Nocturnal Emissions – Shake Those Chains Rattle Those Cages [LP] (1985, Sterile Records)

 

Nocturnal Emissions has been one of the best kept secrets of the industrial genre since the 1970s. Led by Nigel Ayers, the band was one of the first to use tape cutting, avant-garde art, and underground video works to create a stage experience that was being cultivated by like-minded artists like Throbbing Gristle and Cabaret Voltaire. The band moved on to using samplers and electronic noise in their early '80s work, creating a twisted funk sound that would go on to influence everyone from Foetus to Negativland. They still utilized their former tricks, upping the ante with extremist performance art and more professional video displays. The group avoided signing to a major label, instead focusing on releasing their own music more effectively. They followed this path into the '90s when they started www.earthlydelights.co.uk, an incredibly detailed website that promotes their various ideologies (they are strongly against the British monarchy and believe that citizens should have unlimited access to space travel) and constant release schedule. The band has released countless tapes and CDs of their material, and continues to unleash their noise through their website. [SOURCE: ALLMUSIC]

 

Label: Sterile Records – SR9 

Format: Vinyl, LP 

Country: UK 

Released: 1985 

Style: Industrial, Synth-pop, Experimental, Noise

 

Tracklist:

A1 Metal Frames 

A2 Rusting Shells 

A3 In Our Time A4 Effra Barricade 

B1 Let The Bad Times Roll 

B2 Tanks In Gdansk 

B3 Fat Slimey Parasites 

B4 Bring Power To Its Knees 

B5 No Sack (The Meltdown Version) 

 

Notes:

Side A recorded in the studios of the Emission Control during November 1984. 

Side B recorded live at the Ambulance Station, London 24 November 1984. 

 

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Moev – Cracked Mirror [12''] (1981, Noetix)

 

This four song EP was released on the Noetix label. Recorded in the Autumn of 1981 in Vancouver and Kelowna, it was Moev's very first record. The title track is certainly the weakest of the four. Lyrically, full of teenaged angst, one feels like they've been sneaking a peek into a girl's diary. Musically, it doesn't veer too far from Depeche Mode's "Dreaming of Me". The next tune; "2.3" is the strongest of the four and the only one that really moves. Side two starts off with another weak track; "Obituary Column" then picks up a bit with; "M.T.M.T.N.M.E.". Only 200 of these were pressed and half of them were given out to DJs as promos, so they are pretty hard to come by. [SOURCE: RATE YOUR MUSIC] 

 

Label: Noetix – none 

Format: Vinyl, 12", 45 RPM, EP 

Country: Canada 

Released: Oct 1981 

Style: Synth-pop, New Wave, Post-Punk

 

Tracklist:

A1 Cracked Mirror 

A2 2.3 

B1 Obituary Column 

B2 M.T.M.T.N.M.E. 

 

Notes: 

No catalogue number on cover or vinyl. 

Only distributed on the west coast of Canada in very limited quantities. 

The versions of "Cracked Mirror" and "M.T.M.T.N.M.E." differ from those released on 'Rotting Geraniums' and 'Zimmerkampf' 

 

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LaDonna Smith & Davey Williams – Direct Waves [LP] (1980, Trans Museq)

 

LaDonna Smith has performed improvised music internationally since the 1970s as violinist, violist and vocalist, while also teaching music in Birmingham, Alabama. With long-time collaborator, guitarist Davey Williams, Smith has toured North America and Europe, and Russia, appearing at every major improvisation festival, and many new music festivals. The classically trained musician has also performed with such major improvisers as Peter Brotzmann, Anne Lebaron, Derek Bailey and Eugene Chadbourne. In addition to her work as a musician, Smith is co-editor of The Improviser, an international journal of free improvisation, and works as a visual artist, exhibiting her drawings and ceramics in the U.S.

'Direct Waves' (LaDonna Smith, violin, viola, and Davey Williams, electric guitar, banjo, mandolin), is a historic trans museq release from their first Canadian performances and second European Tour. Trans duo perform animated improvisations Alabama style. Side 1 was recorded live on October 12, 1979 at the Urban Institute, Grand Rapids Michigan by Thomas Gaudynski. Side 2 was recorded live at Bruxelles’ Palais de Beaux Arts on May 3, 1980 by Guy Strahle. The back cover photo by Vid Inglevics features the set from the 1978 Ear It Live Festival, at the Music Gallery, Toronto, Canada. [SOURCE: ALLMUSIC]

 
 

 

Label: Trans Museq – transmuseq 5 

Format: Vinyl, LP 

Country: US 

Released: 1980 

Style: Free Improvisation 

 

Tracklist:

A1 Early Balloon Tires 5:48 

A2 Divining 2:32 

A3 Aerial Farm Machinery 4:55 

A4 Silent Observer's Relection 2:58 

B1 Radial Steam Instruments (To Benjamin Peret) 8:14 

B2 Analogous Folk Tale 5:58 

B3 Big Steel Bison 4:55 

 

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Killdozer Featuring Tom Hazelmyer – Short Eyes / Her Mother's Sorrow [7''] (1990, Amphetamine Reptile Records)

 

Killdozer formed in 1983 around vocalist/bassist Michael Gerald, guitarist Bill Hobson, and his drummer brother Dan. After 1989's 'For Ladies Only' -an all-covers collection deconstructing hits ranging from Deep Purple's "Hush" to the James Gang's "Funk #49" to Don McLean's "American Pie"- Bill Hobson left the band on the eve of a European tour, and was replaced by Halo of Flies guitarist (and Amphetamine Reptile label chief) Tom Hazelmyer. Hobson later re-joined the group, but again exited in the midst of recording a never-completed LP. This single is a gorgeous, fleeting glimpse into an alternative world as Tom Hazelmyer steps in for the departing Bill Hobson and Killdozer knock two songs out of the park that combine the relentless Killdozer assault with an extra dollop of melody. The hooks here are all-consuming; Hazelmyer's low-end shredding during "Her Mothers's Sorrow" is a goddamn delight. [SOURCE: DISCOGS]

 

Label: Amphetamine Reptile Records – SCALE 24 

Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single 

Country: US 

Released: 1990 

Style: Noise, Noise Rock, Post-Hardcore

 

Tracklist:

A Short Eyes 3:28 

B Her Mother's Sorrow 2:36 

 

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John Dowie – Another Close Shave [7''] (1977, Virgin)

 

John Dowie (born 3 August 1950 in Birmingham) is a British comedian, musician and writer, often viewed as a pioneer of alternative comedy. He began performing stand-up comedy in 1969. 

 

Described as an "idiosyncratic original" and "lone pioneer", Dowie's "arthouse proto-alternative" work mixed parody, fantasy, impersonations and taboo topics. His innovative comic style led him to being seen by many comedians that followed such as Alexei Sayle, Tony Allen, Mark Steel, and Jeremy Hardy as a precursor to the alternative comedy wave that arrived a few years later. In particular, Dowie was credited with establishing observational humour as part of the new movement. In 1977 he toured with and influenced another alternative pioneer Victoria Wood. As well as writing songs and sketches with her, he is credited with helping her to develop her future trademark patter between songs.

 

Dowie was among the inaugural acts on Tony Wilson's Factory Records label. In 1978 he contributed three comedic songs to the first Factory music release, 'A Factory Sample', along with Joy Division, The Durutti Column, and Cabaret Voltaire. However his best remembered song remains the satirical "British Tourist (I Hate the Dutch)" from his debut EP 'Another Close Shave', issued by Virgin in 1977. [SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA]

 

 

Label: Virgin – VEP 1004 

Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, EP 

Country: UK 

Released: 1977 

Style: Punk, Pub Rock, Comedy, Novelty

 

Tracklist:

A1 British Tourist 

A2 Naked Noolies In The Moonlight 

A3 I Don't Want To Be Your Amputee 

B1 Mew Wave 

B2 Jim Callaghan 

B3 Time Warp 

 

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Indiscreet Music – Dubious Collaberations (1979, Object Music)

 

Totally off the wall album, and easily the most experimental release on Object Music. A collage of taped fragments encompassing folk, blues, jazz, field recordings and pure noise. Like a lo-fi 'Faust Tapes' minus the songs or the rock element, glued together with clunky cassette pause-button edits. An acquired taste, but excellent, bizarre stuff. [SOURCE: DISCOGS]

 

 

Label: Object Music – OBJ 002 

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition 

Country: UK 

Released: 1979 

Style: Avantgarde, Lo-Fi, Experimental 

 

Tracklist:

A1 Section 1 : Solamar : Tape Recorder . Manchester 1976 

A2 Section 2 : Gribble : Violin ; Solamar : Mandolin . Ludlow 1975 

A3 Section 3 : Solamar : Copycat . Manchester 1975 

A4 Section 4 : Gribble : Guitar ; Solamar : Harmonica . Manchester 1975 

A5 Section 4 : Solamar : Guitar, Copycat & Practice Amp . Manchester 1975 

A6 Section 6 : Solamar : Piano & Harmonica; Miro : Guitar; Fruhstuck : Percussion; Maidstone 1974 

A7 Section 7 : Gribble : Guitar ; Solamar : Harmonica. Manchester 1975 

A8 Section 8 : Gribble : Guitar ; Solamar : Harmonica. Manchester 1975 

A9 Section 9 : - Manchester 1975 

A10 Section 10 : Solamar : Harmonica & Cistern. Manchester 1975 

B1 Section 1 : Solamar : Copycat. Manchester 1975 

B2 Section 2 : Gribble : Violin; Miro : Mandolin & Vocal; Solamar : Harmonica Fruhstuck & Keith Davis : Guitar & Vocal. Maidstone 1975 

B3 Section 3 : - Chester 1976 

B4 Section 4 : Gribble : Violin ; Miro : Guitar ; Solamar : Harmonica. Maidstone 1975 

B5 Section 5 : Solamar : Jawharp & Bathroom. Manchester 1975 

B6 Section 6 : Solamar : Guitar & Copycat. Manchester 1975 

B7 Section 7 : Fruhstuck : Phone-Fiddle ; Miro : Guitar ; Solamar : Piano & Harmonica. Maidstone 1974 

B8 Section 8 : Gribble : Guitar ; Solamar : Harmonica & Copycat. Manchester 1975 

B9 Section 9 : Gribble : Lead Guitar ; Solamar : Slide Guitar ; Robinson : Drums Manchester 1975 

B10 Section 10 : Miro & Solamar : Piano. Manchester 1975 

B11 Section 11 : Miro : Harmonium ; Fruhstuck : Piano ; Solamar : Violin Maidstone 1974 

B12 Section 12 : Miro : Piano ; Fruhstuck : Violin ; Solamar : Harmonium Maidstone 1974 

B13 Section 13 : Solamar : Jawharp. Gosport 1971 (Engineer : Chris Pearce) 

B14 Section 14 : Gribble : Violin ; Solamar : Mandolin. Ludlow 1975 

 

Notes:

500 copies. Label press release stated: "A collage of improvisations full frequency claustrophobic sound." Salvaged and edited at Graveyard Sounds, Prestwich, from rough tapes and cassettes. 

 

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Hiroshima Chair and Culturcide – Reset [LP] (1981, Dogfood Production System)

 

Split LP released by the Dogfood Production System imprint, early Australian experimental label, also known as Wrong. Co-released the Severed Heads/Rhythmyx Chymx split LP and released the first Severed Heads LP. 

Garry Bradbury (1960-2022) was a British-born Australian electronic musician active in Sydney's experimental music scene from 1979 to 2022. His first significant collaboration was in 1980, along with brothers Simon and Tim Knuckey as The Wet Taxis; a band specializing in heavily treated guitar and drum machine and various tape manipulations. 

 

In 1981, Bradbury teamed up with two other musicians, Tokyo Rose and Montgomery Smythe, to form Hiroshima Chair, another electronic outfit featuring a vast arsenal of analogue synthesizers. In 1981, they released this half a split album 'Reset', with Texan band Culturcide. They also released a live C60 cassette through Terse Tapes. From October 1981, Bradbury teamed up with Tom Ellard's pioneering post punk / industrial band Severed Heads. This collaboration continued sporadically from 1981 to 1985. 

Culturcide was a Houston-based experimental punk band, active from 1980 to 1990 and from 1993 to the present day. They were notorious for their 1986 album 'Tacky Souvenirs of Pre-Revolutionary America', which earned the band a cult following, but also several legal threats.

 

Label: Dogfood Production System – Dogmat#4 

Format: Vinyl, LP 

Country: Australia 

Released: 1981 

Style: Industrial, Punk, New Wave, Noise, Synth-pop, Minimal, Synth Punk

 

Tracklist: 

A1 Hiroshima Chair – Reset 

A2 Hiroshima Chair – Spastic Antelope Bit 

A3 Hiroshima Chair – Tu 

A4 Hiroshima Chair – I Think That Dress Is Completely Ruined (I Really Do) 

A5 Hiroshima Chair – Kick 

B1 Culturcide – Hating My Father 

B2 Culturcide – No More Children 

B3 Culturcide – Plague / Disco 

B4 Culturcide – Another Miracle (Live) 

B5 Culturcide – Heartbreaking B 

 

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