HARD ONS - Suck And Swallow {Boss Tuneage/ Rookie} This brings back many memories of seeing Australia’s HARD ONS in Ipswich, London and, most recently, in Sydney; wild nights of loud, boisterous, unforgiving rock ‘n’ roll intravenously injected with the spirit of Punk. This is a 25-track, career spanning package that kicks off with the gem that is ‘Surfin’ On My Face’, grooves though the classic ‘Girl In The Sweater’, the noise crescendo of the title track, a couple of choice slices from each of ‘Love Is A Battlefield’ and ‘Yummy’, and culminating with tracks from the recent ‘Most People are Nice Than Us/ A Waste Of Time’ albums. In between each album and most singles are represented. As if that’s not enough there’s also a new unreleased track that sees the band groove on psychedelic warped Pop tones rather than the all-out rock ‘n’ roll noise terrorism it is also renowned for. Probably the most accessible and comprehensive comp around for the HARD-ONS-deprived but a double package a’la the excellent ‘A Decade Of Rock’ may have been more fitting. (17.05.09)

HDQ - Sinking, Soul Finder {Boss Tuneage} Anyone who was remotely interested in Punk/ HC in the UK during the late 80s will know the name HDQ. The band hailed from Sunderland and was put together by one Dickie Hammond who went onto guitar duties in LEATHERFACE. Prior to these albums, the band recorded a debut album entitled ‘You Suck’. In 1989 the band recorded what I consider to be its pinnacle, the ‘Sinking’ album. It was 14 tracks of pulsating, insistent, DC-inspired melodic Hardcore - DAG NASTY is an obvious comparison mixed with a hint of JAWBREAKER dynamics. It kicks off with what is still one of the most uplifting pairing of songs on any album of the time: ‘Leaving Home’ and ‘All We Knew’. Other notables include the TOXIC REASONS-tinged ‘Pictures’ and ‘Looking Back’ that contains more guitar invention than most instrumentals! This reissue is filled out with the excellent ‘Love Alone’ from the ‘Underground Rockers’ comp, the band’s first Peel session from 1988 and finally the eight tracks from the ‘Life Is’ cassette that BBP released in ‘88.
Come 1990, the band released its final album, ‘Soulfinder’. There was a noticeable slowing in pace here. That’s not to say the songs lack conviction or back-bone; take a listen to ‘Just When I Thought’ or the excellent title track for confirmation. The band sounds equally passionate here and, if anything, the slowing of pace allows the guitar of Dickie Hammond to really branch out. This one is filled out with the band’s second Peel session from 1989, the original recording of ‘Sinking’ that was done with the ‘You Suck’ line-up (that featured Lainey on drums) and finally a live track from 1987. Each disc has been remastered and includes extensive liner notes from bassist Rob Bewick (even though he didn’t play on ‘Soul Finder’), new photographs and a discography. These are two reissues that have made me feel incredibly nostalgic and, 20 years on, it’s amazing to hear how fresh and vibrant they still sound - especially ‘Sinking’. Inspired stuff that transcends time and fashion; Punk Rock/ HC has gone through many phases but it’s bands like HDQ that embodied (and still embodies) the spirit of the movement and thankfully the music remains as powerful as the memory of those late-80s live shows and the initial hearings of these albums. (29.06.09)