UNNATURAL AXE - Is Gonna Kick Your Ass 1978-1988

Awesome punk band from Boston and I quote you a review from an expert of the Boston punk scene: "It is 1977. A scruffy neighborhood of Boston sprouts a band of naive working-class kids who think they can shake up the world with their personal take on the punk rock experience. Not content, or possibly even competent enough, to be another Jam clone or a Clash clone, Unnatural Axe bash out their own brand of two-chord and three-chord rock, and crank it up extra high. Throughout 1978 and 1979 the Axe were playing regularly in New York, and at Cantone's, the Rat, and the Space in Boston as the opening act for the "big" UK and US new wave acts of the time. Their strangest billing must have been opening for The Police at the Rat in Kenmore Square. It is truly unfortunate that Sting squandered this "turning point" opportunity to learn the essentials of punk rock from Boston's finest. Sting's only question of the Axe vocalist: "Did you poop?" But such is the fate for the greatest moments of brilliance of our times: few people recognize it. The big club owners didn't see it and the major record labels didn't hear it. After two short years, the Axe packed it in. As a result, the Unnatural Axe discography is small, but what recordings do exist provide the documented proof that the Axe were, and shall always remain, the most important punk band Boston will ever call its own." (Monsieur Michel Bastarache) - Enough words, time for music so let's go boys!

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EINSTÜRZENDE NEUBAUTEN - Thirsty Animal 12'' 1982

This rare 12Inch from the Einstürzende Neubauten was self-released by the band and exist in two versions with different covers. Both songs doesn't sound as commercial as their new albums and I post this because I ripped today and the last three days a few  albums and somehow their noises fits my current emotions. Anyway, to discover something new must old shit go kaput, right? Is always painful but mankind will survive so fuck each other remorseless. Don't worry, I like cooking...

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DELTA KOPINSKI - Skandal EP 1997

Let's get weird and weird and confused are exact my feelings now but I don't want you tell more because it's nothing new and it would be fuckin' boring I think. Anyway, let's join this band, another side-project of EA80 frontman Junge called Delta Kopinski. Fat bass, driving organ, no guitars, sung by a minor girl, sometimes chaotic & doomy, pure punk rock. This record was strictly limited (300 copies) and released via Junges label Musikzimmer & it got me a lot of toil and sweat to snatch a copy. Highly recommended! A real unicum and for real hardcore junkies like me :)

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ALIEN BEAT - Ge Mej Mer 7'' 1980

Here's the rare debut record by this great Swedish PowerPop band Alien Beat on Mandarine Records. Their only full length album Akrobat is a blast and when I look at the downloads you find that too. Alien Beat's sound is a fantastic mix of powerpop with a fat punk pulse. As is evident in the title song, very wild fast playin' and pretty crazy voices, a brilliant number. The b-side is pure powerpop, accompanied with piano and a strong melody, goes immediately in, stays there and you could sing it all day; a classic earworm. Damn good record!!!!

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THE KELPIES - Television 2003

Final a late evening post and this belongs to one of my favorite bands from Sydney, The Kelpies and this release from Head Miles Records is an awesome one and features twenty-four tracks, their entire recorded output, including their Aberrant and Phantom Records releases: the tracks are taken from three separate recording sessions from 1981 and 1982. Tracks 1-13 were recorded onto cassette in the bands rehearsal space underneath 51 Stanley Street, East Sydney in 1981, tracks 14-21 recorded to 8 track Now Studios, Sydney 1981, tracks 22-24 were from a 24 track session in 1982 for a Phantom records single. This 24-song disc compiles all that's gone before and adds another tune, the studio version of the post-punk sounding "How Can I Tell You". The first thing that must be said is that the Kelpies were very much a vehicle for the songwriting of Mark Easton, an under-appreciated talent if there ever was one. He has a hand in each tune (except for "Change", which was co-written by singer Jim Atkins and Danny Rumour, then of Sekret Sekret and now with the Cruel Sea). The themes are the obvious punk ones of boredom, alcoholism, serial killers but there's a degree of lyrical sophistication that lifts the songs above the norm. Don't know where I got all the infos but thx and let the Kelpies rule.

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NO HORIZON - s/t 12'' 1980

One more day until the long weekend comes and I look forward to it like a little child, why? Well, this week was so strenuous up and the early getting up is one of the things I do not really like at all. Ok, now a beer, expect visit and until then this short-lived band from Kiel/Northern Germany with this 12'' and their only (unfortunately) release on the legendary Hamburg Punk label Konnekschen Records. Sung in german & english and the music is quite nice: aggressive, snotty & cool rock'n'roll, also the ballad is very successful. A great rare KBD record!

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DER RIß - They All Do....IMAGE 1985

The only cuts of this German band from the Ruhr area which appeared at Wishbone Records in beautiful white vinyl and the album was recorded and mixed on Feb/March '85 at Studiowahn, Bochum. On it eight great ass-kickin' punk trashers with an incredible amount of power. As far as I know some members are very active in the German thrash metal scene, Living Death or Mekong Delta are one of it, may you should know these bands and I remember, I had two records but I sold it. Unfortunately Der Riß was a unique side project and the only mini-album they released. Well, all songs are short (total playing time less than fifteen minutes), what I appreciate and they will turn your ears and limbs to jelly if you let them. No Question, a duty download and Aloha from Hell!

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V/A - A Warped Sense Of Human 1981

This hot compilation is exact the stuff I really like and I think I certainly never come in touch with this record, so this was a request and I'm pleased. The hard facts: released on Peartree Records with seven bands, completely unknown to me, with two songs each. Varied sound, punk, wave, synth and alternative and the whole stuff is like a ripe apple. I guess only the islanders are capable of such sounds in the early 80s. Well, it's early in the morning, my first coffee is drunk and I have still two hours left to find my daily form. Enjoy the record whatever you do now.

1.Jacob's Room - DANCING COUNTERPARTS

2.Fun City - OFFBEAT

3.Victim Of The Bomb - ETHNIK MINORITY

4.So-So - N.A. POP 2000

5.All I Want To Do - TICKETZ

6.Hang Over You - KINGSIZE KEEN & HIS ROCKIN' MACHINE

7.I Must Adjust - FICTICIOUS

8.Panic In Your Mind - N.A. POP 2000

9.New Expression - FICTICIOUS

10.Pain - DANCING COUNTERPARTS

11.Control - TICKETZ

12.Cult - ETHNIK MINORITY

13.New Wavin' - KINGSIZE KEEN & HIS ROCKIN' MACHINE

- A Great Fuckin' Thx to Gen -

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STRAIGHT EIGHT - Shuffle'N'Cut 1980

Here's now a great album by this awesome band from London and their music is quite brilliant. On this release are twelve powerpop gems which kicks the blues out of every depressive mind. Info from their MySpace site says: "Formed in early 1976, the band after gigging the UK pub rock circuit soon went on to being discovered and signed by Pete Townshend of WHO fame. He released the first album 'No Noise From Here' on his EEL PIE record label. Subsequently the band got picked up by Transatlantic Records (UK) and RCA in the States. Releasing 'Shuffle'N'Cut and then their 3rd album 'Straight To The Heart' in 1982. Unfortunately just as the band were due to begin a World Tour supporting The Who, drummer Keith Moon died and the rest is history. Line-up was Rick Cassman, Boot Kingsman, Steve Cherry and Rod Berriedale-Johnson. After a massive departure from the UK music scene, the band are busy arranging a best of compliation CD. Lead vocalist and main songwriter Rick Cassman has also been busy playing and producing in The Deputies and has also been involved with Twickenham's Club Acoustica. The Band recently got back together for a few numbers at Club Acoustica and enjoyed it so much they are planning an official reunion gig sometime in 2010 to celebrate their 30th aniversary!!" Great Band, Great Stuff, Great Record!!

- Huge Thx to Fredrik -

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