→ ↑ → – Muzak, Rock & Minimalism [LP] (1984, Present Records)

 

→ ↑ → (pronounced as three clicks, often written incorrectly as "Tsk Tsk Tsk" or "Tch Tch Tch") was an Australian music, art and performance group, best known for their experimental music. They formed in Melbourne in 1977 and were led by Philip Brophy. The group performed music, produced artwork, films, videos, live theatre, multi-media, and wrote literature. The Melbourne suburb of Clifton Hill's Community Music Centre, an artist run space focused on the performance of new sound art and experimental music, was the base for Philip Brophy's project, → ↑ →. Sometimes compared to Andy Warhol's Factory collective, the group provided experimental music (Brophy on drums or synthesiser), films, videos, and live theatrical performances exploring his aesthetic and cultural interests, often on a minimal budget.

 

→ ↑ → were often seen as working with Roland Barthes theory of "The Death of The Author". They were primarily interested in demystifying creative practices and analysing cultural phenomenons, stripping them down to their most basic defining characteristics. Musically the group touched upon a wide range of experimental styles including minimalism, punk rock, muzak, krautrock and disco, usually with no vocalist, which frustrated countless music audiences. Although they were regularly performing and presenting music and performances in art spaces like the Clifton Hill Community Music Centre and even the National Gallery of Victoria, → ↑ → frequently played with post-punk and new wave bands, including The Boys Next Door at pubs like the Crystal Ballroom in St. Kilda to non-art audiences. 'Muzak Rock & Minimalism' is compilation of shorts for the first 3 → ↑ → EPs which were released on a compilation LP on Present records. [SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA]

 

 

Label: Present Records – PRE-001 

Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation 

Country: Australia 

Released: 1984 

Style: New Wave, Art Rock, Experimental, Minimal 

 

Tracklist: 

Muzak: "Venitian Rendezvous" 

A1 Sportello 

A2 Lampadina 

Rock: "Nice Noise" 

A3 Doing Very Little 

A4 Nice Noise Theme 

Minimalism: "→ ↑ →" 

A5 One Note Song 

Muzak: "Venitian Rendezvous" 

B1 Pallini 

B2 Canzona Di Una Notta 

Rock: "Nice Noise" 

B3 Rock Song 

B4 One Note Song 

Minimalism: "→ ↑ →" 

B5 Only Quantity Counts 

 

Notes: 

Track B4 is correctly titled "One Note Song" on the label, incorrectly titled "Nice Noise Theme" on the sleeve. 

 

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Code 6 – Forgotten Moments [12'] (1990, Nu Groove Records)

 

With a number of legendary tracks such as "Mentasm" and "Energy Flash" to his name, New York-based DJ and producer Joey Beltram is widely acknowledged as a leading innovator in Belgian-style acid and techno. Although his roots as a DJ lie in Chicago house (he still focuses on the style when he spins at home), Beltram's relentless club tracks were high points of late-'80s/early-'90s pre-breakbeat hardcore techno, and remain on many DJs' top ten lists as genre- and period-defining examples of post-Detroit European dance music. Born and raised in Queens, Beltram began DJing at a young age, spinning New York and Chicago-style house in his bedroom before moving into production and solo work. By the age of 18, Beltram was recording for Detroit techno staple Transmat and working on tracks with Mundo Muzique and Richie Hawtin for the latter's Plus 8 imprint.

 
After Beltram released "Energy Flash" on Transmat in 1988, the track was also picked up by R&S, launching his music into a Belgian association which remains to this day. He followed up the reissue with a single for the label in 1992, "Mentasm," a classic of "hoover"-style techno, so-named for its blaring, vacuum-cleaner synth noises and slamming beat. The track was embraced by Belgian techno/hardbeat fans and DJs alike, catapulting Beltram to widespread acclaim. Although Beltram remains best-known for his techno work, he by no means confines himself to that style, dabbling as well in house and ambient, as evidenced by his eyebrow-raising 'Aonox' LP released by the San Francisco experimental label Visible in 1994. He was back to hard minimalistic acid with 1995's 'Places' (for Berlin's Tresor) and 1996's 'Close Grind' (released on NovaMute as Jb3). Beltram's abundant mixing skills are displayed on the Logic collection 'Joey Beltram Live' as well as 'The Sound of 2 AM' on Moonshine. [SOURCE: ALLMUSIC]

 

 

Label: Nu Groove Records – NG 043 

Format: Vinyl, 12", 33 ⅓ RPM 

Country: US 

Released: 1990 

Style: House, Techno, Deep House

 

Tracklist: 

This Side 

A1 Forgotten Moments 

A2 Beyond The Bassline 

That Side 

B1 Off The Hilltop 

B2 Crack Of My Snare 

B3 Edge Of Insanity 

 

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Various – A Factory Quartet [2xLP] (1980, Factory)

December 1980 saw the release of 'A Factory Quartet', a double album featuring tracks from The Durutti Column, Kevin Hewick, Blurt and The Royal Family And The Poor. With a cover price of ‘five guineas’, the double LP offered a side per Factory artist. Side One featured three tracks by The Durutti Column; Side 2 seven tracks by Kevin Hewick; Side Three, four tracks by Blurt; Side Four, three tracks by Royal Family and The Poor. The embossed sleeve featured a set of Polaroid photographs taken by Factory boss Tony Wilson.

 

A Factory Records hand-typed "newsletter and shareholder's analysis" told us about each artist: Royal Family and The Poor: "A remarkable S.I. influenced outfit from Liverpool who, with sing along numbers like "Vanneigem Mix", rose such comments as; "They show The Gang of Four to be the bubble gum band we always thought they were" - R. Boone". Blurt; "Sax based dance band from Stroud - Jesus Christ Stroud! Fronted by former anarcho beat poet - reformed". The Durutti Column: "An extended piece being prepared by Vinny Reilly, Stephen Hopkins and Mr. Hannett". Kevin Hewick: "Kid comes from Leicester. Writes singles about hay-stacks and finding needles, and apart from the FACT that he likes Sylvia Plath and Clem Burke, he has a lot going for him. Interested in frail specifics, yip, yip, yip". 

 

The first thing ever released by Kevin Hawick was one side of this double LP on Manchester's legendary Factory label. Kevin himself is still a little scarred by the experience of Tony Wilson selecting the tracks (all live recordings) and deciding to start Kevin's career with the sound of him and a hippy heckler trading abuse. A uniquely honest and abrasive exchange between performer and audience. More punk than anything a punk group ever mustered that's for sure. As if fueled by this confrontation, Kevin proceeds to sing his heart out in a manner that would've had Tim Buckley raising a glass. [SOURCE: RATE YOUR MUSIC] 

 

Label: Factory – FACT 24 

Format: 2 x Vinyl, LP, Compilation 

Country: UK 

Released: Dec 1980 

Style: New Wave, Post-Punk, Indie Rock, Avantgarde 

 

Tracklist: 

A1 The Durutti Column – For Mimi 4:42 

A2 The Durutti Column – For Belgian Friends 5:35 

A3 The Durutti Column – Self-portrait 4:52 

B1 Kevin Hewick – Rubble 6:10 

B2 Kevin Hewick – 1940 4:20 

B3 Kevin Hewick – A Little Feeling 5:10 

B4 Kevin Hewick – Forget 4:06 

B5 Kevin Hewick – Morphia 2:37 

B6 Kevin Hewick – The Enchanted Kiss 2:50 

B7 Kevin Hewick – Haystack 3:02 

C1 Blurt – Puppeteer 3:31 

C2 Blurt – Dyslexia 7:42 

C3 Blurt – Some Come 3:10 

C4 Blurt – Benighted 4:45 

D1 The Royal Family And The Poor – Dirge 1:17 

D2 The Royal Family And The Poor – Vaneigem Mix 6:42 

D3 The Royal Family And The Poor – Dirge 1:13 

D4 The Royal Family And The Poor – Death Factory 6:33 

D5 The Royal Family And The Poor – Dirge 1:03 

D6 The Royal Family And The Poor – Rackets 6:56 

 

Notes: 

Track A1 to A3 engineered at Strawberry Studios, Stockport. 

Track B1 to B3 were performed at Leeds University in May 1980 on the Sylvia Plath Comeback Tour, the rest at the Moonlight West Hampstead in April 1980. 

Track C1 to C4 produced at home. 

Job on track D1 to D6 carried out at Graveyard Prestwich and Strawberry, Stockport. 

No copyright for the usual reasons 

"Polaroid-style" gatefold sleeve and printed inner sleeves. 

Track D2: TRFAP read extracts from Raoul Vaneigem's book "The Revolution Of Everyday Life" (see chapter VII.2 and 3), the last part is from Ken Knabb's "Some Clarifications", both uncredited. 

 

The Durutti Column recordings on side A are also available on LC reissues. 

The Blurt recordings on side C are also available on The Factory Recordings CD. 

The Royal Family And The Poor recordings on side D are also available on 'The Project Phase 1 - The Temple Of The 13th Tribe'. 

 

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Tony Oxley – Tony Oxley [LP] (1975, Incus)

 

One of the founders of jazz-based free improvisation in the U.K., from 1963 to 1966 Oxley was one-third of Joseph Holbrooke Trio, a pioneering group based in Sheffield that also included guitarist Derek Bailey and then-bassist (later composer) Gavin Bryars. The group started out as a relatively conventional jazz outfit, but by 1965 it had begun playing totally improvised pieces. The group's relative isolation from other currents in British free music -drummer John Stevens' London-based Spontaneous Music Ensemble was a contemporary- purportedly helped the band develop a unique approach. After the members moved to London in 1967, Oxley became the house drummer at Ronnie Scott's, a famous mainstream jazz club. He also continued working in experimental contexts. After winning Melody Maker's reader's poll, Oxley was given the chance to record as a leader. His first album was 'The Baptised Traveler' (1969); the record reflected Oxley's steadfast interest in free improv. In 1971, with Bailey and saxophonist Evan Parker, Oxley established Incus Records, which became England's premier free jazz/improv label. 

 

This self-titled album collects in six tracks the counterpoints between him and such European improvisational musicians as Bailey (guitars, with whom he recently released an unreleased for Tzadik, “The Advocate”), Parker (sax), Holdsworth (trumpet), Barry Guy (bass) and Howard Riley (piano) side by side with more alienated solo sorties. A harlequin work, rather uneven and compelling, which favors dark atmospheres and a few sunny glimpses (communicated by trumpet and saxophone) in its explorations, proceeding by singletons: not as flamboyant and expansive as the collective Company, however much the same elements appear. 'Tony Oxley' plummets in the finale, hijacking on deaf and stranger scours, particularly in the fifth “South East Of Sheffield”; a scenario as fitting as ever for this music that, in its own deaf noise effects, anticipates the ‘concrete’ sounds of Stapleton and co. and thousands to come. [SOURCE: RATE YOUR MUSIC] 

 

Label: Incus – INCUS 8 

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album 

Country: UK 

Released: 1975 

Style: Free Improvisation 

 

Tracklist: 

A1 Never Before Or Again 10:40 

A2 M-W-M 6:30 

A3 EIROC II 5:30 

B1 East Of Sheffield 6:20 

B2 South East Of Sheffield 5:40 

B3 P.P.1 8:30 

 

Notes: 

Recorded over a four year period (71-75), these tracks illustrate the evolutionary development of Tony Oxley's music, and particularly his percussion vocabulary. Amplification has played a large part in this development, giving breadth to the instrument, and allowing a reconsideration of the role of percussion in relation to improvised and structured music. 

Track A1 recorded 1972 

Track A2 recorded 1975 

Track A3 recorded 1971 

Track B1 recorded 1971 

Track B2 recorded 1973 

Track B3 recorded 1975 

 

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Zeni Geva – Distorted Live [Cass] (1993, Supreme Tool Supplies)

Zeni Geva is a Japanese band, formed in Tokyo in 1987. They incorporate elements of prog-rock, hardcore, heavy metal and noise-rock in their music. The core members are KK. Null (who is also known for his solo works) and Mitsuru Tabata (who is mostly known for his work with Acid Mothers Temple), the rest of the line-up went thru several changes over the years. They reformed in 2007 after a long break and started to tour again in 2009, joined by Tatsuya Yoshida on drums, who was also a part of one of the early line-ups. Tabata left the band in 2012.

 

 

Label: Supreme Tool Supplies – STS2 

Format: Cassette, Album 

Country: Netherlands 

Released: 1993 

Style: Thrash, Noise Rock

 

Tracklist: 

A1 Guystick Bodie 3:33 

A2 Honowoh / Blackout 3:37 

A3 On Suicide 6:25 

B1 Skullfuck 1:54 

B2 Slam King 7:43 

 

Notes: 

Released in a limited edition of 100 copies. 

Live recorded at Kyoto and Osaka, January 1991. 

 

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The Young Lions – The Young Lions [Cass] (1982, Amphibious Records)

Avant garde post punk band formed in 1979 in Amsterdam. Started as a trio (Rob Scholte -drums, Ronald Heiloo -piano/electric piano and Tim Benjamin -guitar) in the basement of the Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam and they were first called The Case. The avant-rock/ post-punk of The Young Lions brought to mind the most discordant moments of Captain Beefheart, the frantic pow-wow rhythms of The Velvet Underground, the modern dance of Pere Ubu and the industrial meltdown of Throbbing Gristle. [SOURCE: RATE YOUR MUSIC] 

 

Label: Amphibious Records – A 003 

Format: Cassette, Compilation 

Country: Netherlands 

Released: 1982 

Style: New Wave 

 

Tracklist: 

A1 Secret Rivals 

A2 No News, Strange Rumours 

A3 In My Favour 

A4 To Go Up Backwards 

A5 The Ground 

A6 Turned Heads 

A7 Trust Came Back 

A8 Shouts Of Wild Laughter 

A9 Blind Spots 

A10 The Greatest Pleasure 

B1 Neat Little Tower 

B2 Vague 

B3 All The Places Where A Bulgarian Could Be Born 

B4 Laughing In The Rocking Boat 

B5 Because 

B6 Suspicious 

B7 Hurt 

B8 Crazy Circle 

B9 On My Guard 

B10 Blind Spot 

B11 Loosing Blood 

 

Notes:  

Recordings from 1979-1980. 

 

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