Shimmering malevolence

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

02 May 2021

Hits: 3291

Mutator - Alan Vega (Sacred Bones Records)

"Mutator" is Alan Vega's 12th solo album and also his first posthumous record of (apparently) several more to come on Sacred Bones Records.  Vega also released nine collaborative LPs in his lifetime, Suicide a total of five studio and five stand-alone live albums (not including a rather incredible box set). Not a bad innings at all. 

The I-94 Bar’s Bob Short once observed that most people don't get into much music past their 20s, and I agree; and Suicide are a classic example. Of the people who fell head over heels for this outfit when they first heard their first LP (I still remember where and when I heard it, and also when and where I heard a UK bootleg of the Clash support gigs) most seem to rave only about that first LP, but seem unaware of the second, or even the ROIR tape, or any of the band's later LPs.

Of Vega himself, only a handful seem aware of the extraordinary impact his first two (now unavailable) LPs had on the underground, and the overground impact his third, "Saturn Strip" had, particularly in Europe.

• new york punk
• suicide
• alan vega
• martin rev
• mutator
• sacred bones records
• liz lamere

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Primevals keep powering into their second life

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By The Barman

The Barman

02 May 2021

Hits: 3312

New Trip – The Primevals (Triple Wide)

Four decades and 11 albums into this caper, Glasgow’s Primevals are doing the rough and ready rock and roll thing as well as anyone, and better than most.

Well into their second life after reformation, their consistency is astounding. “New Trip” was spawned in lockdown, recorded over two fraught months in late 2020 and hit the online racks, via the band's own imprint, early this year.

• new christs
• glasgow
• gun club
• triple wide
• the primevals
• new trip

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Saturday is blast-off for Jupiter 5

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By The Barman

The Barman

30 April 2021

Hits: 3529

The latest release on our own I-94 Bar Records is on sale and it's a killer. It's the debut 45 for Sydney band Jupiter 5, "H-Bomb" b/w "Supersonic Hero" and it's unveiled at The MoshPit in Erskineville, Sydney, on Saturday night. 

Pre-sales of the vinyl are here and come with an instant download of both A sides and a live cover of the Dictators' "Minnesota Strip", which is on the limited edition CD exclusively on sale at gigs.

Jupiter 5 is a fuzz-laden garage-punk and hard rock five-piece with DNA extracted from Sheek the Shayk, Hitmen DTK, Thurston Howlers, 69BC and the Psychotic Turnbuckles. 

They'll be supported by 50LgE, a bulldozing trio from the NSW Far North Coast making their Sydney debut and comprised of former members of the Psychotic Turnbuckles and The Eastern Dark. Doors open at 8pm or you can buy a pass to stream the show here.

• psychotic turnbuckles
• single launch
• moshpit
• 50LgE
• The Eastern Dark
• jupiter 5
• h-bomb
• supersonic hero

Dez Dare previews album with stinging new clip

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By The Barman

The Barman

29 April 2021

Hits: 2771

Operating in the crystalline shadows and existential backwaters of the psyche, Dez Dare constructs psych-hymns and soft-punk that punches you in the brain while tenderly calling you to inaction.

No other time calls for expression more than times of suppression. Trapped in reclusion under the germs' eye in the UK, expatriate Aussie Darren Smallman (BATTLE WORLDWIDE, Low Transit Industries, Thee Vinyl Creatures, The Sound Platform and Warped) has built a Frankenstein's Monster within his own house. Bolted together with old pedals, guitars and synths, he is about to release an album’s wortrh of tracks about existence, social normality and the illusion of reality.

New single “Dumb Dumb Dumb” is lifted from the forthcoming new album “Hairline Ego Trip”, out on June 4 on Ch!mp Records and is available for pre-order here..

• dez dare
• darren smallman
• chimp records
• hairline ego trip

Make the Zeros your new Heros

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

27 April 2021

Hits: 3873

"News From Nowhere" - Atomic Zeros (Ghost Highway Recordings)

If you don't like rock'n'roll, you'll hate the Atomic Zeros. They are all your worst irritants combined: garage, MC5, punk, surf, garage and Radio Birdman overtones.. But also: much of the phrasing reminds me more of Chris Bailey back in the day (see "Electric Chair"). Curious how insistent the Zeros are; yet so modern they seem compared to the rather lame “modern” music.

They've broadened and fleshed out their sound, but one major element remains: they sound bloody enormous. Play loud at people who like Justin Bieber and crap that's everywhere that you have to try so hard to like, and that red-haired git as well. No, not John Lydon, though he probably wouldn't like it either.

• spain
• atomic zeros
• ghost highway recordings
• dirty game
• news from nowhere

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Sonically speaking, you need to be at this party

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By The Barman

The Barman

25 April 2021

Hits: 3091

All Things BGP - Black Ghost Party (self released)

It’s fact, not theory, that when Sydney and Brisbane musicians of a certain age and underground persuasion seek a sea change, they head for the New South Wales Far North Coast. And why not? It’s often wet and always humid, but the parts not spoiled by hideous yuppies and mad anti-vaxxers are damned idyllic.

Can’t tell you whether all the members of Black Ghost Party are Lismore born and bred or blow-ins from the Big Smoke, but it’s not  important. They’ve been alternately cajoling and searing local ears since at least 2004 so they're part of the furniture, and this release of 11 songs is available on LP or as a download.

• slug
• black ghost party
• all things BGP
• rod black
• adam button
• matt lee

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Stu's collaboration bears pop fruit

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By The Barman

The Barman

25 April 2021

Hits: 3854

Collaborations from Stustustudio – Stu & The Connections (Crankinhaus)

Vaguely new wave-sounding pop from a combo led by well-credentialled Sydney drummer Stu Wilson (Loose Pills, Hammerfish, Aberration and ex-Lime Spiders, New Christs, Chris Masuak & The Harbour City Wave Riders, and the Soul Movers) and it’s damned good. Six tracks  - one a stripped-down alternate version – that showcase some adept song-writing and a disclination to be pigeonholed.

Stu’s one of the rare breed of drummers who sing - and that even rarer strain of drummers who sing well. He’s in the upper register and writes pop songs to suit. Wilson gets a bit of assistance – Sienna Egan, vocalist for his other current band The Rivers is prominent among a list of notable collaborators that includes bassist Andy Newman (ME-262, The Visitors). Matt Galvin (Barbarellas, Happy Hate Me Nots) and Ryan Elsmore (Loose Pills).

• loose pills
• new christs
• stu wilson
• andy newman
• matt galvin
• crankinhaus records
• Collaborations from Stustustudio
• Stu & The Connections
• crankhaus
• ryan elsmore

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Strange Flash! Ultimate Lipstick Killers collection looms on LP and CD

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By The Barman

The Barman

21 April 2021

Hits: 5161

The long-awaited anthology of material by Australia’s legendary Lipstick Killers finally arrives on CD and LP on Grown Up Wrong! Records on June 25.

“Strange Flash – Studio & Live ‘78-‘81” as a double-LP will include the original 1979 “Hindu Gods of Love”/”Shakedown USA” single, the posthumous “Sockman/Pensioner Pie’ 45 plus additional studio masters from the same ’78 session; an unreleased album-length 1980 demo session recorded by Australian guitar god Lobby Loyde; and the near-complete LA show that comprised the original live album “Mesmeriser”.

The “Mesmeriser” tracks will add additional tunes and subtract a couple that one band member wasn’t happy with.The set features liner notes by Ugly Things contributor and Grown Up Wrong! Records’ Dave Laing, some killer pix and flyers and repro’s of the stunning Lipstick Killers posters designed by highly collectable Sydney poster artist John Foy, and a piece by Byron Coley.

The LPs will be a run of 500 copies on orange vinyl an 500 on black.

The double-CD includes adds a near complete live show recorded in Adelaide in 1978, some of which was released on a handmade cassette by members of the band in the mid-‘80s, and a couple of the tracks of which appeared on a very limited run 45 also released by the band in later years. But a good chunk of it has never been heard - and it is wild.

• psychosurgeons
• lipstick killers
• mark taylor
• dave laing
• grown up wrong
• strange flash
• peter tillman

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And they did Get The Band Back Together

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By The Barman

The Barman

21 April 2021

Hits: 2925

The reformed Dictators - three founding members Andy Shernoff, Ross The Boss and Top Ten, and Albert Bouchard from Blue Oyster Cult - are back with a fun secxiond single from their recent recording sessions. Top Ten has since stood down from the band due to health reasons but "Let's Get The Band Back Together" was recorded before he made his decision.  

• dictators
• ross the boss
• top ten
• andy shernoff
• let's get the band back together
• Albeit bouchard