Trashcan Darlings - Gore Gore Boys & Splatter Pussies 10"

Label: Eastside Records; Year: 2000; Format: 10" Vinyl EP

Since it is Halloween Season I thought it would be an ideal time to pull out this beauty of a 10" record by the Norwegian band Trashcan Darlings. Back in the late '90s/early '00s my friend Alain and I were organizing gigs in Zurich/Switzerland and somehow the people behind the Eastside Records label from Germany contacted us if we were interested to book these Oslo guys in Zurich, and so we did. At the end of March in 2001 (see flyer) we booked them at Hohlstrasse which at the time was a semi-squatted/semi-legally occupied house with a really cool basement where shows were happening once in a while. The basement was full of great metal work with sharp objects sticking out all over the place and a capacity of maybe one hundred people. To this day I remember the Trashcan Darling show very vividly as the Oslo bunch put on a fantastic show in front of a sweaty and crazy crowd and yes, they looked just like in the pictures with make-up and all glamed up. The 10" released on Eastside Records is nothing short of a classic glam punk record backed by a really decent production job. As quite often is the case with musicians from Northern European Countries they are excellent at their instruments, and that is definitely the case with the Trashcan Darlings. Five outstanding originals and one funtastic live cover version of Funtime are to be found on this red splatter ten inch and no song is to disappoint you. Whether you like your glamed up punk'n'roll slower such as in "She's A Fuck around" or the incredibly catchy "Angel Lost" or at a faster pace like in "Electro Shock Rock" I think these guys just perfectly mixed glam rock and 77 punk by putting it through an Oslo based blender with a nice touch of good ole Norwegian Punk'N'Roll. The band existed from 1995 through 2008 and released quite a few records during their career. Definitely worth checking out if this is your cup of tea! 

 

Rattus - Hilipili Records 7"s Reissues on Hoehnie Records

Label: Hoehnie Records; Year: 2008; Format: 45RPM Single

When I discovered Rattus from the small town of Vilpulla in Finland it was through their brutal hardcore punk assault on the Ratcage LP back around 1987 as a friend of mine had a copy of said record and we were just in awe of the sheer brutality of that LP. But more about the Ratcage record when I get to it in the future. Before Rattus ever produced a slew of classic records throughout the first period of the '80s they started out as a somewhat classic '77 punk outfit and in 1980 self-released on Hilipili Records the first single with Khomeini-Rock and Muotipunk being equally strong late '70s influenced punk rock numbers. Think of really early Angelic Upstarts or Buzzcocks before they released records on majors and you get a good idea how this one sounds sung in Finnish. Come to think of it probably the first time I heard these really early recordings was on the GTA Taalta Tullan Kuolema CD which had come out in 1996. If you don't want to shell out hundreds of dollars for an original grab one of the few copies around of this Hoehnie Reissue!

Label: Hoehnie Records; Year: 2008; Format: 33RPM EP

Unlike their first output the second Hilipili 7" came in form of the Fucking Disco EP in 1981 with five tracks representing the band in somewhat of a transitional period. No longer are the tracks just straight forward late '70s punk but other styles are distinctively to be heard. The opener "Sietamaton" and my favorite song on this platter "Taalta Tullan Kuolema" are definitely songs in the '70s punk vein but the band does not shy away from Reggae and Post-Punk influences on the other two main tracks with the last "Stop Start" just being a thirty-seven second joke song. Quite a number of years ago I interviewed Rattus for a German fanzine and I recall that the band was at a difficult cross-point after having released this 2nd record. With the '70s punk sound having died out the band was close to throwing in the towel until they heard Minor Threat from across the pond and the rest is history as one would say. I leave you with an existential question from the back cover of this EP then... 

Spermbirds - Something To Prove LP

Label: Boner Records; Year: 1988; Format: Vinyl LP

For the past year or so every Tuesday I listen to a German podcast called "Und Dann Kam Punk" and on last week's show the two hosts interviewed the Spermbirds drummer Matthias Goette. As always it was a fun, entertaining but also informative talk hence I thought it was about time I played my copy of "Something to Prove" again as it's been ages since the last time. With most of my records I remember where I bought my copy and the year, or at least thereabouts. With my "Something To Prove" copy I really can't place it as it's the US version on Boner Records and when this LP came out I was living in Switzerland and would have surely picked up the We Bite pressing. My guess is that I found this one in Toronto when I briefly lived there in the early '90s, but that's just a wild guess and doesn't matter at all. Many of you out there interested in European Hardcore Punk will surely know that the Spermbirds singer Lee Hollis is an American based in Germany and was at the time of when the band was started stationed with the US Army in Kaiserslautern, Germany. According to the interview with Matthias Lee came from a difficult home and used the Army as an escape route to get as far away as possible from his parents, or his dad in particular. Since he has already been introduced to early US punk and hardcore Lee brought a fresh wind to the very provincial small town scene of Kaiserslautern. As a matter of fact before there even was the Spermbirds the band the other members were more keen on getting ahead with is Walter 11, a band vaguely speaking more steeped in traditional UK punk with its members being also big fans of their hometown football club FC. Kaiserslautern. So, when Spermbirds were started the band wasn't even aware that their brand of hardcore punk with a heavy influence of bands such as Angry Samoans was very popular in the underground scene of Southern Germany hence their first record, a Split 7" between Walter 11 and Spermbirds, was released on X-Mist, an influential label to this day. A year after that We Bite Records picked up the Spermbirds and "Something To Prove" was released in 1986. It should come as no surprise that it was licensed to the UK and the US as it's an excellent record that stands the test of the time. When I listened to it today it sounds just as fresh as it always has and the songs haven't aged at all if you ask me. What you get are fourteen original songs and a great cover version of Agent Orange's 'Bloodstains'. The production on the LP is great considering the band recorded and mixed everything within a few days and the LP is a mixed bag of either fast and furious songs or more mid-paced melodic tracks with great hooks. Considering where the band members came from musically the sound on this record makes perfectly sense with Lee's love for early Southern Californian bands and the rest of the band having more of a traditional early UK punk background the two main influences are perfectly blended into a unique sound. For some unfortunate reason I have actually never seen Spermbirds live, and I sure as hell don't know why. A classic record indeed!

Stigmathe - Suoni Puri Dalla Liberta and Lo Squardo Dei Morti EPs

Label: No Plan Records; Year: 2013; Format: 45RPM EP

Little to nothing is known to me about the history of Stigmathe, a band that hailed from the Northern City of Modena in Italy. Rest assured though that the two EPs reviewed herein though are a little different from what one would expect when it comes to '80s hardcore punk releases from Italy as neither is full-on Italian Hardcore the way we all love it. The first EP was originally self-released by the band in 1983 and the copy I own is a 2013 No Plan reissue, a label known for releasing great but mostly unknown gems. The band's first output is first and foremost very much influenced by what had musically happened in the UK underground scene from '79 to '82. The two tracks on Side A are solid UK82 influenced smashers and if they were not sung in Italian they could just as well have been recorded by the likes of GBH, Discharge or Dead Wretched. 'Italia Bruccia' on the B-Side is a little different in the sense that it is very melodic, mid-tempo and takes cues from 2nd Generation Brit bands like Angelic Upstarts, the Ruts et al. while a big Clash influence cannot be overheard either. Overall this is a great little platter. Mille grazie! 

Label: Meccano Records; Year: 1985; Format: 33RPM EP

Two years after having self-released their 1st EP Stigmathe released a 2nd EP, this time on Meccano Records from Torino. Worth mentioning is that the person behind Meccano Records, Giulio Tedeschi, was born in 1952 and could hence be considered "too old" to give a band like Stigmathe a chance but Giulio was always a man in pursuit of giving bands with a true DIY spirit a chance hence Stigmathe's 2nd EP landed with said label. Compared to the first one the 2nd EP is somewhat different yet again as the two songs on the first side are no longer just UK82 influenced but draw equally from post-punk and gothic as well creating an interesting mix with echoey vocals over dark and fast sounds while Side B is a great upbeat punky reggae track. In my opinion the 1st EP is the winner but both are equally strong outputs and  worth tracking down if said above is up your alley. 

Dezerter - Underground Out Of Poland LP

Label: Maximumrocknroll; Year: 1987; Format: Vinyl LP

Say what you want about MRR but back in the '80s they really made the world of international hardcore punk a smaller one, including for people in countries that were stuck behind an iron curtain at that time. I was born in Eastern Europe hence I always had an interest in punk originating from places such as my birth country Czechoslovakia. Poland's best known punk export is without doubt Dezerter and the band formed in the spring of 1981 in Warsaw by the name SS-20 referring to the nuclear missile used by the former USSR. It should come as no surprise that the name got the band into serious trouble not just in Poland but also in the USSR and by 1982 the band was banned from using it. From 1983 the band was called De Zerter aka Dezerter and by that point the members have also established their fast and furious sound. As a matter of fact in 1984 the band released a 4-Song EP on the state-controlled label Tonpress with song containing lyrics that were deemed as acceptable by the Polish government. In 1985 Canadian lumberjack hardcore punks D.O.A toured Europa and agreed to play in Poland, which is important in the sense that it made the release of "Underground Out Of Poland" possible. Joey Shithead smuggled the recordings contained on this classic LP out of Poland and in 1987 MRR released this LP which contains above mentioned four songs from the first EP plus other recordings (live and studio) from the years 1981 up to 1985. I had bought the LP back in 1988 if I am not mistaken and unfortunately I missed seeing Dezerter in Zurich, Switzerland in 1989. This LP can and should be regarded as one of the most important releases in hardcore punk history not just because of the highly fascinating background story as to how it came to be released but also because the music on it is just so damned good. The tracks on Side A are from 1981 and 1983 and are just mind-blowing well played fast and brutal hardcore punk smashers that can compete with any bands from the US, UK or Europe. The Side B tracks mainly from 1984 and 1985 show that the band has progressed musically and while the tracks are still harsh and at times fast influences from art rock and other styles are clearly not to be overheard. What I also like about the original MRR release is that the insert includes photos of other Polish bands from that time (see photo). My insert used to hang on my wall back in Europe a long time ago and I admire MRR and D.O.A for putting bands like Dezerter on the International map. This LP has been reissued some time ago and apparently also just this year for its 35th anniversary and should be treasured by anybody with love for international hardcore punk. The band is still going strong to this day and more Polish punk will appear on this blog for sure. 

Baby's Got A Gun - Suicide Girl EP

Label: MBC Record; Year: 1987; Format: 45 RPM 12" Vinyl

Really not sure where I bought this one and when but it was without doubt decades ago. An interesting release it is though as there is little to no info at all to be found about Baby's Got A Gun from Scotland on the intranet. If my memory serves me right there was a little report about them in an old MRR but I am certainly not going to spend hours looking for it now. Should I come across it, I'll upload it here. Baby's Got A Gun existed from 1985 to 1995 and this 12" EP was their first release. Remember how 45 RPM EPs were a thing in those days. Equally interesting is the label that put out this release as MBC Records, or McDonald Brothers Corp, was the label that brought the world six volumes of Punk - A World History, a little side note I found rather interesting. There is no doubt in my mind that this Scottish bunch will not be ingrained in punk rock history but this EP is in fact actually quite good. Side A was recorded in 1987 and the B-Side a year earlier and the four songs are kind of tough to describe but if anything I would describe them as Punk-a-billy as corny as that may sound. By the time the band got together the world has seen punk rock come and go and evolving in different directions which is very much in the foreground on this record. Equally influenced by the Revillos or the Ramones '83-'86 period the four songs blend influences from punk rock to rockabilly and some goth rock into an interesting musical mash that works. I suppose there was a lot of these bands around at the time but they just weren't on my radar very much as I just about gotten into hardcore punk, and by that I mean nothing as melodic as this record. It's one of those records that if you see it somewhere for a couple of bucks grab it as I think it needs a new generation of listeners. I guess the band took their band name from the Only Ones...?

Photo Credit: Baby's Got A Gun Official FB page

bahnhof - February 82 EP

Label: No Plan Records; Year: 2015; Format: 7" EP

Thanks to No Plan Records the world gets to hear the vinyl version of these extremely rare recordings of Italian band bahnhof, whom if I am not mistaken hailed from the Northern Metropolis of Milan. This 4-song EP was originally released as a tape back in 1982 and at some point in the '90s I actually heard it for the first time as a friend of mine had or hopefully still has the original tape. Funny enough those four songs were recorded at Vimodrone in Milan on September 16 of 1982, almost exactly forty years ago to this day and they definitely hold up well. Not all that much information exists about the band except that they started out in 1979 and disbanded in 1984 after their singer Carlo had a terrible motorcycle accident unable to continue with music. Musically all four songs are killer and well produced. The band drew heavily from 77-79 UK punk acts such as Angelic Upstarts, The Clash or Ruts to name a few hence what you get is anthemic and melodic yet powerful in your face punk rock at its best. Stand out track for me is 'February 82' about a girl the band knew that committed suicide after dabbling with heroin, but there is no track on this that will let you down. Punk fantastico! 

Electric Deads - "Order", "Anti-Sex" and "Mind Bomb" EP Reissues

Label: Noise and Distortion Records; Year: 2010; Format: 7" EP

Back in 2010 Belgian label Noise and Distortion did us fans of old European hardcore punk a great favor by reissuing all three Electric Deads EPs from Denmark. I think even these reissues are now hard to get so if you do see copies grab them as quick as you can. This is the 1st of the three and was like all of them originally released by the band on Electro Static Record, this one in 1982. Out of the three it is probably the weakest, at least in my opinion, but still worth checking out. 'Order' and 'Zig Zag' are fast paced hardcore punk tracks with Bibi screaming on top of her lungs and not quite having found her style. On this EP you'll also find a slightly different version of 'Fish in a Pool', a strong track that landed the band on the much acclaimed MRR Compilation LP "Welcome to 1984" where I and surely many others have heard of the band for the first time. Good but not great is what I would say about this one. 

Photo of 1st Gig in 1981 in Copenhagen. Photo Credit: Official Electric Deads Facebook Page

Label: Noise and Distortion Records; Year: 2010; Format: 7" EP

It is really hard to decide whether this one or the third and last of the three EPs is the strongest one as they are both fantastic in their own right, but let's focus on this one first. Unlike on the 1st EP where the recorded songs are somewhat muffled the band's second output has a much improved sound quality, better musicianship and a singer that seems to have found her voice and much more confidence. All four tracks on this EP are killer, especially '30 Years', just a fantastic Mid-Tempo punk song with somewhat of a Siouxsie and the Banshees feel to it. The other three songs are equally strong and the band might have gone through a phase where they listened to a lot of 77 punk and some early Goth as those influences definitely dominate their 2nd EP. If you like your early '80s European hardcore punk melodic, not too fast and with great vocals then you just have to love this one. 

Rehearsal Space in 1982. Photo Credit Official Electric Deads Facebook Page

Label: Noise and Distortion Records; Year: 2010; Format: 7" EP

I suppose this is their best known EP and ultimately the one that led for the band to be included on above mentioned MRR Comp. LP. Unfortunately it was also the last output by these Danes which is a shame as they could  have easily gone on to record a classic LP by the time this EP came out in 1983. Famous Danish punk rocker Johnny Concrete was the producer of this 5-song killer EP and if you ask me the band just really found their style with these recordings. It feels like they combined the ferocity of the 1st EP with the more melodic side of the 'Anti-Sex' EP and found a perfect marriage. All five songs are just mind-blowing good with that very peculiar guitar sound that in years to come influenced Norwegian bands like Kafka Process, So Much Hate or Stengte Dorer. This is classic melodic, yet powerful European hardcore at its best and has gone on to kickstart the great European hardcore scene of the '80s. True gem! 

Gig Flyer from 1983. Photo Credit Official Electric Deads Facebook Page

Glo - Diskoackel and Nerv EP Reissues

Glo - Diskoackel EP

Label: Re-Ken-Records; Year: 2019; Format: 7" EP

Back in the '90s Barny of Incognito Records from Stuttgart in Germany released a bunch of brilliant Compilation LPs entitled Back To Front. That's when I first heard of Glo from Asa near Gothenburg in Sweden as the song "Du For som Dom Vill" appeared on Volume 5 of above mentioned Comp Series. With both songs on this originally in 1979 released EP you get value for your money in form of upbeat drunken punk rock smashers with singer Patrik shouting on top of his lungs. Think Ramones meets Rude Kids and you know what I mean. Oh, and yes there is a third "song" on here but it's only 18 seconds long hence no need to mention it. One of the many great early Swedish punk rock gems. 

Glo - Nerv EP

Label: Re-Ken-Records; Year: 2019; Format: 7" EP

Thanks to Ken Records you get to enjoy the second Glo EP as well without having to dig deep into your pension fund. Personally I prefer this one over the first one and originally this came out in 1980. The production on this one is superior and louder and less muddy hence the songs are just more in your face. Musically this isn't any different from the first EP with all three songs (yes there is a fourth and it's 5 seconds long) being obnoxious straight forward punk rock hits. According to the Encyclopedia of Swedish Punk by Peter Jandreus these guys not only sounded punk but also had the look and were quite a heavy drinking bunch. Apparently on the way to a gig in Sundsvall the band managed to take apart an entire train compartment. So much for the well behaved Scandinavian youth listening to Abba... If you like your punk loud and snotty this is for you. 

UK Subs - The Singles 1978 - 1982 LP

Label: Abstract Sounds Ltd.; Year: 1991; Format: Vinyl LP

It was just a few days ago that Charlie Harper (born David Charles Perez) turned 78 years young. That's unbelievable considering that Charlie has been on the road performing with the Subs since 1977. I thought it was only fitting to spin one of the Subs releases from my record shelf. At first I thought about the "Another Kind of Blues" Album but I'll do that some other time. I instead opted for this compilation of their eight classic 7" EPs put out a bit over thirty years ago. At one point I had all the EPs in my collection as well, but quite frankly I really enjoyed listening to these classic tunes today in one go only having to lift my ass once flipping the sides. The UK Subs are next to Motorhead the band I have seen the most times live on stage. From the many times in Switzerland to the few times in London to the last two times I saw them in Southern California overall I always had a great time. Unlike some die-hard Subs fans I wouldn't go as far as saying that the UK Subs always delivered as Charlie had so many line-up changes throughout the decades that only true archivists of the band can provide you with that info. To me the line-up with Gibbs/Garratt always delivered and never disappointed. The tracks on this LP are taken from the classic EPs the band released from 1978 until 1982 and what you get here are true classics that are performed by the band to this day as these songs just never get boring. What one tends to forget these days is how big the UK Subs actually were around 79/80. Copies of "Tomorrow's Girls", "She's Not There" or "Warhead" sold in the tens of thousands, something well known bands can dream of today. It's hard to pick a favorite here as these 23 songs all excel in one way or another. I even like Keep on Running (Till You Burn) from 1981 where the band definitely toyed with the New Romantic look and sound. I also always loved "She's Not There", a great cover version of the Zombies track from 1965. The rest is history as they say because songs like Warhead, Stranglehold, Kicks, I live in a Car etc. are part of the UK Subs and punk rock history, period and end of. 

Back Cover of the LP: 

Original Poster from the 2000 Gig at the Sedel Club in Lucerne/Switzerland. That night the band played pretty much with the line-up seen on the poster bar the drummer. The picture is from the early '80s originally. This was probably my favorite gig seeing the band as they were on top form and played all the hits as if it were 1980 all over again. 

Honkas - S/T EP

Label: Static Shock Musik; Year: 2019; Format: 7" EP

Another great reissue from the house of Static Shock in Berlin. Just like the Harnrohrer EP this little platter was originally released in 1982 as well, also on Pogar Records as 002. Honkas formed in 1980 in the city of Wolfsburg (Volkswagen anyone?) and were named after the rather infamous serial killer Fritz Honka. The ueberhit on this gem of an EP is "Fur Fritz", a killer track that also landed on one of the Bloodstains Across Germany Bootleg Comps. This is an interesting EP as it is hard to describe the style but it stands the test of time thanks to its raw DIY Punk charm. The vocals and the guitars are at times frantic and all over the place but never really out of place and add a lot of character. It does not come as a surprise that singer Max Mueller had relocated to Berlin in 1982 where he later formed Camping Sex and Mutter and is also the brother of Wolfgang Mueller of Die Toedliche Doris fame. The artsy and edgy approach to music was already there with the Honkas and was just the beginning for him. Also, I'd be very interested to learn how many copies Pogar at the time distributed to Fresh in the UK, Vote Vasko in Finland or Importacoes Carnaby in Brazil as these fine institutions were listed as distributors back then. I hope Iffi of Static Shock Musik will keep reissuing more of the Pogar Catalogue, such as the Marplots Ep....Sehr gut!

Harnrohrer - S/T EP

Label: Static Shock Musik; Year: 2019; Format: 7" EP

It was about time someone reissued this early '80s German gem as Harnrohrer are not only criminally underrated but most likely just not very well known outside of Germany. They hailed from the small city of Freiburg Im Breisgau in South Germany, a place I am very familiar with having visited on numerous occasions when still living in Europe. Originally this killer EP was released on Berlin's Pogar Records as 001 in 1982 and all four tracks are filled with great guitar hooks, fitting choruses and simply fantastic song arrangements in a real catchy way. Since this came out in 1982 and the trend in Germany was to sound like Discharge I can assure you it's nothing like that. This is more akin to '77 Punk and the production of Music Lab producer Harris Johns is top notch as well. It is a real shame these guys didn't release more material as this is Pogo-Punk at its very best. Grosse Klasse!

Abrasive Wheels - When The Punks Go Marching In! LP

Label: Riot City Records; Year: 1982; Format: Vinyl LP

Recorded and released in 1982 on Bristol's Riot City Records should give you quite a hint as to what to expect from this album. It is one of my favorite UK82 records as it just ticks many boxes. It's well produced, it's full of hits and quite frankly there isn't a single bad song on this first full length by Leeds' punks Abrasive Wheels. I haven't listened to this cracker of an album in some time but almost instantly I was able to sing along to most of the songs as they would be played on many a mixtape or punk disco after a show. Paying a bit more attention than usually it did not escape me that the album has a very '79 feel to it in the sense that while most of the songs are played at high speed with Dave's buzzing guitar sound and Shonna's aggressive singing typical in the foreground the choruses and melodies will be more reminiscent of 2nd generation punk acts like Sham 69 or Angelic Upstarts for instance. It all makes sense as I opened my copy of "Burning Britain" and read over the story of the Abrasive Wheels reminding myself that they actually had their beginnings in the late '70s hence those influences do not surprise at all. On this LP the band had also their strongest and most stable line up which led them to signing with Clay Records and releasing another LP in 1984 which in my opinion was nowhere near as good as this one having attempted to sound poppier and more accessible and failing miserably. The band reformed years later and actually released a record in the more recent years but I have never heard it. This one is a pure classic and whether you have the original or not what counts is that you have it and crank it up loud! 

GRB - Estoy Tan Contento! EP

Label: Self Released; Year: 1986; Format: 7" EP

GRB hailed from Catalonia's capital of Barcelona, and formed out of the ashes of Ultimo Resorte and Frenopaticss. While I am a huge fan of Ultimo Resorte I cannot say I am equally enthusiastic about GBR. This EP is by no means a bad record, but at the same time it is not a Spanish hardcore punk classic. The band surely played a major role in establishing a new hardcore scene along with bands such as the Subterranean Kids but to me this record sounds like a weird combination of hectic hardcore punk played as fast as possible with some flashy guitar parts thrown in. The result sounds like a mixture between Negazione and Iron Maiden with a poor production. The best song on this EP is by far the one where the band steers away from any Metal influence and delivers a tuneful mid-paced hardcore punk track. A shame not all seven tracks are like that, and my review would have been quite a different story. Not a horrible record per se, but just because it's rare don't be under the assumption that it's a must have.

Panx Romana - Antartes Poleon LP

Label: Wipe Out! Records; Year: 1989; Format: Vinyl LP

There is really not all that much I know about the Greek punk rock scene, and that is truly a shame. While I have heard some of the bands from the '80s, and am well aware that Greece always had a politically minded active punk scene, it has to be said that the records released in this southern European country were hard to get. Somehow many years ago I managed to get a copy of Panx Romana's 2nd LP in a trade, and I'm glad I did. There are just records that you haven't placed on the turntable in a long time but you remember damn well that you've always liked this record. Well, this is a prime example for one of those records, and let me tell you that the more one listens to this record the more it grows on you. Thirteen songs (one of them a Ramones cover) full of '78 punk inspired songs, and very much influenced by the likes of The Clash or Angelic Upstarts, this quartet sure knew how to write catchy yet aggressive and tuneful punk songs. The melodies are addictive, the greek language suits punk rock very well, and these guys were very gifted songwriters. The little bit I was able to learn about the band told me that Panx Romana originally started out in 1982 and the singer came from another fairly well known punk band named Stress. Panx Romana continued to record after this LP but I have never heard their '90s material. For now my aim will be to track down a copy of their 1st LP, and for all of you out there who don't own this little gem here, don't waste time and get it! Oh yes, and I nearly forgot to say that the LP comes with a nice zine, albeit in greek language.

V/A - Rough Mixes From Switzerland Ten Inch

Label: Konnekschen Records; Year: 1981; Format: Shaped Vinyl 10"

The older crowd amongst the readers of this blog will be in the know that Switzerland had a very active and interesting punk scene in the late ‘70s despite being a country in the middle of Europe surrounded by mountains and not much to do, but maybe that sheer boredom enforced everything even more. Zurich’s Nasal Boys really got the ball rolling in 1977 by releasing a fabulous single that many punk rock scum collectors would love to have the original of. In 1981 even the good ole’ Germans caught on that their southern neighbors were not just yodelers and fond of chocolate and cheese, but could deliver some pretty hefty punk rock tunes too. Konnekschen Records from the northern city of Hamburg released this wonderful piece of wax collecting three swiss punk records originally released in 1979 on one nice shaped and colored 10”. If you don’t want to shell out big bucks for the Sick/Chaos Split 12”, the Sperma 12” and Rudolph Dietrich’s BOF’s 7” then do yourself a favor, and pick this one up as you will not be sorry. If there is a winner amongst the three, then it is the Sick/Chaos split that would be my pick. In all fairness to the Austrians it should be noted that Chaos were actually an Austrian band from a border town near Switzerland but very active on the swiss scene at the time. If you like your ’77 punk upbeat with lots of hooks and choruses then you won’t be disappointed. Second in my book is Rudolph Dietrich with his BOFs 7”, a punk rock gem with saxophone in the background and intelligent song writing. Sperma’s 12” might be a very sought after record but at least in my opinion it is not one of the top swiss punk records at all, but still a decent record. For folks out there unfamiliar with early swiss punk rock this is a nice way to start your collection.

The Sevens - S/T LP

Label: Feathered Apple Records; Year: 2005; Format: Vinyl LP

Sixties garage rock has started to grow on me a number of years back when I developed a strong interest in pre punk bands and the various styles of music dating back to the '50s and '60s in particular. The Sevens hailed from the wonderful border town of Basel in Switzerland, ideally located next to Germany, and France. I am not surprised that the original of this LP is on many wants lists, and can fetch several hundred dollars. Fact is that this LP is a superb collection of songs which were for the most part written by the Sevens bar three great cover versions thrown in. Thank god music fanatics started to take things into their own matters, and invested their hard earned money into reissues of records they wanted the world to hear as presented here by Switzerland's own Feathered Apple. Originally released in 1966 on the Layola Records this 2005 reissue comes with a huge and incredible two sided poster with the history of the band, and some fabulous shots from way beck when. Not only is the packaging outstanding but it is the music itself that will get you off of your lazy ass, and dancing in your living room. Each one of the original nine songs is a hit on its own, whether it be a faster garage rock smasher, or a slower and more poppy song, they are all recorded to the highest quality and will have you want to play this record over and over. Sixties garage punk aficionados consider this LP as one of the best of said genre, and I can see why. Highly recommended!

Slobodna Europa - Pakaren LP

Label: Opus; Year: 1991; Format: Vinyl LP

Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia, and at one point this rich in history city was situated in Czechoslovakia, which was before the split, and the subsequent formation of the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. Bratislava always had a small and active punk rock scene, even way before communism ended as a result of the velvet revolution in 1989. The earliest punk rock acts from Bratislava were Extip and Zona A, and Slobodna Europa developed out of those two bands when some members of Zona A left the band, and decided to form a new band around the charismatic singer Whisky. "Pakaren" is the bands's first full length album, and was released in 1991 when publishing music became possible in post-communism  CSSR. I was born in Bratislava, hence I always had a keen interest in the punk rock history of my hometown, but by no means does one have to have such close ties to the place in order to appreciate this album. Sixteen songs were packed on to this release and there is not a single song I do not like, which means something for a full length. All songs represent a great mix of early Rolling Stones, Sex Pistols, and Ramones influenced songs, paired with a good dose of the bands' own style including Slovak lyrics.  The result is a great album celebrating Sex, Drugs & Rock'N'Roll in the best way possible, meaning that yes, some of the songs lyrically deal with substances that might numb you, but so what, it's a punk rock record, and some cliches are unavoidable. It is the music that is the absolute winner here, and the songs immediately grow on you, no matter whether is is the upbeat ones, or the more melancholic ones, as they all possess a way to draw you in through great song writing, such as the inclusion of a saxophone in some songs. Slobodna Europa is still going strong to this day, and has released three more albums in the meantime, developing musically and also lyrically. As often though, it is the first release that gets talked about the most, which is no different in this case. Should you have a chance to grab a copy of this record then don't hesitate if you don't want to miss out on eastern European punk'n'roll history!

V/A - Es Chaos is die Botschaft! Es Wurschtun es! Austrian Punk Scene 78-84 LP

Label: Luziprak Records; Year: 1997; Format: Vinyl LP

Seventeen years ago Vienna/Austria based Luziprak Records released this excellent collection of Austrian punk/hardcore punk recorded in the late '70s and early '80s. Since the release of this compilation LP the world of collector scum has seen reissues by bands such as Schund, Chuzpe, or Dead Nittels to name a few. Never the less, the importance of this piece of vinyl can not be understated, as it was the first time for many of us interested in international punk rock to being introduced to the sounds of mainly Vienna based bands from the golden age of punk and hardcore punk. I couldn't point to a single weak track on this platter and the tracks vary from raw basement recordings of female fronted hardcore punk act Schund to the Ramones influenced Kleenex Aktiv to the simply amazing '77 punk of Chuzpe. You get seventeen punk/hardcore punk smashers here, including a great cover and an insert with band histories (in German), from a country that is not exactly known for much punk rock export and to this day will always be remembered for Falco, without doubt the biggest Austrian pop export ever. In 2010 Luziprak issued a second installment of this series, which I unfortunately don't own and have not heard to this day. 

Lost Kids - Bla Bla LP

Label: Medley Records; Year: 1980; Format: Vinyl LP

I am glad that King Diamond is not the only musical export Denmark was able to produce, otherwise this Scandinavian country would not be even on the map, at least the one I am looking at on my wall. The ever growing fan base of KBD punk will of course be familiar with the "Cola Freak" EP by Lost Kids, but I would assume that not that many people have given this LP a proper chance. While it is true that a good third of the seventeen songs to be found on this LP are either silly pop or new wave, the ten other songs are still ass kicking punk rock smashers in the cola freak fashion with those awesome dual male/female vocals, clicking in anywhere between one and two minutes to keep your adrenalin flowing. I remember owning Bla Bla 2 as well, which moved even further away from the punk roots, and only had maybe a handful of good songs to bolster. Quite the contrary is the case here with the majority of the songs still being refreshing Dansk Punk!