Phil Hartley - "Demos,Sessions,and Live (1988-89)" (A Die or DIY? Collection) 2022/1988

A devastating loss to the pop world was the break-up of Bog-shed sometime in 1987/1988-ish during the last flowering of classic British independent pop. An even greater loss was the life of erstwhile lead warbler and unheralded absurdist poet of the aforementioned Bog-Shed group, Mr Philip Hartley;who left this mortal coil during October 2006.Swiftly followed by drummer Tris King (Brain Tumor),who also moonlighted with those other classic mid-eighties Ron Johnson types,the equally cursed, 'A Witness';whose guitarist managed to fall off a mountain in 1989.

Sometimes one suspects a record company conspiracy to put a permanent end to any bands,slash,music, that appeals to those who require more than just lovesongs and peado-propaganda from their unpop-pop.

Where did they all go when Bog-Shed dissolved,one wonders? One of them's an illustrator and the sole 'success story' in the ranks;and of the others,only Phil Hartley made a short attempt to carry on the legacy.There was obviously an album's worth of new material, and it sounds like...er....Bog-Shed.

A Peel Session was made,live appearances,and Demo's.....then.....nothing!

“This week the score draws are plentiful!” (Slave Girls)......he liked that line apparently,and very representative, it is, of the current musical situation we find ourselves trapped in.

There were no studio recordings made before Phil disappeared somewhere,and died of something unspecified.

A notable unrecorded gem, captured live in 1989, was "Dirty Filthy Pop Presenter", where Jimmy Savile is name-checked.....just when you thought serial silly-billy John Lydon had a monopoly on outing the vile Sa-vile, after mentioning it once ,vaguely, in an interview,did nothing about it,then claimed to be the only moral human in the UK....although I think rather,that Phil Hartley was sort of fulfilling his weird absurdists fantasy of being one of those awful TV pop Presenters from decades past.He had a history,name-dropping former Basil Brush sidekick Roy North in an early Bogshed song,"The Amazing Roy North Penis Band"which was also the working title of the first Bog-Shed incarnation around 1985.

Here's the great Roy North singing his version of Tenpole Tudor's "Swords Of A Thousand Men" back in 1981.....you really couldn't make this up!

I am assuming that Roy did not indulge in the same depraved pastimes that kept the blindingly obvious sex monster Savile entertained for decades.....but his sing-a-long versions of charts hits places him well above suspicion.He was from Hull anyway,which is a crime against humanity in itself,so we'll let him off any reluctant investigations in to potential dark doings in 1981 he may,or certainly is NOT, responsible for.

Tracklist:

1. Regulation

2. Lord Smutty Lips (Demo Version)

3. Can I Use The Phone?

4. Have You Done Your Chores?

5. Teenager

6. You All Look The Same

7. Lord Smutty Lips (Peel Session 13/11/88)

8. Inspector of Crime (Peel Session 13/11/88)

9. Prepare to Change Sandals (Peel Session 13/11/88)

10.Purchase Nicely (Peel Session 13/11/88)

11.Are You Real (08-03-1989 The Source, Wordsley)

12.Who Are The Sane (08-03-1989 The Source, Wordsley)

13.Prepare to Wear Sandals (08-03-1989 The Source, Wordsley)

14.Inspector of Crime (08-03-1989 The Source, Wordsley)

15.Master Life (08-03-1989 The Source, Wordsley)

16.Purchase Nicely (08-03-1989 The Source, Wordsley)

17.Yeh Yeh (08-03-1989 The Source, Wordsley)

18.Teenager (08-03-1989 The Source, Wordsley)

19.Dirty, Filthy, Pop Presenter (08-03-1989 The Source, Wordsley)

20.Lord Smutty Lips (08-03-1989 The Source, Wordsley)

21.You Are, You Are (08-03-1989 The Source, Wordsley)

22.Say No (08-03-1989 The Source, Wordsley)

DOWNLOAD this dirty filthy pop presentation HERE!

Performing Ferrets ‎– "No One Told Us" (Hyped To Death ‎– Messthetics #216) 2008

This has some unreleased material on it, and some non-album singles, so its worth putting it up here innit?

Tracklisting:

1 A Story
2 Brow Beaten
3 Convenience
4 The New One
5 Howler Monkey
6 Take It Easy
7 Mandolin
8 Dut Dut Dut
9 Morgan
10 It's About A Day
11 Shoo Shar
12 Field Of Yellow Flowers
13 Plastic Macho Man
14 The Rush
15 Nudes
16 We Are This Way
17 Sycorax The Witch
18 Where's My Four Slices Of Bread?
19 Bottle Fruit
20 Bar Room
21 Rouse Rouse
22 Fallen Tyrant
23 Didn't Like Us
24 Hold The Gravy
25 Dreary (live)
26 Develop That River
27 Shu-Shau
28 Egyptian

DOWNLOAD and don't tell no one HERE!

Modern Art ‎– "Sonic Dimensions 1982-1985" (Vinyl-on-demand ‎– VOD112) 2013

Here's one of those DIY for rich men compilation/career overviews on Vinyl On Demand. This time on Color Tapes stalwarts Modern Art, who were basically Gary Ramon plus mates.
Mostly released on cassette, Modern Arts sound balanced between a neo-psych indie jangle and minimal synth driven cold wave.
A rather high quality but prolific output for such an ignored group.Rightfully given a chance to be heard in hi-fi quality.
\if you prefer the smoggy cassette versions of a few of these songs a couple of early tapes can be found earlier in this blogs tenure.

Tracklisting:

Previously-Released Tape Recordings 1982-1985
A1 (Trying To Find) The Hidden World 4:02
A2 Hello/Goodbye 6:45
A3 Landscape From A Dream 4:01
A4 Sad Delusion 3:46
A5 Confrontation 3:45
A6 Oriental Towers 4:56
B1 Dreaming Again 4:00
B2 Still Life 3:28
B3 Fatal Crash Immersed The Start 8:13
B4 Search For A Soul 7:53
B5 Beach On The Horizon 4:02
Publisher Demos 1985
C1 Forbidden Universe 4:45
C2 Hello/Goodbye 5:34
C3 Confrontation 5:04
C4 Red Tornado 5:46
C5 Breakdown 6:32
D1 (Trying To Find) The Hidden World 3:56
D2 Dreams To Live 3:38
D3 Age Of Lights 6:18
D4 Sight And Sound 6:44
D5 Early Warning 6:16
Previously-Released Tape Recordings 1983-1986
E1 Stars (Dreaming Again) (Instrumental Version) 3:58
E2 Clear Light 5:29
E3 Driftwood (Publisher Demo) 5:16
E4 Dimensions Of Noise Soundtrack (Part 4) 5:22
E5 Barriers 4:53
E6 Beach On The Horizon (Publisher Demo) 3:03
F1 Forbidden Universe 3:41
F2 Harmony In Red 3:04
F3 Figure Of Eight 3:22
F4 Black Into White 2:56
F5 Vertikal Parallel 3:30
F6 Passing Days 2:45
F7 Vision 3:15
F8 Dimension (Edit) 1:51
F9 Calico Shadows 3:23

DOWNLOAD  a sonic dimension HERE!

Alien Brains ‎– "It's All History Now 1979-1985" (VOD 2014)

It's always handy to whip out an extra brain or two when needed,so,here's that Alien Brains box set on VOD.
Alien Brains were a sort of Avant-DIY supergroup based around Nigel Jacklin, for those who don't know or care, in which case what are you reading this for?
Its got the usual unattainable stuff thats been chopped up and edited and shuffled about with; all in a lovely presentation pack with a hefty price tag. DIY music is no longer the cheap option it seems? "Menial disorders" cost me a blank C-90 and two way postage from Deleted Records in 1980, and now you have to pay £100 quid plus for Alien Brains product.Thats Market forces I suppose?
Its got a cleaned up version of the Menial Disorders tape, but edited, and some stuff chopped out altogether.
Of course the unedited versions of "Menial Disorders" and "Alien Brains IV" are available on this blog in 320k Mp3.Quality.

Tracklist:

Menial Disorders
There Is Going To Be A Riot Soon 0:30
Menial Disorder A1 3:51
Menial Disorder A4 10:48
Menial Disorder A8 1:17
Menial Disorder A10 4:10
Menial Disorder B3 6:24
Menial Disorder B4 1:57
Menial Disorder B5 4:58
Menial Disorder B6 1:54
Menial Disorder B7 5:34
Menial Disorder B9 2:10
Menial Disorder B11 5:23
Menial Disorder B12 1:07
Menial Disorder B13 1:09
Menial Disorder B2 3:32

Der Blaunk Teps / Aberdeen Arts Centre
Der Blaunk Teps A1 3:41
Der Blaunk Teps A3 2:54
Der Blaunk Teps A4 4:27
Der Blaunk Teps A5 10:24
Der Blaunk Teps B2 3:09
Der Blaunk Teps B4 3:05
Der Blaunk Teps A6 3:05
Der Blaunk Teps B1 4:25
Der Blaunk Teps B3 5:01
Aberdeen Arts Centre 14:00
Live Last Chance Centre / WI Hut
Live Last Chance Centre 18.11.1983 London 11:55
WI HUT- Recording (Broomhill) 13:22
USE (Unusual Social Embraces) - So Quiet 4:00

Blatantly Nihilist / British Interiors / Alien Brains IV / Ultras
Blatantly Nihilist A1 3:32
Blatantly Nihilist B1 5:07
British Interiors A1 2:00
British Interiors A2 0:51
British Interiors B4 1:10
Alien Brains IV B2 7:14
Alien Brains IV B4 2:01
Nigel Jacklin - Solo Recording Live At Ultras 4:41

School Art Room / Water Tower
School Art Room A2 7:00
School Art Room B1 4:06
School Art Room A2 9:04
School Art Room A3 3:36
Tower (Morwick) B1 4:07

Verdenskang
Verdenskang A1 8:03
Verdenskang A2 4:17
Verdenskang A3 9:09
Verdenskang B1 2:17
Verdenskang B2 4:34
Verdenskang B3 1:37

Compilation Contributions
Extracts 3:21
Boule 3:47 (This is missing from part 6, so click here for the mp3)
Untitled 1:55
Untitled Live 4:40

DOWNLOAD Brain 1 HERE!

DOWNLOAD Brain 2 HERE!

DOWNLOAD Brain 3 HERE!

DOWNLOAD Brain 4 HERE!

DOWNLOAD Brain 5 HERE!

DOWNLOAD Brain 6 HERE!

Those Little Aliens & This Little Alien ‎– "Recordings 1980-1981" (Vinyl-on-demand)

Gordon A. Hope and Ian Dobson, aka 'Those Little Aliens', were also founder of experimental music fanzine 'Flowmotion'; which is probably why LTA were on the Flowmotion compilation on ICR.
Classic cassette bound lo-fi electronica from the UK DIY underground of 80/81.
Talking about Aliens....
As i wrote a rant about thick xenophobia eg Brexit, a few posts ago, I now hear that Brexit is basically OFF, as May crumbles over the Irish border.Now the borders remain open, and Britain gets to pay the EU loads of money for getting no representation in the EU Parliament in return.....what a deal, what a waste of fucking time!!!???...all due to Those Illegal Aliens!
In the meantime we'll listen to something that is absolutely NOT a waste of time.......yes 'Those Little Aliens', what else did you think I was referring to?.....The EU anthem? (Beethoven's Ironic 'Ode to Joy' if you didn't know.


Tracklist:

01 Ismalia 3:03
02 Low Point X 2:45
03 Sentimental 1:57
04 Voortrecker 2:06
05 Incident In Moderan 2:26
06 4 To 4 Rumbling 4:55
07 Momente Über Statik 2:04
08 Aarg, Stop It 8:22
09 Metal Time Control 3:28
10 Out Of Sequence 2:42
11 Chattering Aliens 2:12
12 Stepping Backwards 5:23
13 Prarie Drifter 2:12
14 Your World 5:05
15 Dilemma 2:35
16 Debth Of Space 1:47
17 No Noise 4:57

01 from Various - Flowmotion
02 and 03 from Various - We Couldn't Agree On A Title
04 to 07 from Those Little Aliens - Incident In Moderan
08, 15, and 16 from This Little Alien - Synthesizer Specialist
09 to 14 from Those Little Aliens - Variable
17 from Those Little Aliens - York Tape

BeamDOWN(LOAD) these little aliens HERE! scotty,... ENERGISE!

THE BLIND MAN WHO WALKED PAST THE SUPERMARKET - "Jolly Green Giant Corn (The First Can Off The Shelf)" (Year Zero Records YEAR031) (1978/80) 2015

From the catacombs beneath the underground,and maybe even below that, we bring you the long lost sessions of Leicester DIY improv collective, The Blind man Who walked Past the Supermarket,who were active in the golden years of 1978 to 1980.
Digitally remastered from the original high quality Dixons ferric oxide master cassette,here is a rare chance to experience the madness from the bubbling cauldron of thee most creative period in British music.
Imagine The Alien Brains and The Door and the Window,merging with Sun Ra,Airway and The Residents, but drunk; then you'd be getting half way towards understanding the off kilter lunacy of this long buried sub-genius.
Just the stuff to encourage that person you hate to shout..."TURN THAT FUCKING SHIT OFF!"

The Blind Men in action

The Blind Man Who Walked Past The Supermarket
Personnel and instrumentation 1978-1980:

Phillip Allison - saxophone shouting, contents of the kitchen and shed, keyboards, prepared bass

Mark Warner - submerged trombone, more competent keyboards, tapes, electronics, contents of the etc, vocals and sneaky stage moves, prepared bass, mutilated keyboards

Gordon Nichols - airborne trombone, percussion, laughter, contents of the etc

Hoover Washing Machine - lead guitar, backing rhythms

Old Valve Radio - Radio Mars

Moot, Tony Pye(Lead Vocals*), Walid Marzouk - excessive drinking and occasional rude vocals

Track listing:

01 - Blind Man 01
02 - Blind Man 02
03 - Blind Man 03
04 - Blind Man 04
05 - Blind Man 05
06 - Blind Man 06
07 - Blind Man 07
08 - Blind Man 08
09 - Blind Man 09
10 - Blind Man 10
11 - Blind Man 11(Maria!)*
12 - Blind Man 12
13 - Blind Man 13

Ho Ho Hooooo!DOWNLOAD the first can of jolly green giant corn HERE!
in glorious 320k mp3 quality.

Robert Rental - "Solo Works 1978-1980" (Self Released/Regular/Mute)

Robert Rental, (I'm devastated that that wasn't his real sir name!) made unheralded electronic DIY at the very beginning of the Synth revolution in 1978, and died relatively young and releatively unknown and forgotten. You don't see miserable youth's wearing Robert Rental T-shirts moping around on street corners,whilest listening to "Live at west Runton Pavillion" on their iPod mini's, do you|? Why?......do you really want me to answer that?
He mainly stuck to collaborative efforts with scotch Buddy Thomas Leer,or The Normal.Only releasing two singles and a self released cassette (Mental Detentions) in his short and obscure career.
The very DIY single "Paralysis"(1978) is a wobbly, processed, after the pub kind of  understated bedroom classic; as is the B-side "ACC", both including some almost competent disco guitar strumming.
The legendary "Mental Detentions" cassette (1979), contains a far more exploratory electronic set, betraying a krautrock/kosmiche influence in glorious lo-fi.A dark and mysterious collection of intriguing instrumentals. 
The "Double Heart" single is the weakest thing here, surrounded by Mute label starlets,its some kind of attempt to make a pop record,but thankfully fails.Still a strange beast, which sounds a bit like three different tunes playing at the same  time, with Rentals weak wobbly vocals atop.
Robert Donnacie was heard from no more after 1980.This is how a career in pop should be.
(check out "The Bridge" with Thomas Leer Here; and "Live at West Runton Pavillion" with Daniel 'The Normal' Miller Here)

Track Listing:

Paralysis (Regular Records) 1978:

1- Paralysis
2- ACC

Mental Detentions (Self Released cassette) 1979

Tracklist

A1	Untitled
A2	Untitled
A3	Untitled
B1	Untitled
B2	Untitled
B3	Untitled
B4	Untitled
B5	Untitled

Double Heart (Mute 010) 1980

1- Double Heart
2- On Location

DOWNLOAD the lot HERE!

Crash Course In Science ‎– "Crash Course In Science" (Vinyl-on-demand ‎– VOD67) 1979-81/2009

"Kitchen Motors", as played on the John Peel Show back in '79,was one of those epiphanal moments on the peel show, between the crap reggae and anecdotes about shagging schoolgirls in the sixties, when everything stops, and you think, or even say,"What the Fuck was that?"One of those "What the fuck was that?" moments,that ranked up there with hearing such delights as Blah Blah Blah's "In The Army" for the first time; high praise indeed.
This is electronic avant-pop as it should sound.Starkly minimal futurism without the boiler suits.Raw analogue circuit frying electronic bleeps and clangs,played by hand.Augmented by wired up toy instruments and Kitchen appliances, blending a kind of electronic folk music for an imagined modern age of the near future.It still sounds like the future to these ears;a preferable one to the version we are going to get,where the only drones we will get are the surveillance drones circling your suburban hutch,packed to the rafters with information gathering tech........for your own 'security' of course.
This download includes everything this fine trio recorded,plus vinyl rips of their two official ep's from the groups actual lifetime.So think yourself blessed this is available below,accessed by just one click with your mouse finger. Now that IS technology put to a good use; hopefully it comes to you without any porn links or tempting messages from some charming capitalist.
This is the Future.A Future with mobile phones,smart phones, talking tablet computers,automatic doors(all first seen on Star Trek) and the internet; technological marvels, yes? But what do we do with them? Gossip,buy crap,order Russian Brides, and watch Pornography.
The only other thing that came true fifties and sixties scienec fiction is that we are listening to Crash Course in Science, with their buzzy, boingy,electro fuzz anti-music of the 21st century.The only problem being, that it was made in the 1970's; and only now is it being appreciated.
Oh yes, they came from Philadelphia by the way,and I don't know what their favourite colour was,is,or will be.

Tracklist:

	Signals From Pier Thirteen
A1	Cardboard Lamb
A2	Crashing Song
A3	Flying Turns
A4	Factory Forehead
	Bonus Track
A5	Pompeii Spared (Original Demo Version)
	Bonus Tracks: 1981 Demos
B1	Near Marineland
B2	Second Glance
B3	It Cost's To Be Austere
B4	No More Hollow Doors
B5	Force The Habit
B6	Jump Over Barrels
	Live Recordings
	Opening For Phillip Glass Ensemble, Harrison Auditorium_University Museum, Philadelphia, Pa. November 15, 1980
C1	Crashing Song
C2	Cardboard Lamb
C3	Alarm
C4	Digital Information
C5	Two Panes Of Glass
C6	Pompeii Spared
C7	Pressure Point
C8	Basic Device
C9	Mechanical Breakdown
	FOPPEM Electronic Music Festival, Tucc Cinematheque, Philadelphia, Pa. December 19, 1981
D1	Near Marineland
D2	Someone Reads
D3	Jump Over Barrels
D4	No More Hollow Doors
D5	Sputnik In Orbit
D6	Cardboard Lamb
D7	Second Glance
	Near Marineland
E1	Near Marineland
E2	Second Glance
E3	It Cost's To Be Austere
E4	No More Hollow Doors
E5	Force The Habit
E6	Someone Reads
E7	Jump Over Barrels
F1	Pompeii Spared
F2	Near Marineland Remix
F3	Second Glance Remix
F4	Jump Over Barrels Remix
	Cakes In The Home
G1	Cakes In The Home
G2	Kitchen Motors
G3	Mechanical Breakdown
	Rehearsal Tapes
G4	Streetcar 4 A.M.
H1	Bumpster
H2	Beat Filter_Instro
H3	Wait A Minute

DOWNLOAD a crash course in a crash course in science HERE!

Theoretical Girls - "Theoretical record 1978-81 (Expanded Die or Diy? Edition)" 2014

I've been in lots of theoretical groups (and theoretical girls),but its when they became real that the problems began (with the girls too). Theoretically, the Theoretical Girls, featuring Glenn Branca and Sonic Youth producer Wharton Tiers, should be terrible, at least in the power pop driven environment of 1978. Detuned guitars,monotonous song construction, simplistic repetitive drumming, virtually no vocals,all adding up to a mudslide of driving noise. There were no records(one single?) either,just live performances to be experienced once then forgotten.

For a non-rock group they sure could make an exciting driving rock like effect;best encapsulated in the ultimate distillation of the rock essence in a two minute tune, the eponymous “Theoretical Girls”. Where the lyrics consist only of their name and the endless 1,2,3,4 count-in,repeated through out. This posthumous collection all the disparate shards of their recorded existence from 1978 to 81,with live recordings and the odd released and unreleased studio effort. Pure dissonance you can dance to. After this Glenn Branca started to have pretensions in becoming a serious composer with his “Symphonies”,and is now taken very seriously indeed. It was left to his fans,Sonic Youth, to carry it on (or rip it off?)and develop this into a kind of pop music.

Track Listing:

1. Theoretical Girls (Live)

2. Computer Dating 

3. Contrary Motion 

4. Europe Man 

5. Lovin In The Red 

6. Mom & Dad 

7. U.S. Millie 

8. No More Sex 

9. Keyboard Etude 

10. Electronic Angie (Short Version) 

11. Chicita Bonita 

12. Polytonal 

13. Parlez-Vous Francais 

14. Theoretical Girls (Studio) 

15. You Got Me

16. Fuck Yourself

17. TV Song

18. Glazened Idols

19. You.

Theoretically DOWNLOAD from Google Drive HERE!

I'm So Hollow ‎– "Emotion / Sound / Motion" (Illuminated Records ‎– JAMS 5) 1981, "Dreams To Fill The Vacuum" single and the Peel session 1980

Not many nearly famous pop groups follow the DIY principle of stopping once you've achieved your goals; even if the spectre of moderate sucess is luring your soul onto the rocks. The very Great I'm So Hollow, from Sheffield, did this as soon as they recorded their debut LP; stopping even before it was released. This, I say, is very admirable indeed. They first appeared on the superb DIY compilation LP's "Hicks from the Sticks", and Sheffield comp "Bouquet of Steel" in 1980, winning them a chance to record a Peel Session (included in the download); and as alternative chart popularity beckoned appeared at the legendary Futurama Festival with the likes of PiL and Joy Division, made an album and split up....for good. What they have left is a legacy of superbly wobbly urban sci-fi rock, that stands up with the best from an era full of wobbly sci-fi rock. I loved it then and its even better now; especially with the knowledge that they didn't do it to become famous.Especially great was the debut single, "Dreams to fill the Vacuum", pressed on lovely fuzzy sounding clear vinyl,and the lovely Jane Wilson was on synthesizer too! Post punk puritans. 

Track Listing:  

1- "Emotion/Sound/Motion" 
 A1 Entrance 
 A2 Which Way..? 
 A3 Unbroken Line 
 A4 Touch 
 A5 Collisions 
 B1 Excitement = Change 
 B2 The Triangular Hour 
 B3 Emotion / Sound / Motion 
 B4 Nosferatu 
 B5 Distraction

DOWNLOAD the opposite of a bowel motion HERE! 

2- Peel session, 1980 a- Fashion b- Monotony c-Which Way? d- Dreams to fill the Vacuum 

DOWNLOAD a very a-peeling session HERE! 

3- "Dreams To Fill The Vacuum" (Hollogram Records 7" ,1980) 

a- "Dreams to fill the Vacuum) 
b- "Distraction  

DOWNLOAD some dreams to fill 7 inches of the vacuum HERE!

The Instant Automatons -"A Retrospective Anthological Career Overview 1979- 80" (Deleted Records)

(A further tribute to the recent sad passing of Protag,one of thee Heroes of UK DIY!.....much missed.)

I've got an awful lot of Instant Automatons Stuff hanging about in my hard drive that isn't complete or is homeless; and as they appear to be popular with certain members of the Die or DIY? readership/listeners out there, I have cobbled together a Retrospective of sorts to further demonstrate the hissy majesty of Mark Automaton and Protag(RIP).(As seen above with Technology).
You can also check out two of their early cassettes , "Blues Masters of the Humber Delta" and "Tape Transport" by clicking on the highlighted titles,just so.
'Twas late 70's in Grimsby, North Lincolnshire, United kingdom, and the dawn of Free music. The Instant automatons, gave you all their work for FREE, if you sent them a blank c-60 and a stamped addressed envelope. This is now commonplace amongst us bloggers,and file sharers, but in 1979 this was a principled attack on the corporate fascists of the record industry.
I'll leave it to Mark Lancaster (aka Automaton) to explain the politics of Free Music in his own words:

"One concept that is most closely associated with The Instant Automatons is that of "Free Music". It is also, I have discovered, a concept that is widely misunderstood.
Free Concerts have been around for ages, of course. That's something that, even in our materialistic society, people can get their head around. You go to the gig, you see the band, you leave; it's ephemeral - there's nothing concrete for you to hold in your hand, so you don't feel uncomfortable with the idea.

But when it comes to Free Music cassettes, records or CDs it's a whole different tureen of seafood. Those who don't quite "get it" fall into two distinct camps:

The members of the first group are the ones who say: "If this is a Free Music CD, why do I have to pay £3 for it? Why isn't it free?"

That's easy. What you're paying for is what you're holding in your hand - the plastic and paper. If we're selling something for £3, it means it cost us £3 to manufacture it. We make no profit from it - that's why the music is "free". In actual fact, we were making a small loss on every cassette we distributed via the good old "send in a blank tape" method, because we would enhance the cassette with a sleeve and a set of labels that we had paid for ourselves before returning it to the "customer".

The second group understands quite clearly that the music is free from profit. They just don't understand why. That takes a little more explaining:

Protag once read an article in which Colin Newman of the band Wire claimed that writing a song was simply a bodily function like evacuating the bowels. Steve Lake, one-time bassist with Zounds, said a similar thing: "Playing music was something we did like eating and drinking, breathing and shitting. It seemed to be a natural function."
Our view was exactly the same - and I would have felt as uncomfortable asking people to pay for my words and music as I would have done asking them to pay for the carbon dioxide I exhaled or the nitrogenous waste that came out the other end.

(As a sidenote: The Italian artist Piero Manzoni sold cans containing his own faeces - the Tate Gallery recently bought a can for £22,300 - and Australian-born painter Margaret Morgan uses human urine, blood and faeces in her works, but what that proves I have no idea.)

However - and this is the really important point - this was (and still is) a purely personal ethic. I have absolutely no problem whatsoever with other people making a living from their art. It's just not for me.
I have to state this (to me) rather obvious fact, because I have been misunderstood in the past.
In my last year of school I tried my hand at sculpture. The piece I produced was an emaciated human figure, rendered in wire and plaster. Although it was essentially just a poor imitation of the works of Alberto Giacometti, the art teacher took a liking to it and said he would pay me £5 for it. I said if he liked it that much, he could have it for nothing.
He was horrified, and proceeded to give me a lecture about how, if one artist should give his work away, then all the other struggling artists would not be able to make a living, and no one would then want to become an artist and there would be no art. Then, presumably, Western Civilization would crumble. (You think I'm making this up, don't you? It's all true, I swear!)Given my well-publicised contempt for the faculty of my alma mater, I'm sure you realise that this tirade just served to strengthen my resolve. I think I can say, without fear of contradiction, that since that day I have never made a single penny from any creative work I have produced, whether it be words, music, photography or graphic design.

And did Civilization crumble? I'll leave you to answer that one for yourself."

Hints For The Housewife (Deleted Records DEC003):

The Machine Takes Over
Nigel Wouldn't approve
Underneath the Wardrobe
Eating people no 2



Not So Deep As A Well (Cd-r 2002):

Routine Habit	2:20
Invertibrates	2:11
Ignorance Is Bliss	2:10
Worchester Avenue	2:38
Catacomb	1:59
Too Big!	2:00
Violence	2:42
Drunk In Woolwich (On New Year's Eve)	3:04
Short Haired Man (In A Long Haired Town)	2:35
No Identifiable Sign Of Life	2:52
When The Pubs Close (Denmark St. Version)	2:25
Ballad Of The New Things	5:43
Emma	1:34
So It's Come To This	2:53
Gillian Is Normal (Boyce-Codd 2002 Remix)	2:56
Nothing Ever Happens To Me (Sam 'N' Ella Remix)	5:04

Peter Paints His Fence EP (Deleted Records DEP001) 1980:

A1		Nice Job For The Lad	2:45
A2		Laburnam Walk	2:57
A3		New Muzak	1:55
B4		People Laugh At Me (Coz I Like Weird Music)	2:52
B5		John's Vacuum Cleaner	3:19
B6		Peter Paints His Fence	2:00

Radio Silence(The Art Of Human Error) - (Deleted Records DEC001) 1979:

The Dentist
Radio Silence

Weird Noise EP (Fuck Off Records) 1980
Electronic Music

DOWNLOAD this Retrospective Anthological Overview of the Instant Automatons HERE!

and/or

Listen to the Cassette Culture Podcast on the automatons HERE!