death #24. Enjoy the dirty sound of Trash and have always a smile ready.

- Big Thx to François -

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TACONES - Difícil 7'' 1981

Interesting combo from Madrid, formed in the late 70's by Alberto Larios (vocals/guitar), Ramiro (guitar), Fernando (bass/keyboards), Carlos (drums) and this is their second 7Inch on Zafiro. Four young people, fascinated by the look of the swinging Mod scene in the UK and the catchy refrains of the new sound, founded the Tacones with pure beat premises, heavily influenced by veteran British beat bands with a long tradition such as the Kinks, Searchers or the Beatles. Dressed in impeccable suits, shirts and ties and gleaming pointy boots in the purest mod style that added visual appeal to their polished live shows. In March 1980, they released their first single, based on the soundtrack of the Juan José Porto film of the same name, Crónicas Del Bromuro/Rita (Chapa Discos), where they performed a cover version of the Los Brincos song 'Mejor'. They started playing gigs in small towns like El Tiemblo, in the Albacete bullring, and received extensive mostly positive reviews nationwide and got a bit better known. Prior to the long awaited album, Chapa released another single Difícil/ Rita Se Hizo De Oro in 1981 which earned good references, delivering an energetic, catchy and melodic songs that ranks among the best of their short discography.

At the end of the year, they switched from Chapa to parent label, multinational Zafiro, falling into the hands of then-flashy arrangers and producers and Requiem Final (1981) saw the light of day. The album's song of the same name was intended to pay homage to John Lennon, who was murdered the previous year. It was also released as a 12Inch in a limited edition for fans, complemented by the voice of the presenter Joaquín Luqui, who dedicated some warm words to the late ex-Beatle. But neither the critics nor the general public took notice of this work, which was soon to be found at bargain prices on the shelves of the big department stores.

Unabashed pop with plenty of good reviews, but the truth is that the band, with their well-crafted songs, their impasto voices and all their coherence, sadly went unnoticed, maybe because they foresaw the moment, maybe because their album lacked the ingredients for suspense . Whatever the case, the Tacones disbanded and disappeared forever in the fall of 1982 after releasing one final single, Te Mintio/Clin Clin (Zafiro), to little success.

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DIVISION 4 - On The Beat EP 1982

Another fund of my hard drive and this month is definitely the one with the most posts of this genre. 100% mod/powerpop from Sydney by Division 4. A short info: Brothers Kieren and Brad Fitzpatrick were playing in a local punk band in 1979 when they placed an ad looking for a drummer on a noticeboard at the University of NSW. Joe Genua responded, and brought with him bass player Antony Howell Smith III. Division 4 (named after the classic Aussie cop show of the early 1970s) seized on the burgeoning mod revival movement, swiftly building a strong inner-city following in Sydney. Their only legacy is this rare three track EP but an important light in the sky of this genre and came out on their own label. The band split up in 1984. Maintained on two cool compilations, Sound Of Sydney Vol.1 & Powerpearls #5. Please send the first, thx (it's been dealt with).

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MO-DETTES - White Mice 7'' 1979

The Mo-Dettes (alternatively The Modettes) were an all-female punk band, formed in 1979. This first self-released 7'' contains their most well-known song "White Mice" and was recorded in the mid 1979 on Mode Records, with "Masochistic Opposite" on the b-side. The single was distributed by Rough Trade and spent five weeks at No.1 in the indie charts. And although the assumption is that they were a mod band, this is incorrect: some called them punk, others thought they were more pop-punk, while still others compared their music to that of early Raincoats or Slits. Well, for me these two cuts are simply pop-punk songs and I can always listen to them. Whip your feet, shake your body and listen to White Mice while during the download. The all-girl band disbanded in 1982 after just one album.

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LUZIBÄR! - Geistig 7 EP 1982

A rare lost nugget of German punk culture and the only one from Luzibär!, founded in summer 1981 by former members of the Düsseldorf punk band "VD" in Mettmann/Rhineland. After first small gigs they released their record Geistig 7 one year later. The EP was banned because some assholes were disturbed about the lyrics. Luzibär offers in the song "Wixverbot" a Mettmanner city known village idiot, who thought he was a mod. He complained and got right, what a joke, pretty curious and for this reason so it was hard to get a copy. But Luzibär didn't gave up and toured busy. Mid '82 they got from Rough Trade Germany the offer to make an album, called 'Und Der Rest War Schweigen' (famous Hamlet quote). Unfortunately, the album was never recorded. Another four track EP called 'Wachsfiguren' was recorded but also not see the light of the world. Followed by band internal torments, although there were still many appearances, but in the summer of 1983, just two years after the founding Luzibär dissolved. And since then ruled until many years later really silence. Joost Renders and Jasper Michahelles founded with other musicians the band "Chim Chim Cheree", which later renamed in "Panic In Slumberland" but without Jasper Michahelles, he founded meantime the band "Scarlet Masque". Jan Peter Schäfermeyer stop making music and Eric Hackenberg pulled it a few years later to Hamburg, where he is musically very active and later as guitarist of "Jam Today" and "Thee Richmen". In 2002 the Berlin label RottenTotten Records released a 10'' with both 7inches and some live material in an edition of 100 copies, if anyone has this record please send me mp3s. Shortly after the release of this record drummer Jasper Michahelles died in May 2002, who also designed the cover for this compilation, at the age of 39 years on the effects of a stroke. Compilation featuring the band: H'Artcore (1981) and 8–EP Sampler (1982). Good stuff for a coldy Saturday.

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V/A - Odd Bods Mods & Sods 1979

June says goodbye with this rare compilation from Rok Records and all six bands have never received the recognition they had deserved, in my opinion. Okay, not all songs are killers but they have charm, a solid tempo and have released little besides this record, here and there a single and ferddisch. 1996 re-issued as CD by Captain Mod with ten bonus tracks, maybe someone can send it because this rip is not sooo brilliant. No matter, Kein Bock to mess up further on the PC, enjoy the last breath and do yourself a favour and grab this Odd Bods Mods & Sods! 

1.Can't Believe Its True - THE V.I.P.'s

2.Livin In The City - SQUIRE

3.Know What I Want - SPLIT SCREENS

4.No Good For Me - THE CLERKS

5.Statik Motion - JUSTIN CASE

6.Wild Boys In Cortinas - URBAN DISTURBANCE

7.Just Can't Let You Go - THE V.I.P.'s

8.Get Ready To Go - SQUIRE

9.Just Don't Try - SPLIT SCREENS

10.You - JUST FRANK

11.When The Lights Go Out - THE CLERKS

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REALLY 3RD'S - Everyday, Everyway 7'' 1981

The weekend is here and let's tackle it with a real blast. In keeping with the blue sky and sun, the title track goes mercilessly into my veins and shoots me forward, and whatever may come, I swing over it. A real PowerPop gem have the three with this song create and listening three times in a row is still not enough. The flip shines with a solid instrumental piece which is just as well played. 1000 copies were pressed on their own Really 3rds Record label without a sleeve. A bit info from discogs: "From Pontypridd in Wales, Really 3rd were a trio comprising guitarist Neil Lawrence, bassist Paul Pember, and a drummer identified only as Philip. After the self-financed release of the single "Everyday, Everyway," they changed their name to Shake Some Action in 1982 and became a mod revival band, but don't appear to have recorded in their new identity." No wonder that the song is used on a hand full of good compilations (Powerpearls Vol.1 for example). I say: Chapeau!

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