LOOK WHAT I COULD FIND vol 80
"Tunes for the nuthouse" - 16 tunes about lunatic amnesia and mad-eyed paranoia

 

In The Trashcan Records       GEM080
"Detention in a nuthouse tortured by psychotic jukebox sounds can be addictive..."

1. paranoid - atari teenage riot

With the help of Asian Dub Foundation, Alec Empire and bandmates bring digital hardcore to the extreme. I saw the band once in Brussels and it is still the loudest gig I ever attended; I had to use napkins as earplugs. "Paranoid" is self-penned by this Berlin group. But what I cannot understand, is how this kind of music came out on Damaged Goods???  Three years later, in 2000, they disbanded.

9. pssyche - killing joke

Wardance has always been a popular request at live shows, but it's the flipside of the 45 that I love so much. One of the craziest post-punk songs from 1980 by an enigmatic band led by the mysterious Jaz Coleman, released on their third 45 (after "Turn to red" and "Requiem") on Malicious Damage.

2. madman - sicniks

Two girls and two guys in this short-lived US outfit that sounded like a mix between Mad Daddys and The Cramps. The band features ex-Cramps bass player Candy Del Mar on guitar. See vol 66 for the flipside.

10. psycho's blues - clear spot

Hectic, repetitive instrumental on the B-side of "Moonman bop". It's hard to describe but I can assure you it's a unique sound, recorded in 1998 for Duophonic Super. I love it!

3. madness - the space cakes

I'd love to spend a two weeks' vacation at the nuthouse if I could listen to music like this Italian fuzz garage tune. Recorded in 1993 for Tortilla. See also vol 15 for the best tune on this 4-track 7".

11. crazy - the motards

Single-sided two-track 7" on Rip Off, one of trash rock's best known record labels. You must be crazy to love this violence. Released in 1995.

4. insane - bears

It's 1978 and Good Vibrations were issuing the coolest 45s, including this punky tune "Insane" by Bears.

12. amnesia - spizzenergi

Too bad this song disappeared on the B-side of their indie club hit "Where's Captain Kirk". Recorded for Rough Trade in 1979 by Spizz who changed the name of his band every year. From Spizzoil to Spizzenergi to Athletico Spizz 80 to Spizzles,…

5. i'm a confused man - thee headcoats

Medway beat band #1 on Sympathy For The Record Industry. A fantastic Childish tune from 1993. A version of the flipside by Thee Headcoatees can be found on vol 60.

13. addiction - the new christs

Written by singer Rob Younger, ex-Radio Birdman. This is one of my favourite New Christs songs, recorded in 1987 for Citadel Records. Perfect mix of garage rock and power pop. Buying 45s is my addiction.

6. maniac - claw boys claw

Only singer Te Bos and guitarist Cameron are still with the band that changed to a more heavy rockin' sound. "Maniac" came out in 1990 b/w "Clapping song".

14. i'm falling apart - red zebra

Second 45 by these Belgian punk wave youngsters from Bruges. Belpop heroes, just like De Brassers, who sound like a lightweight version of Warsaw on this 1981 release on Zebra Records.

7. lunatic - choice of wallpaper

Very rare Belgian new wave 45 by four young guys who lived near Bruges. A 1986 release on Scorpion Records.

15. paralytic confusion - the cannibals

Getting crazy at the mixing table in 1984 with Mike Spenser and his Cannibals, the best garage band England ever produced.

8. mad eyed screamer - the creatures

In 1981 Siouxsie and Budgie (of The Banshees) formed this interesting yet unsuccessful side-project The Creatures. This comes from a double-single on Polydor. It sounds like Siouxsie & The Banshees without guitar and bass.

16. someone's gotta problem - the weaklings

In the run-out groove one can read "The hardest working band in punk rock". More info isn't necessary, except maybe that it's a Junk Records release from 1996.