when there's nothing left to do, you must do the residue!

Kontakt Mikrofoon Orkest -- Do The Residue

Absolutely brilliant single from Kontakt Mikrofoon Orkest aka KMO aka K.M.O. aka Geoff Leigh of Henry Cow along with Black Sheep/Red Balune folks. Both songs are equally strong DIY RIO art-punk genius... one of the holy-grail records of the genre imho... equal parts Pere Ubu and The Homosexuals.

The MCCB catalog describes this release thusly: "Rock music from the streets & Disco fiction, on one record. Here's where we really start to talk with you. Do you wanna live in Rotterdam or any other city? If you think so, we suggest that you just do the residue, because that's the only thing left to do."

Kontakt Mikrofoon Orkest -- Do The Residue

eBay status: item #350284067085
ENDS Dec 01, 2009 13:52:34 PST

Whose side are you on?

Red Balune -- Capitalist Kid

Genius post-punk RIO from Geoff Leigh (Henry Cow, Kontakt Mikrofoon Orkest) and crew. The MCCB catalog says of this release, "It's absolutely a classic record. A wild excursion into the non-used parts or your brain. Acid punk in its most original form. ['78]"
Red Balune -- Capitalist Kid

eBay status: item #350284062122
ENDS Dec 01, 2009 13:40:51 PST

You Make It So Hard On Me

Protagonists -- Hard On Me (You Make It So)

Just an incredible US DIY KBD punk single from the Midwest (Naperville IL) that's criminally unknown today. It doesn't appear to be comped anywhere, and aside from it being played once on WFMU there's not much at all online about this record or this band.

This one is a keeper. Catchy as hell but hard-edged, with a nice raw guitar sound, nasal vocals, and great shouted choruses. A rough Midwest punk sound, but really this single sounds more like classic Aussie KBD punk like Fun Things, Leftovers, Psycho Surgeons, News, Babeez, etc.

Protagonists -- Hard On Me (You Make It So)

eBay status: item #350283946324
ENDS Dec 01, 2009 09:56:57 PST

he can't talk to earlobes

pragVEC -- Expert b/w The Follower

Amazing and unheralded post-punk single from 1979, with some brash female-vox DIY punk tracks in the same vein as Essential Logic, X-Ray Spex, Kleenex, early Slits, Androids Of Mu... check out the insane WASP synth at the end of "The Follower" (Jim Thirwell aka Clint Ruin aka Foetus played WASP in pragVEC on the LP but it appears Susan Gogan is playing it here.)
pragVEC -- The Follower

eBay status: item #350284048471
ENDS Dec 01, 2009 13:08:15 PST

slaughter is the password

pragVEC -- Bits EP

Amazing and unheralded post-punk EP from 1978, with some brash female-vox DIY punk tracks in the same vein as Essential Logic, X-Ray Spex, Kleenex, early Slits, Androids Of Mu... plus some much more experimental post-punk which really works well.
pragVEC -- Wolf

eBay status: item #170411504184
ENDS Dec 01, 2009 13:02:39 PST

Move my way

Schlaflose Nächte -- Flüstern b/w Move

Dutch/German no-wave funk band (ex SUSPECT) with female vocals... Armageddon UK release from 1981. "Move" has a real nice sensual funk feel, turgid yet urgent, A LOT like early Bush Tetras, or 99 Records mates ESG, Liquid Liquid, etc.
Schlaflose Nachte -- Move

eBay status: item #170411943469
ENDS Dec 01, 2009 12:08:06 PST

stretch our senses

The Pinkies -- Open Commune b/w Target Searching

Featuring Lindy from Fast Relief!

Obscure UK post-punk single, abstract dub-wave with female vocals, real sweet Slits, Raincoats, New Age Steppers feel.
The Pinkies -- Target Searching

eBay status: item #170411499874
ENDS Dec 01, 2009 12:52:34 PST

...and you have been put on

The Production Club -- Excitement

Incredibly obscure US post-punk single from Boston 1982, and a good one, with a heavy Joy Division/Movement-era New Order Factory Records sound.
The Production Club -- Excitement

eBay status: item #350284484888
ENDS Dec 01, 2009 12:01:04 PST

I wanna live the way I like

P.S. -- P.S.

One of the earliest DIY punk gems from the USA, apprenly from Moline, Illinois. Recorded in 1977, released a year later by the band (formerly named NO DICE) themselves. This, like most copies, came with individually updated (they overtaped NO DICE on the original pressing) labels.

This single is prime proto-punk, thug-rock with some 70's hard-rock moves... they were drawing on Blue Oyster Cult and Deep Purple probably along with the Stooges and MC5 and who knows Rocket From The Tombs? "P.S." is a real hard-driving and amped up rocker, fueled by the scorching distorted bass, the guy sounds like his hands are on fire.

P.S. -- P.S.

eBay status: item #350283954137
ENDS Dec 01, 2009 10:14:07 PST

well done son

Pregnant Neck -- Scaffolder Olcer EP

Neckesque Records, UK 1990. Completely obscure gruff n urgent UK post-Ron Johnson agit-skronk noize-punk... heavy on the Stretchheads, Dawson, Badgewearer, Archbishop Kebab, Big Flame, Bogshed, Membranes, Bastard Kestrel, even Yummy Fur, etc.
Members : pelly court, leonard eel tompkins esq., waz slapstick, saspot whaley
Pregnant Neck -- Pie And Mash

eBay status: item #170411584799
ENDS Dec 01, 2009 17:38:29 PST

This Is The Golden Age

The Sperm Wails -- The Golden Age Of The Carry On

Obscure lost single of noisy UK post-punk avant-pop skronk. Spurt Records, 1988. Both songs on here are pretty incredible, this release could have been on Ron Johnson.
The Sperm Wails -- The Golden Age Of The C.A.S.U.A.L.

eBay status: item #170411561284
ENDS Dec 01, 2009 16:06:55 PST

Don't Forget To Pray

Six Minute War -- More Short Songs EP

1980 UK release on D.I.Y. Not E.M.I. Classic DIY Britpunk, noisy anarcho-punk with more of a shambling do-it-yourself ethos and not so much bluster, real nice raw guitar sound and several absolutely incredible songs.
Six Minute War -- Nurses
Six Minute War -- Protect And Survive

eBay status: item #170411567757
ENDS Dec 01, 2009 16:35:56 PST

!hsalkcaB

Backlash! EP

Rare Scottish punk comp from 1981 on Playlist Records, even rare with the huge poster sleeve. Some tasteful post-punk on here too.
Threats -- Pacivity

eBay status: item #170411565960
ENDS Dec 01, 2009 16:28:32 PST

They Say Punk Ain't Crap

The Pigs EP

Ripping original 1977 KBD punk from this obscure Bristol band who dropped this gem of an EP in August of 77 and then disappeared (UPDATE: until reuniting in Bristol in September 2009!)

* Kit Gould ~ guitar
* Eamonn McAndrew ~ vocals
* Nigel Robinson ~ bass
* Ricky Galli ~ drums

The Pigs -- They Say

eBay status: item #170411564934
ENDS Dec 01, 2009 16:24:37 PST

twenty four hours a day

Method Actors -- This Is It EP

Debut release from this Athens, Georgia, minimalist avant-pop post-punk band. Amazing record. "The Method" is like a religious experience for anyone into eary Feelies, The Embarrassment, Red Krayloa, NNB... Athens never sounded so good.
Method Actors -- The Method

eBay status: item #170411555374
ENDS Dec 01, 2009 15:43:00 PST

human nature is a crater the size of your head

Salt Chunk Mary -- Ornithopter EP

Obscure indie EP from this Pittsburgh band, pretty cool arty aggro-punk in a Minutemen vein (or Tar Babies, Treacherous Jaywalkers)
Salt Chunk Mary -- Spittin' Distance

eBay status: item #350284487737
ENDS Dec 01, 2009 12:06:35 PST

The Jumbo Sound Of Mudhead

Mudhead -- The Jumbo Sound Of Mudhead

Incredible and unjustly obscure psych-punk single from Kansas City, Missouri. Dark, menacing sound reminiscent of Aussie band SLUB. Mudhead dropped this single and then dropped off the planet, one of the guys did go into The Coctails.
Mudhead -- Eleutheromania

eBay status: item #350284482104
ENDS Dec 01, 2009 11:55:12 PST

Smarter Gift Ideas for Teenagers

Modern Art Studio -- Mas Mania! EP

Scarce dada-ist DIY art-wave post-punk EP from the Cleveland Ohio, a favorite of Tony Coulter at WFMU. Comparable to other Midwest Pere Ubu-ish Devo-ish geek-punk like Dow Jones + The Industrials, Amoebas In Chaos, Broadcast, Dancing Cigarettes, Human Switchboard, Bizarros, Lucky Pierre, etc.
Modern Art Studio -- Dear Dad

eBay status: item #170413187867
ENDS Dec 01, 2009 12:12:23 PST

simply the best song about bathroom ideas ever

Menticide -- Bathroom Ideas Exhibition

Really great obscure post-punk/C86 single from Deptford band Menticide. Release on their own Pink Flag Records, this could easily have been on Ron Johnson.
Menticide -- Bathroom Ideas Exhibition

eBay status: item #350284109573
ENDS Dec 01, 2009 16:01:33 PST

Leanin against the Wall Star

Janitors -- Good To Be The King b/w Wall Star

Pretty great obscure UK C86 single on In Tape, the same label as Marc Riley And The Creepers. Heavier than the normal fare, this lost single's smack dab inbetween what feedtime and Walkingseeds were doing in 1986. "Wall Star" has simply one of the fattest bass-lines ever recorded, and that psychedelic flanged-out slide guitar is pure genius.
Janitors -- Wall Star

eBay status: item #350284112728
ENDS Dec 01, 2009 16:12:18 PST

Wattie Lives!

Jack Brewer & Kava -- Major Punk Statement EP

Pretty wild art-punk free-form noise/no-wave EP from Jack Brewer (of Saccharine Trust) backed by Repulse Kava, put out by Joe Carducci (author of the essential Rock and the Pop Narcotic and former SST honcho).

Jack Brewer & Kava -- Punk's Not Dead (Not In His Head)

eBay status: item #350283960884
ENDS Dec 01, 2009 10:29:25 PST

I can deal with the beard, but the reindeer's kinda weird

Let Them Eat Butterflies EP

1998 Latvian release on The Beard Is Weird. DIY Compilation of hardcore/punk/grind/powerviolence groups from every country surrounding the Baltic sea. Compiled by Simon Butcher in Latvia, featuring: Ordinary Bastard Swordfish (Latvia), Homomilitia (Poland), Annuka (Finland), Invazija (Lithuania), Psychoterror (Estonia), Well Done Beat (Russia), Na Krawedzi Deportacji (Germany), Married To A Murderer (Denmark), Driller Killer (Sweden).
Invazija -- Teroras And Meile

eBay status: item #170411576325
ENDS Dec 01, 2009 17:09:54 PST

Sand Bars Alone

Geoffrey Landers -- Breedlove b/w Sand Bars Alone

Recorded at Packing House Studio & Free Reelin Denver, Colorado 6/84. Preceeds forthcoming Evidently Brothers L.P., "Many Hands Make Light".

Great obscure US DIY minimal-synth/synth-punk 45 issued by Geoffrey Landers on his own Cauhaus label. A-side is minimal electro in the vein of Iron Curtain, Ceramic Hello, Experimental Products, John Bender, etc. B-side is a dark, atmospheric and very wonderful post-punk track.
Geoffrey Landers -- Sand Bars Alone

eBay status: item #170411460260
ENDS Dec 01, 2009 11:36:21 PST

Cello-ing With Tarts

Fredrick Lonberg-Holm -- trios/solos EP

1990 US release on Curious Music (Coralville IA). Amazing experimental avant-garde free-jazz EP from cellist Fredrick Lonberg-Holm (Boxhead Ensemble, Come Sunday Ensemble, The, Flying Luttenbachers, The, Fred Lonberg-Holm Quartet, Lonberg-Holm Ensemble, Manishevitz, Peter Brötzmann Chicago Tentet, Peter Brötzmann Tentet Plus Two, Pillow, Selfhaters, The Styrenes, Territory Band-2, Territory Band-3, Territory Band-4, Territory Band-5, Vandermark 5) joined on the trios side by Michael Gendreau and Eric Bergkvist of Crawling With Tarts.
Fredrick Lonberg-Holm -- Heard About Lorna's Brother?

eBay status: item #170411597518
ENDS Dec 01, 2009 18:25:03 PST

...keep on fighting...

400 Blows -- Beat The Devil

1982 UK release on Concrete Productions. Probably the single most played track on WZBC's No Commercial Potential in the eighties...
400 Blows -- Beat The Devil

eBay status: item #170411447429
ENDS Dec 01, 2009 11:13:28 PST

5, 4, 3, 2, 1, zero...

Frank (Dual Trumpet) Motley and His Orchestra -- Space Age

Wild and funky obscure R&B single from 1959 the DC label, well worth getting for Frank (Dual Trumpet) Motley's sparkling space-jazz-funk rave-up "Space Age"... this incredible track sounds like something Sun Ra would have produced in the late fifties. It opens and closes with swirling spacey electronics; and throughout are Motely's screaming dual trumpets, punchy baritone sax, tribal drums awash in pounding reverb, and an overall sound bursting with rocketing-into-space energy:

Motley, a protege of Dizzy Gillespie, was an innovator in the transition of rhythm & blues into rock 'n roll in the early 1950's, and he was famous for his show-stopping ability to play two trumpets simultaneously. His frantic combo, known as The Motley Crew, is uncredited on here but members likely include King Herbert Whitaker and Curley Bridges. Possibly produced by Rudy Callicutt.

DC 45-0412 was released in February 1959; DC 45-0420 was released in June 1959. So this 45 was release somewhere inbetween those dates.

Many thanks to Jay Bruder at dcrecords.org for discographical help with this obscurity.
Frank (Dual Trumpet) Motley and His Orchestra -- Space Age

eBay status: item #350283040371
ENDS Dec 02, 2009 12:59:44 PST

Our brains are melting/Through mechanical rot

New Salem Witch Hunters -- Falling

Cleveland garage band's debut single from 1986 on St. Valentine, "Falling" is the perfect pop song, with a great Flamin' Groovies meets The Lyres vibe, real strong 'n gritty vocals with a timeless "hey!" chorus, swirling organ and spine-tingling guitar riffs. This single has a different version of the song from what appeared on the 1986 Herb Jackson s/t LP (later redone by Get Hip.)
New Salem Witch Hunters -- Falling

eBay status: SOLD

Traveling Down Down the Motorway in My Airship

Vaultage 80 LP

Rare comp of post-punk and new-wave bands from Brighton. There are a couple real nuggets on here: The Objeks "Negative Conversation" is a strong DIY post-punk-pop with female vocals, tense and taut, with sort of an Au Pairs or Raincoats sound, actually sounds A LOT like what the Dangerous Birds (Thalia Zedek's first band) were doing in Boston around the same time.

And Emme Sharpe's glorious "Motorway" is memborable DIY minimal girl punk, just guitar vocals and a GREAT song.

The Objeks -- Negative Conversation
Emma Sharpe -- Motorway

eBay status: item #170406376927
 

Close (to the Ellis Otivator) Dub, Hey! #2

The Stick Figures EP

Obscure DIY post-punk synth-wave single from this Tampa, Florida, band who relocated in Boston. Recorded in 1980 and released by the band in 1981 with five different front covers, one made by each band member. This copy has the blue cover with the collage of band photos and proto-Situationist slogans like "EVEN REVOLUTION IS TRANSLATED INTO A COMMODITY" and "THERE IS A MOMENT WHEN THINGS CEASE TO BE MERE SPECTACLE... DO THE WRONG THING."

There's some very no-wave sounding avant punk funk on here, check out the insanely scrambled "Ellis Otivator Dub" which -- with its spliced-up vocals, psychotic shards of electronic noise and piercing guitar over gut-pounding bass n spastic drums -- sounds like it could be off of No New York or a 99 Records release by Liquid Liquid or ESG or Bush Tetras.

And even more bizarre is the apparent inclusion four years before "Close (to the Edit)" of the same "Hey!" sample that The Art Of Noise used so famously in 1984, and The Prodigy later picked up for "Firestarter". Listen closely, at 1:19 for that exact same "Hey!".

The Stick Figures -- Ellis Otivator Dub

eBay status: item #170406632011
  see also: http://ampnoise.blogspot.com/2009/11/close-to-ellis-otivator-dub-hey.html

Don't Tell Me I Don't Know What I Want

Flip -- Flip LP

Unknown private press DIY solo folk LP from a female folksinger named "Flip". There's no information whatsoever other than a recording date of December 19, 1966. I found this record in Massachusetts so chances are she's maybe from the sixties Boston/Cambridge folk scene? (Similarities abound to Jill Cislaghi, RuthAnna, The Clearing, early Joan Baez.) But there appears to be zero information on the web about this singer or this LP, I cannot locate any reference anywhere to this record's existence.

She sings in a crystal clear angelic high-pitched voice, like a bell, and the songs are sparse and intimate. No songwriting credits given, many of these songs are traditional folksongs or covers (The Silkie, Peter Paul & Mary) but it's unclear how many are originals. Loner folk of a kind, but the "downer folk" tag doesn't entirely apply here, as she is not a troubled soul and most of the songs are joyous, some are fiercely defiant, some are reflective and some do explore the ache of lost love. "Don't Tell Me" (mp3 below) appears to be one of her originals and showcases her bold, defiant, independent nature ("Don't Tell Me/I don't know what I want"), willing to forsake her true love for the "stronger thoughts in my mind." A beautiful Do-It-Yourself period piece of mid-late 60's femme folk.

Flip -- Don't Tell Me

eBay status: item #170407959902
 

Penom Pen

Mudmen -- Let It Go b/w Penom Pen

Obscure NYC no-wave single from around 1980, the only release by Mudmen. Dark atmospheric tribal post-punk-funk with a rumbling-bass dub feel, comparable to 99 Records contemporaries ESG, Liquid Liquid, Bush Tetras, Konk, etc. Sonic Youth's first drummer Richard Edson plays trumpet (he also played with Konk and Liquid Liquid.) Produced and engineered by Joe Barbaria, who also engineered the Talking Heads' Fear Of Music.
Mudmen -- Penom Pen

eBay status: item #350274094897
 

I Want To Be Blank

Blank Students -- We Are Natives b/w I Want To Be Happy

Super obscure DIY post-punk-funk single from Preston band Blank Students (whose only other appearances are on Fast Product's Earcom 1 LP along with The Prats/Flowers, and Luxury Soundtracks' A Classic Slice Of Teenage Angst 2 C-90 cassette comp along with Dexter's Urban Renewal.)

Strong A Certain Ratio influence (or likeness), poly-rhythms with great deep bass lines, catchy vocals, shambling guitar, songwriting hooks, but with a wilder free-jazz strain, the A-side starts off funky then turns into an extended almost psych improv passage with lots of free-form honking saxophone and there's even some exotic zurna/shawm ("Indian horn".)

"I Want To Be Happy" marries that UK 1980 ACR punk/funk sound with frantic no-wave funk like James Chance and the Contortions, Liquid Liquid, ESG, Konk, etc. Dancefloor filler with tight upbeat rhythm section, killer bass-playing, more wild screeching sax, whistles, cowbells and catchy hooks. A pretty great song to find on a more or less unknown record from 1980.

Blank Students -- I Want To Be Happy

eBay status: item #350274082601
 

Noise Punk of Sumeria

Songs Of Sumeria

All-out barrage of decimating noise punk from Flophouse, Stillborn Terror, and EMG.
EMG -- 777

eBay status: item #170402249142
 

Scratch the devil you hide inside

Mydolls -- Imposter b/w Excorcism

Female post-punk band from Texas, on the same label as Really Red, Culturecide and Doomsday Massacre. They're also on Cottage Cheese From The Lips Of Death. Check out http://mydolls1978.wordpress.com/ for lots and lots.

Band History compiled by Brian GTA: This highly original group featuring a very prominent feminist/social lyrical base got its start in 1979 in Houston, Texas by members Trish Herrera (ex-Kinky Friedman And the Texas Jewboys), Dianna Ray, Linda Bond (wife of Ronnie Bond from Really Red - aka U-Ron Bondage), and George Reyes (ex-Mystics). They recorded their first demo in '80 and late the same year a 7" entitled In Technicolor for Ronnie Bond's CIA label. In '81 they recorded the track "Soldier" to be included on the Cottage Cheese From The Lips Of Death compilation LP released by the Butthole Surfers. In '82 a second 7", Imposter, was recorded for CIA Records.

In 1983 Sub Pop released their Sub Pop 7 cassette compilation featuring amongst others a cut from the Mydolls, and that same year the Mydolls toured the Midwest. The Speak Softly And Carry A Big Stick 12" EP was released on CIA followed by an East Coast tour where the band played at the New York Film Festival due to one of their songs making it onto the Wim Wenders movie "Paris, Texas". In late '85 they returned to the studio to record a few more tracks which would remain unreleased as the band pulled the plug on themselves in '86.

Mydolls -- Excorcism

eBay status: item #170402170290
 

Close (to the Ellis Otivator) Dub, Hey!

The Stick Figures EP

Obscure DIY post-punk synth-wave single from this Tampa, Florida, band who relocated in Boston. Recorded in 1980 and released by the band in 1981 with five different front covers, one made by each band member. This copy has the white cover with the minimalist stick-figure drawings.

There's some very no-wave sounding avant punk funk on here, check out the insanely scrambled "Ellis Otivator Dub" which -- with its spliced-up vocals, psychotic shards of electronic noise and piercing guitar over gut-pounding bass n spastic drums -- sounds like it could be off of No New York or a 99 Records release by Liquid Liquid or ESG or Bush Tetras.

And even more bizarre is the apparent inclusion four years before "Close (to the Edit)" of the same "Hey!" sample that The Art Of Noise used so famously in 1984, and The Prodigy later picked up for "Firestarter". Listen closely, at 1:19 for that exact same "Hey!".

The Stick Figures -- Ellis Otivator Dub

eBay status: item #170401898338
  see also: http://ampnoise.blogspot.com/2009/11/close-to-ellis-otivator-dub-hey-2.html

I've Never Had So Much Fun In The Whole Of My Life

The Blonde Etheopian -- Sinews Are A Girls Best Friend

This stunningly good EP is UK avant post-punk band Crawling Chaos going under a different name. Twisted Nurse With Wound-ish takes on pop, punk, new wave, even surf music that would definitely appeal to anyone who likes the Lemon Kittens, Karl Blake, Danielle Dax, or Tools You Can Trust.
The Blonde Etheopian -- Throwing Pins

eBay status: item #170401896453
 

Admission (Yours)

The Filmcast -- Admission (Yours) b/w Colour - Colour

Scarce DIY minimal-synth art-wave single from 1979, check out the dark atmospheric electronic sound punctuated by sparse acoustic instruments:

The Filmcast -- Admission (Yours)

eBay status: item #350273751398
 

Another Absurd Record

Naafi Sandwich -- Slice 1 b/w Slice 2

Experimental DIY post-punk art-wave single, dark rumbling bass, driving percussion, all kinds of crazy electronics and minimalist guitar skronks. Next to Gerry And The Holograms, one of the very best of the great run of Absurd singles.
Naafi Sandwich -- Slice 2

eBay status: item #350273743535
 

It's a cult thing

Pak -- Balinese Dance b/w Sex Cult Thing

The band were also known as Metropak.
Pretty intense DIY post-punk single, "Sex Cult Thing" is dark and eerie, the sound of clamorous desperation, with swirling synth, gritty guitars and unforgettable vocals.

Pak -- Sex Cult Thing

eBay status: item #350273748714
 

The whale is a monstrous big thing, it's harmless too but human beings, we're not harmless to him

The Afflicted -- The Afflicted Man's New One

Insanely great Steve Hall guitar-led DIY oi/psych/punk noise! Simply one of the best UK DIY punk singles ever, from ca 1979. Comes in a rubber stamped candy-striped thin-stock bag, just like The Afflicted Man's Musical Bag LP except this is a custom-size smaller bag, it unfolds to about 8"x14". There are no songtitles printed anywhere, but Hall announces each title at the start: A-side is "142" and B-side is "Senseless Whale Slaughter" (an epic fuzz-bass psych-guitar killer of a song, has to be heard to be believed.)

The Afflicted (Man) -- Senseless Whale Slaughter

eBay status: item #170400585371
ENDS Nov 03, 2009 10:45:35 PST

Modern Noise

The Algebra Mothers -- Strawberry Cheesecake b/w Modern Noise

Simply amazing 1979 post-punk single from Detroit's Algebra Mothers aka A-Moms. A-side is catchy beyond belief synth-punk, B-side is an absolute killer arty noise-punk blast with over-the-top distorted fuzz-bass, WAY ahead of its time.

Comped on hyped2death's Homework #104, where Chuck says: I fell in love with the A-Moms' "Strawberry Cheesecake" the moment I heard it twenty years back... Cheesy Stranglers keyboards, annoying post-Devo vocals, and three or four of the most insidious hooks ever committed to vinyl. It's a special punkwave favorite. The handsomely-distorted squawking of "Modern Noise", however, should thrill a completely different bunch of, um, noise fans.

The Algebra Mothers -- Modern Noise

eBay status: item #350271926687
ENDS Nov 03, 2009 11:00:17 PST

We Are the Rock 'n Roll Dead

The Colors Out Of Time -- Rock Section

1981 UK DIY post-punk from this Manchester band. Definite Factory/Joy Division/Section 25/Crispy Ambulance influence, with a little harder, more KBD punk sound. "Rock Section" is dark, morbid and catchy as hell... "We are the rock 'n roll dead/We didn't wanna die/We didn't wanna OD".

The Colors Out Of Time -- Rock Section

eBay status: item #170399757264
ENDS Nov 03, 2009 08:31:17 PST

Je n'ai rien fait

Dead Heat -- Damnée Petite Sophie b/w Love Song

Sinister sounding French minimal-synth dark post-punk avant-industrial single, rare as hell... strong Throbbing Gristle feel, also DDAA, SPK, Minny Pops, etc. Art For Spastics sez: "Dead Heat is even weirder, more minimal starkness with near zero melody and absurdly slow and sped up vocals. I can find no information anywhere about them. What does anyone know? Please tell!"

Dead Heat -- Damnée Petite Sophie

eBay status: item #170400634107
ENDS Nov 03, 2009 12:28:00 PST

Bells are ringing, children singing

The Eternal Scream -- How I Wish b/w Child

Rare obscure UK DIY post-punk single, dark and moody experimental Factory Records sound, low bass/polyrhythmic drumming/shards of noisy guitar like Joy Division, Section 25, Crispy Ambulance, In Camera, The Names, Coitus Int, Josef K, etc.

The Eternal Scream -- Child

eBay status: item #350271935494
ENDS Nov 03, 2009 11:16:26 PST

More Ning Machine, Please!

Ning -- Machine b/w More Ning

Rare promo copy of one of the greatest lost prog/psych/glam/proto-punk tracks, full of hard rock attitude 'n studio sound effects. Monster heavy guitar break with dirty hard psych vocal. Try it if you don't know yet...

Ning -- Machine

eBay status: item #350284536084
ENDS Dec 02, 2009 13:33:26 PST

Trial by Silhouette

The Lowest Note On The Organ EP

Amazing DIY experimental single by the Low Notes under an alias. Features Tim Hodgkinson (Henry Cow, The Work), Mick Hobbs (1/2 Japanese, Family Fodder, The Work), Bill Gilonis (Grrr, News From Babel, The Work) and Rick Wilson (Family Fodder, The Work). Engineered by Charles Bullen (People In Control, This Heat).

Great stuff, fans of This Heat or Homosexuals/L Voag/Sara Goes Pop/George Harrasment and the more post-punk shambling side of the Recommended Records catalog will be pleased.

The Lowest Note On The Organ -- Trial By Silhouette

eBay status: item #170400606374
ENDS Nov 03, 2009 11:29:54 PST

Louder Glaxo Animal Homosexual Pop Group

Louder Animal Group -- Pip Pop b/w Six Magnificent Cathedrals

Rare obscure UK DIY experimental post-punk single from 1980, shambling art-wave with a loose dub feel and shards of trebly guitar, catchy aloof vocals, A-side sounds suspiciously EXACTLY like Glaxo Babies, B-side has a nice Homosexuals feel crossed with a little of The Pop Group as you can hear:

Louder Animal Group -- Six Magnificent Cathedrals

eBay status: item #350271939811
ENDS Nov 03, 2009 11:24:53 PST

Hard as Nails

Dayshift -- Living In The U.K. b/w Cedric Wazza, Superstar / Yeah Eh Oh Yeah Oh!

Shambling UK DIY post-punk weirdness from Dayshift i.e. Dan Electro (aka Dan Driscoll), guitarist for Desperate Bicycles.
"Yeah Eh Oh Yeah Oh!" is a killer track which should really get comped... shards of scrambled distorted bluesified guitar ontop of herky-jerky drums with David Bowie-drowning-in-the-bathtub vocals... brilliant stuff, veering between some kind of claustrophobic post-Televsion NYC no-wave sound and Swell Maps UK DIY mania... the kind of song Pavement strove for but could never achieve.

Dayshift -- Yeah Eh Oh Yeah Oh!

eBay status: item #350270725235
ENDS Nov 03, 2009 08:30:20 PST

Our Earth is Dying, woooooooohhh!!!

Androids Of Mu -- Blood Robots

Amazing lost DIY post-punk LP from this female punk band, formed out of Here & Now (Alternative TV, Planet Gong.) They played/toured with Zounds and The Mob and The Astronauts and The 012... gives an idea of what they sound like. Mix in some Raincoats, Slits, Petticoats, Crass, Kleenex... and you've got this great LP, about 15 years ahead of its time and very hard to find nowadays.

Pretty incredible cover art by Monica Sjoo.

For more on this LP and Monica Sjoo, check http://www.greengalloway.blogspot.com/search?q=androids

Sounds review from 1980:

Androids Of Mu -- Atomic X

eBay status: item #170400693581
ENDS Nov 03, 2009 15:33:23 PST

Sie sprechen Deutsch

The Epigram EP

Rare obscure DIY post-punk/powerpop EP from the UK 1981, with one truly great track, "You Speak German", a real catchy pop-punk song by The Architects, notable for the insanely over-recorded production, with crunchy distorted guitars and vocals pushing the red. It's like the Sick Things decided to slow things down a bit and try to cover the Only Ones. The Architects, according to the sleeve, "are a three-pieced band from North-West London who believe in the principles of Commodity, Firmness and Delight."

The Architects -- You Speak German

eBay status: item #170400594058
ENDS Nov 03, 2009 11:04:14 PST