TAUGADEILDIN - s/t EP 1981

Now a rare piece from the far north of Europe by Taugadeildin. One of those bands that managed to release an EP during the punk & new wave hype around the early Eighties, but they didn't exist for long like many other bands of that era.

Formed originally as duet when bassist Árni and singer Óskar began playing music together with help by a drummer in autumn of 1980, but soon guitarist Arnór (Fræbbblarnir) joined them. Arnór was then replaced by Óðinn and Þorsteinn also joined the band as Keyboarder plus Kormákur (drums) and new singer Egill. Their music is a kind of late post-punk mixed with punk roots and a fuckin' journalist defined them as ska band, you guess its members didn't want to know more, this stupid fool. In spring 1981, Taugadeildin recorded this four track EP, released via Fálkinn (in small editions), and it shows the very strong playing and good beats of the four and the record received mostly positive feedback. They performed at the music festival "Another Sound In The Drum", which was held during summer, in addition to being one of the bands who were opener for the British band Any Trouble. The lifespan of Taugadeildin comes to an end, and by the time the record was finally released in autumn after some delays, they retired. These days the record is as rare as solid honest politics and a great collector's item. The music of the Neurology Clinic have been forgotten a little. Her Longing (which was their most well-known goodie) was released on the Northern Light Playhouse compilation, also released via Fálkinn in 1981 (shortly after the band's release) and was supposed to promote Icelandic new wave & punk music abroad, and two songs became later a place on two tapes (Pönksafn) by Erðanúmúsik and a worthy tribute on Bloodstains Across The World #4. Four magical songs remain at the end and the slab can be purchased for a mere € 600, a real bargain!

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ARTICLES OF FAITH - Give Thanks 1984

Door #8: debut album on Reflex Records by this awesome combo, Articles Of Faith (1981-1985) which decisively shaped the hardcore scene of the city and was one of the oldest & most important bands of the Chicago punk scene. Originally they went by the name "Direct Drive," but changed over to AOF. Fronted by Vic (vocals(guitar), Dorian & Joe (guitars), Dave (bass), Virus X (drums), the scope of AOF's impact went beyond musical boundries. They might have been the first true hardcore band in this city and were instumental in promoting and organizing shows. Specifically, they were responsible for organizing the shows at the Centro-American Social Club (CASC). 1982 they released their first highlight What We Want Is Free EP with four blasts. They rented out the space, booked and promoted the shows. They even put up the out of town bands and provided a hang-out spot at their house which was lovingly called, "Big Blue." They played their final show in July 1985 at the Cubby Bear. The band reunited in 1991 for a European tour which resulted in the release of a live album through Germany's Your Choice Live Series Records. They reunited again in 2010 for some shows in Chicago, including Riot Fest. That same year they released a 12" EP of new material. - Their debut has ten goodies and is a catchy mix of intense crackers to melodic reflections and the five are gladly seen on numerous essential compilations.

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THE COSMETICS - s/t 10'' + Demo 1979 [2019]

The Cosmetics were a five piece from San Francisco, founded in 1979 by Terri (vocals), Jimmy (vocals/guitar), Cliff (guitar), David (bass) & Jane (drums) and they began to start playing alot of gigs in the Bay Area, mostly as opener for well-known like Black Flag or Agent Orange (which I would have liked to experience). In 1980 they released their only record via Doolang Records with five high energy harsh tracks for your sensitive ears. This classic was reissued with their 1979 Demo recordings, which didn't make it onto the record, by PukeNVomit Records, 100 copies in blue, 400 in black vinyl. Their music shine with the excellent two part female-male vocal harmony & interchanges and has a real hit with "Twinkie Madness", who has a guest appearance on the fantastic Killed By Death #8½ compilation, one of their rare compi invitations. Great Stuff!!

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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DOCENT DÖD - Tusen Heta Kyssar Från Docent Död 1981

Long, extensive celebrations require long periods of regeneration, hence the next post to Nikolaus with the third album by Docent Död, originally formed as Docenterna in Sollentuna outside Stockholm 1977 by Joppe (vocals/guitar), Peé (guitar), Larry (bass), Kricke (drums). Together with Mats Olofsson, they formed Docent Död. On their penultimate album, with twelve songs, they once again create an interesting mixture of pop, rock and a bit of punk, all are pleasant to hear. Packed in a very nice child-friendly cover with high standards. Check their other records and draw your own picture.

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IDEAL - s/t LP 1980

Even if Annette says these are not punk pieces, in my opinion this is a gross understatement. Because what the band delivered with their debut is extremely powerful and impressively plays some punk albums of the early Eighties on the wall. Remarkable F.J.'s guitar playing which is recorded as unprecedentedly scruffy as I love it, plus great lyrics, hectic rhythms and astonishing variability. This album is an absolutely timeless gem and a real masterpiece. Annette (vocals/keys), F.J. Krüger (guitars), Ernst (bass), Hansi (drums): four musicians from Berlin came together in spring of 1980, when hardly anyone was talking about a "New German Wave". When they parted in April 1983, this wave had already ebbed and splashed along in dreary Schlager monotony. Ideal's musical life was comparatively quick and short. But it was honest. Or with Hansi's favorite saying: "Only the pure material is tolerated." Also against each other. Each of the four could have said it like Annette in one of her texts: "Alone In My Skin." But, what Ideal was, no one could have done alone. Released via Innovative Communication and only real at 45 RPM. Enjoy!

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PARANOIA - 1984 [2020]

Now a DDR legend from Dresden with old original recordings and for the first time on vinyl! Paranoia was founded in Dresden in 1982 and consisted of Fleck (vocals), Olaf (guitars), Jörg (bass), Oliver (drums) and quickly became the focus of the small underground scene in Dresden and played concerts throughout the GDR. The group maintained contact with the west punkscene through fanzines and letters. In December 1984 they recorded the Here We Are for Everyone Who Needs A Cult Band tape and a friend from Bremen spread the demo in her city. One copy also came to Weird System, but they refused to sell the sixty minute tape due to the quality of the sound. Further demos and live recordings were made, which were distributed in the GDR scene via tape trading. 

In 1948 George Orwell completed his novel "1984". An impressive work, which is fascinating and frighteningly outlines the emergence of a totalitarian state structure. The sole ruler rules omnipresent "Big Brother" through total surveillance, manipulation, disinformation, monopoly on force & true to its proclamations: War means peace, freedom is slavery, ignorance is strength. Orwell's novel had a long history in what was then the GDR oppressive reflection found in reality.  Conditions as described by Orwell half a century ago long before the era of the so-called "other bands" were the breeding ground for bands like Namenlos, Schleim-Keim or Paranoia. These groups radically expose theirs of anger, dissatisfaction and a hopeless message was transformed into rough and unpolished punk music with the same texts. Things were called by their name in an unadorned and uncompromising way. Soon followed by fines for appearing without permission to play and an operational process by the Stasi, which took place in 1985 the imprisonment of two band members led to the "smashing of the illegal band Paranoia". Some members then founded the band Kaltfront, whose repertoire still includes some Paranoia songs.

"From the original tapes were seventeen best pieces selected and re-mastered and released in 2007, of course in an authentic and usable sound (not for high-tech cyberpunx). The album title "1984" consciously connects the band biography with Orwell's novel, and unfortunately that makes more sense today than ever."

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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THE FREEZE - Five Way Fury 1992

Earlier posts confirm that The Freeze are a fantastic live band and how do I know? I'VE SEEN THEM LIVE! - Five Way Fury was recorded during their European tour in 1991 (released via Lost And Found Records), and shows one more their powerful and excellent performance on stage and since 1979 is the Cape Cod combo tirelessly active. I have found an interesting biography that I don't want to withhold from you, click on punkclobe and read it yourself. Nineteen great ass kickers, including a lot of hits, how I'm used to know from them. Talented musicians, trying to survive in an elegant sweaty, smelly atmosphere. You get thirsty and stumble to the counter and, visibly exhausted, order a cool, fresh drink, because it is already after twelve o'clock, according to the disinfection-dictation-device-act the third beer can be enjoyed. Refreshed and strengthened, you return to the cheering crowd, dive in again, and enjoy the evening in full colours... Geddit?!

Sacrifice Not Suicide/No One's Coming Home/Nothing Left/Freeway To Fire/Warped Confessional/D.E.A./It's Only Alcohol/End Coming/Time Bomb/Boston Not L.A./Violent Arrest/Trouble If You Hide/American Town/Forced Vacation/Go Team Go/Broken Bones/Sickly Sweet/Insanity/Refrigerator Heaven

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THE SEIZE - Cross Channel Buffoon 12'' 1989

After three very good singles, the Seize said farewell with this record, a mini-album from 1989, which came out via their own label Why Not? Records. Six (not so punky) pieces, more Powerpop I would say and it's almost a little too poppy for me but that's a matter of taste, are on it and 500 copies of this last testament were pressed and that's reason enough to post it. A few basics: The Seize was a four piece from the small town of Reading on the Kenneth River, and there isn't much infos about the guys. Main driving force was the singer and part-time bassist Colin, while the rest of the members changed regularly. The boys began their thorny musical path in late 1979, and after ten years they broke up. And tomorrow is Friday, Cheers!

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V/A - Bored Teenagers Vol.10 2017

December, and behind the first door waits another haul of damn rare punk goodies in the ongoing Bored Teenagers series, and for those who are ignorant up to now I recommend every publication, and as long as you can get the vinyl version, these were mostly limited, get the slab, but if you fail, in this case, the CD heals too (suitable as an exclusive Christmas present, maybe?) - I quote a sweet description for you unfortunate consumers:

Info: "First up we bring you the FEATURES who were another old Roxy Club Punk band from Orpington in Kent. Both tracks have been taken direct of the master acetate that the band had cut in 1978 and pressed up 500 copies on their own Progress label. The next band the INNOCENT BYSTANDERS is a real coup for us as its features six unreleased tracks from this obscure London based band. This is the same band that released "Where Is Johnny" on a split single with the "Debutantes" on the 'ROK' label in 1979. I can't stress to you how good these tracks are.... Full of attitude with sneering vocals and the story behind this band is awesome! Next both goodies are brought to you by VAIN AIMS who are a very obscure Welsh band who only ever did one gig and split but in their very short existence they managed to record and released a single to die for and is so hard to track down as only 500 were pressed. What stands out for me on these two tracks are the vocals and the catchiness of the songs..... I can't believe this record is not on every body’s wants list, I put that down to the fact hardly anyone knows about this release! We then bring you the delights of from this North London based band called FENZYX who were mainly made up of ex members of Demon Preacher and released a sole 7" on the collectable 'Ellie Jay' in a pressing size of just 500 copies again in 1981. The third track from this band is totally unreleased until this day! It is a dub version and very unique. Following on we bring you the rarest UK Punkrock single ever pressed. Yes, the GREAT BRITISH HEROES (aka GBH), both tracks have been taken from their withdrawn Lightning Records release. When this single surfaced a few years ago, ALL the collectors around the world went into total meltdown and were shocked that it was actually pressed, NOT even the band were aware! We now move onto another old favourite of ours as we were the first ones to crack the mystery of Birmingham’s ANTI SOCIAL. Most collectors would of heard these tracks by now but we wanted to share the story behind this band. Plus a third track by this band what was going to be on their second single which never happened. The penultimate band THE PEROID hail from the outskirts of Manchester and were mates of the Buzzcocks. This band started off life in 1976 and did go through a few line up changes but did get their act together enough to enter into a studio. Sadly over the years, the master tape had got lost and these tracks have been salvaged from an old cassette found at the back of a draw. Now onto the band that closes this volume for us are UNDERDOG who were from Harlow in Essex. Not strictly a Punk band as they were on the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal scene but we thought it was a cross over single. Plus both sides of the single are a Full On Attack Of Noise and in the true punk spirit they formed their own label and self financed a run of just 500 copies - another tough record to find! So there you go and enjoy another album filled with rarities & great nuggets!"

Once again a brilliant selection of twenty-four catchy UK Punk Rarities. ENJOY!

1.Drab City - THE FEATURES

2.Job Satisfaction - THE FEATURES

3.(I Wanna Be A) Mercenary - INNOCENT BYSTANDERS

4.Waiting - INNOCENT BYSTANDERS

5.Master Abnormal - INNOCENT BYSTANDERS

6.Abnormal Dub - INNOCENT BYSTANDERS

7.C'mon Everybody - INNOCENT BYSTANDERS

8.I’m Not Your Stepping Stone - INNOCENT BYSTANDERS

9.Fuck You - VAIN AIMS

10.Count - VAIN AIMS

11.Soldiers - THE FENZYX

12.Angels Of Mercy - THE FENZYX

13.Angels Of Mercy (Dub) - THE FENZYX

14.Eric Miller - GREAT BRITISH HEROES

15.Don't Give A Damn - GREAT BRITISH HEROES

16.Traffic Lights - ANTI SOCIAL

17.Teacher, Teacher - ANTI SOCIAL

18.Sun Arise - ANTI SOCIAL

19.We Hate Wigan Casino! - THE PERIOD

20.Seaside Towns - THE PERIOD

21.Don’t Go Swimming On A Period - THE PERIOD

22.I Feel Sick - THE PERIOD

23.Life At 21 - UNDERDOG

24.Blue Water, White Death - UNDERDOG

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EA80 - Grüner Apfel 1995

Seventh album by the most important & best German Punk band from M'gladbach: EA80. Published as a double 10Inch with four varied sides that once again illustrate the diversity and creativity of the band's songwriting. The musical orgasm begins with five fast, loud pieces that express the anger and desperation of the four, played fascinatingly and very contagious. Followed by the typical long melancholy songs for that I love the band, peppered with spicy words and excellent moll melodies. At the end, a colossal fifteen minute symphony that makes clear to you that everything is fleeting and nothing lasts forever. "EA80 remain untouched by everything that happens in modern punk rock and do what they have always done. The result is the radical incorruptibility of one's own aesthetic universe, which is completely beyond the influence of the wrong and the stupid." Grüner Apfel is a dark monumental masterpiece and fits seamlessly into the band's biography as another jewel.

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