Tabea Blumenschein, Frieder Butzmann, Gudrun Gut, Bettina Köster – White Christmas [7"] (1980, Marat Records)

Best Christmas single ever, made by four stalwarts of the Berlin avant-wave scene: Tabea Blumenschein (Die Tödliche Doris, Liebesgier), Frieder Butzmann (Din A Testbild, Liebesgier, Nachdenkliche Wehrpflichtige, Wir Und Das Menschliche E.V.), Gudrun Gut (currently runs the Monika Enterprise and Moabit Musik labels, was an early member of Einstürzende Neubauten and founded Malaria!) and Bettina Köster (Liebesgier, Malaria!, Mania D., Mutabor!, Nachdenkliche Wehrpflichtige).

The pseudo-disco "Stille Nacht" (= "Silent Night") version is not quite a destruction, but a complete and utter deconstruction of Christmas songs. That old Irving Berlin classic, however, is turned into a slow, nightmarish, dissonant free jazz piece. Anyone who dearly hates this piece of fake Christmas sentimentality will be healed by listening to this version. [SOURCE: RATE YOUR MUSIC]

 

 

Label: Marat Records – 24 

Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM 

Country: Germany 

Released: 1980 

Style: New Wave, Avantgarde, Holiday, Christmas Music, Minimal Synth, Experimental Rock  

 

Tracklist:

x Stille Nacht Goes Disco 3:30 

y White Christmas 2:55 

 

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The Snakes Of Shake – Southern Cross [7''] (1985, TBC Records)

Snakes of Shake were a Scottish band formed in 1984, whose indie pop sound incorporated cajun and folk influences. They released two albums before splitting up in 1987, with some members subsequently forming Summerhill. 

 
The band was formed in Glasgow by Seori Burnette. The group at the time of the recording of the first album consisted of the following members: Seori (vocals, guitar, harp), Tzen Vermillion (guitar), Sandy Brown (piano, accordion), Robert Renfrew (bass guitar), and Rhod "Lefty" Burnette (drums).

 
Their debut release was the 'Southern Cross' mini-LP in March 1985, the title track also released as a twelve-inch single. Vermillion and Rhod Burnette left to be replaced by Neil Scott (guitar) and Iain Shedden (drums, formerly of punk rock bands Jolt and The Saints), the band now moving to the Making Waves label. Another release of 'Southern Cross' followed in August 1986, the song also appearing on their second album, 'Gracelands and the Natural Wood', released in July 1987. [SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA]

 

 

Label: TBC Records – GOBS 1 

Format: Vinyl, 7", Single, 45 RPM 

Country: UK 

Released: 1985 

Style: Post-Punk 

 

Tracklist:

A Southern Cross 

B You Walk 

 

Other Versions:

1. 12" single on TBC Records on 1985 with catalogue number GOBS 12-1 (UK)

2. 7" single on Making Waves with catalogue number SURF 116 (UK)

3. 7" single on Stiff Records with catalogue number 6.14519, 6.14519 AC, GOBS 1 (Germany)

4. 12" single on Making Waves with catalogue number SURF/T 116, SURFT 116 (UK)

 

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Really 3rds – Everyday, Everyway [7''] (1981, The Really 3rds Record Label)

From Pontypridd in Wales, Really 3rds were a trio comprising guitarist Neil Lawrence, bassist Paul Pember, and a drummer identified only as Philip. After the self-financed release of the single 'Everyday, Everyway', they changed their name to Shake Some Action in 1982 and became a mod revival band, but don't appear to have recorded in their new identity. [SOURCE: DISCOGS]

 

 

Label: The Really 3rds Record Label – EJSP 9610 

Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM 

Country: UK 

Released: 1981 

Style: Power Pop, Indie Rock

 

Tracklist:

A Everyday, Everyway 

B Daptapper 

 

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Picture Book – Laughing In My Hand / Reflex Action [7''] (1984, Crystal Records)

Picture Book were a synth-pop band from Portsmouth (UK). They released only this 7", 'Laughing In My Hand / Reflex Action' in 1984 on Crystal Records, engineered and produced by Steve Hoff at The Crystal Studios, Portsmouth. They also contributed on the 1986 'Against The Tide' Bite Back! compilation cassette with the song "Scarlett Everywhere" as well as in the 'Subtle Hints' compilation album with the track "Success".

 

 

Label: Crystal Records – Crystal 2 

Format: Vinyl, 7" 

Country: UK 

Released: 1984 

Style: New Wave, Synth-pop, Minimal Synth

 

Tracklist:

A Laughing In My Hand 

AA Reflex Action 

 

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The October Group – (first) [12''] (1987, Xcentric Music)

Formed in Lytham, Lancashire, Divert Off Centre were the self-styled pioneers of alternative dance beat. The band was associated with the "Blackpool Rox" scene of the early eighties, however, their camped up performances and overblown lyrics set them apart from their punky/oi contemporaries. Released a picture flexi disc in the spring of  1982 followed by the inclusion of  one song on the Lightbeat Records' compilation, 'A Drop In The Ocean'. 

 

After a couple of years of inactivity Divert Off Centre evolved into The October Group, moved to Amsterdam in '86 and put out a 12" single, '(first)' aka 'Colours'. "Colours" was favourably reviewed in the NME who described it as, "Compelling for it's subversive undertones." Although the band split up a year later their songs have turned up on the Messthetics compilations, and continue to receive airplay on alternative radio shows both in Europe and The States. [SOURCE: LAST.FM]

 

 

Label: Xcentric Music – SRT6KL1022 

Format: Vinyl, 12", 45 RPM 

Country: UK 

Released: 1987 

Style: New Wave, Synth-pop, Indie Rock 

 

Tracklist:

A1 Colours 

A2 The Quiet Beach 

B1 Persuasion 

B2 Sweet Hedda’s Grave 

 

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Nord – L∴S∴D∴ [LP] (1984, L∴S∴D∴ Records)

 

Nord is a Japanese noise project, originally formed in 1979 by Satoshi Katayama and Hiroshi Oikawa. This lineup released a self-titled LP on Pinakotheca in 1980. The duo split in 1983 and both members continued to use the name Nord. The group's name was derived from Louis-Ferdinand Céline's 1960 novel "Nord".Oikawa put out several releases on his L∴S∴D∴ Records, but didn't play live. He ceased activities in the late 80s.   

 

'L∴S∴D∴' was issued in a limited edition of 200 copies. The ambiguity of the cover (is it "LSD" by Nord or "Nord" by LSD?) had a profound effect on Japanoise. A young Masonna purchased this album thinking it was a German psych rock band called LSD, so you can imagine that the shock of expecting a traditional album only added to the profound effect it would have on him. [SOURCE: RATE YOUR MUSIC]

 

 

Label: L∴S∴D∴ Records – LSDL-01 

Format: Vinyl, LP, Limited Edition 

Country: Japan 

Released: 1984 

Style: Noise, Industrial, Drone

 

Tracklist:

A1 序曲 - Jokyoku (Overture)

A2 L S D 

B1 L S D 

B2 ザ･ゴースト･サウンズ - Za Gōsuto Saunzu (The Ghost Sounds) 

 

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Moist Device – Moist Device [7''] (1985, Enigma Records)

 

Funk / Post Punk band formed in 1985 in Athens, Greece. After the band Berlin 45 split, its members went on to form Moist Device and Black Balloon. Members of Moist Device participated also in Libido Blume, Χωρίς Περιδέραιο (Horis Peridereo), Venericna Bolest and Γενιά Του Χάους (Genia Tou Haous). On 22 and 23/10/1984 they performed live at Hima Club (Athens) along with Femmes Fatales and Anti Troppau Council. Members: Giannis Kostovasilis (guitar, vocals), Giorgos Pipinis (bass, vocals), Giorgos Drakopoulos (keyboards), Tasos Katsaris (saxophone) and Stefanos Larentzakis (drums).

 

 

Label: Enigma Records – ESP 107 

Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM 

Country: Greece 

Released: 1985 

Style: New Wave, Art Punk, Punk Rock

 

Tracklist:

A Youth Can Never Die 2:18 

B Six Days (Don't Make A Week) 2:32 

 

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Landscape Of Sound – Live Forever [7''] (1983, Not On Label)

 

Landscape of Sound was an American post-punk / synth-pop band formed in Los Angeles by Adam Elesh (guitar, keyboards), Brett Smith (bass) and  Jessie Rodriguez (vocals). They only realeased this single before splitting.

 

Adam Elesh and Brett Smith formed Drowning Pool afterwards, an avant-rock ensemble that released extraordinary collections of eccentric songs: the double album 'Satori' (Nate Starkman and Son, 1987), the EP 'Nierika' (Viva Records, 1988) and the album 'Aphonia' (Nate Starkman and Son, 1989). Their music straddled the line between new wave, psychedelia, world-music, ambient and industrial. They changed name to Mumbles in 1990 and released the album 'Two Clouds' on Viva Records out of Italy. 

 

In 1996 original vocalist Andrew Crane released the album 'Sustenance' under the name Acorn and fellow Drowning Pool members Adam Elesh and Brett Smith appeared on various tracks as guest musicians. In 2011 Adam and Brett Smith formed a new project called KinderCrowdControl and released the album 'Selah' on Bruce Licher's Independent Project Records label.

 

 

Label: Not On Label – none 

Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM 

Country: US 

Released: 1983 

Style: Synth-pop, Post-Punk

 

Tracklist:

A Live Forever 5:14 

B On The Edge 5:12 

 

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King Snake Roost – Things That Play Themselves [LP] (1989, Aberrant Records)

Gifted with a rhythm section that sounded like a garbage truck's exhaust backfiring and a guitarist who rarely felt the need to play chords, Australia's King Snake Roost played the kind of noise rock that let them easily fit into the roster of Amphetamine Reptile Records. They also confirmed Australia as a hotbed of blues-punk -yes, the influence of the blues can easily be discerned beneath all the garbage truck backfiring and dearth of guitar chords, and their vocalist did his best Delta-blues-scorched-black growl. Can't really claim these guys as some unjustly obscure geniuses; after all, their path had already been pretty well-trod before them (question: is Nick Cave an Australian "national hero" like Springsteen is in the States? Just wondering). Still, when you want some down n' dirty, defiantly art-free noise rock, they're a damn fine cup o' disease. Inspirational lyric (from "Trogman's Buried"): "He showed my mom his circumcision scars / Then he drowned in his own blood." [SOURCE: RATE YOUR MUSIC]

 

 

Label: Aberrant Records – 1THING 

Format: Vinyl, LP 

Country: Australia 

Released: Jan 25, 1989 

Style: Alternative Rock, Noise, Noise Rock, Punk Blues, Grunge

 

Tracklist:

A1 Worm's Eye View 

A2 D.T.'s 

A3 The Ledge Does Vegas 

A4 Everything Falls Apart 

A5 Hammerhead 

A6 Acid Heart 

B1 Fried 

B2 Trogman's Buried 

B3 Talking Turkey 

B4 Shunting Yard 

B5 That Again? 

B6 Gutterbreath 

 

Other Versions: 

Amphetamine Reptile Records (1989, US): LP (ARR 89168-1) + Cassette (ARR 89168-4)

Megadisc (1989, Netherlands): LP (MD 7906) 

 

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Jonestown – Genetics For Your Future [7''] (1990, Skidmark Records)

 

Jonestown was an American noise rock band from Minneapolis originally consisting of Dan Gannon, Eric Miklasevics, Geoffrey Trelstad, Joe Trelstad and Tom Greenwood. They released one album and several singles in the early 90's. John Peel played a track from their debut single, 'Genetics For Your Future', on his radio programme in the spring of 1990. He would play further material from the group until 1992 on his radio programmes and mentioned on his 15 July 1991 (Radio Bremen) show that he would love to see the band perform. [SOURCE: JOHN PEEL WIKI]

 

 

Label: Skidmark Records – none 

Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM 

Country: US 

Released: 1990 

Style: Alternative Rock, Punk, Indie Rock, Noise Rock

 

Tracklist:

A Crusty Rug 

B Tri-State (Breeders Co-Op) 

 

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