In The Trashcan
Records GEM077
"If the puppet is the only mistake, it's never too
late to be wanted and to wash the foetus off your
breath..."
Morton, Sherman and Belluci were a highly successful producers trio in the Belgian new beat scene, who released more than 100 recordings in 1987 under various pseudonyms. Morton and Sherman were Jo Casters and Herman Gillis, both members of Poesie Noire in 1986. This was their third 45 and before New Beat exploded they sounded like a Neon Judgement - Siglo XX cocktail. An Antler release.
Produced by the legendary Martin Hannett in 1991 for the Belgian record label Play It Again Sam. It was the B-side of "Get better", a song that started the album "Pigeonhole", but does not feature this indie Madchester dance rock tune.
Jim Thirlwell aka Clint Ruin was born in Melbourne, Australia, but moved to London in the late 70s. He had at least a dozen band names; mostly with the word Foetus in it; remember Scraping Foetus Off The Wheel? This 1981 single on his own Self Immolation label is a perfect example from this genius of the bizare electronic noise mixed with crazy rhythms and heavy beats. He was 10 years ahead of his time. "I'll meet you in Poland" and "The only dead Christian is a dead Christian" are two of my faves.
Perhaps the last superb release by this East Kilbride band, who ruled the indie world briefly in 1985 with their "Psychocandy" album. This is 8 years later.
Bluurg Records is known because of Subhumans. Reggae, punk, dub & hardcore are the main ingredients of this UK band. "Half way there" is the B-side of "TV dinner", which also features a track by A.O.S.3. From 1993.
Early single of The Bunnymen with Pete de Freitas replacing the drumcomputer Echo. A Korova release from 1980.
In the alternative clubs "Don't tell me" was their biggest hit, but it's this weird flipside that got my attention. It's 1984 and the world went on as it did a year earlier.
Too Late was the name of their own record label, the title of this EP and the last song of this 4-track 7". Minimalistic cold wave sounds from Kiel, Germany. See also vol 47.
The only mistake was that Factory Records decided to wait until 1988 to release it on a 45 as flipside to "Atmosphere". Fantastic song written by Ian Curtis, who hanged himself in 1980.
Heavily influenced by Killing Joke this UK post-punk group, featuring painting artist Paul Baker Jones, recorded just a couple of singles which were compiled on a sampler in 2004 entitled "The missing album", also on Mean Machine Products. This one is from 1981.
B-side of the promo-7" of "Alaska Highway" from 1990. In those days they had already changed from pure EBM to a richer sound, including a guitar. It was their last 7" release. Many 12 inches would follow and albums as well, but for me it all ended here. I'll remember them for the fantastic "TV treated", "Let's get born", "Awful day", "Tomorrow in the papers" and many more.
De Brassers, Siglo XX and Struggler were the best known new wave and punk bands hailing from the east side of Belgium. They remind me of Warsaw, pre-Joy Division. A 1980 Doggy Doo release from Belgium.
Scottish cold wave trio from Glasgow and their sole release from 1980. Rose McDowall switched to Cure-like pop in the mid-80s when she founded Strawberry Switchblade with Jill Bryson. She also appeared on various industrial releases by bands as Death In June, Current 93, Psychic TV and also Coil. In Coil she joined her husband again, Drew McDowall, founder of The Poems. "Achieving unity" is a deep dark atmospheric instrumental, predating the Goth scene by several years.
"Performance" is the best Tones On Tail song and this is the excellent flipside. The band emerged from the ashes of Bauhaus, with frontman Daniel Ash. A 1984 release on Beggars Banquet.
"Feel the power of the bass…" is start of this punky ode to (the end of) disco dancing by Britain's UK Decay. A 1979 Plastic Records release. See also vol 79.
The overfuzzed distorted flipside to their best single track "Never understand", from 1985, their second release and their first of many on Blanco Y Negro.
