Various – Welcome To Norwich - A Fine City [LP] (1981, Romans In Britain Records)

Norwich is a city and district of Norfolk, England, of which it is the county town. Norwich is by the River Wensum, about 100 miles (160 km) north-east of London, 40 miles (64 km) north of Ipswich and 65 miles (105 km) east of Peterborough. As the seat of the See of Norwich, with one of the country's largest medieval cathedrals, it is the largest city in East Anglia. 

 

Norwich has a thriving music scene based around local venues such as the University of East Anglia LCR, Norwich Arts Centre, The Waterfront and Epic Studios. Live music, mostly contemporary musical genres, is also to be heard at a number of other public house and club venues around the city. The city is host to many artists that have achieved national and international recognition such as Cord, The Kabeedies, Serious Drinking, Tim Bowness, Sennen, Magoo, Let's Eat Grandma and KaitO (featuring Nik Void, later of Factory Floor).

 

 'Welcome To Norwich' is one of the best new-wave indie compilations of it's time. Norwich, for some reason, had an unfeasibly large and diverse alternative music scene throughout the 80s, as this record is testament to. A cult classic - 987 copies pressed- and criminally undervalued album featuring bands such The Happy Few, The Higsons, the post-punk and alternative band Screen 3, The Mohair Twins, The Panic Parade, The Clynics, and the post-punk Capitalist Music.

 

Label: Romans In Britain Records – NERO 1 

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album 

Country: UK 

Released: 1981 

Style: New Wave, Post-Punk 

 

Tracklist: 

A1 The Happy Few – Plan 9 From Outer Space 

A2 The Higsons – My Love Is Bent (At Both Ends) 

A3 Screen 3 – Live And Learn 

A4 The Mohair Twins – Railway Sex 

A5 The Panic Parade – Little Games 

A6 The Clynics – Learning To Smile 

A7 Capitalist Music – Jane's Gone To France 

B1 Screen 3 – Shades Of Black 

B2 The Clynics – Eastern Exercise 

B3 The Mohair Twins – Five Hawaiian Bullets 

B4 The Happy Few – Ultimate Sanction 

B5 The Panic Parade – Blue Light Brigade 

B6 The Higsons – We Will Never Grow Old 

B7 Capitalist Music – Do You Really Love That Girl 

 

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Y Create – Music From The White House Vol.1 (Y Create) [Cass] (1986, Exart)

Y Create is the solo moniker of Hessel Veldman, but was also used to refer to a changing group of musicians connected to Exart. A lot of their improvisations and compositions were recorded and several were released on the label. Apart from Veldman, musicians appearing on these sessions include Nick Nicole, Kees Beukelaar, Herman Te Loo, Jos van Ommen, Kees van Ede, Willem De Ridder, Jos Van Duijne, Peter Cornelissen and Gert-Jan Prins. 

 

Born 1961 in Ijmuiden, Netherlands, Gert-Jan Prins has been known for twenty years as one of the most challenging Dutch sound artists and established himself as one of the central performers on European improvised electronics scene. His unique self-developed live-electronics make use of radio and transmitter technology and create sounds with great physical energy. 

 

Starting off as a rock drummer, Prins continued as an improviser, later re-emerging as a master of self-made electronic machines in the mid-90's. He focuses on percussive and environmental noise creating a music that's characterized by pure rawness in volume and sound, but also utilizing subtlety in color through specific use of scraping, rasping and other noise sounds. 

 

Besides being one of The Vacuum Boys, he also released a number of solo and collaborative albums with Cor Fuhler, Domenico Sciajno, Tomas Korber, Anla Courtis and others on GROB, Erstwhile Records, Editions Mego and other highly acclaimed labels. He was also a co-founder of X-OR label in 1990, which ten year later went on without him, led by Luc Houtkamp and Wiek Hijmans. Prins had a number of projects with fellow artists, including E-RAX (with Thomas Lehn and Peter van Bergen), The Flirts (with Cor Fuhler) and others. G-J Prins also played with Lee Ranaldo, Peter Rehberg, Fennesz, Anne La Berge, Misha Mengelberg and Luc Houtkamp, as well as being a member of MIMEO ensemble. 

 

Label: Exart – EXART 024, Exart – EA 024 

Series: Music From The White House – Vol.1 

Format: Cassette, C60 

Country: Netherlands 

Released: 1986 

Style: Experimental, Minimal 

 

Tracklist: 

A1 Gert Jan Prins – Urlo 

A2 Peter Cornelissen – 1.1.86 

A3 Kees Beukelaar – Air Lock 

A4 Bart Broek – Helium 

A5 Hessel Veldman – Wrong Tape 

A6 Herman Te Loo – Radio Surfing 

B7 Ruud Junge – Kein Zweifel 

B8 Jos Van Duyne – Infidelity 

B9 Gert Jan Prins, Peter Cornelissen, Kees Beukelaar, Bart Broek, Hessel Veldman, Herman Te Loo, Ruud Junge, Jos Van Duyne – Music From The White Theatre 

 

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X Ray Z – Poor Image [7''] (1977, Mushroom)

 

X-Ray-Z is recognized as one of Australia's pioneering new wave outfits. The band had its roots in Adelaide pub band Rufus Red, but sensing a change in the musical climate the band adopted a 'poor image', renamed themselves X-Ray-Z and moved to Melbourne in early 1977. Here they set about establishing an identity on the inner city pub circuit. The first single put out by X-Ray-Z in 1978 had three songs, "Poor Image", "Sledgehammer Hit" and "Citizen John".

 

In early 1978, X-Ray-Z had signed to Suicide Records and contributed "Three More Glorious Years" (vintage diatribe against the Fraser Government) and "Valium" to the 'Lethal Weapons' album (1978). By the end of 1978 X-Ray-Z had mutated into Popgun Men. [SOURCE: PUNK JOURNEY] 

 

Label: Mushroom – K-6951 

Format: Vinyl, 7", Single, 45 RPM 

Country: Australia 

Released: 1977 

Style: Punk 

 

Tracklist: 

A Poor Image 3:21 

B1 Sledgehammer Hit 3:29 

B2 Citizen John 3:33 

 

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What Is This – What Is This [LP] (1985, MCA Records)

 

What Is This (known prior to 1980 as Anthym) was an American rock band that originated in Fairfax High School in California. Formed by guitarist Hillel Slovak, drummer Jack Irons, vocalist Alain Johannes, and bassist Todd Strassman, the band served as the nucleus for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Members of the band would go on to perform with Eleven, Chris Cornell, Pearl Jam, Mark Lanegan, Them Crooked Vultures, Alain Johannes Trio and Queens of the Stone Age. 

 

This, their only full album (they also released two EP's) has a frantic admixture of rock, funk and soul -not surprising considering the involvement of two of the founding members of RHCP, Jack Irons (drums) and Hillel Slovak (second guitar). Lead songwriter Alain Johannes (guitar and vocals) is addressing "Whisper (to Natasha)" to his longtime love and musical partner, Natasha Shneider, whom he met in this time period; while "I'll be Around" is a fine cover of the hit by The Spinners. [SOURCE: ALLMUSIC]

 

 

Label: MCA Records – MCA-5598 

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album

Country: US 

Released: 1985 

Style: Alternative Rock, Funk Rock, Pop Rock, New Wave

 

Tracklist: 

A1 Dreams Of Heaven 3:34 

A2 Big Raft 3:32 

A3 Chasing Your Ghost 3:27 

A4 Whisper (To Natasha) 3:44 

A5 Stuck 3:15 

B1 I'll Be Around 3:50 

B2 Touch The Flame 3:26 

B3 Wool Over My Eyes 2:30 

B4 Waves In The Sand 3:45 

B5 Breathing 2:26 

 

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Virgin Dance – Against The Tide [LP] (1985, Spartan Records)

 

Virgin Dance was a nu pop - post punk band formed in Liverpool in 1983. They released four singles in 1983 - 1984 and then they disbanded. Their only permanent members were Edwin Hind (vocals), ex-Modern Eon drummer Cliff Hewitt and Kenny Duggan (guitar). Keyboardist Dave Knowles left after their debut single to join Here's Johnny and was replaced by Dixie and bassist Graham McMaster was replaced by Bernie Putt after their debut single and the latter was replaced by Barry Cowell. 

 

 

Label: Spartan Records – SPMP 102 

Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation 

Country: UK 

Released: 1985

Style: New Wave, Synth-pop 

 

Tracklist: 

A1 Are You Ready (For That Feeling)? 

A2 Rainy Days 

A3 Make Love 

A4 The Dream Is Over (We Can Make It) (Megamix) 

A5 Against The Tide 

B1 Desire 

B2 Night Call 

B3 No Disguise 

B4 Farewell Claire 

B5 The Dream Is Over (We Can Make It) 

 

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Urge – Bobby [7''] (1980, Cönsumer Disk, Arista)

The Urge were a Post-punk experimental band from Coventry, formed in 1978. Members were Dave Wankling (vocals), Kevin Harrison (guitar, synthesizer), Lynda "Wulf" Harrison (vocals), John Westacott (bass, 1978-80), Nigel Mulvey (bass, 1980-?), Billy Little (drums), Rich Medlock (drums), Dennis Burns (keyboards), John Shipley (guitar) and Pete Jordan (saxophone).

 

 

Label: Cönsumer Disk – none, Arista – ARIST 382 

Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single 

Country: UK 

Released: 1980 

Style: New Wave, Punk, Post-Punk, Minimal Wave

 

Tracklist: 

A Bobby 3:05 

B Teach Yourself Dutch 4:30 

 

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True Confessions – True Confessions [LP] (1980, Bomb Records)

 

True Confessions were a femme rock band that became quite popular on Toronto's Queen Street circuit. Features future Jane Siberry/Drastic Measures bassist Bryant Didier and former Diodes drummer John Hamilton.They released a single on Bomb Records in 1979, and after several line-up changes they managed a self-titled album which was produced by Greg Warren. 

 

Label: Bomb Records – 7033 

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album 

Country: Canada 

Released: 1980 

Style: New Wave, Pop Rock 

 

Tracklist: 

A1 Yes It's True 

A2 4th Base 

A3 26264 

A4 He's A Liar 

A5 Don't Go To Work On Me 

B1 Mating Games 

B2 7-11 Heaven 

B3 Modern Girl 

B4 Smokeys Gonna Twist 

B5 Modern Personality 

B6 Passion 

 

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Skartrack – Freiheitsgeschmack [7''] (1980, Not On Label)

Skartrack formed in Mainz, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany by Joachim Pense [aka LLL], Joachim Stender and Ralf Wehowsky, at the same time members of bands such Kurzschluss, P.D., Permutative Distorsion, SLP and P16.D4. This single was released without a cover. The label copy just calls this "Freiheitsgeschmack" without listing further info about the versions or durations. Edition of 6000 copies: 5000 copies came with a political magazine and 1000 copies were distributed by the band without a cover. 

 

 

Label: Not On Label (P.D. Self-released) – none 

Format: Flexi-disc, 7", 33 ⅓ RPM 

Country: Germany 

Released: Oct 1980 

Style: Experimental, Minimal, Ska, Post-Punk, Minimal Wave

 

Tracklist:

A Freiheitsgeschmack 3:28 

B Freiheitsgeschmack 6:38 

 

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Randy Greif – Bacteria And Gravity [LP] (1987, RRRecords)

Since the mid 1970's, Randy Greif has been pushing the boundaries of auditory arts, often incorporating electronic, computer and concrete music with spoken word, "sound theater", and field recordings. Location recordings in places such as Amazonia, New Guinea, and Thailand have found their way, often manipulated, into some of Greif's music, branding it as "tribal" electronics. Trademark styles are dense layers of atmospherics, cut-up vocals, and shifting minimal rhythms. "Dark" and "hallucinatory" are often used to describe the overall tone of his work. 

 

Label: RRRecords – RRR-044 

Format: Vinyl, LP 

Country: US 

Released: 1987 

Style: Industrial, Experimental, Dark Ambient, Tribal Ambient, Sound Collage

 

Tracklist:

A1 The Age Of Epilepsy 

A2 Their Way Of Dreaming 

A3 Closet Of Dark Clouds 

A4 Goodbye, My Friends 

Gravity 

B1a Evaporation 

B1b Rain 

B1c Pushing At The Envelope 

B1d Mud, And Below 

 

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Peter Westheimer – Move [LP] (1985, Alligator Records)

Peter Westheimer presents music to inspire, travel, laugh, feel, reflect, dance, enjoy and sees music as an agent of change. He covers genres ranging from World, Electronic, Dance, Asian/Middle Eastern House, Ambient, Neoclassical and original film music soundtracks. His music has been described as "cool and clear, warm and inviting, phenomenal, intertwining musical textures and rhythms, quirky and inventive, exciting and intriguing".  

 

Peter Westheimer's musical journey since 1982 includes releasing 6 music albums, video clips and composing music for two feature films, many television documentaries and multimedia installations. 'Laminex Lovers' (1982), his first record release, is still receiving acclaim as one of Australia's cutting edge synth pop records. The clip to "Move", the title track of the 1985 album was acclaimed as a top 10 video clip that year. 

 

Peter Westheimer grew up in Melbourne Australia and as a 4 year old was 'excited' by 'Music for the People' orchestral concerts in the Fitzroy Gardens. He went on to play violin from age 7 to 19 and in 1967 became leader of the Victorian Junior Symphony Orchestra and violinist in the Australian Youth Orchestra. Then came an 'epiphany' of moving far away from the musical and social confines of the classical music scene to lots of improvisation with other musicians as well as acting and writing with progressive theatre groups. This morphed into playing electric guitar, keyboards, synthesizer, sitar and flute, writing songs, singing and playing in bands in the late 70's and early 1980's after which began his recording career. [SOURCE: PETER WESTHEIMER MUSIC]

 

 

Label: Alligator Records – PW 02 

Format: Vinyl, LP 

Country: Australia 

Released: 1985 

Style: Synth-pop, Minimal, Minimal Synth. Minimal Wave, Progressive Electronic, New Wave

 

Tracklist: 

A1 Move 

A2 Elastic Smiles 

A3 Exotic Escape 

A4 Options 

A5 Air Conditioned 

A6 Cool Change 

B1 Give And Take 

B2 Change The Change 

B3 Under The Influence 

B4 Walking On The Edge 

B5 Metal Madness 

B6 Cello And The Digital Revolution 

 

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Of A Mesh – Of A Mesh [12''] (1986, Black Afternoon Records)

 

New York City's most famous dark rock band of the 1980s, Of a Mesh featured the dramatic crooning of singer Alan Dollgener duetting with Samara Lubelski's haunting violin atop a claustrophobic cobweb of sound. Formed in 1983 and disbanded in 1988, other members were Ellen Watkins (guitar, and played keyboard on one Glenn Branca piece), Gregory Kostroff (bass), Osamu (drums) and Michael Goglia (drums, member also of bands such as Ritual Tension and The Fuzztones). 

 

Samara Lubelski is a singer, songwriter, multi instrumentalist (violinist, guitarist and bassist) improviser and engineer. She has been a member of numerous bands, besides of Of a Mesh, of The Salmon Skin, Pacer, The Sonora Pine, Hall of Fame, The Tower Recordings, Metal Mountains and Chelsea Light Moving. Lubelski is a prolific guest musician, performing (predominantly on violin and occasionally on bass) on dozens of recordings by artists such as The Fiery Furnaces, White Magic, Thurston Moore, God Is My Co-Pilot, Jackie-O Motherfucker, Sightings and MV & EE. 

 

Label: Black Afternoon Records – BA 2167 

Format: Vinyl, EP, 12" 

Country: US 

Released: 1986 

Style: Goth Rock, Deathrock, Experimental, Art Rock 

 

Tracklist: 

A Burning Bride 

B1 Crazy House 

B2 Candy (Is An Axe Now) 

 

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The Nips – Only The End Of The Beginning [LP] (1980, Soho Records)

The Nips are an English punk rock band formed in London in 1976 as The Nipple Erectors by punk artist Shanne Bradley and are notable as having been Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan's first musical group after Shanne auditioned him in her bedsit by The Arsenal Football Club.

 

Initially consisting of Shane MacGowan (known at the time as ''Shane O'Hooligan''), bassist Shanne Bradley, guitarist Roger Towndrow and drummer Adrian Fox (aka "Arcane Vendetta"), The Nipple Erectors performed their first gig at The Roxy Club in Covent Garden in 1977. The band later released four singles and there was one bootleg live album between 1978 and 1981. Inspired by The Stooges, The Nipple Erectors incorporated elements of rockabilly and 1960s garage rock into their music. 

 

Following the release of their first single, 'King of the Bop / Nervous Wreck' in June 1978, on Soho Records, the band renamed themselves The Nips and released the garage punk song 'All The Time in the World / Private Eye' with Phil Rowland of Eater on drums. By May 1979, the band's line up had changed to include Gavin "Fritz" Douglas, on guitar. 'Gabrielle' was released in November 1979, first on Soho Records, and then reissued on Chiswick Records. with John ("Grinny") Grinton (ex-Skrewdriver) on drums. By the time of its release, Grinny had been replaced by Roger Travis Williams. Gavin Douglas' guitar playing on this record marked a change in the band's sound to a more melodic style. The live album, 'Only the End of the Beginning' was released on Soho Records in 1980, from a recording made whilst on tour with The Purple Hearts. [SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA]

 

 

Label: Soho Records – HOHO 001 

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album

Country: UK 

Released: 1980 

Style: Punk, Mod, Punk Rock, Rockabilly, Power Pop, Pub Rock

 

Tracklist: 

Start 

A1 I Love To Make You Cry 

A2 Vengeance 

A3 Gabrielle 

A4 King Of The Bop 

A5 Ghostown 

A6 Fuss 'N' Bother 

A7 Venus In Bother Boots 

Stop 

B1 Happy Song 

B2 Stupid Cow 

B3 I Don't Want Nobody To Love 

B4 Infatuation 

B5 Maida Ada 

B6 Hit Parade 

B7 Can't Say No 

 

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