Do Yourself In
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Order the CD now and get a free Download of the song 'Batteries'Order The Vinyl version now and get a download of the full album.
Batteries is the self-titled debut solo album by Steven Clark (professionally known as Sci-Fi Steven) from Glasgow's Punk/Disco legends bis.
An exercise in short, sharp new-wave snappiness, Steven has ramped up the guitars and latent aggression to create a new sound which has already been compared to Devo playing Queens of The Stone Age or vice-versa.
Nagging melodies abound with some darker twists and a cynical sense of positivity informs the lyrics.
There's plenty of pop hooks for the bis faithful, but Batteries is an angrier beast. Contains anthemic lead track "Batteries" and the viciously wonky pop of "Human Requirements.Batteries - Batteries
Side A:
1. Batteries
2. Flashbacks
3. Human Requirements
4. Suicide Everything
5. Rumour Vs. Lie
6. Wah! Kinder
Side B:
7. Stuck In The Arteries
8. Cannibals
9. Straight To Video
10. London
11. Anorexia Poster Girls
12. Destroy My Machines
Batteries - CD:
1. Batteries
2. Flashbacks
3. Human Requirements
4. Suicide Everything
5. Rumour Vs. Lie
6. Wah! Kinder
7. Stuck In The Arteries
8. Cannibals
9. Straight To Video
10. London
11. Anorexia Poster Girls
12. Destroy My Machines -
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#Order now and get an instant download of the EP.#
Very limited 7' single (300 only worldwide)
'Human Requirements' is the next single to be taken from Batteries, the debut solo album from Sci-Fi Steven from bis'new band Batteries, which is out now via Do Yourself In. The single will come out on 11 September and will be available as a double AA side single with the song 'Softhead', a new recording exclusive to this this 7'.As Sci-Fi Steven Explains, the song "Human Requirements" is a 'thinly veiled political rant about the desperate inability of the electorate to fundamentally put collective welfare ahead of short-term selfishness. The "say-one-thing, vote-another" mentality that pervades and my frustration at conservative negativity. Somehow, it seems to have turned into a pop song with a skinny-tie sprightliness."
More info about Batteries:
Batteries is the self-titled debut solo album by Steven Clark (professionally known as Sci-Fi Steven) from Glasgow's Punk/Disco legends bis. An exercise in short, sharp new-wave snappiness, Steven has ramped up the guitars and latent aggression to create a new sound which has already been compared to Devo playing Queens of the Stone Age or vice-versa. Nagging melodies abound with some darker twists and a cynical sense of positivity informs the lyrics. There are plenty of pop hooks for the bis faithful, but Batteries is an angrier beast.
"Irresistible post-punk pop." Vive Le Rock 9/10
"The self-titled debut album from Batteries fizzes with post-punk energy across its 12 tracks, poking you in the ribs with arpeggio riffs that are all angles and elbows." The Herald
"The lead single, which like the project and the album is also called Batteries', is the perfect lead in to the project. It's a sharp-edged three minutes, pushing itself forward with stop-start rhythms, and bloody hell it's catchy." CMU
Tracklisting:
1. Human Requirements
2. Softhead
3. Human Requirements (Skylab Remix)
4. Human Requirements (Glitterous Remix)
5. Human Requirements (Video)
Links:https://www.facebook.com/batteriesmusic
https://twitter.com/batteriesmusic
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Get FREE DOWNLOADS of the songs 'The Fall In Love Club' and 'Pankhurst' when buying the vinyl or ordering the CD.Visit product page →
180g black vinyl 500 copies only, no download card.
Steven Clark (a.k.a Sci-Fi Steven from disco/punk legends bis) returns with his one-man-band project Batteries what seems like seconds after last year's self-titled snappy New-Wave debut. The debut's dystopian potential future themes remain, but this time both the musical and lyrical safety nets have been removed.
With the "Devo plays Queens Of The Stone Age or vice versa" mantra still a loose guide, The Finishing Line opens with the vague reassurance of lost Punk 45 "The Fall-In-Love Club" before the safety is removed for the unhinged journey ahead.
Remnants of Bill Nelson's Red Noise, Cardiacs and early Blur b-sides abound in "Mutual Enemies" and "Hidden Tracks" while there's edgy American metallic synth punk in "Pigs", "Pankhurst" and "Children Be Normal" which recalls Jesus Lizard and Brainiac.
It's a restless itchy record, fleeting pop melodies are crushed by industrial strength guitars, but one that is a cohesive reward and illustrates Steven's unique musical vision.
Tracklisting:
Side A:
1. The Fall-In-Love Club
2. Pankhurst
3. Hidden Tracks
4. Pigs
5. The Rules Are Wrong
6. Mutual Enemies
Side B:
1. Future Studies
2. Children Be Normal
3. Data Intercourse
4. Gather By The Sea
5. Business As A Euphemism
6. The Finishing Line -
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The influential and ever underrated Glasgow, Scotland trio return with "data Panik etcetera" - a release that brings us up to date with recordings from the year spent re-branded at data Panik, alongside other aborted attempts to record a 4th, and definitive, bis album.
Hardcore fans have been desperate to get their hands on these recordings, and the band have carefully selected and remastered the pick of the bunch - which sit neatly together to create a cohesive whole.
The band have still been playing storming sets live over the last few years, surprising punters at places such as Primavera in Barcelona and 2013's Indietracks Festival as headliner and new material has crept into the set-list.
Consider this a friendly catch-up before bis begin again where they left off. Manda Rin, Sci-Fi Steven and John Disco, to give them their professional monikers, were big in the late 1990's for such highlights as being the first unsigned band on Top Of The Pops (allegedly), creating the theme tune to the massive Hanna-Barbera cartoon "The Powerpuff Girls", having their own Casio G-Shock watch released in Japan and moving from their punk-rock roots to have a huge underground European dance hit with "Eurodisco".
Taking influences from Devo, XTC, Huggy Bear, Bikini Kill and The Plastics, bis have also inspired other for 20 years now - being a reference point for a host of artists such as CSS, Los Campesinos!, Joanna Gruesome and Chvrches.
The band also featured in NME's list of Top 20 Cult Heroes and featured in their Top 50 Britpop anthems. Albums "The New Transistor Heroes" (Under-fi pop/punk songs with twitches into disco, hip-hop and synth-pop), "Social Dancing" (Glossy electro-pop that somehow failed to take the world by storm) and "Return To Central" (An expansive rebirth, taking in Eno, Moroder and Can like a bunch of hipsters - sales negligible) showcased the over-development of their creators, always keen to move onto the next project.
With "data Panik etcetera" the inspirations had moved onto strict, skinny-tie, new-wave pop songs (Control The Radical, Minimum Wage, Retail of the Details), awkward XTC play Chic disco (Cubis (I Love You), Music Lovers, Too Much Not Enough) and disconcerting Goth-Techno (Sense Not Sense, Flesh Remover). Rulers and the States, meanwhile, has already featured heavily on a Scottish Television advert with it's nagging Sparksy riff.
Released by Do Yourself In, "data Panik etcetera" comes in vinyl format (180g white vinyl), CD. A throwback to the band's roots in 7" singles and EP's - and selling their fanzines through the old-school independent record store network. "Minimum Wage" also features on a split 7" picture disc with Birmingham band Ghosts of Dead Airplanes. With work continuing on new bis material, who knows what the future holds. This could be the start of it all........again!Tracklisting:
1. Control the Radical
2. Minimum Wage
3. Rulers and the States
4. Cubis (I Love You)
5. Sense Not Sense
6. Mechanical Love
7. Too Much Not Enough
8. Retail of the Details
9. Music Lovers
10. The Young Mothers
11. Flesh Remover
12. (That Love Ain't) Justified -
2 x Red 180g LP + Download Card.Visit product page →
All the early, hard-to-find EP's collected - from 1994's debut "Transmissions On The Teen-C Tip!" through to 1996's "Bis vs. The DIY Corps", a crazed journey through Riot Grrrl indebted Synth-Pop to the New-Wave poses of chart-bothering "Kandy Pop" and beyond. Inspired by Devo, Bikini Kill and XTC in equal measures, these are the sounds that inspired a devoted fan base and influenced a generation of bands.
Includes the previously unreleased "Nation Go Yeah! (Home Demonstrations)" - 4-track recordings from 1993-1996, a unique insight into the restless creators brains featuring lost classics and early versions.
Tracklisting:
Side A:
1. Kill Yr Boyfriend
2. Sci-Fi Superstar
3. Improved Neu! Formula
4. Public School Boy
5. Caustic Sofa
6. School Disco
Side B:
7. Plastik People
8. Conspiracy A-Go-Go
9. Pop Socks
10. Icky-Poo Air Raid
11. Kandy Pop
12. Secret Vampires
Side C:
13. Teen-C Power
14. Diska
15. Keroleen
16. Grand Royal With Cheese
17. This Is Fake D.I.Y
18. Burn The Suit
19. Dance To The Disco Beat
Side D:
20. Nation Go Yeah! (Home Demonstrations) -
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Limited Edition 7''Single.
Following the announcement of a new single Keep Your Darkness', and the double album The Anthology - 20 Years of Antiseptic Poetry'Glasgow trio bis have confirmed three dates for January 2015. The releases come via Cargo who are also releasing deluxe editions of the band's first three albums on 1st December.
The single is released as a 7" vinyl/download of Keep Your Darkness'backed with a cover of Susan Fassbender's 1981 minor hit, Twilight Café'.
Recorded with the full live band, Keep Your Darkness'carries some familiar bis influences, sounding like early Human League as played by Adam And The Ants with the signature triple-headed vocal assault. UK Fans will recognise the song from recent live shows, indeed it was widely considered the highlight of the band's set at the closing ceremonies of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
On the flip is a raucous take on Susan Fassbender's classic Twilight Café'. Susan was an underrated and tragic figure, as evidenced by a recent Top Of The Pops 2 episode featuring the song. The caption read, "No-one seems to know anything about Susan....except Glasgow Indie-Pop stars, bis". It's a song the band have always loved, and finally their version sees the light of day.
The single shows the hard-hitting side of bis and will feature on forthcoming live shows, new material suggests a return to the guitar/synth/drum machine model of the early days, with the sonic element dialled back to POP with a twist. In other words, bis promise to keep their darkness.
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2001's "Return To Central" sees bis rip up their own rule book and start stretching their wings. From the shouty pop-punk-disco of 1997's "The New Transistor Heroes" to the shiny, slick pop of 1999's "Social Dancing", not even the most fanatical bis fan could have envisaged the leap to "Return To Central".Visit product page →
Spending most of 2000 in a basement with banks of synthesizers, samplers and Brian Eno records, Manda Rin (now with whispered vocals), Sci-Fi Steven and John Disco created the cinematic "What You're Afraid Of", the sweeping My Bloody Valentine indebted "The End Starts Today", the Moog-heavy disco of "Protection" and the sad euphoria of great-lost-hit "Silver Spoon".
The massive sonic departure divided the remaining fanbase and was the band's last album until 2014's "data Panik etcetera", but many consider "Return To Central" the band's masterpiece.
Now in expanded form with un-released tracks of the era, remixes and the "Fact 2002" EP, including the famous cover of Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart'.
Tracklisting:
CD1:
1. What You're Afraid Of
2. Silver Spoon
3. Black Pepper
4. The End Starts Today
5. Protection
6. Two Million
7. Chicago
8. Metal Box
9. We're Complicated
10. Robotic
11. A Portrait From Space
12. Don't Let The Rain Come Down
13. Make It Through
14. Sound Of Sleet
15. Brainclouds
16. Heartless Particles
17. Return To Central
CD2:
1. Robotic (Just Last Week) (Syndrum Mix)
2. Love Will Tear Us Apart
3. Hurt
4. Shack Up
5. Looking From A Hilltop
6. The European (7''Version)
7. Mamelodi Sundown
8. Situation
9. Love 2 Love U
10. The End Starts Today (Tommie Sunshines "Nail Me Down" Glasgow Summer Freestyle Mix)
11. Telephone Operator
12. Cubis (I Love You) (12''Version)
13. Protection (Ectomorph Chromium Version)
14. Robotic (Adult. Almost Instrumental Mix) -
1999's "Social Dancing" saw Manda Rin, Sci-Fi Steven and John Disco, having been ostrasized by the UK music press, return with a bigger, shinier and cohesive sound.Visit product page →
Produced by Gang Of Four's Andy Gill and mixed by Pet Shop Boys engineer Bob Kraushaar, the blend of 1979 New-Wave riffs and 80's Electro-Pop synths shine on hit single "Eurodisco", the sped-up Gary Numan of "I'm A Slut" and album opener "Making People Normal".
An expanded sonic palette saw a liberal use of samples, a diversion into trip-hop ("Detour") and even a real string section on "Theme From Tokyo". While "Social Dancing" didn't have the impact of debut album "The New Transitor Heroes", it's most fans favourite - a solid body of songs which has a confident band at the top of their game. Now here in deluxe form, including 2000's self-produced (and band favourite) "Music For A Stranger World" mini-album.
Tracklisting:
CD1:
1. Making People Normal
2. I'm A Slut
3. Eurodisco
4. Action And Drama
5. Theme From Tokyo
6. The Hit Girl
7. Am I Loud Enough
8. Shopaholic
9. Young Alien Types
10. Detour
11. Sale Or Return
12. It's All New
13. Listen Up
14. Eurodisco (Les Rythmes Digitales Remix)
15. Eurodisco (DJ Scissorkicks Remix)
16. Eurodisco (Klute Polka Remix)
17. Eurodisco (Bob Kraushaar/Pete Gleadall Vocal)
18. Detour (The Husk Mix)
CD2:
1. Like Robots
2. Cinema Says
3. Stray Cat Blues
4. Not Even Close
5. Seventeen Hours
6. Germ Free Adolescents
7. Kiss And Tell 08. Why Don't We Go Home?
9. Famous (Andy Gill Version)
10. Dead Wrestlers
11. Are You Ready?
12. How Can We Be Strange?
13. I Want It All
14. Beats At The Office
15. Punk Rock Points
16. Why Are We Waiting (12''Version)
17. Famous (Demo Version)
18. Kid Cut (Demo Version)
19. Eurodisco (Demo) -
Lavishly packaged in a black gloss digibook, with silver foiled band logo front, complete with a 24 page fanzine style booklet including the complete song lyrics, rare and previously unseen photographs and artwork compiled and designed by the band.Visit product page →
Celebrating 20 years since their formation, Glasgow trio bis release a double CD and download collection. The Anthology - 20 Years of Antiseptic Poetry'is the definitive 42 track retrospective, including: Eurodisco' the John Peel Session of 'Kandy Pop' and the new single Keep Your Darkness'. Since their formation in 1994, bis aka Sci-Fi Steven, John Disco and Manda Rin have continually mutated their initial influences of Synth-pop, Riot Grrrl and DIY Punk into weird and wonderful songs with a natural gift for melodic earworms and a disco heartbeat.
The Anthology draws from the bands expansive back catalogue including early DIY releases, tracks from their 1997 album debut The New Transistor Heroes', 1999's Social Dancing', 2000's Music For A Stranger World'EP as well band's most misunderstood album 2001's Return To Central'. Despite calling it a day in 2003, the farewell only lasted until 2007 when the band played their biggest headline show to date to commemorate the 10th anniversary of their debut album. A show at the Primavera Festival (Barcelona, Spain) brought the band out of semi-retirement once more in 2010 and the band have been performing irregularly ever since.
2014 dawned the band's 20th anniversary, bringing first the release of the data Panik etcetera'album for International Record Store Day, garnering some of the best critical acclaim of the band's career, re-ignited the original fans whilst introducing the band to a whole new generation. What follows is a lavishly produced compilation of hits, misses, rarities and exclusives - The Anthology - 20 Years of Antiseptic Poetry'.
CD 1:
1. Eurodisco
2. Cubis (I Love You)
3. Theme From Tokyo
4. Kandy Pop (John Peel Session)*
5. Keep Your Darkness*
6. This Is Fake D.I.Y.
7. Protection (Alternative Mix)*
8. School Disco (Live)*
9. Public School Boy
10. Sound Of Sleet
11. Tell It To The Kids
12. Plastik People
13. D.J.
14. Kiss And Tell
15. Rulers And The States
16. DNA (by Manda Rin)
17. Photo Shop
18. Why Are We Waiting?
19. Social Dancing*
20. Robotic
21. A Portrait From Space
CD 2:
1. Beats At The Office
2. Monstarr
3. Minimum Wage
4. Icky-Poo Air Raid (John Peel Session)*
5. Statement Of Intent (Remix)
6. Starbright Boy
7. Honesty Is Stupid (Demo)*
8. Keroleen
9. What You're Afraid Of
10. How Can We Be Strange?
11. Today Of All Days
12. Action And Drama (Radio Version)
13. Space Me (by Dirty Hospital)
14. Young Alien Types (Demo)*
15. Secret Vampires 16. Clockwork Punk
17. Silver Spoon
18. Brainclouds
19. Eurodisco (Les Rythmes Digitales Remix)
20. Making People Normal
21. Kill Yr Boyfriend (Live)* -
"The New Transistor Heroes" is the youthful Manda Rin, Sci-Fi Steven and John Disco's energetic 1997 debut album, now fully expanded with b-sides and rarities of the era.Visit product page →
It's an explosion of colourful influences ranging from quirky New-Wave to 80's Synth-Pop and Riot Grrrl with hints of Disco and Two-Tone, the sound of an excitable band without pretences.
The album went massive in Japan, "Starbright Boy" and "Sweet Shop Avengerz" hit the UK charts while the digital Motown of "Tell It To The Kids" introduced bis to the kids of the US.
The anti-body fascism disco anthem, "Monstarr", remains a fan favourite to this day while the synth-heavy "Skinny-Tie Sensurround" pointed to the next, 80's indebted, album "Social Dancing". It's a bold and innocent attempt at creating the definitive bis document, and it's catchy as sin to boot.
Tracklisting:
CD1:
1. Tell It To The Kids
2. Sweet Shop Avengerz
3. Starbright Boy
4. Popstar Kill
5. Mr. Important
6. Antiseptic Poetry
7. Popyura
8. Skinny Tie Sensurround
9. Poster Parent
10. Monstarr
11. Everybody Thinks That They're Going To Get Theirs
12. Rebel Soul
13. Photo Shop
14. X-Defect
15. Lie Detector Test
16. Dinosaur Germs
CD2:
01. Kill Yr Boyfriend (Grand Royal Version)
02. Keroleen (Unreleased Version)
03. Pop Song (featuring Pink Kross)
04. Clockwork Punk
05. Wee Love
06. Team Theme
07. Cliquesuck
08. I'll Get You Back
09. Rollerblade
10. Ninja Hi-Skool
11. Automatic Freestyle
12. Statement Of Intent (Original Version)
13. Girl Star (Remix)
14. Cookie Cutter Kid
15. (It's The) Ram Jam
15. Sweet Shop Avengerz (Hi-Fi Mix)
16. Tell It To The Kids (Hi-Fi Mix)
17. Monstarr (Hi-Fi Mix)
18. The Boy With The Thorn In His Side
19. We Are So Fragile
20. Photo Shop (Stripped) -
Split 7" - Limited Edition 500 Pressing - Coloured Vinyl, no download.Visit product page →
A split between the old and new kids on the new-wave pop block.
"Boredom Could Be Good For You" is brand-new, machines and guitar pop from Glasgow's indie legends bis. A favourite from recent reformation gigs, it encapsulates their famed musical exuberance, wiry riffs, wonky beats and synths, with a wry and reflective sideswipe at the youth of today. It's the bis that the old-school fans know and love, but also showcases their continued ability to craft long-lost indie-disco classics alongside their more Riot Grrrl or electronic inspirations. With gigs lined up and a new album forthcoming, "Boredom Could Be Good For You" is a hook laden reminder that Manda Rin, Sci-Fi Steven and John Disco could be good for you too.
On the flip, young upstarts from Reading, Big Zero interrupt the show with "Tear It Up and Start Again", their guitar and synth driven weirdo-pop vinyl debut. Like Devo getting drunk with Weezer, Adam, Johnnie and Jordan take influence from the best of British and American New-Wave and give it a much needed shot of adrenaline.
Their B-Movie inspired DIY videos have been gaining a cult following, live shows ecstatically received and with bis support dates on the horizon, fans can witness their new favourite band and their old favourite band together. A full EP will follow on Do Yourself In later in the year.
Tracklisting:
Bis - Boredom Could Be Good For You
Big Zero - Tear It Up and Start Again -
2 x 180g, Coloured, Vinyl & Download Card - Limited Edition 500 Pressing.Visit product page →
For the first time ever anywhere! It's the thoroughly collected works of Blood Sausage, the early 1990's punk and poetry phenomena that baffled audiences, upset soundmen and really really angered the music press.
Blood Sausage was a loose fitting musical collective based around Dale Shaw (Vocals and words), AJW Bourton (The McTells, The Beatpack, Cee Bee Beaumont), Owen Thomas (Cee Bee Beaumont, Graham Coxon), Jo Johnson (Huggy Bear, Bleep43), Niki Elliott (Huggy Bear) plus special guests such as Sexton Ming and Kathleen Hanna.
Featuring their acclaimed Wiiija EP Touching You in Ways That Don't Feel Comfortable'(NME's Single of the Week) every track from their debut album, K single, Clawfist split single with Cornershop plus live tracks, unreleased stuff and demos.
Described at the time as ' - ¦a plane crash involving Thinking Fellas Local Union 238 and The Kingston Trio with The Standells as the black box flight recorder, Archie Shepp as the rescue crew and Isaac Hayes as the priest administering the last rites - ¦' we still feel this is pretty accurate.
This double album, coloured vinyl set also features 29 tracks of remastered mayhem plus extensive liner notes from Dale Shaw. Nothing ever sounded like Blood Sausage. Some people think this is a good thing.
Side A:
1. What Law Am I Breaking Now?
2. Fuck You and Your Underground
3. Foot Down
4. Billy Joel
5. Static
6. Dipper
7. Slacker Shanty
8. Fucking a Junky Without a Condom
Side B:
1. Lalo
2. Have Love Will Travel
3. Evil Niceties*
4. Masturbation*
5. Denis Lavant
6. Living in a Haunted House
7. Bottom Feeder
8. Pet Parade*
Side C:
1. We All Bleed Red*
2. Buck Satin*
3. Knockout Drops
4. The Girl Who Kissed His Face Like a Clock
5. Denis Lavant*
6. Buck Satin*
Side D:
1. Devil in Disguise
2. Fuck You and Your Underground (Live)*
3. I'm Glad I Never (Live)*
4. Fuck You and Your Underground (Live)*
5. What Law Am I Breaking Now? (Live)*
6. 1-2-5 featuring Kathleen Hanna (Live)*
7. Devil in Disguise
(Live)*
(*Previously Unreleased) -
1000 only on Picture Disc.Visit product page →
British singer/songwriter Carina Round makes her fourth consecutive Record Store Day release with the 10th Anniversary vinyl debut of her 'Things You Should Know' MLP.
Opening with the anthemic fan-favourite Backseat'and includes the tracks 'Do You' and 'For Everything A Reason' both of which were featured in the TV series American Horror Story: Murder House'. Round has established an immensely loyal and passionate fan base, who have long championed for this release, since of her 2001 debut album 'The First Blood Mystery', proving herself as one of UK's most enigmatic songstresses.
Carina has garnished further recognition as a member of the LA and Jerome AZ based band - Puscifer, with whom she is more recently a member, alongside fellow band mates including Maynard James Keenan, also of the bands Tool and A Perfect Circle.
Round's music has won her fans and collaborators amongst highly regarded musicians such as: Billy Corgan, Dave Stewart and Brian Eno amongst many others.
Tracklisting:
Side A:
1. Backseat
2. Please Don't Stop
3. Thief In The Sky
Side B:
4. Do You
5. For Everything A Reason -
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Pre-Order now and get a Free Download of the E.P. + 'Born To Lose In A Past Life Blues' Video and Art.
Limited edition of 250.
Releasing their eponymous debut EP, Ghosts of Dead Airplanes are making a statement of intent.Combining melodic keys and vocal lines, with the pure unadulterated noise of dizzying drum beats and ear bleeding guitars, they are a schizophrenic experience.
Coming across like post punk placed through an alt rock blender on minute, slackers on speed the next, there is a definite musical magpieism at work.
Their frenetic live shows, draw from an eclectic range of influences and the band make music you'll find difficult not to connect with, combining raw impassioned vocals with a tapestry of riffs and rhythms rich enough for you to lose yourself in.
Tracklisting:
1. Barry Norman
2. Born To Lose In A Past Life Blues
3. Hair Metal Shame
4. Deep In The Shallows
5. Decrepit Lee Lewis'Born to Lose in a Past Life Blues' Video on YouTube:
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Available on 180g coloured vinyl + DL, 2CD and digital download.
A decade on from it's critically acclaimed UK release, Katastrophy (Kat-as-trophy) Wife's sophomore album All Kneel finally makes its way to an international release and it's long-awaited vinyl and digital debut. Having cut an iconic swathe thorough alternative rock in the late 80's and 1990's with her band Babes in Toyland, Kat Bjelland reemerged from a brief musical hiatus in 2001 with Katastrophy Wife's debut Amusia, recorded in her home state of Minneapolis, Minnesota, with her then husband, Glen Mattson (Drums) and Keith St. Louis (Bass). Released to favourable reviews and a UK live debut headlining at the coveted Reading & Leeds Festivals the band soon became a favourite amongst rock critics and fans alike.
Alternating between her home in Minneapolis and Birmingham, England, Bjelland enlisted the talents of Andrew Parker (Bass), Darren Donovan (Drums) and Vanessa White (Additional Guitars) to co-write and record the bands second offering All Kneel in late 2003. Drawing influence from her new surroundings Bjelland & Co. collaborated with Producer Gavin Monaghan (Editors, Goldblade, The Twang) to create what has been cited as Bjelland's finest output to date, the aptly titled All Kneel.
Opening with pummelling riffs and frenzied melody the fan favourite Liberty Belle sets the bar for this chainsaw-wielding drag-race of an album that segues through 11 tracks of intelligent and aggressive punk-rock genius. Whipping up a hard and fast racket with standout tracks like Money Shot and Sweetheart before briefly offsetting the dirty for the sweet, with acclaimed singer-songwriter Carina Round on the collaborative Blue Valient, with its aching vocals that cruelly caress before the relentless pounding drums and aural onslaught reprise for the bone-crunching Emit Time and "Layne to Rest", Bjelland's unsettling and touching tribute Alice in Chains singer Layne Stanley.
Marking it's 10th Anniversary release the album comes complete with the complimentary Bonus Album For Your Patients, a 10 track compilation of previously unreleased, rare and exclusive bonus recordings, including alternative takes on album tracks: Sweetheart and No Thing from Babes in Toyland Producer Tim Mac (Nemesisters) and the electro-remix of Liberty Belle" by indie-icons Bis. Re-packaged, complete with lyrics and original band photography this 10th Anniversary Edition is available on 180g coloured vinyl + DL, 2CD and digital download.Tracklisting:
1. Liberty Belle2. Money Shot3. Sweetheart4. Blue Valient with Carina Round5. Emit Time6. Ice Cream & Cigarettes7. Babydoll8. Asstroglide9. No Thing10. Layne to Rest11. Suffrage..All Kneel: For Your Patients :1. Ice Cream & Cigarettes (Neil is the Only One Version)2. Money Shot (Demo)3. Sweetheart (Tim Mac Version)4. No Thing (Tim Mac Version)5. Blue Valient (Stripped)6. Alectronancy7. Liberty Belle (Bis Remix)8. Blue Valient with Carina Round (Jon Glass Remix)9. Sweetheart (Spatula Remix)10. Wind-Up Monkey -
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Boxset, 2 Studio Alum LP's both 180g coloured vinyl + 2 x Digital Download Rarities Albums - Limited Edition 500 Pressing.
Punk legends Babes In Toyalnd returned to the worlds stage in 2015 ending a 14 year hiatus with founding members Kat Bjelland and Lori Barbero reminding riot grrrl's and boys of all ages how to rock, with an extensive tour and high profile festival dates across the USA, Canada and Europe. This collection compiles Bjelland's two solo albums recorded under the moniker Katastrophy Wife released during that hiatus.
Katastrophy Wife's debut Amusia'was released to highly favourable reviews following a UK live debut at Reading and Leeds Festivals in 2001. Including the UK Indie #14 single Gone Away', together with fan favourites like Git Go'and Window'the album soon became a highly sought after addition to Bjelland's hardcore Babes in Toyland fan base. This collection marks the albums 15th Anniversary and it's first ever vinyl release.
The sophomore album All Kneel'spawned three singles Liberty Belle', Money Shot and Blue Valient. Enjoying great critical acclaim, including features and reviews from Kerrang!, The Guardian and Mojo. Further touring of Europe and the US followed culminating in a headlining slot at Glastonbury Festival in 2004. A final single release Heart-On'via the Australian label RiSH followed in 2007 before Bjelland embarked on her own musical hiatus until the much publicised return of Babes in Toyland.
Whilst fans and critics patiently await the release of new material from the Minneapolis rockers this release finally brings together the two hard to find albums Amusia'and All Kneel'repackaged and pressed on 180g coloured vinyl, combined with the specially compiled and previously unreleased digital album Amnesia'and For Your Patients'a collection of rare recordings from the Amusia'and All Kneel'era's respectively.
LP 1 - Amusia:
Side A:
1. Gone Away
2. Boomerang Doll
3. Git Go
4. Rosacea
5. Pretty Car
Side B:
1. Anathema
2. Knife Fight
3. Haunted
4. Window
5. Widdershins.
LP 2 All Kneel:
Side A:
1. Liberty Belle
2. Money Shot
3. Sweetheart
4. Blue Valient (with Carina Round)
5. Emit Time
6. Ice Cream & Cigarettes
Side B:
1. Baby Doll
2. Asstroglide
3. No Thing
4. Layne To Rest
5. Suffrage / Amnesia
Download only:
1. Gone Away (Original 4 Track Demo Version)*
2. Make The Devil Leave Me Alone*
3. Long Cool Summer (Demo)*
4. Keith's Mood (Demo)*
5. Dragon Lady (Demo)*
6. Poison (Demo)*
7. Boomerang Doll (Radio K Session)*
8. Git Go (Radio K Session)*
9. Busiest Shopping Day Of The Year
10. Molly's Lips (Live at the Freebutt)*
11. Liberty Belle (Original Recording)*
For Your Patients Download Only:
1. Ice Cream & Cigarettes (Neil Is The Only One Version)
2. Money Shot (Demo)
3. Sweetheart (Tim Mac Version)
4. No Thing (Tim Mac Version)
5. Blue Valient (Stripped)
6. Alectronancy
7. Liberty Belle (Bis Remix)
8. Blue Valient (with Carina Round) [Jon Glass Remix]
9. Sweetheart (Spatula Remix)
10. Wind-Up Monkey /
*Previously Unreleased -
In 1995 the album was an unexpected comeback and a lost classic. It was the first new material recorded by the band for years despite many of the songs being written a decade before. On release, though, the album disappeared into a void being out of sync with the times and before Poly got her deserved iconic status.Visit product page →
Bassist Paul Dean was equally shocked at the out of the blue recording.
‘I was very surprised, this was the mid 1990’s and 17 years since Germfree. It was the time of Britpop, Punk was now old news. Poly had 12 new songs and she said the album was going to be called Conscious Consumer and she wanted me on bass. I thought about and said yes of course’
Sax legend Lora Logic was equally surprised by the return of the band.
‘I was ensconced in mummyhood with a 3 year old and hadn't connected with Poly for a long time. She rang me out of the blue, and without any small talk, suggested I come and stay with her in her small London flat to record a brand new X-Ray Spex album.
Excited and without considering any repercussions, I found myself on the train with my tenor sax, (childcare sorted) which had been sleeping in it's case for years, and a soprano sax which I had not played since recording ‘Pedigree Charm’ in 1981.’
The band who also re-formed in 1991, 1995 and 2008 are now revered worldwide for sparking a new kind of attitude in music. The late Poly is now a pop culture pin-up for an originality and feminism that barely existed at the time. Her acerbic, witty and brilliant lyrics and distinctive voice have stood the test of time, and along with the band’s original sax player Lora Logic, she has become part of the punk rock narrative. The fuzzy snapshots of the brief early lineup see the sassy and sharp dressed teenager core oozing talent, originality and style in a freeze frame of pop culture punk rock perfection.
The X-Ray Spex story has been told over and over in books, films and online and yet the band’s second album seems to have slipped from view. Finally lovingly restored it’s getting its moment in the sun and its punky pop/noise songs that drip a punky sass with an added bubblegum melody with Poly’s sassy lyrical genius.
There is not a dud on the album that updates the debut’s kooky Day-Glo genius with a song cycle that are snapshots of the then contemporary culture. The tunes come wrapped up with Poly’s distinctive voice and, finally, Lora Logic who is unleashed on a whole album playing her exquisite sax on each track with her distinctive stand out style that is her trademark.
There is something magical about the way the voice and the sax slip around each other in their own individual perfection. Poly’s instinctive pop nous and Lora’s bleating sax give the songs their distinctive twists and turns.
Paul Dean remembers the recording.
‘It was Poly, Lora and me from the original band and we recruited Crispian Mills on guitar and Paul Winterhart on drums who were both brilliant and had a lot of input.
Some of the songs I was already aware of and had been around for years e.g. ‘Prayer For Peace’. We had a few rehearsals, there were 12 songs to work out. Poly had the lyrics and melody and the band worked out the chords, riffs and song arrangements into a recordable structure, it was a lot of work in a short time.
Sound wise it was the classic X-ray Spex set up with Poly’s unique vocals and raps and Lora’s trademark saxophone melodies swinging it along on top of the guitar, bass and drums. If I remember correctly, it was all done in a few weeks.’
For Lora Logic, it was initially an exciting experience.
‘My first studio memory was being struck by Crispian Mill's (or Red Spectre, his album pseudonym) impressive guitar presence and how tightly he played with drummer Paul Winterhart (or Pauli OhAirt, his album pseudonym), strengthened by a musical bond from years of gigging together. I had seen Crispian play in his first band in his early teens before Kula Shaker. Having previously made friends with his mum, Hayley Mills, from her Krishna Temple visits. It was awesome to find myself bumping into him again on an X-Ray Spex album!
Meeting up with original Spex bassist Paul Dean again, after nearly 20 years, was also wonderful. I very much enjoyed pulling sax flurries out of the ether after Crispian had arranged guitar to Poly's contagious new tunes.
However it was not easy to finish. Poly began suggesting that most of the sax should be taken out. Fortunately, the producer convinced her otherwise and the sax parts were subtly mixed in. Sadly, her emotional and mental decline became increasingly apparent as we went along. Completing Poly’s vocal over-dubs became a priority.’
Finally recorded, the album is full of lost classics like ‘Crystal Clear’ that revisits the tension and release of the debut album whilst ‘Cigarettes’ and ‘Junk Food Junkie’ are closest to classic Spex style with an added pop touch and see Poly still examining the crassness of consumer culture. There is the amusing nod to Iggy Pop in ‘Dog In Sweden’, which is an urgent punk rock missive just like the band had staked their reputation on years before.
There is the nod to T. Rex on ‘Prayer for Peace’ that featured on both this album and the recent Essential Logic Album ‘Land Of Kali’. or the hypnotic mantra like ‘Sophia’ that has the mystery of a Kate Bush in its exquisite grooves. ‘India’ is a paean to the holy nation of Poly’s dreams that embraces a spiritual serenity far away from the urgent rush of the debut album whilst ‘Hi Chaperone’ has the cheeky twist of Lora Logic’s own acclaimed post Spex band Essential Logic given the X-Ray treatment. Lora recalls the album fondly.
‘I am honoured to have been creatively involved with this unique collaboration of musicians and sound engineers and to have contributed to Poly’s extraordinary songwriting and performance’
Listening to the album again after a long break, Paul Dean is surprised.
“Conscious Consumer now sounds so much better than I remember. It wasn’t properly released at the time and so no one knows about it. If you love Germfree Adolescents you will love Conscious Consumer they are linked together. X-Ray Spex didn’t have just one great album it was two!”
The album rewrites the X-Ray Spex story. No longer can they be seen as a moment freeze framed in time back in the punk wars but a potentially longer term project that never lost their creative soul power. No mere flash in the pan, in many ways the album is even more frustrating and full of ‘what ifs’.
Of course, Poly made her own great solo records and Lora Logic was also on her own creative high with Essential Logic but the pair of them working in tandem was potentially one of the great sounds of UK pop culture. They had a rare magic that is the heart and soul of all great music, and the album is finally a reminder of just how much potential there was whilst also being a document of their innate brilliance.
Tracklisting:
1. Cigarettes
2. Junk Food Junkie
3. Crystal Clear
4. India
5. Dog In Sweden
6. Hi Chaperone
7. Good Time Girl
8. Melancholy
9. Sophia
10. Peace Meal
11. Prayer For Peace
12. Party