8-15-2015

Setlist:
1. Cleaners From Venus - Helpless
2. Willful Neglect - Outta My Mind
3. David Montanye - Time Wounds All Heals
4. Violet Hour - Decrepid Old Man
5. Stillbirth - The View Untangled
6. Sissy Spacek - Untitled 
7. Nihilist Spasm Band - When In London Sleep At The York Hotel  
8. Concrete - Farming Today
9. Family Underground - Valley Of 1X,XXX Smokes Pt. 1

Cleaners From Venus - "Helpless"

Off the "Cleaners From Venus" tape, released on Calypso Now and Man At The Off Licence records in 1981.

Lo-Fi to the max, Jangle Pop / Post-Punk legends Cleaners From Venus debuted with Blow Away Your Troubles, a tape recorded in Martin Newell's kitchen, composed of 19 tracks. I'd say this release is the most folk inspired and jangle pop prevalent release by Cleaners From Venus, on their next albums they'd delve more into post-punk and help build the sound of what would become Indie Pop. Cleaners From Venus are most commonly compared to Beat Happening, The Feelies and Daniel Johnston; and there's a good reason why. Not quite Twee Pop, but influences abound!

Blow Away Your Troubles was repressed by Captured Tracks in 2012.

Willful Neglect - "Outa My Mind"

Off the "Willful Neglect" 12" EP released on Neglected Records in 1982.

Saint Paul, MN hardcore punk group Willful Neglect was founded in around 1980 or 1981, for the most part coming out of The Reactors, Saint Paul's "first punk" group, mostly because Michael Yonkers was technically from Minneapolis. Willful Neglect pulled off the punch of Minor Threat with the melodic sensibility of Rites Of Spring, a band that wasn't even around yet. Inspiration? Possibly so! I have no clue what pedals the guitars are using, but it sounds amazing. Willful Neglect is the best Punk band Saint Paul had to offer us. Far surpassing even Husker Du! 

The first 2 12" EP's Willful Neglet made tend to fetch some decent money, ($50 to $100), so Havoc Records helped us all out big time and put their first 2 EP's on one LP. In around 1984, Willful Neglect set out to record a full length LP, but was never finished. The tracks that were recorded appeared on the 1982-1984 compilation.

David Montanye - "Time Wounds All Heals"

Off the "Cosmic LumberJack" album, released on Orange SLS Records in 2013.

Another act on the 'Orange SLS Records' label (the "other" act was The Cleptos, featured on the last show) David Montanye is a solo artist from rural New York that produces, operates and specializes in the world of Lo-Fi. Sometimes the only thing you need to make a great song is a tape recorder, and that idea follows on his album Cosmic LumberJack. Montanye also fronts another Orange SLS act, Mobil-Mockingbird, which seems to operate in the same niche as David's solo work. The style in which David and some other acts on the Orange SLS catalog operate and perform is best explained by the song Time Wounds All Heals. Montanye does have other solo work, so if this peaked your interest I'd recommend listening to his other albums.

>> David's Orange SLS Page <<

>> Buy The Album Here <<

>> Bandcamp link <<

Violet Hour - "Decrepid Old Man"

Off the "Violet Hour / VYV" split EP released on Bleak records in 1996.

Violet Hour made a split with their fellow Ontario Contemporaries VYV (who had shared membership with Violet Hour) in 1996, released on Bleak Records. 300 copies pressed, the insert wishfully says "This is the first pressing. Second pressing coming in the future!" There might've been a second pressing, but since these two bands are nowhere to be found on the internet, who knows. Bleak Records, the label, has managed to stay off the internet this long, too. There are other labels named Bleak Records; but I doubt they have any affiliation with this one here, mostly due to geographic's and time frames.

Now, let's actually talk about the musical content. The opener to Violet Hour's side of the split, Control Yourself, is forgettable at best. But the second track, Decrepid Old Man, is a winner. Booming that feedback squeals in the beginning and eventually flowing into their quirky punk style; it's certainly not normal! Canadian Punk always cracks me up. Their is a 3rd untitled tracks, which consists of a few normal grooves and 2 lock grooves of some decrepid old man (ironic) complaining. The 'song' ends in a lock groove, but the second lock groove is the end groove, the one up by the matrix etching. If Violet Hour think they can slip that by me, than they're wrong!

VYV's side also has an untitled track consisting of the same thing, this time with a British guy yelling at you. I might put up a track from VYV's side, it's purely instrumental; or "instruMENTAL" as the insert claims.

Since I can't find mention of this EP, the bands (or even the label) anywhere on the net, here's the download. Definitely the most obscure thing put on here yet!

Stillbirth - "The View Untangled"

Off "The Mirror Of Purification" split single released Semata Productions in 2009.

Stillbirth won me over with this one! This split features Prurient on the A-Side, and surprise-surprise, it's boring as all hell. Stillbirth's side is much more in line with the more drone side of industrial and noise, much like Etat Brut or late 80's Ramleh. Or late 90's Ramleh. Or Ramleh right now. It's much more subtle than Ramleh and much more rewarding than Etat Brut, however. The great thing about Prurient is he makes splits with artists much better than him, and usually much more obscure. Thanks Prurient!

Sissy Spacek - "Untitled"

Off the "Remove Control Whale" single released on Electric Human Project Records in 2003.

My introduction to Sissy Spacek, and I'd say I'm impressed. Very glitchy and in your face noise music, Sissy Spacek makes it clear on that they're done making Grindcore, which is even more clear and redundant now since they've been making Noise for 12+ years. The little sample of Lounge music is nice, since Lounge music emits an atmosphere that has such contrast to this, that it's kind of beautiful in a way. This single is pretty good, but I wouldn't recommend showing it to your mother anytime soon.

Nihilist Spasm Band - "When In London Sleep At The York Hotel"

Off the "No Record" LP released on the Allied Record Corporation in 1968.

AMM with a little more listen-ability? I think so! Formed in 1965, (around the same time AMM dropped their hot mixtape) the Nihilist Spasm Band formed in London, Ontario, Canada and performed very unhinged, improvised music with home made instruments. Straying away from any kind of commercial potential, NSB are as sloppy and apathetic as it gets - this isn't improv for the sake of being avant-garde or outsider (although it still is), this is improv for the sake of scaring the shit out of unsuspecting people. These dudes never officially disbanded, so look out! They may be coming to your nearest Tesco Disco!

Concrete - "Farming Today"

Off the "Ghoulish Practices" EP released on Concrete Productions in 1981.

Off the wall Post-Punk with elements of Jazz and Industrial never goes wrong. The visual aesthetic had me thinking it'd be Throbbing Gristle-esque Industrial but I was gladly surprised to hear something completely new. It follows the same concept as The Fall or The Pop Group but drags it more towards industrial. Concrete founded their own label for this release, Concrete Productions. Although Concrete never released another album, Concrete Productions would continue to release albums in the vein of Industrial and Electronic music. But until this day, Ghoulish Practices remains the ultimate ode to this brand of outsider music.

Family Underground - "Land Of 1X,XXX Smokes Pt. 1"

Off The "Familiar Places" LP released on Into The Lunar Light Records in 2004.

I chose a 10 minute song to make this episode longer, ha! Family Underground are an experimental noise group from Denmark. Their last couple of tapes and albums they've produced have embraced a much more psychedelic sound and sway heavily towards a more rock based sound. But here during their early years, Family Underground create challenging soundscapes a la COUM Transmissions.