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SAVAGE REPUBLIC - AFRICA CORPS: Live At The Whisky A Go Go 30/12/81 {Independent Project Records} Live recording of SAVAGE REPUBLIC when they were still known as AFRICA CORPS and recorded when the band supported none other than MIDDLE CLASS.  You get ten tracks in 36 minutes that have their roots firmly in Post-Punk (almost before it had been defined) but throw in the uncompromising attack of Hardcore and a few droning moments of Industrialism to create a sound which would have been quite unique in the confines of The Whisky in 1981 - think MISSION OF BURMA playing JOY DIVISION via FLIPPER. Highlights include ‘Next To Nothing’ that comes on like PUBLIC IMAGE LTD, ‘Mobilization’ which highlights the FLIPPER vibe with a damage-inducing bass sound and the militant, enraged ‘Machinery’ that’s riddled with the kinda scary-surf guitar leads that East Bay Ray perfected on those early DKs releases, while best track is a battle between the confrontational, bruising minimalism of ‘Kill The Fascists!’ and cloying KILLING JOKE/ ALTERNATIVE TV-isms of closer ‘When all Else Fails...’. Pretty captivating stuff and, as usual with IPR, this is all packaged in wonderful style with their trademark, highly stylized over-sized CD sleeve, fold out inlay with memories of the gig and four reproductions of the show’s flyers. Wonderful stuff... (10.02.23)

SCREECHING WEASEL - Some Freaks Of Atavism {Recess} Well - this surprised me! A real return to form for Ben and the latest incarnation of the WEASEL. Opener, ‘She Ain’t Your Baby’ is a prime time blast - could easily have been on ‘Anthem For A New Tomorrow’ in fact. From there you get another 13 tracks which, while not quite up there with the likes of ‘My Brain Hurts’, this is probably the band’s best since ‘Major Label Debut’. Plenty of highlights be it the sneering ‘To Hell With You’ that features some rather BAD RELIGION-esque backing ohhs-and-ahhs vocals, the stuttering ‘Brain In A Jar’, the mid-paced swagger and demure guitar lead of ‘Losing My Mind’ and the classic Ben Weasel loser traits of ‘Never Been In Love’ that features a majestic key change while best track is a dual between closer ‘Bleed Through Me’ and the rather dark and sinister ‘God Help Us’. Interesting use of keyboards throughout too; nothing to overriding but noticeably filling out the sound. There’s very little to dislike here; in fact the only negative is the minimal packaging - no lyric sheet, no download code but nice red vinyl. (05.05.21)

SENSIBLE GRAY CELLS - Get Back Into The World {Damaged Goods} PODCAST PLAYED Second album for this on/off project featuring Captain Sensible and Paul Gray of THE DAMNED (keyboard player Monty also guests on a track) and you know what? It’s really rather fantastic! Of the 12 tracks, highlights include the title track that certainly evokes THE DAMNED’s own ‘Grimly Fiendish’ in its composition and harpsichord section but is infinitely better, ‘Black Spider Memo Man’ pulls the Psychedelic sound of ROBYN HITCHCOCK and MARTIN NEWELL with swirling keys and lush backing vocals, ‘Stupid Dictators’ clattered like early WHO and ‘DJ With Half A Brain’ even brought to mind THE JAM, albeit with a wild wah-wah laden guitar solo from Captain. Obviously, the specter of THE DAMNED hangs heavily over this. Every song did lead me to the question, “Could The Damned have done this?” Generally the answer was no, but in the case of both ‘So Long’ and album highlight ‘Fine Fair-Weather Friend’ I could hear Dave Vanian singing - the latter especially would have benefited from his croon (and the closing atmospheric keyboard drone could be lifted straight from ‘Curtain Call’). There’s a lot to like here; Captain keeps guitar heroics to a minimum, Gray’s bass playing is inventive, mercurial even and pushes everything along while drummer Marty Love (of JOHNNY MOPED’s band) makes a solid claim that maybe he should be the new DAMNED drummer. Limited edition came with a 12” EP (both sides decidedly Psychedelic) and on splatter vinyl. And I haven’t even mentioned the very baronial-sounding dig at Prince Andrew. Highly recommended!! (14.06.21)

SHIVA BURLESQUE - Mercury Blues + Skulduggery {Independent Project Records} Originally recorded back in 1990, this was this Los Angeles-based band’s second and final album. Fantastic stuff it is too - equal parts DREAM SYNDICATE, GUN CLUB and what we now know as Americana. Kicking off with the title track, this is wonderfully graceful and sublimely powerful stuff focused around the core writing team of vocalist Jeffrey Clark and guitarist Grant-Lee Phillips. Not a duff track in sight with particular highlights being the propulsive, haunting ‘Do The Pony’ that evokes the spirits of the Navajo and Monument Valley, the drama of ‘Sick Friend’ and the closing, hypnotic ‘Chrome Halo’ while the violence of ‘Chester The Chimp’ is tempered by the grandeur of ‘Nez Perce’. Thrilling stuff, all remastered for this release and packaged in the usual, high quality over-sized CD packaging with quality booklet and cards. Not only that, but this comes with an additional (and thrilling) 10-track CD of demos. Wonderful, invigorating stuff. After this Phillips went onto moderate success with GRANT LEE BUFFALO while Clark released a solo album, ‘Sheer Golden Hooks’ in 1996. (25.06.22)

SLACKERS, THE - Nobody’s Listening {Pirates Press} Limited two track 12” ultra-violet disc (note - both tracks are on one side on black vinyl, the other is a full colour digital print) from these New York City Ska mainstays. Lead track is an up-tempo cracker, kinda like THE SPECIALS with a NYC groove and fantastic brass solo. The flip, ‘Sleep Outside’ is more of a Rock Steady groover, with a lyric that looks at eviction and the general state of the US nation. Have to say, I usually avoid a lot of Ska-Punk stuff, but this is fantastic - more in a traditional Ska style than that irritating shite peddled by the likes of Mad Caddies. This contains way more substance and even something approaching menace. Production is crisp and the tracks appear to be recorded live.. Great stuff - I like it!! (31.01.21)

SLACKERS, THE - Blue (Pirates Press} Huh? Another single already?? Given how impressed I was with the single below, I sure ain’t complaining. This time it’s a 7” limited to a 1,000 copies on four different colours of vinyl. Lead track ‘Blue’ is a dub-heavy tune with a bass line as heavy as ‘Jah war’ and a brass arrangement as haunting as ‘Ghost Town’. It’s actually a push to get the American voters voting in the right - blue - direction (which thankfully they did). The flip is a dub-version of the same tune that applies all I said above but to depth charge levels. Gotta say, I prefer the release above, but this still impresses and especially the message behind the music. (31.01.21)