Dogmatic Element-Strange Passion 7" (Ireland, 1982) & Dress Up As Natives-Romantic About You Cassette (US, 1981)

Ahoy hoy!

Been feeling really down the last couple of days and pretty much not sleeping. At all. So, I've actually had a lot of time to think up some new stuff for the blog. I know, right? So, let's do it.

First up is a big track from Pittsburgh outfit Dress Up As Natives. I can't tell you how often this song pops into my brain. Romantic About You is actually from a demo cassette that was never officially released and is difficult to track down info on, but at least some of it is available for download HERE. And if you want to read a bit about them you can do so HERE. They officially released one 7" on Public Records in 1982 which is just as good and worth a listen also.

Secondly, same year but from the other corner of the globe, Dogmatic Element from Bangor, Ireland. This group managed to get out two 7"s, Strange Passion in 1982 and False Emotions in 1984. Again, you can read a bit about them HERE. For my money, Just Friends is a hit, but you can listen for yourself. 

I should probably start a new post now, but I'm too lazy so you'll just have to follow my wandering exhausted thoughts. Dogmatic Element appear on the 2012 compilation Strange Passion: Explorations In Irish Post Punk DIY And Electronic Music 1980-1983 which has some great hidden gems including this lovely and haunting Choice track, Always In Danger, which I will probably listen to like ten more times today. 

Okay, I'll wrap this up here. Gonna try to whip out a couple of long overdue mixtapes before I pass out from exhaustion. 

Love, 

Megon

Nice & New: Makthaverskan, Flowers and Fire & Shopping

Wow, it's been like six months since I had time to post on here. Oops! Boy, have I been busy. I won't bore you with too many details but clawing my way from a long, slow descent into madness then getting the world's most stressful job and buying a second house... Been fun. Let's never speak of it again. Anyhoo, a very little update about some stuff that's coming up that I care about. I missed telling you about the Sheer Mag show the other day, and prolly a lot of other stuff in the last six months, but here are a few things to make up for that.

Thursday, September 17th:

Xarah Dion and Police Des Moeurs are playing the Des Jeunes Gens Modernes film launch for POP Montreal. Will be a fun, if not a slightly pricey, evening. Also, the new PDM tracks are hot. Not to be missed. 

Thursday, September 24th:

Flowers and Fire will be playing the first night of Varning Fest with a pretty stacked line-up including Malokio and Dekoder, headlined by Born Dead Icons. That's all I'll say about that. I can't seen to get the embed for this to work but you can listen here if it continues to be difficult:

 http://flowersandfire.bandcamp.com/releases

Wednesday, October 7th:

Man, not to be missed in my opinion, Makthaverskan from Sweden are playing at La Vitrola, event info HERE. I have literally been jamming this all day, very stoked.

Wednesday, October 21st:

SHOPPING. I honestly never thought I'd see Shopping in Montreal but they will be playing at Bar Le Ritz. Gah. Yay! I have loved this band for a long time and stoked to see them the same place I saw 

Wet Dog before them.

Okay, I need sleep.  I make no promises on any future posts but at the very least Tops, Nots and Molly Nilsson are playing soon so maybe I'll come tell you about that? In the meantime, stay frosty! 

Love y'all lots. 

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

Ana Hausen-Professionals 7" (UK, 1981)

Taking another break from posting interviews for this little jam. I have been feeling particularly Scottish lately, for reasons I still have to keep to myself. If you need more reason to watch than just my word, this little gem was released on Human Records who also put out all your favorite Slits, Mo-Dettes and Au Pairs records. Also, there's quite a bit of info from Craig Nugent himself about the group HERE if you wanna take a little walk on over there. Anyway, shower/record store/food/band practice for me. 

XOXO

Megon

DA!-Dark Rooms 7" (US, 1981)

Totally bummer news about Lorna Donley, the singer of Chicago post-punk group DA!, passing away today.  I am not usually an obit/in memoriam kinda person but just thought what better time to share the work of this awesome group.  Also, seemed like this was going under the radar a bit. I'm not gonna mush this up with anything else.  Enjoy the jams.

Hugs and big wet kisses,

Megon

Anne Cessna & Essendon Airport-Talking To Cleopatra 7" (Australia, 1980)

 Here are a couple of jams from the collaboration between Essendon Airport and Anne Cessna.  The official Australian Innocent label catalog from 1981 stated this record was "A hit single with no target to hit. This could be the start of a beautiful friendship."  It may well have resulted in a friendship but no further records were put out featuring this grouping.  Upon further investigation, I have turned up little to no information about Anne Cessna herself.  So, if anyone out there has any info and wants to make my life a little easier pass it along.  In the mean time, enjoy both sides of the single "Talking to Cleopatra/Lost In Madagascar"

Love,

Megon