Built on a Weak Spot

I’d been wanting to put together a post for the German noise-rock outfit Bhang Dextro for quite some time now, however I was missing a piece or two that I wanted to include but didn’t have. That mostly consisted of their final single on the Rex Rotary label, which had eluded me for however long. Thankfully member/bassist Ralf Schaarschmidt came to the rescue and was able to pass along the final single, along with a compilation that the band appeared on for the Reno, Nevada based label Satan’s Pimp which was also home to their first single in 1995 titled “Hedwig”. So many thanks for those! The band in total released just three singles to their credit, the first being the aforementioned “Hedwig” in 1995. The second also appeared in ’95 through the Common Cause label titled “Rebecca”. Their third and final single “Record No. 5” came in 1998 on Rex Rotary after a couple of lineup changes with guitarist Alex Schmidt leaving the band along with featuring a new drummer on the recording. The band dissolved soon after, however Ralf and fellow Bhang Dextro member/guitarist Udo Straub went on to form Are We Electric.

With that said, here are the three singles that the band put out during their time together. I’ve also included the track that appeared on the Satan’s Pimp compilation Accidental Death Through Misadventure and Mayhem. They had an appearance one other comp, but wasn’t able to be located.

Hedwig 7’’:
Bhang Dextro – Bogyman [MP3]
Bhang Dextro – Jackpot [MP3]
Bhang Dextro – Birdies [MP3]
Bhang Dextro – Crack [MP3]

Rebecca 7”:
Bhang Dextro – Only Ten Bucks [MP3]
Bhang Dextro – Sixty-Six [MP3]
Bhang Dextro – Quirky Puss [MP3]
Bhang Dextro – Rapeman [MP3]

Record No. 5 7’’:
Bhang Dextro – Trick [MP3]
Bhang Dextro – Swing [MP3]
Bhang Dextro – Dumb Ass [MP3]
Bhang Dextro – Winner [MP3]

VA – Accidental Death Through Misadventure and Mayhem 7’’:
Bhang Dextro – L.T.A.T.W. [MP3]

I’d wanted to hear this record from this group of Aussies for awhile now and finally got a chance to over the weekend thankfully. What I ended up hearing was some seriously killer swampy noise-rock that if you’re a fan of the countries fine noisy musical past with bands such as Lubricated Goat, Bird Blobs, and Feedtime then you certainly might want to give this a listen. This thing just gets the skin crawling a bit and the vocals are just downright nasty. It’s probably the only thing about Slug Guts that I could find myself needing a break from, but then again this wouldn’t rock nearly as much without them. I am sure they’ll get their fair amount of shit for not really forging any sort of new ground with this, but really if it’s done well there is no complaints on my end and this absolutely hits the spot.

Slug Guts – Backwater [MP3]

I know it’s a wee bit expensive for those of us in the US, but Stained Circles is the place to get these. However, you might try searching around for a cheaper alternative to avoid shipping costs. Oh well, either way grab this if you can, excellent stuff.

I can’t say I know a whole lot about mid-nineties Pittsburgh band Davenport. To my knowledge they released a couple singles through DaDa and Peas Kor along with their full-length album Big Ticket Plus also through Peas Kor in 1995. There might be another single, not really sure…but I am thinking this is it. If anyone out in the web universe knows more about them, feel free to fill me in via the comments or shoot me an e-mail. I have their records and enjoy them but I was kind of disappointed to see that there is virtually any sort of information or love out there for them, which is kind surprising in this age of personal blogs, etc. Anyway, I felt like some people might want to hear these tunes since they are pretty much long gone as far as being in print or available. Members of Davenport would later appear in the groups The Alpha Control Group (C), Parting Gift, and The Atom Panic however that’s about all I am aware of. There is probably much that I am missing. Anyway, in the meantime here is the singles for (Thank God For) Hurricanes and Quadruple Overtime, as well as the bands full-length Big Ticket Plus. All of the releases have been taken and converted at high quality from the records I have. Enjoy!

All the images below are linked to a larger scan.

Big Ticket Plus LP:
Download (.zip file)

(Thank God For) Hurricanes 7”:
Davenport – (Thank God For) Hurricanes [MP3]
Davenport – Real Blonde [MP3]

Quadruple Overtime 7”:
Davenport – S.I.C.K.Y. [MP3]
Davenport – Educating Girls Who Like to Draw Horses [MP3]
Davenport – Two Nails [MP3]
Davenport – Funny Hat [MP3]

The Olympia, WA based label Radio is Down has developed a trend of reaching overseas for their choices of release, which has been a pleasure thus far since most, if not all, of these releases wouldn’t have been as readily available here otherwise. So yeah, kudos to them for really going after what they want to put out. One of their latest discoveries happens to come via Jesi, Italy with Bhava and their album Double Jump Carpiato. Interestingly enough, this release actually has been altered with English lyrics for its release here, although I don’t know if the language would make much a difference when listening to this anyway. No matter, the band tosses out eight tracks of fairly volatile and break neck paced math/noise-rock here that draws from past genre staples like Dazzling Killmen and Arab on Radar. This seems to be about all over the place though, squeezing in whatever it can within the somewhat short run time.

Bhava – Look Sky Walker [MP3]

Anyone interested in picking this up can do so by heading on over to Radio is Down. If you like what you hear then definitely do so!

A band from Texas called Drug Mountain just seems all too natural when you take into account some of great and likely acid fueled noise that has come out of the state over the years. Judging by this incredibly brief yet highly satisfying one sided 12-inch from these guys, they appear to be more than just interested in staking their claim within the long list of notables. I say brief because this thing is literally 7 songs in just a touch over 10 minutes, but rather than being disappointed by that I am more so left really wanting to hear more. I suppose that’s not a bad thing, but damn that’s short. Anyway, don’t let me give you people the wrong idea, this is good stuff. Taking what sounds like a dual helping of saxophone and mucking it up with the hefty pound of bass and drums, this is pulling all the right strings. I’m typically not all that concerned about packaging/design, but I must admit this record looks pretty nice. On the flipside there is some interesting art screened on to it from graphic artist Nevada Hill.

Drug Mountain – Mind Your Fingers [MP3]

If you’re interested in picking up one of these then I suggest acting quick as there are only 100 of these available from Real Vinyl.

Here is a quick one before I depart for the weekend. Hope everyone else out there has a good one. Anyway, Fork was a band in the mid-nineties that I believe were from the Phoenix, Arizona area. I may be wrong about that however. They released a couple singles between 1994 and 1996 along with a split with The Johnson Strait Killers. This one here was released in 1996 through the notable Madison, WI Bovine label. Those familiar with the items found on that label probably already have a clue as to what Fork sounds like, sludgy ill-mannered noise-rock although “Balloon Boy” could possibly pass for grind. Anyway, eventually Fork would disintegrate and for the most part re-emerge as the Tomsk 7 who some may recognize from their split with Boris that was also on Bovine a year later. Anyway, check out their single for “Product” below!

Fork – Product [MP3]
Fork – Balloon Boy [MP3]
Fork – Finger Pointer [MP3]

And with that I’m out. Be back Monday! Enjoy!

I’d been waiting to hear more material from White Suns and then by coincidence PRGNT Records decided to pass along this recently released cassette Cavity from the band. Problem solved. Really beforehand I hadn’t been able to gather what exactly White Suns are all about, however I think this cassette certainly clears up any and all question marks. Cavity is five tracks that go just about as far as they can to further blur the line between pure noise and what some of us out there consider “rock”. I’ll go ahead and throw myself into that pool of people whom fancy this over some power ballads any day. However, Cavity covers some ground here as well amongst the crashing fuzz as power electronics and a slightly colder industrial feel make up more than a fair share of the bands absolutely ripping attack. Some of the items already written about the band have made mention of Sightings as an influence and direct comparison, and well…that’s not too far off at all really. Although this almost makes me feel at times that I am listening to The Goslings if they were attempting to make a speed metal record and that’s an idea I could almost get excited about if it were to actually happen. Unsurprisingly White Suns are from Brooklyn, which must be becoming one difficult place to live with the amount of noise that seems to be coming out of there. These guys are certainly right at home now, and I can’t wait to hear the slew of upcoming releases they have lined up.

White Suns – Burial Rites [MP3]

I don’t know how many of these tapes are available, however if you’re interested in picking up a copy of Cavity then definitely hit up PRGNT Records to get yourself one.

I’ve had plenty of time to listen to this album from Boston’s Life Partners; however I still don’t really know what I’m hearing. I can say without much question that I do like it. In fact, it contains what ended up being one of my favorite songs from the past year with the track “Planet of the AIDS”. It almost seems like I should feel some sort of shame here by singing along to vocalist Dave Dougan’s string of obscenities, however that itself might be an elaborate joke that the band is playing on us all anyway. If so, they’ve definitely gotten me. However, despite the superficially lowbrow nature in which Men Are Talking presents itself, the songs themselves stand as far more than just an attempt to shock and be the hit of the party. The melding of guitar, synth, and even a trumpet conspire to create a sickeningly catchy set of songs at times. I say “sickeningly” because it’s at its most appropriate here when thinking about the contrast of music and lyrics for a song such as “Rapist Get’s Off”. It’s almost enough to get me feeling uneasy, which is no easy task. That said, Life Partners are most definitely operating in their own realm of weird and Men Are Talking is a pretty fantastic cut of insanity due to it.

Life Partners – Planet of the AIDS [MP3]

For those interested in picking up Men Are Talking, then be sure to hit up Ride the Snake Records for a copy.

Iowa Beef Experience were around from the mid 80’s through the early 90’s, operating unsurprisingly out of Iowa City. They played the sort nasty mucked up noise-rock that would likely be thought of as common through those years, however it was good nonetheless. For a bit lengthier and likely more accurate description of what the band was all about I suggest checking out the recent post from the excellent Noise for Zeros blog that features their scathing 7 incher for the song “Jublilix”. Make sure to grab that as well while you are over there. Anyway, without further ado…here is Cool Ass Gravytrain.

Iowa Beef Experience – Cool Ass Gravytrain LP

While this album is probably floating around on eBay and various other used marketplaces, I do know that you can at least obtain their album Personalien on Amazon digitally. While I’ll admit, it’s not as good as Cool Ass Gravytrain, it’s still some decent material for those that are fans of this type of music.

I guess this a bit of an early write up, but hell…I couldn’t wait until the end of March to do so. I’d been waiting to hear recorded output from Red X Red M for probably two years now and right around Christmas time Australian Cattle God graciously ended that wait by passing along the bands upcoming full-length Between Your Prayers and My Curses Our Kind May Triumph Yet due out March 23rd I believe. I consider it one of the better presents I got this past year.

For anyone wondering who Red X Red M is, it happens to be the band that David Uskovich of Distorted Pony, Sweet Pea, and SWITCHhiTTER fame has been playing in with fellow SWITCHhiTTER member Yuri and drummer Adam Hatley. What you get here on their debut is something that is actually not to far from SWITCHhiTTER, but Red X Red M seem to be a bit of a tighter outfit while opting for a bit less of the hefty bass lines and feedback that some of Uskovich’s previous bands have so successfully utilized in the past. I’d say the late 70’s/early 80’s post-punk vibe is even more prevalent in these songs, obviously mixed in with a bit of the rough around the edges tinny sounding guitar work by Uskovich that gives it the sort of feel fans would expect. It’s been a bit of a wait, but it has most certainly proved to be worth it.

Red X Red M – Step Now Nagurskey (stream)

Keep an eye out for this one towards the end of March; it will be available on vinyl through Australian Cattle God.