Terminal Fun-Great Moments 7" (UK, 1982)

You know what's better than having friends who run amazing record stores? Having said friends who know what you like. I picked this up at my friend's store Lp's Lps, on Lp's recommendation, when I was in Toronto a couple weeks ago and I have been itching to get it uploaded so I could share it here. It's also not very often I get to introduce something to the internet that wasn't there before. Especially something I love so much!

I had hoped to have a little more information about the group when it was time to share, but wouldn't you know it, I haven't found any! So, let's get what I do know out of the way, because that won't take very long. I know it was recorded at Spaceward Studios, who boasts a crazy list of artists who have recorded there. I know it was recorded in 1982. On the back of the sleeve there are ads for 5 different retailers with a note "Thanks are due to the above sponsors without whom this record would not have apppeared." I don't know if this is some kind of joke or if it really took the sponsorship of three AV stores, an instrument store and a shoe store to get this thing out. I assume this was self-released as nothing else was put out on the Projected Image label. Members are listed as:

Carol Bush-Vocals

Paul Day-Guitars and Vocals

Pete Sparrow-Drums, Vocals, Mini Moog

Paul Rayner-Bass

Joe Bull-Producer

I have gone ahead and uploaded both sides of this single and they are here. I can't decide which side is better but Twist and Survive is pretty damn near perfect. If you read my last post on the Corvettes, you know I have been trying to track this down through any way possible. So, as always, if you have any info I can be reached here, through our Facebook or at muzorewisdaughter@hotmail.com. In any case, this record is great on its own and I hope y'all love it as much as I do.

Love,

Megon

Corvettes-Love To Hate You 7" (UK, 1980)

So, I had intended on doing lots of bloggy posts during the holiday break but that didn't end up happening so much. Most of my time was spent on holiday cheer, house guests, hostessing and cleaning up from home renovations and said festivities. Oh, and I made half a mixtape. 

Anyway, I did manage to get some research done on things I was going to post, although most of it was a dead end. Whilst I was looking into the group Terminal Fun, who you will thank me for posting later, I came across this gem and only because both singles were produced by the prolific and mysterious Joe Bull. Joe also produced records for (get ready for it): Gothic Girls, European Toys, The Mob, Sad Lovers and Giants along with a load of lesser known bands. I did not manage to shake anything else loose about these two groups, or Sindy & the Action Men which also appears on the list and who I'll also cover later. But, as always, my search continues. I feel like he is the keeper of the keys on this, or maybe not but it's the best lead I have at this point. 

Anyway, here's the Corvettes, out of Brighton which happens to be one of my favorite hot beds of this era. Emma Sharpe, The Objeks, April and the Fools, Helen McCookerybook/The Chefs, The Mockingbirds, Bright Girls/Devil's Dykes, and on and on it goes, all from Brighton/the Vaultage Comps, and I know I'm forgetting some. There is a small article on the Brighton Punk website about the Corvettes HERE which also adequately conveys how incestuous this scene was. If you have a sec, this site also offers an extensive "jukebox" of MP3s which are worth a listen. ANYWAY, I always tend to ramble and have to cut myself off, especially when I haven't been able to post in a while. Without further ado, Corvettes:

Last thing, if anyone has any info on this group, knows or was a former member, as always I can be reached here, our FB page or at muzorewisdaughter@hotmail.com. I have a super intriguing theory about the singer of this band and would love to get some confirmation on it. 

LOVE,

Megon 

Ghosts of Dance-Ghosts of Dance 7" (UK, 1982)

This will inaugurate my first post from work. I usually work through lunch but today I'm casting off the corporate shackles and taking a real lunch. I ate sushi and will post this very lovely song I am totally in love with. Obvy, this is one of the new records I got in Toronto and I picked it up at my friend's shop, LP's LPs. If you are ever in the area, I recommend a stop-in.

For now, here is Ghosts of Dance. This single is out on Plastic Canvas Records who only put out one other release, a Severed Head single. As you know, a lot of what I post on here has been covered other places or I can't really find band members of/information on so I just stick it here and hope maybe members will find it. This is a bit of both. Kentucky Fried Wave has a nice blurb about Ghosts of Dance HERE. I do not think the download links are working but if they come back up or I can find another, I will post it here.

Anyway, in some other news, I don't think I am going to be able to make it sadly to the Delphic Oracle show on Friday, but you should. Event info HERE. I know there's a lot of other shows that night around town but this will be nice.

Jeez, half an hour for lunch really flies by. I will talk to y'all soon!

Love,

Megon

Club Tango-FTN/Get The Picture 7" (UK, 1981)

This weekend I went to Toronto for what is always a whirlwind trip and I had more fun in some arenas and less in others than expected. On the absolutely funnest side, I bought a million trillion new records, all of them totally blog-worthy. Some of them that I love the mostest I am going to have to get my shit together and make Youtube videos out of, but that's for another day. 

For now, starting with a wee bit of a mystery. I know I don't have THAT much time for researching things these days and that bums me out but I have committed a bit of time to looking into this record and for the life of me I can't shake loose anything about the singer. The rest of the band is pretty much an all-star line up, as far as I'm concerned anyway. Dave Henderson and Andy Ross from Disco Zombies and Alex Turnbull before he was in 23 Skidoo. The girl singing on this, their second single out on Dining Out, still escapes me. On a side note, Dining Out also put out this Occult Chemistry record and my favorite The Naughtiest Girl Was A Monitor record, which is off topic but anyway... If you have any info, feel free to comment or contact me over there ---------->

In other news, I am feeling recharged and refocused by all this new music and if I can squeeze a little time out of my hectic schedule, I will be back soon with a whole slew of new posts. In the meantime, here are both sides of this super catchy, funky post-punky gem. Oh, jeez, almost forgot, you can download both songs over at The All Night Party HERE. 

Love,

Megon

Hilary-Kinetic 12" (US, 1983)

I don't have time to say much tonight, maybe for the best. I have so much to do before going out of town Friday but I really wanted to put this up. The other night during my set I played this Hilary song, Drop Your Pants. Long story short, everyone wanted to know what it was, so here it is. HILARY. I am shocked this record doesn't have a bigger cult following. I see Drop Your Pants up there with the best new-wavey, sarcastic 80's ladies anthems and it totally reminds me of the Kate Fagan and Anemic Boyfriends jams I have posted here before. And personally, I think the rest of the record is pretty catchy as well. Sadly, Hilary only ever wrote four songs released across two records. She passed away in 2007. There is a pretty comprehensive, although a bit outdated, fan site dedicated to her HERE where you can download all four songs. Here's her hit though, Drop Your Pants.

Okay, off to do a million and one things.

Love,

Megon!

Cry Of The Innocent-The Haunting/Still, Forever 7" (UK, 1982)

So, I have basically been sitting on my thumbs, not being struck by anything I really wanted to post about. Maybe because I've been busy and my stress level is through the roof right now, but today I got a wealth of inspiration that I'm going to chop up into several thematic posts this week before getting the hell out of dodge on Friday. Not to digress too much into a Dear Diary type thing here, but as many of you may know who follow me other places, my grandmother died last Wednesday and then Friday the neighbor's toilet overflowed and destroyed pretty much my whole house. So, I am going to go on a mini-vacay this weekend to see some shows and friends and when I get back, pack up my entire life and move out while the insurance company fixes my house.

Anyhoo, this never-ending shit show has me listening to a lot of stuff on the darker side of things including, but not limited to, this record by Cry Of The Innocent from Hull. If you read the zine, you know how much I love things from Hull and this is no exception. This record has just the kind of sound I love and the first time I heard the b-side, Lee Jones had my heart at the very first "Hey!"

You can glean some info about both releases by this band over at Phoenix Hairpins HERE and HERE. I don't think the download links are still active, sadly.

Either way, here's both sides of the single, Still, Forever being a particular favorite.

In other news, I want to thank everyone who came out on Friday to the Xarah Dion record launch. It was a helluva night. I have a couple more posts lined up of songs that I played that night that got a lot of attention. In the mean time, if you need her record, and you NEED her record, you can go HERE.

Love,

Megon 

Family Plot-Convictions LP (Canada, 1987) & Moev-Cracked Mirror 12" (Canada, 1981)

Holy shit, y'all. What a long and exhausting week, and weekend for that matter. All the guests and house guests are gone now and there's precious little time to relax. One thing that has been dragging me through the chaos by my boot straps is this lady, pictured below. And, yes, this is another post in my series of Canadian classics, well, should-be classics. Recently, I have become obsessed with the collective works of Madeleine Morris. Since Canada is my adoptive homeland, I feel an especial fondness for Canadian music, especially since much of it never made it out of Canada. Anyway, here's some stuff from the two main groups Madeleine was involved with, Moev and Family Plot.

I'll start with Moev, mostly due to chronology. And, also because the oh-so-knowledgeable gents over at Systems of Romance have done most of my work for me on this one. You can go HERE and download the group's first full length, Zimmerkampf, and read a bit about them. I have actually been listening to another song, Cracked Mirror, on repeat, which is featured on the 12" that came out the previous year in 1981 and put out on their own label Noetix, its only release. My friend Ronnie called this song "sad disco for days." He was kind enough to give us a very lovely shout out on-air last night on his radio show, Echo's Answer. You can listen to the episode HERE chock full of all sorts of lovely ladies like Rose McDowall, Confetti, Sally Dige, Sally Patience, Bloom Offering and so on. He should also be on-air in a little bit HERE from 1-3 EST today. Recommended.  

Okay, back on topic and fast forwarding a bit through several more Moev releases and Madeleine eventually leaving the band, we get to Family Plot. About this group Phil Addington, the bass player, writes:

I came back to Vancouver earlier than my other bandmates who were required to stay in England as they had run afoul of the law. The only person I had to play with was my youngest brother Bernie, who was also a bass player. He played a Rickenbacker through a Roland Jazz Chorus amp which gave him a unique, barking sound. When drummer Simon returned we formed an instrumental trio called "Danse Macabre". Two basses and drums. We were a hit at the druggy after hours parties. Paul returned and added keyboards to the sound. My girlfriend Madeleine Morris, who was singing with the up and coming electropop band Moev, decided to quit that band and join us. Family Plot started gigging in 1983. We played a number of great shows with bands like Alien Sex Fiend, Love and Rockets, Butthole Surfers, Nina Hagen, Hunters and Collectors, No Means No and Wire. We recorded a cassette ep and a 12" album shortly before Madeleine left (after she and I split up). We enlisted Naomi McLeod as singer and played with her for about a year before giving up in 1990.

Otherwise, this band is poorly documented just about everywhere, as far as I've found. I have been jamming this track pretty heavily, not on any of the albums, but appearing on the Last Call: Vancouver Independent Music 1977-1988 compilation. Otherwise, they have one album featuring Madeleine called Convictions, self released in 1987. 

Hope you enjoy one, or maybe both, of these tunes. I will be back soon with some more stuff, some Canadian, others not. I skipped Varning Fest this year and am storing up my energy for NDY Fest in Toronto in two weeks. I will see loads of you there, I know. Otherwise, my calendar is sadly lacking in exciting things coming up. OTHER THAN:

Don't forget I will be DJing between bands this night. Event info HERE.  This is a Montreal all-star line-up. Not to be missed. Come say hi!

Okay, love, love, love,

Megon

Kaméléon-S/T LP (Quebec, 1981) & Térapi-S/T 7" (Quebec, 1982)

Man, what a fucking day. Got on my bike to go to work and the front wheel fell off, inexplicably, when I started riding. Rushed to take the metro, which was jam packed, of course, and some guy took the chance to grab my butt. Work was hell and there must be something in the air because everyone was grumpy all over today. But, for all the lows, there were some very nice highs. Amongst them, an acquisition of some records sorely missing in my collection. I am not going to brag but in among those is one of my favorite records from Quebec and here we are with this post about two bands from our fair province. 

I will start with Térapi. Just one self titled 7" with four songs out in 1982. You can go like them on Facebook HERE and mostly keep up with the singer's current solo career. Here's such a Quebec jammy jam. 

Now, onto Kaméléon. The singer of which still lives in Montreal and does some pretty rad shit. You can check out her current "electroacoustic" music HERE.  This particular record is pretty disco-y but stupid catchy. But, judge for yourself. 

Anyway, NDY is coming up so I will be back soon with some Toronto bands for you. Maybe even something before them? 

Big kisses,

Megon

Halloween with Skeletal Family, Beast, 45 Grave, March Violets, X-Mal Deutschland, Pretty Poison & United State

Tomorrow is Halloween! People seem to have mixed feelings about Halloween. Here's a bunch of awesome shit to get you in the mood. So, tease up your hair and away we go.

Skeletal Family, along with a couple other bands I'm gonna mention here, were supposed to be in the next issue of the zine, which I'm pretty sure I've given up on. If I ever have the time I will try to publish all the interviews I have accrued, here, on the blog. In the mean time, Skeletal Family. Still playing, you can keep track of them here.

Next up, Beast. I have been a long-time fan of Beast, have all the records and this video just kills me. Perfect style. This band also featured Bryan Gregory of the Cramps and maybe, also, someday I will publish the interview I have with Andrella just sitting around collecting dust.

Let's see, what's next... Something else with teased hair? You betcha. I think we're mostly familiar with 45 Grave so I won't go into it, just to say this live video is pretty fucking rad so here you go...

As you all know by now, I love cheese, and I don't mean the food. I love cheesy synth, cheesy disco and you better fucking believe I love cheesy goth. This song is always popping up in my head and again, a great video with "great" style.

And, I can't not do this:

Argh, I also love this song and this video. Pretty Poison from the city of brotherly love. If you have been to a night I DJed, I absolutely played this song and if you come see me on the 14th at the Xarah Dion record release show I will play it again. 

Lastly, a gem I've been holding onto for quite some time now. United State from Toronto. Goddamn, I love this video and this band. Again, someday I will publish the interview I have with them, until then, enjoy the headdress.

Okay, I hope if you weren't in the mood, that helped. And if you are already jazzed for Halloween, this added to your enthusiasm. I have had a shitty day and am gonna try to go sike myself up for the rock star themed office Halloween party I have to endure tomorrow. 

Love like blood,

Megon

Zéro De Conduite-Je Suis Mort 7" (France, 1984)

No matter how much you know, certain people always make you feel like you don't know a thing. I hung out with one of those friends last night at his birthday party and let him take me to school. Part of my lesson was Zero De Conduite, from France, obviously. They formed in 1982 when they were wee ones, all 12 years old at the time. I can't even remember what I was doing when I was 12 but it wasn't putting out records and making music videos. Their first single, Je Suit Mort, which translates to "I am dead", came out in 1984 and by 1990 the band was over with a handful of singles and an LP.

Here are both sides of the first single, the B-side of which is an amazing music video/interview with the kids.

Love, love, love,

Megon

Odds & Ends

So, people are always asking me what I'm listening to now and I don't even respond usually, because it's always such an odd playlist of mis-mashed random tracks it's seems like I shouldn't even admit to it. But, I have so many things I love and want to share that I'm gonna peel back the curtain and post a bunch of shit I have been jamming lately, in no particular order, no particular genre, completely un-curated. Off the cuff!

This Human Backs song I listen to most every day lately. I have been feeling like a lumbering zombie-monster due to lack of sleep and elevated stress so it suits me just fine. Also, my Ipod only seems to have New Wave Complex comps on it for some reason. I don't remember doing that but...

Secondly, this Lene Lovich tune which appears on the soundtrack of the movie Radio On, along with like, every other band ever. I haven't seen the movie in forever until I had to watch it at work the other day and this song stuck in my brain. Catchy lyrics and a ridiculous video:

So, obvy, I have been pretty down lately and have been jamming some pretty high energy stuff, especially at work, to keep me motivated and out of my own head. This fucking Sandra song, I literally listen to it over and over and over at work and dancing in my chair. It's sooooo bad good. 

This Hermine song is always stuck in my head. Every time something displeases me or I feel like I'm being tortured, it pops up again. And what style!

This Gertrud Stein song doesn't even really need an introduction from me, it's fucking catchy and again, a good work jam. Or, an anti-work jam. Anyway, I listen to it at work.

This The United States of America record I picked up on a whim the other day when I was at my friend's record store. I have been listening to it non-stop since then. I love the easy, breezy vibe.

Here's another disco song for you. I don't think people realize how much disco I listen to, and dumb cheesy disco at that. Why would they? But, I will admit it to you here. The other day I found this Sophie record on the top of the new arrivals stack at Aux 33 Tours. And I subsequently spent 30 hopeful minutes crawling around on the floor going through their disco section to find nothing else of interest. Womp womp. Anyway, I absolutely love this OTT classic.

Of course, Weekend. This song was thrown back into my mix by a very lovely new friend who reminded me listening to sad music when you're sad is okay. It's going well so far, haven't cried once! 

Okay, that's all I have time for right now. 

Enjoy the silence, 

Megon

Nice & New: Rakta, Koban, La Luz & Votive

Wow, so much has happened in the last month, I hardly know where to begin. Late last month I turned 31 and then a couple days after I got on a plane to Arkansas to be with my mother when she died. I was away from home, or back home in a sense, for a couple weeks straightening out family business and have been in a fog since I got back to Montreal and pretty much went straight back to work. I have been to a couple shows, begrudgingly, since my return.  La Luz played during Pop Montreal and it was lovely. I posted about them on the ODIF Facebook page once but my love has grown since then so I thought I reiterate it here. If you get a chance to see them, by all means go. They have an LP out on Hardly Art with all the hits from the demo and many more.

I went to one other show during Pop which was a hot mess of wine drunkenness on my part but was Votive from Toronto. I always get suckered into these new TO bands and am usually disappointed, like with Ice Cream. This time was a bit better considering Votive is Cam from Kontravoid with his girlfriend singing, and pretty much sounds exactly like that. Not bummed I went, except the hangover the next day. I can't find a recording of this anywhere however, so go see them live if you get the shot.

Anyway, moving on to another band I am sure I have mentioned before, Koban! The EP is finally out on some massively colorful pink splatter vinyl and on one of our favourite labels, Weyrd Son Records. You can

but the vinyl HERE. Here's one of my favorite tracks from the EP which, consequently, you can read my write up about on the Weyrd Son website. 

I know I didn't mention La Luz and Votive before, when you could have actually gone to see them here, but I'll give you a fair warning on Rakta, from Brazil, who are playing here October 11th at Casa, event info HERE. This band is super trendy nowadays but I do actually really like it. Take a listen:

Anyway, that's that. I have so much more to say, so, time permitting in the next few days, hopefully more posts will follow. 

Love,

Megon

Therese Racket-Rebelle 7" (France, 1987) & Desechables-La Oración 7" (Spain, 1983)

Omigosh, it's been like a MONTH since I did a blog post. Mostly, because I got so fed up with my internet provider I told them to shut my internet the fuck off and it took me a while to get it back up and running again. Also, I have been working weird hours and dealing with crazy, daily life and fests and broken baby arms and in-laws and so on and so forth. Anyway, all that aside, here I am and here are a couple bands I will tell you about because...

The other day my friend Rocio and her parents came over for dinner (they are from Spain) and her dad asked why I had Desechables records. I thought this was a funny question. Is that SO weird?! In all honesty, Desechables are a band I love but I haven't listened to them in a while. So, it was even more bizarre when they came up again a few days later... My friend Pascal put on a fucking amazing poster show and sale. Loads of French, Spanish and German posters from the early 80's. I spent a pretty penny but got a load of stuff because it was all so cheap. I am kinda bummed I didn't have an extra $60 to drop on some original Edith Nylon press kit glossies, one of the most expensive things there. Oh well. Anyway, in the boxes and boxes of posters were two Desechables posters and I knew I needed them. One of them is (partially) pictured below, the purple pic dated Saturday 29, 1984. Pretty hot, right? The other pic is the cover of their for single, La Oración, out in 1983. And that brings us to the second half of our story...

So, I had gone over the list of stuff that was gonna be for sale at the poster show but when I was going through the bins I randomly stumbled across this Therese Racket poster (directly below) and was totally blown away. As I was leaving about half a dozen of my friends went through my pile to see what I had gotten and no one knew Therese Racket. I haven't known about them for that long either but I am a sucker for this exact kind of thing. Anyway, when my French friend didn't even know who they were I decided it was time to share. So, here we are. Therese Racket. I am a bit short on time so you are not getting much info out of me on either bands but you can listen to the songs and judge for yourself!

Also, as a semi-side note, I also got a poster of the German NDW band Ideal and this little Crammed Records promo poster featuring a couple of my faves Family Fodder and People In Control. 

Obvy, I have been holding it in for way too long and I wish I had had time in the last month to do a million blog posts but here we are, just this one. And now I am out of time so off again. Hopefully to be back sooner than later. 

Love,

Megon

Family Fodder-Savoir Faire 7" (UK, 1980)

Hey y'all! I am still alive! It has been a minute since I managed to check in here. I got a new job, you may remember me mentioning, which has been taking up ALL of my time. That coupled with a "vacation" back home, I have not had a minute to spare. But, I'm here now, so let's chat. First and foremost, can I say I've missed you? I am really having a hell of an adjustment back into office life and I just wanna go back to my freelance days of baths and listening to random and obscure shit on YouTube all day. Oh well.

Anyway, it's finally summer. It's fucking hot and miserably humid and there aren't enough hours in the day to go swimming as much as one would like. The irony for me is now that I finally have money again, I don't have time to spend it. I did manage to rush over to the record store today on my lunch break and this little gem was waiting for me. Seemed like fate that I should get my ass in gear and do a post about it. So, without further ado, Family Fodder. I have liked this band for a while as they shared, at least at one point, members with People in Control who you may remember from this post I did a while back: HERE. Either way, this group has been around a long time and somewhat surprisingly, they are still active, putting out new records and touring. You can keep up with them on their page HERE and go see them early next year if you are out Europe way. They have about a million records and I can't personally vouch for ALL of them but if your leanings are a bit artsy and British-of-that-era, by all means give them a listen, starting here with this song that has just been killing me called Savoir Faire from their 1980 7" of the same name and also appearing on the album Monkey Banana Kitchen, out the same year.

Anyway, I hope to be back soon. Things are quieting down as far as shows go for a bit and everyone is going on vacation so I'll try to get you some nice, obscure 80's summer jams in the near future!

Love,

Megon

Nice and New: The Courtneys & Vierance

For those of you who don't know, I have a day job doing freelance subtitling for movies and TV. This basically means I sit at my computer watching movies all day, every day, mostly terrible. Today, completely unexpectedly, I got promoted! So starting Monday I will no longer be working from home.

But, before leaving my home office behind, I have one one last hurrah this weekend. Tonight, SINS and Vierance are invading our fair city, from Toronto. They will be playing at the Death House on SATURDAY with Brusque Twins and it would be lovely to see you there. Event info HERE.

But, before I get ahead of myself, tonight after picking them up from the train station, I will be putting in an appearance at the Lumpy and the Dumpers show to see some very old friends from the STL which I am totally excited about.  It's been way too long. If I have the time, energy, I will also try to sneak over to the Courtneys show which you can look into HERE.  Who knows if I will actually make it despite my best efforts.

Tomorrow I will be resting so you will not see me at Angelic Upstarts.  But Saturday, ugh, Saturday will start with Kids Pop, a going-away picnic for our Finnish friend and ending with the aforementioned show. There is another show at the Vitrola on the punker side featuring Malokio, if that's more your speed. Sunday, baby shower and taking my favourite German to the airport. It's a weekend of brief hellos and long good-byes and, honestly, I'm happy to be so busy so I won't start crying that everyone is leaving. So, come find me and buy me juices and gelatoes to cheer me up since I'm also driving around and not drinking. Here are some songs from bands you can come and see with me.
Love,
Megon

 

Hilary Laddin-The Sell 7" (US, 1980)

It's a wonder at the end of some days I don't just fall over, dead, on the floor in a puddle of my own drool. Today is one of those days. Work was gruelling and I was just not expecting that.  My eyes are completely glazed over and I feel like if I actually close them, they will never have the power to open again. Otherwise, so far, it's been a lovely week with a helluva weekend coming up. Loads of friends in town including my German bestie who brought me presents including a Christmas pyramid and some hand cream/shampoo, not sure which because I can't read German.  And, starting tomorrow, there are a bunch of shows including, but not limited to, Tropic of Cancer on Saturday with our dear friends Police Des Moeurs opening.   

ANYWAY, y'all don't really care about any of that. You just want the songs, right? Well, here's one for you, going back to my roots with some pics to boot. A little jammy jam from Hilary Laddin, who also drummed in the band The Leaving Trains, whom you may remember. This is not like that and I like it way better. Here are both sides to her only solo single The Sell, released in 1980 on What Records? most famous for a couple Dils and Germs records that were KINDA popular, or something, I don't know. Unfortunately, Hilary passed away in 2007 but this is still a pretty rad record that deserves more light of day. 

Alright, I'm wiped. Talk to you after the weekend.

LOVE!!!

Megon

Karen Marks-Cold Cafe 7" (Australia, 1981)

Alright, here's a real little slice of pie for you. And good goddamn if you can't tell this is Australian just from listening to it. There's a sweet little write up of this sweet little record over on Systems of Romance HERE, produced and partially co-written by Ash Wednesday, just so you know. If you don't have an extra $500 to drop on the real thing, you can also download it there as well. Anyway, I'm pretty much head over heels for this record, so without further ado:

In other news, still DJing tomorrow night at Minimale Musique and I'm home alone for the next few days so don't expect to hear from me till well after the weekend. Okay, off to do the million and one chores and errands I have. Hope to see you all tomorrow! 

Love,

Megon

Valerie Krystal-Piece Of My Heart LP (Canada, 1983)

Oh man. It's been a minute since I checked in here. I have been deathly ill for about a week and simultaneously slammed at work so, I've been going to bed at about 9 every night. Right now I am about 75% human, about 25% snot, but working on bringing that latter percentage down. Anyway, pretty much the only other thing I have been doing for the last week is listening to disco. I know what you're going to say but just hear me out. It's awesome. That's all the semi-convincing I have the energy to do. Anyway, if that's not enough, here's a song I have been jamming a lot lately. I think it's pretty fucking catchy and totally Canadian, eh? Meet Valerie Krystal. Man, there are so many things I like about this but mostly it's her little kid voice. I was only gonna post Jailbait, my favorite song of hers, but Tic Toc is like a new wave Sparks song so I'm putting it up for you too. I just can't stop, I love her so. 

Anyway, the actual reason I'm posting this is to lead into this: next Thursday, May 8th, to be exact, I am going to be doing an ODIF inspired DJ set at Minimale Musique. I have a lot of tricks up my sleeve for this night and I hope you can all come out and drink, dance, both or neither. The event info is HERE. I hope to see some of y'all there. Bring your dancing shoes. TGIF!
Love,
Megon

Wrath-Warlord 7" (US, 1975)

I pretty much have nothing to say today. My brain is completely turned off due to quite a hangover and some intense lingering pain from separating my shoulder last night. Anyway, I woke up to this in my inbox from my friend Francois and it's so crazy rockin' I am stealing it. I am gonna actually quote the Numero Group website bio of this band because I think you're more likely to read it this way than if I link you:

Forged in a Canton, Ohio, musical instrument depot in 1970, Wrath combined guitarist Ralph Minocchi, bassist Glen Sikora, and singing drummer Rick Page— an ore unparalleled in the seat of Stark County. In a North Canton Battle of the Bands, Wrath clashed with a then-unknown Joe Walsh; in Akron, they opened for Ted Nugent, years prior to that warlord Detroiter’s eponymous debut LP. Neighborhood garages served Wrath as practice spaces, before Sikora got warehouse keys from his generous boss, a Wrath fan in his own right.

“Warlord”—penned by Minocchi, who wrote most of Wrath’s martial and darkly metaphysical material— summoned up Satan, sea snakes, and the titular combatant forced to dig his own grave. Originally conceived to showcase his vocals, “Warlord” was taped during Page’s bout with laryngitis. In his stead, Sherry Minocchi—Ralph’s wife at the time— took a one-time lead-singing stint...and nailed the double-tracked speak-sing vocal to Wrath’s mournful instrumentation. But Sherry never sang “Warlord” again, yielding to Page’s delivery during live sets, and a subsequent “Warlord” master tape featuring Page’s vocal take was stolen, likely lost forever. 1975 saw the release of Wrath’s “Warlord” b/w “Rock n’ Roll Fever” 45 on Stone Cold Records, founded by Wrath itself on the advice of a shrewd attorney.

In touring afterward, Wrath stuck to its Rust Belt roots. Sikora’s army photographer brother brought the band to an Atlanta, Georgia, military base for a Black Sabbath concert, before which Wrath and Sabbath briefly warmed up together. But in the early part of the 1980s, Wrath’s membership, no longer unencumbered teens, lost hope in touring enough to support family needs. Minocchi and Page moved on to the far less wrathful Holiday Inn gigging circuit.

You can also check out the comp this track appears on HERE. Chock full of some other heavy gems. Anyway, lunch break is over. Yes, I still have to work with my fucked-up shoulder.

TGIF!!!

Megon

Nice & New: Tweens, Douce Angoisse, Pale Lips, Pleasure Leftists, Dum Dum Girls & Blouse

I told you I'd be back at the end of the month with more show updates and here I am! Most of these bands probably don't need an introduction. But, I just want you to know, they are all gonna be playing Montreal in the next week. So, if you wanna come say hi, I will be at ALL of these shows, even the ones happening on the same night. Of course, as always, you are welcome to come drink and dance with me. Here's what's happening in chronological order:

Friday, March 28th. (tomorrow) 

Blouse and Dum Dum Girls are playing at Il Motore. I am super curious to see how this show is gonna go. My gut says it should totally sell out a venue this size, but Il Motore is a notorious kiss of death so...we will see! Event info HERE.  After the show we will be staying to dance at the monthly Faggity Ass Friday dance party where Douce Angoisse will also be playing, who I have somehow never managed to see.

Alright, moving on to next week, because who knows if I'll make it back before then.

Saturday, April 5th.

Just a reminder about something I've already posted, our friends SVPER, from Barcelona, will be playing their ONLY Canadian date (sorry Toronto) so don't miss it. Police Des Moeurs will also be playing as it is a show to celebrate the release of their new LP. Event info HERE.

Sunday, April 6th. 

***Not blog related***, but just a bit of shameless self promotion, our dear friends Processor will be playing at Casa with Cell Memory and Hobo Cubes. So, come out for a lovely evening of dream noise, soundscapes and reasonably priced drinks and nachos. You know in your heart that Mac Demarco and Amen Dunes is way too expensive anyway. Event info HERE. 

Monday April 7th, 

Pleasure Leftists vs. Tweens.

I have been bugging people left and right trying to figure out which show to go to and I have finally decided I'm gonna bust my ass and go to both. I have loved the Pleasure Leftists since I first heard them, and you may remember even interviewed them for the zine HERE. But, the new LP fell a bit flat for me. Tweens, on the other hand, are still fresh in my mind and have not disappointed me...yet. so, I'm gonna give both bands a chance to dazzle me. Pleasure Leftists are playing at Il Motore (gross, I know) and the event info is HERE. Tweens are playing at Cabaret Playhouse with our friends Pale Lips, who I'm probably sadly going to miss...again. Event info HERE.

Okay, I have to leave it at that for now. I think that's a bit of info overload anyway. Maybe I'll see you this week! 

Love,

Megon

Bernthøler-My Suitor 7" (Belgium, 1983)

Everyone always tells me that they love how personal the blog is. But, despite my overly familiar and casual writing style, the blog is not actually very personal at all. Anyone who knows me well will tell you I am actually very guarded with my emotions. Right now, I am going to let the guard down...A LITTLE, and just to explain why I have chosen to post this song. Some of you may know that my mother has been going through a bout of cancer for quite a while now, her third. On this front things are FINALLY looking up. But, another friend is also going through a battle with the disease. Without spilling any dirt that's not mine to dish, I have had a really hard day with some news we've gotten regarding this and some news we haven't. 

I was listening to a French ODIF playlist earlier to lift my spirits and mistakenly (because they are from Belgium) stuck in there was Bernthøler. I had forgotten about this band and this song punched me right in my face and I have been listening to this record pretty much since then. Sometimes you find a perfect song for how you're feeling and this is it for me today.  This particular single was pressed in England on Blanco Y Negro and touted by John Peel so you know it must be kinda alright.  

 

This second track is a little more accessible as it sounds more like other stuff that was going on at the time. Anyway, there are other good tracks, most of which you can find on Youtube as this group had a pretty big following at one point. You can read a brief history HERE and or some more HERE.

As a bonus, here's the title track from their first single Japanese Garden. 

Okay, I hope you are all having healthy and happy days out there. 

Love,

Megon

The Waaaaah! CD (UK, 1991)

Today I had to listen to some stuff that took me back to a part of the 90's that I hate. My brain backlashed and brought me back to some stuff I'm gonna share with you here. A part of the 90's that I love. This general theme has been the majority of my day and as with my Subway Organisation post, I am not going to get into too many specifics for these groups, maybe none at all? Oh yeah, all this stuff can be found on the Waaaaah! CD compilation out in 1991.

Strawberry Story
I must have listened to this one 20 times today. So fucking catchy.
Here's some other stuff you can track down and listen to HERE.

 Fat Tulips
 
Evidently this song was on an episode of Pete and Pete,
which makes me love it even more. You can read a bit HERE.

 The Dufflecoats
 
No funny anecdotes about this one. Just a tiny bit HERE.

 Kind
 
Thanks again, Cloudberry! HERE.

Confetti
 
Have always loved them. A bit HERE.

 The Bedflowers
 
This is the song that inspired this post and although this tune is
not on the comp I mentioned, it's a great one.

There are a couple others without Youtube links.

The Duglasettes 
This song KILLS me. Like a little baby singing. Take a listen HERE. Or maybe y'all will like this one better HERE.

The Red Alarm Clocks
Also great, listen HERE.

Okay, I am sick, slept like total shit last night and worked all night so I'm off to bed.
XOXO
Megon

Fuck ,you know I was super tired because somehow I forgot...
The Cudgels

Nice & New: PANG & SVPER

I am going to skip rehashing my weekend, a lot of you probably saw me out and about, because the early part of this week has already been filled with excitement. I'm gonna start off with PANG. Our long-lost friends over at Grazer Records sent this over yesterday and I'm kind of obsessed with it already. I love it when people know what I like! Anyway, this is some super catchy poppy "post-punk," terrible description I know, but it definitely hits me right in my sweet spot. This is the title track of their new EP. It'll be out April 8th and pre-orders start next week. I'm real excited about this one and I just couldn't wait to share.
 

Secondly, last night we played UNO and ate hummus with SVPER from Barcelona and they are just dolls. If you get the chance to see them, don't miss it. They hit North America yesterday and are flying to Austin today to start their tour. Montrealers, they will be back here in a couple weeks to play the Police Des Moeurs record release show HERE on April 5th. You can listen to more HERE.

Alright, time for a shower and then to real work. 

Love,

Megon

Mau Mau-Kraft LP (Germany, 1982)

It's beautiful outside. Not deathly cold and super sunny. It's ALMOST enough to make you think spring could actually be right around the corner.  That has yet to be seen however. But, if you are hopeful, like me, this is a perfect little ditty to bop around to outside in the sunshine. This song is in French although this group is German and has quite a pedigree. It's well worth Google translating this to read a bit about the band HERE. Otherwise, you can download the full album HERE. This group had a bunch of other releases but this is the only one where Claudia Sennlaub sings so...

Have a happy sunshiney day. 

Megon

The Welders-S/T EP (US, 1979) & D-Day-Too Young To Date 7" (US, 1979)

Well, here's a funny combo for you. I'll let you listen to the lyrics and figure out why I put these two songs together. First up, the Welders. I have a soft spot for anything from St. Louis back in the day and here we have it. I lived in STL for 5 years and discovered little to nothing about it's musical past and maybe it's because awesome releases, like this one, are all sitting around in people's basements, having never been released. This particular record was found and released in 2010 on BDR, who seem to specialize in STL punk, which is totally rad.  I think I also remember some sort of MRR feature about it. Don't quote me on that. Anyway, there's a little info HERE or check out the label HERE. 

And secondly, D-Day. I'm laughing to myself now because I don't even know where to start with this. Okay, let me start by saying this is their 1979 7" called Too Young To Date, which, not surprisingly, got them quite a bit of attention, good and bad. This record was the first released on Austin's legendary Moment Productions label which went on to put out the Big Boys and Standing Waves. Inadvertently, this post features two bands from places I used to live and maybe my brain is making deeper connections than I realize, especially given the subject matter of the tunes. ANYWAY, you can read an interesting bit about this group HERE.

I actually prefer the B side to this record which I will throw in here just for the hell of it. A tune called Every Time I Ask You Out with a distinctly X dual-vocals vibe. 

Okay, time to go to work!

Love,

Megon