In The Trashcan Records
GEM009
"Garage rock and post punk bands ruled the indie charts
when they were still alive and kicking..."
Kim Salmon and his Scientists were one of Australia's best known guitar bands in the mid-80s. This is the B-side of Nancy Sinatra's "You only live twice". A couple more 45s followed in 1985, when they decided to call it an end after a 9 years existence.
Another B-side of a hit single. In 1985 The Cure were BIG after 10 albums. Still they managed to hide little pop gems as a B-side.
On volume 8 I put the B-side of "Sheez wycked", now I picked the B-side of "She's wicked". "Epitaph for a head" was recorded originally by J. D. Blackfoot aka Benjamin Franklin Van Dervort in 1969. In 1985 it was picked up by The Fuzztones, the uncrowned kings of fuzz garage.
Another B-side of a hit single. In 1985 The Cure were BIG after 10 albums. Still they managed to hide little pop gems as a B-side.
The European garage kings in the mid-80s were The Nomads who are here with a mind-blowin' original: "Nitroglycerine shrieks", released on Wire Records.
Ian Astbury has a great voice. And together with Billy Duffy he wrote fantastic songs, like "Rain", the A-side of "Little face". Starting in 1981 as Southern Death Cult, they shortened their name to Death Cult in 1983 and then again in 1984 when they became The Cult.
On the compilation "Battle of the garages vol 4" you find the terrific "She'll always be mine". But I prefer their "Play your game": more fuzz, more energy, more power. On "She'll always be mine" it's Johnny, the guitar player, who sings. Here it is drummer Michael doing the vocals. Two gorgeous women complete this French foursome.
"Bring on the dancing horses" was the most accessible Echo & The Bunnymen single so far, but on the B-side there's the darker "Over your shoulder" which reminds me of Jesus And Mary Chain without the distorted guitar sounds.
Canada's finest fuzz freaks were The Gruesomes. "Gruesomania" and "Tyrants of teen trash" still remain classic garage rock albums.
When Killing Joke released "Night time", the UK music press was surprised by the sudden make-over. A more commercial approach led to several hit singles including "Kings and queens". This is the flipside: 5 minutes long and almost completely instrumental.
Australia had many garage combos and labels. Mr. Spaceman Records was one of the best. Here are Arctic Circles with a B-side "My baby said that". I don't think they released many records. I only know of one 12" and this 45.
The 4AD sleeves are amongst the most beautiful ever made. Scotland's Cocteau Twins were a 4AD band, that made dreamy pop soundscapes around Elisabeth Frazer's etheral voice and Robin Guthrie's guitar licks.
Founded in 1980 in Yorkshire, UK, they mix militant punk rock and political folk rock. They broke through on the indie scene with "Vengeance" in 1984 on Abstract. One year later followed this 45 and album "No rest for the wicked" on major EMI.
My favourite band in 1985, no question about that. "Just out of reach" is only a B-side and yet better than 90% of the indie chart singles that year. The Reid brothers managed to control the feedback and distortion in a way that there was order in the aural chaos. Every song is a pure pop song, hidden in a cloud of clashing guitar amplifiers.
"Camouflage" was a world-wide hit for ex-Wall Of Voodoo frontman Ridgway. However it's the B-side of that I.R.S. 45 that could surprise me. The production is too slick, I agree, but still this song has something special. And I must admit that I love the sound of his very recognizable voice.
Back to Australia. Psychotic Turnbuckles were Cramps fans and thus it is no surprise that they recorded The Novas' "The crusher" too. This 45 was issued by Vi-Nil Records, their second and last on that label.
