The Clean - Compilation (Flying Nun Records)

It is criminal how underrated and unknown The Clean are. In my honest opinion this is THE BEST band to ever come out of that little island known as New Zealand. But still, if you ask 99% of people from NZ if they know of The Clean or even the legendary Flying Nun Record label, they will look at you with a blank and confused stare. But alas, I too am also guilty of not ever hearing of these guys - until last year when a bunch of americans put me onto them. I felt ashamed that something so great has been at our doorstep this entire time.

Wikipedia describes The Clean as an influential Indie rock band that formed in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1978. Led through a number of early rotating line-ups by brothers Hamish and David Kilgour, the band settled down to their well-known and current line-up with bassist Robert Scott. Early incarnations of The Clean included Peter Gutteridge on bass (who wrote "Point That Thing") and Doug Hood on vocals (who later worked with Toy Loveand founded the "Looney Tours" touring company). The Clean forged a distinctive and quirky sound that relied heavily on organ melodies and simple, Ramones-style chord progressions.

Basically when a bands sound or influences are described as being of 80's New Zealand indie style, then they are inadvertently citing Flying Nun records and/or their "biggest" band: The Clean. Many of the bands/artists that I listen to and write about today are in some ways influenced by Flying Nun. One well known fan was the late Jay Reatard who's solo records (especially watch me fall)are heavily influenced by the NZ label.

So where to start? Well this compilation album of the Clean is the perfect entry point. It contains most of the hits by the band during brief tenure including probably the bands most famous song Anything Could Happen - watch the video here:

After you got yourself fully acquainted with the brilliance that is The Clean, then move onto other bands of the Flying Nun Roster. I will no doubt be occasionally dropping some posts on them in the not too distant future.

Billy Two.mp3

Tally Ho.mp3

Beatnik.mp3

DOWNLOAD HERE

Home Blitz: Out of Phase

last.fm says: Home Blitz is the recording project of Daniel DiMaggio from Princeton, New Jersey. Deep cut distorted lo-fi with some slop-rock tension and a noisy edge. His jams are hook-laden and demented. 

DiMaggio decided to include Jason Sigal on bass (Lame Drivers, Great Excape), Theresa Smith on guitar, and, for the meantime, the chillest 16 year old drummer he discovered on a skate park.

While they fall under the lo-fi/garage rock category Home Blitz also have a tinge of powerpop and old school mtv style punk to their tracks. The songs are filled with the kinda dirty guitar and youthful lyrics that make you want to drink cheap beer and stick your feet out the window. Influences range from 90's midwest emo like Cap'n Jazz to the abrasive whiskey swiggin' memphis garage fuzz of Oblivians, Reatards, etc. 

I really didn't expect to like this record so much but it is slowly making its way to one of my favourite finds of this year (even though it came out way back in October 2010).

I do warn you though, the first track of this album is kinda weird, and then there is the song "Live Outside" which is from my understanding just a field recording of somebody rummaging through papers. But I guess these things just add to the band's "we don't give a shit" attitude.

Two Steps.mp3
Is Anybody There.mp3

mediafire

The Mantles - S/T (siltbreeze)

Yet another amazing act from the venerable siltbreeze label are San Francisco's The Mantles. Byron (not Brian) Coley from the Wire sums these guys up best with “… a vibe somewhere between the crisp gauze of Midwest groups associated with the early-’80s garage revival (Vertebrats, Plasticland, etc.) and the mysto-stroke of late-’80s New Zealand.”

So far they have a full LP out on siltbreeze as well as an EP titled "Pink Information" out on Mexican Summer records. Both are equally awesome and If you've managed to read this far then I suggest you go and get them asap because they will most likely be suited to your fickle musical tastes hombre.

If you still don't trust my judgement and want to hear a little something to get your whistle wet then check out this video (or lack thereof) of the single Don't Lie and your mind will be made.

Not good enough for you? want to see an actual film clip you say?? Well how about this clip for the single Cascade from the Pink Information EP? does that satisfy you, eh, compadre?


Cascades - The Mantles from The Mantles on Vimeo.

DOWNLOAD

White Fence - Is Growing Faith

Last.fm says: White Fence’s trippy, distortion-laced, psychedelic pop-influenced tunes (sounding, in other words, something along the lines of a warped cassette tape featuring The Left Banke or The Merry-Go-Round) are the brainchild of Timothy Presley (also a member of the like-minded groups Strange Boys and Darker My Love). The project’s self-titled debut was released on the Woodsist label in the spring of 2010. For the project’s next release, White Fence Is Growing Faith , Presley didn’t change much. The January 2011 album follows the same sometimes goofy, always trippily tuneful template of the debut.


I was put onto white fence a while back but never really got around to appreciating just how good they were until recently when I say a youtube video for their song sticky fruitman has faith. It basically shows some slow motion followed by sped up and slightly warped visions as well as people doing the "shake" while drinking beer and pushing each other - basically the way I would want people to act at every gig I ever go to for the rest of my life.

On Is Growing Faith  there is a healthy dose of garage pop tunes mixed with Beatles/sgt. peppers influenced psychedelic rock with a slight hint of old 60's surf rock a la The Atlantics, etc.  Listen if you like: Beatles, The Beets, The Mantles, Tame Impala, surf rock.


DOWNLOAD

Young Identities – New Trends EP

Reissue (Shake Music 1980/ 540 Records 2011)

The second piece of music from the Forest Glen recording session and savage/shake music’s fifth release was New Trends by Young Identities. This would be the last release by the band before they go on to change their name to The Kicks and what a cracker it is. Opening with title track “New Trends” lead singer Clay carries on right where he left off from the first EP with his signature bratty, snarling vocals. The guitar work is definitely more improved with better soloing and a catchy 3 chord punk rhythm. The band’s decision to use a better studio/producer pays dividends with the overall production of this record being much clearer and the songs are a lot tighter and catchier. In this reviewer’s worthless opinion this is the best EP of all the savage/shake reissues yet.

Young Identities - New Trends.mp3

Just Urbain – Everybody Loves Just Urbain EP

Reissue (Shake Music 1980/ 540 Records 2011)

Texas label 540 records continue to dig up more pieces to the puzzle that was Brisbane’s underground punk scene during the late 70’s/ early 80’s with a re-issue of Just Urbain’s second EP. After their first release, which was created out of a shared studio session with label mates Young Identities and Bodysnatchers, both Just Urbain and Young Identities travelled up to Forest Glen to record their second EP’s. If you haven’t already clued onto this, the original pressings are highly sought after by collectors and are going for ridiculous prices over on ebay, but if you’re like me and way to poor to ever cough up that kinda money but still want to grab yourself a piece of Brisbane punk history, then I suggest you snap these records up right away. This EP shows Just Urbain being a little more experimental and trying their hand at the occasional guitar solo. Title track “everybody loves” is the standout piece with a loose Stooges/Asheton style guitar solo beaming in and out from the buzzsaw rhythm guitar.

Just Urbain - Everybody Loves.mp3

Upcoming Releases

It has been a while since I have posted anything, I blame it on the economy and the fact that I have been working far too much at a job that I am certainly sick of.

Anyway, lets get down to brass tax here. There are some excellent singles/b-side/bootleg vinyl releases about to be dropped from the legendary Goner Records (probably my favourite label going around these days).

The first is by Melbourne's garage rock kings Eddy Current Suppression Ring who's LP titled "So Many Things" contains 22-tracks unreleased tracks from their years of doing the rounds. I have yet to hear the entire album but going off the track "You Don't Care" I'm sure they will be at their rambunctious best (albiet of a even more lo-fi recording).

Eddy Current Suppression Ring - You Don't Care (from the new release "So Many Things") by GonerRecords

The next is Singles 2007-2010 by Ty Segall. It seems you aren't a true garage punker unless you have a singles collection sealed on vinyl (a la Jay Reatard) and Ty is well on his way to garage royalty. I'm most excited abut this release and judging on the track "Skin", it is going to be worth the wait.

Ty Segall - Skin - Singles 2007-2010 by GonerRecords
Both these tracks were taken from the Goner Records soundcloud. There's a heap of dope tracks from bands on the labels roster so be sure to check them out.