Tuesday 10 June 2014

Various ‎– "Darker Skratcher" (Los Angeles Free Music Society ‎– LAFMS#12) 1980



Classic American underground compilations are rather thin on the ground,but probably the best of them is the Los Angeles Free Music Society's “Darker Skratcher”.

It starts off with a bang, thanks to Boyd Rice and Daniel Miller (Non and the Normal), and a Rosicrucian Temple record set to a minimal electronic backing track.The Rosicruscian's were a quasi-religious sect who made records to hypnotise our children into good,clean, citizens.The best Boyd Rice track ever,and the second best thing Miller has ever done.(Don't ask what the best track by The Normal was!)

Other highlights are the Monitor track, 45 Grave's ,before they got too “gothy”, dark poppy effort,DennisDuck's Davey the Worm,and the repetitive synth-punk of Human Hands.

Amongst the more accessible material we get the usual bizarre mixed bag of strangeness from the usual LAFMS regulars, and a standard modern primitive outing from Jad fair,of Half Japanese 'fame'.

A hugely entertaining underground Californian variety show,and a great introduction for the uninitiated, into the murky darkly scratchy world of the Los Angeles Free Music Society. Enter at someone else's peril,because you won't regret it.


A1 Boyd Rice & Daniel Miller Cleanliness And Order 2:45
A2 Jad Fair XXOO 0:30
A3 Vetza Stale Puppy-Dog Tails 1:30
A4 Rick Potts Band, The Platform Swimfins 3:00
A5 Monitor Guardian 2:05
A6 Doo-Dooettes Pork Had Better Behave 2:05
A7 45 Grave Riboflavin-Flavored, Non-Carbonated, Polyunsaturated Blood 2:37
A8 NON NON-Watusi
B1 Foundation Boo Nap 2:10
B2 Airway Perpendicular Thrust 3:45
B3 Dennis Duck Davey The Worm 3:00
B4 Le Forte Four The Lowest Form Of Music 3:08
B5 Human Hands I Got Mad 3:00
B6 Bpeople The Other Thing 2:38


 

12 comments:

badgerstump said...

A tear of petrol is in your eye.
The hand brake penetrates your thigh.
Quick, let's make love before you die

Philip Johnson said...

Always liked "Mode Of Infection" myself.

I've got a flyer from 1979 for a show by The Fall in California, with Non and Human Hands as support. 35 years later I've finally heard Human Hands!

Jonny Zchivago said...

Non Human hands would be a good band name.

I have difficulty imagining The Fall in California. Bit like a stray mongrel in the best of breed show at Crufts.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for all this LAFMS stuff, it makes me proud to like in LA. Do you have the "Lowest Form Of Music" compilation by any chance? That would be an amazing post.

Jonny Zchivago said...

Bleak Bliss had it,but the links are dead.You can always ask him to re-up it?
http://bleakbliss.blogspot.fr/search?q=lowest+form+of+music

Jonny Zchivago said...

Hey Mason, i remember it was on Willard's Wormholes,went to look,and the site's been taken down by the man.
BUT......i've found another active download here:
http://experimentaletc.blogspot.fr/2010/05/va-lafms-lowest-form-of-music.html

Its on deposit files, so its a bit slow,but it works.
Enjoy.

Anonymous said...

Ah, yes... Thanks! That one looks like a lot of fun, but I could never find it anywhere.

Anonymous said...

BTW, "Davey The Worm" is incredible.

Jonny Zchivago said...

In fact try these?
Los Angeles Free Music Society – The Lowest Form Of Music [10CD] [VBR]
http://www55.zippyshare.com/v/nfB1GBqG/file.html
http://www76.zippyshare.com/v/bEr4G4Gb/file.html
http://www38.zippyshare.com/v/PHTlGCWd/file.html
http://www14.zippyshare.com/v/pU1NYHdb/file.html
http://www24.zippyshare.com/v/qhhrTRIr/file.html
http://www58.zippyshare.com/v/y9ojo940/file.html
http://www97.zippyshare.com/v/9iFMrb53/file.html
http://www5.zippyshare.com/v/yjhl580Q/file.html
http://www30.zippyshare.com/v/YdKQgblG/file.html
http://www91.zippyshare.com/v/h95Ca8pl/file.html

Anonymous said...

You are my hero Johnny.

Jonny Zchivago said...

I would be if they worked,but they seem to have expired! The deposit files ones work though.

Ivan T.W. said...

My parents had this record when I was a kid - the cover absolutely terrified me and I've never forgotten it since. Thanks for uploading it!