SKALOPE - Derrigor 1989

Over to Spain in the Basque Country and meet a band from Bilbao. Skalope were formed in 1987 by Sabin (vocals), Jon (guitar), Mo (guitar), Oskar (guitar), Juani (bass) and Javi (drums). Their debut on Discos Suicidas is a mythical album in which you can find fifteen tracks to punk and ska rhythm. About half an hour to sing, dance and fight, based on funny songs and they include two cover versions ("Police & Thieves" & "Blitzkrieg Bop"). A record full of good songs with no expiration date. That's all for today, tonight the football game against Mönchengladbach and I will slowly get into the mood.

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THIS SPORTING LIFE - Show Me To The Bellrope 1982

April: more sun, trees become green, skirts are shorter, life awakens. Let's see that these thirty days will be attractive here in this theater. Auckland in the early 80s, out of the ashes of Alms For Children This Sporting Life were formed by Gary (vocals), Paul (guitars), Ben (bass) and Daron (drums) and after a line-up change the band released their debut album on Flying Nun Records and it's to me surprisingly fresh and cheerful and if this had not been requested I probably would not enjoy this great band. Sure I'm not the post-punk type but there are a few babies that inspire me. Quite powerful low-fi Geschrammel who let me wriggle and wild dancing in my room like a madman (hello neighbors!), puhhhh... heart attack is near.... In 1983 a second record was released in form of a 12'' called 'In Limbo' and I would pleased for an email. In the same year the group dissolve.

- Great Thx to Gen -

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RUBBER CITY REBELS - s/t LP 1980

Last post March and sailing across the Atlantic and stop in Akron, Ohio and meet the Rubber City Rebels, formed 1977 by Rod (vocals), Buzz (guitar), Donny (bass), Stix (drums) and Pete (keyboards). Let me give you a bit info from wiki: "In their early years, the Rebels were fans (and friends) of fellow Greater Cleveland-area bands the Dead Boys and Devo. Their breakout show was opening for the Dead Boys at legendary New York City rock club CBGB in 1977. This led to a split album with the Bizarros, titled From Akron, which was released that year on Clone Records. The Rebels moved to Los Angeles in 1978, minus Pelton (who was replaced on drums by Mike Hammer) and Sake (keyboards were deemed unnecessary for the band's change to a heavier sound), and gained considerable fame on the Sunset Strip. The band was signed to Sire Records; however, a clash between band and record label ensued and the recording contract was terminated before the Rebels could record their debut album. Following some personnel changes (Damage and Hammer left to form the Hammer Damage Band, replaced by Johnny Bethesda and Brandon Matheson, respectively), the Rebels signed a deal with Capitol Records and the eponymous debut album was released in 1980. Although praised by critics, sales of the album never vaulted the band past its underground status. In 1981 a 7Inch follows and the band faded from the scene and ceased touring in 1988, although they never officially disbanded. Despite not touring or recording any new material through the 1990s, the Rebels' reputation and support among fans remained strong and in 2001 the Rebels were back and still alive." So let's enjoy ten superb Ohio crackers and have a great weekend.

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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V/A - A Fresh Selection 1981

A not uninteresting record is this gem from the house Fresh Records, a small label founded by Alex Howe's Wretched Records stall in London's Soho Market in 1978. Bands such as the Art Attacks, Second Layer, UK Decay and Manufactured Romance came to the stall looking for an outlet for their records. The label existed until 1982, at which point it became part of the Jungle Records family. This is Fresh 14 and shows a very cool overview of good bands which were not quite unimportant in the English underground scene and their singles are nowadays rare and still audible. Fourteen goodies, including some classics and a decent mix of new wave and punk.... undiluted, proper, tidy, preppy and of course... fresh!

1.Sorrow - DUMB BLONDES

2.Someone's Crying - CUDDLY TOYS

3.Octopus - THE IGLOOS

4.Savoir Faire - FAMILY FODDER

5.Madman - CUDDLY TOYS

6.All Day And All Of The Night - BERNIE TORME

7.Back In The Night - WILKO JOHNSON

8.Unwind - UK DECAY

9.Time Of My Life - MANUFACTURED ROMANCE

10.Hawaii Five-O - THE DARK

11.Ghetto - THE WALL

12.Earbending - J.C.'s MAINMEN

13.The Young Ones - MENACE

14.Punk Rock Stars - THE ART ATTACKS

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V/A - Hardcore Vol.1 1988

This nice litte compilation was released via Starving Missile and one more Volume 1 of which there is no second, as so often. Mostly German bands present plus two from immediate neighborhood. Twelve, partly only here, solid punkies with the two, for me ingenious EA80 songs, especially Drums Over London which kicks in the original version is awesome. But even the other bands contribute to a not boring listening pleasure, no fillers on board and a top record, 1000 copies exist.

1.Machine Gun - ARTLESS

2.The Common Man - ARTLESS

3.Drums Over London - EA80

4.Straße Nach Nirgendwo - AIDSCATS

5.Kein Anlass Zur Romantik - AIDSCATS

6.Search & Destroy - K.G.B.

7.Woman - CROWD OF ISOLATED

8.Run 'Til Death - CROWD OF ISOLATED

9.Ostsee - EA80

10.Schokolade & Schläge - BOSKOPS

11.Videot - BOSKOPS

12.Rudolf Hess - DREAM POLICE

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V/A - SUB 1983

Fantastic Brazilian Hardcore/Punk compilation from Estúdios Vermelhos with four bands, each six songs. Unfortunately I don't have the original record (red vinyl and numbered) but who cares and this album is always worth a post; musically, you know what's going on. Ratos De Porão and Cólera are common, both released numerous albums and exist partially today, Psykóze were briefly active from 1983 to 1985 and scattered some samplersongs in the air and Fogo Cruzado from São Paulo released their first album in 1997. I need a coffee, then a shower and welcome Wednesday.

1.Parasita - RATOS DE PORÃRO

2.Vida Ruim - RATOS DE PORÃRO

3.Poluição Atômica - RATOS DE PORÃRO

4.X.O.T. - CÓLERA

5.Bloqueio Mental - CÓLERA

6.Quanto Vale A Libertade? - CÓLERA

7.Terceira Guerra Mundial - PSYKÓZE

8.Buracos Suburbanos - PSYKÓZE

9.Fim Do Mundo - PSYKÓZE

10.Desemprego - FOGO CRUZADO

11.União Entre Punks Do Brasil - FOGO CRUZADO

12.Delinquentes - FOGO CRUZADO

13.Não Podemos Falar - RATOS DE PORÃRO

14.Realidades De Guerra - RATOS DE PORÃRO

15.Porquê? - RATOS DE PORÃRO

16.Histeria - CÓLERA

17.Zero Zero - CÓLERA

18.Sub-Ratos - CÓLERA

19.Vítimas Da Guerra - PSYKÓZE

20.Alienação Do Homem - PSYKÓZE

21.Desilusão - PSYKÓZE

22.Inimizade - FOGO CRUZADO

23.Punk Inglês - FOGO CRUZADO

24.Terceira Guerra - FOGO CRUZADO

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RADIKALKUR & E.M.S. - Erkenne Dich Selbst EP 1998

Another fantastic record from Austria with two nice bands. Radikalskur's political punkrock meets the powerful and emotional HC/Punk of E.M.S. - This split EP was released in co-operation with both bands and Paranoia! Records in an edition of 500 copies! Radikalkur exists since 1996 and were formed by some classmates. Their first demo "Willkommen In Österreich" was released in 1997 and they're playing powerful Deutsch-Punk at that time, pretty much mid-tempo with nice melodies and clear lyrics, the way 18-years buddys see their ooh-so-evil world. Their 2nd demo "Irgendwann Sicher" came out in 1998 (more political aggressive lyrics). Three of those four songs were used for the split EP with E.M.S. (Ego Means Survival). This was their first step out of the rehearsing room into the D.I.Y. world and they're still active. E.M.S. exists from 1993 - 2002, originally a high school band that played melodic punk rock and covers and under the name "Eat My Shorts" they released two tapes. They changed their initials 1998 in "Ego Means Survival" and their style and music got much harder and they released this split EP with Radikalkur (Vienna). With anarchic lyrics, their D.I.Y. operation and musical idiosyncrasies get well known in the anarcho-punk scene and Autonomous/Gegenkultur movement in Austria & Germany. The german lyrics sometimes let you think of punk-rock as well, but the music is plainly more like melodic-hardcore-punk. E.M.S. quite often playing in front of people who weren’t in any scene at all. And so they reached totally another audience than most of the punk-/hardcore-bands did, which played in front of the same crowd all the time. Overall, they played more than 100 concerts, especially in squats and autonomous centers in Austria & Germany and the neighboring countries. In 2002, the band broke up.

- Special Thx to Reinhard -

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NISSES NÖTTER - Hammerhill Holocaust '83-'85

I'm ready for KARIES and FRONT in Wiesbaden and I'm in a hurry so a quick post and a yummy Hardcore Attack. This band had no official release and I wonder why because they're damn good. Nisses Nötter was a punkband from the suburb Hammarkullen in Gothenburg. Hansi Baumgartner (guitar), Nico Bergling (vocals), Tommie Liekola (bass) and Hans Wilholm (drums) started to play together in 1983. They made a cassette for Äggtapes called "Knäckta Nötter" in 1984. They made lots of gigs in Gothenburg and became famous mostly for their young age =11-12 year old punkrockers! And their gang: HK-Punks. Paul Vahala replaced Tommie as bass player in 1985. A few gigs were made and then the band went seperate ways. Nisses Nötter became The Nuts in 1986. In 2006 Nisses Nötter were regenerated, new songs were made and the band is out for gigs. Maybe their first record will come out, who knows. In 2008 the American label Farmhouse records released this superb compilation with all their recordings, some live stuff. A brilliant documentation plus a great artwork with lots of pictures, all lyrics and a short biography. "Punx not dead, we're only a bit older." All is said, haut rein boys!

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LEATHERFACE & JAWBOX - Your Choice Live Series 1994

The "Your Choice Live Series", every gourmet knows about these great live recordings and all releases are recorded in a high brilliant quality. Since 1988 this serie is alive and a lot of cool records were released. On this piece of orange vinyl we have two bands I would not use more words to describe them, Leatherface are known to everyone and I think Jawbox as well. Nothin' more to say, except I like the A-side more because Sunderland's punkrocker are one of my favourites and all albums are milestones. Marylands Jawbox isn't bad but the music's not mine. This record was released with two inserts, a further point for the label. And now: enjoy the record and this sweeping live sound.

Eagle/Not Superstitious/Speak In Tounges/Books/Pale Moonlight/Hops & Barley/I Can't Help Falling In Love/FF=66/Green Glass/Tongues/Chinese Fork Tie/Chicago Piano/Motorist

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