Various Artists ‎– "The Thing From The Crypt" (The Thing From The Crypt ‎– TTFTC 001) 1981

Another classic Street Level compilation of UK DIY ,with shades of Proto-Indie, is "The Thing From The Crypt". A shared album for acts on Dead Hedgehog and Nick Blinko's (of Rudimentary Peni!?) Outer Himalayan Records.
No Anarcho Punk on here, thank fuck,despite Blinko's connection,- he always sounded a step apart from that washed out black clad clique-; but it has much to point towards the vague watershed between UK DIY and the early 'Indie' sound.
There's some quaintly amateurish Goth by S-Haters, but I don't mind a bit of that, as long as its as badly played as these two tracks.
And we have 'Sad Lovers and Giants', who are just too conventionally good in a New Wave sense, and amazingly still exist today!!?
The stand out band are obviously teenage tearaways 'Exhibit A', featuring future' Twelve Cubic Feet'-ers and 'Solid Space' members.
Altogether an album full of that uncertain amateurish charm we all love in this digitally padded cell; yet is soooo absent from today's boringly 'clued up' society. 
'They', whatever 'they' may mean(?), are so clued up they are in fact very,very, Clueless.

Tracklist:

A1 –Exhibit A - Rain
A2 –Sad Lovers & Giants - Take Me Inside
A3 –Mex  - Evil Creatures
A4 –Gambit Of Shame - Dancing With The Turks
A5 –Flying Beechcraft - Bugger Off
A6 –Image In Ruin - Tank
A7 –Soft Drinks - Squash
A8 –S-Haters - Necromancer
B1 –Soft Drinks - Pepsi Cola
B2 –Flying Beechcraft - Frog Girl
B3 –Image In Ruin - Bottle
B4 –S-Haters - Canal
B5 –Exhibit A - Echoes
B6 –Sad Lovers & Giants - Clint
B7 –Mex - Functioning Fripp Girls
B8 –Gambit Of Shame - She Lawn

DOWNLOAD like a rocket from the tombs HERE!

Blue Midnight / The Hamburger All-Stars ‎– "One Million Hamburgers EP" (Fuck Off Records ‎– FEP 003) 1982

Well...This is a catchy tune!
Round about 1982 the dreaded 'Musician' started to creep out from his priest hole and started to re-impose himself on the public who had begun to tire of doing it themselves and wanted to be entertained again.
This deadly affliction even infected Fuck Off Records, presaging the New Pop anathema which justified itself by corrupting from the inside.....but never did once the spondoolicks started rolling in.
There were some artists who, of course, emplyed this tactic correctly, like ATV, The Fire Engines,and, best of all,The Associates,
The title track of this EP is another fine example of making listenable Pop music with morals.
This Street Level super group, including Mark Perry and Grant Showbiz among others, have forged a real toe tapping slice of mellow, dubby and funky post punk .
Blue Midnight make their third appearance on a Fuck Off record, but the excellent Funky Blue Midnight from 'Love Not Devotion' are regrettably absent;replaced by some blues jamming post pub muso's.....a definite B-Side. 

Tracklist:

A –The All-Stars - One Million Hamburgers

B1 –Blue Midnight - Dream
B2 –Blue Midnight - Tribute (To Don Drummond)

DOWNLOAD and pay no more than zero pence HERE!

Various Artists ‎– Love Not Devotion" (Deleted Records ‎– DELP 001/Fuck Off Records ‎– FLP 002) 1982

This is a re-post of a re-ripped Fuck Off/Deleted Records shared album from 1982(at 320k,for those who care); featuring The Instant Automatons, Britpunkfunk combo Blue Midnight, and Street Level super groop The Hambirger All-Stars, featuring various members of Here and Now and Alternative TV, among others.
Blue Midnight are particularly fine, with their brand of punky brass led DIY funk.Like a cross between Pig Bag and early Dexy's sans the awful Kevin Rowland.
The Hambirger All-Stars are also, very fashionably for 1982, Dubbed up, Funky and Punky. A sooper groop of sorts, with 'Here and Now' street hippies Steffy and Grant Showbiz;
Anno, Mark and Dennis from Alternative TV;alomg with someone called Justin Adams from Impossible Dreamers.
Then we have, the late great, Protag and Mark automaton with 6 tracks of Instant Automatons' skewed DIY pop songs on behalf of Deleted Records.Including the classic "Short Haired Man (In a Long Haired Town)".
How can you argue against a line up like that?
Wot a great,and very lost, record!?

Tracklist:

A1 –Blue Midnight -Quarter To Blue 2:23
A2 –Blue Midnight -Fireplace 2:37
A3 –Blue Midnight -Joy! 2:21
A4 –Blue Midnight -Crazy 3:51
A5 –Blue Midnight -Hot And Cold 2:26
A6 –Hamburger All-Stars -I Woke Up 2:52
A7 –Hamburger All-Stars -Swinging London, Pt. 1 2:00
A8 –Hamburger All-Stars -Studded Leather Jacket 2:58
B1 –Hamburger All-Stars -My Life Is A Mess 1:37
B2 –Hamburger All-Stars -Swinging London, Pt. 2 5:15
B3 –The Instant Automatons -Worcester Avenue 2:38
B4 –The Instant Automatons -Catacomb 1:57
B5 –The Instant Automatons -Too Big! 1:59
B6 –The Instant Automatons -Violence 2:42
B7 –The Instant Automatons -Drunk In Woolwich 3:01
B8 –The Instant Automatons -Short Haired Man 2:31

DOWNLOAD with devotion and love HERE!

Various ‎Artists –" A Tribute To Bert Weedon" (Weird Tales) 1982

Fuck Off Records offshoot, Weird Tales, released their only tape in 1982,Featuring Three bands from the Poison Girls end of the Anarcho-punk black rainbow;but this is no pot of shit,thats at the Crass/Flux of Pink Indians end. 
Labeling the Androids of Mu 'anarcho punk' is a slight miscarriage of justice, but there are similarities; the primary one being their hippie connections,and their links to the travelling community;y'know bus's, dogs with neckerchiefs, dreadlocks,you get the picture.
I haven't checked if these recordings of Android classics appear anywhere else in their back catalogue,but they are classics of the genre in any case.  
The Mob contribute some early demo recordings of their unpretentious squat-punk,and Zounds do too......what else could an aging crusty possibly want for  Anarchristmas?

DOWNLOAD or get weed on HERE!

Various Artists ‎– "Slightly Weirdsville" (Fuck Off Records - FO5) 1981

Fuck Off Records go 'Anarcho Punk' compilation.
With The Astronauts, Zounds, and The Mob taking up the majority of the tape space, with only Danny and The Dressmakers giving us a welcome break from either crusty old anarcho-hippies or their preachy relatives from 1981.
I admit, this is from the more listenable end of the genre,with no crass-a-like shouty nonsense,and well crafted songs with lyrics one can hear. The uniformed masses of the Anarcho-punk hordes are a depressing mirror image of the Hive Minded masses,and i've always found it utterly repulsive with its silly banners and washed out blacks.Alas, I do have a soft spot for The Mob, who's musical incompetence is an attractive feature in their sparsely arranged and simple tunes. The Astronauts are a bit too close to, the even worse, Punky Folk style,that later gave birth to the abysmal Levellers, a group that makes me wanna smash up my record collection. The Astronauts are at least outsiders, so that scores many brownie points.
The Androids of Mu are, of course, Great; although they do represent the transient anarcho-hippie community turned punk; but I can overlook that faux-pas as the music is charmingly lightweight in that now rare anti-masculine ,girlie style.
Sticking out like a very sore thumb,both musically and in sound quality,is Cardiac Arrest; the precursor to Cardiacs, with their classic single which, along with their album, you can get here!
There's the Hippie Punk of Blank Space too.....not bad that.
On the more negative side is one of thee worst tracks i have ever heard on Fuck Off Wreckords;namely Bob Green's terrible post hippie awfulness about some rolling stones lick in the sky.....yuk! Also there is a totally unlistenable track from Daevid Allen and friends!
But don't worry, anything with Danny and the Dressmakers on it can't be anything other than Brilliant!

Tracklist:

A1The Astronauts -That's Where I'll Be
A2The Astronauts -The Night (Baby Sings Folk Songs Part 3)
A3The Astronauts -Midsummer Lullaby
A4Danny + The Dressmakers-Song Chocolate
A5Zounds -I Made It Happen
A6Zounds -Holland Park
A7Bob Green -The Last Great Rolling Stones Lick In The Sky
A8Daevid Allen & Friends-Zero

B1The Mob-Crying Again
B2The Mob -Frustration
B3The Mob -Never Really Cared
B4The Mob-Youth
B5Cardiac Arrest-A Bus For A Bus On The Bus
B6Horrible Nerds-Pope Paul Is Dead
B7Androids Of Mu-Every Time I Hear The Spirit
B8Androids Of Mu-Pretty Nun
B9Androids Of Mu-Ride Me, Easy Rider
B10Blank Space-You Can Try
B11Blank Space-Rest On Still Water
B12Danny + The Dressmakers-Edward Exposes Her Mammary Glands
B13Danny + The Dressmakers-TV Overdose On The Dole

DOWNLOAD this slightly dodgy tape HERE!

Bendle And The Casual Labourers ‎– "Optimism/Squirrel/Absurd" (self-released cassette) 1981

 Bendle's (the door and the window) more tuneful project,with shades of proto-indie to the fore, otherwise known as the Casual Labourers. Casual it certainly is,and the Labour probably refers to the extra effort put in to the songs. A hint of musical competence is prevalent throughout,but doesn't detract from the,still present, child like stream of consciousness-ness of Bendles better works.Lovingly produced by Kif Kif at the legendary Street Level studios.Another UK DIY milestone.
Check out Bendles Bandcamp page here!

Tracklist:

A1	Empty
A2	Pokerville
A3	The Ways And The Walls
A4	Masks
A5	The Next Step
A6	Movement In M
A7	Red Squirrel
B1	Moment
B2	Faces
B3	Untitled
B4	Eana's Returning
B5	Grey Squirrel

DOWNLOAD casually HERE!

Pete Fender ‎– "Four Formulas (For The Eradication Of Microbes)" (Xntrix ‎– XN 2002) 1980

As far as child groups go,punk rock gave us Eater, The Prats, and The Fatal Microbes.All excellent combo's,but the band that produced the best kiddie-punk tune was The Fatal Microbes, with that unforgettable anthem of youthful disillusionment, “Violence Grows”(mp3)(just beating “Inverness” by the Prats?). Oh my god, they told the bus conductor to “Push Off” when asked for their,half price,bus fare! How charming.

I had the fortune to inherit this record for 10p from my violent mate(he made me be his friend!), who jumped the Punk Rock ship for a sicking Northern Soul obsession in 1978! I could only play one side because he had glued it to his bedroom ceiling for its aesthetic effects. This way I had a small collection of one-sided indie punk singles for around a quid fifty; not bad.

But I digress.

14 year old Guitar Player for the wonderful Microbes(youngest member 12!?), was one Peter Fender(which also included under-age sex siren Honey Bane on vocals; apparently this was all legal in the seventies!).

Post-microbes, Fender went on to the sartorially awful Rubella Ballet, to compete with that other Ballet, Spandau, as the worst dressed bunch of wankers in Pop.

Inbetween, now 16 years old, Peter went down to Fuck Off Records HQ at Street Level (on the 17th, 29th, 30th September, 1980 incidentally), and knocked out this Buzzcockian spiral scratch knock off;alluding to the fact that he wanted to erase his previous band from his C.V. ? A charming buzzsaw power pop collection it is indeed, but not in the same league as his previous group i'm sorry to say......now.......”PUSH OFF!”

Tracklist:

A1	Promises, Promises
A2	London Homicide
B1	I'll Never Believe You
B2	Nothing To Say

DOWNLOAD four formulas for kiddie punk power pop HERE!

The Astronauts ‎– "Peter Pan Hits The Suburbs" (Bugle Records) 1981

Some of you will be pleased to know that this is the last Astronauts post on Die or DIY? Not everyone's folk/punk of choice. I myself, don't know whether they are shite or just reasonably good third division anarcho punk. Its an acquired taste, but I think I've acquired it somewhere, 'cus I like this LP, somewhat.  Lyrically Mark Astronaut is rather talented, but he is hindered by one of those irritating voices,akin to a rocking librarian. A good comparison is that bloke from the Deep Freeze Mice,or Shirley/Steve from the Spherical Objects; but compared to those two aurally offensive nightingales, Mark is Susan Boyle?

Tracklist:

A1	Everything Stops For Baby
A2	Protest Song
A3	Sod Us
A4	The Traveller
A5	How Green Was My Valley
B1	Still Talking
B2	Baby Sings Folk Songs
B3	How Long Is A Piece Of String
B4	Amplified World
B5	Midsummer Lullaby

DOWNLOAD the suburbs hitting and hopefully killing peter pan HERE!

The 012 - "White Patterns On Her Dress" (Fuck Off Wreckords FW001) 1980

Before they got “professional”, the 012 made an even more amateurish single sided C-90. Full of trademark atonal, arrhythmic, deconstructions of well known hits, and improvised Free punk numbers. Keith 'Kif Kif' Dobson's cheese grater on slack fishing wire guitar sound is unparalleled in the modern idiom of Pop and rock and Roll. Some would call it a terrible racket, but I would describe it as the sound of year zero, liberating the open eared from the manacles of corporate rock, which had a stranglehold on pop culture just five years before; but then 'I' would say that wouldn't I?

The ambitionless looseness, unrehearsed for weeks, almost Coltrane-like confrontation of popular taste; make this tape essential listening for the hive dwelling masses of this increasingly amorphous planet. The sound of freedom from acceptance,and the creativity numbing power of 'needing to be liked'!

Now preserved for posterity in a high quality 320kbps replication of its original lo-fi glory(and edited into individual tracks at last!), this is your chance to flush your sound receptor synapses of that subliminal garbage that penetrates us from every angle.

The album title eerily seems to predict future institutional abuse! Does it refer, retroactively, to Monica Lewinsky's dress? If only we had listened,we could have stopped Clinton's long trail of sexual abuse that continues to this day. Maybe even Saville would have been outed, if only we had understood this channelled message from the 012!!?

Don't forget kids, it starts with the classic “Fish From Tahiti”,and it's better than their second 'proper' album“Let's Get professional”.

TRACK LISTING:

1 Fish From tahiti

2 The Age of Aquarius

3 Turn The Bass Down

4 Muluver County

5 Don't tread On My Dreams

6 Mama Mama

7 Use it Up Wear It Out

8 Love Like Anthrax

9 Fish Don't Have To Shout

10 Blabber and Smoke

11 9 to 5

12 In The Ghetto

13 There Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City

DOWNLOAD onto her Dress HERE!

Various Artists - " The WEIRD NOISE E.P." (Fuck Off Records FEP 001) 1980

This is the record that really sucked.....(not 'sucked'!)..... me into the vortex of the glamorous and frightening world of the U.K. d.i.y. scene, which began roughly with a "Spiral Stratch" (Buzzcocks) and then got philosophised by some Desperate Bicycles in 1977; "It was easy,It was Cheap,Go and do it!".
(It was only 60p, so i went and bought it.Best 60p i ever spent).
This slogan was taken on board by a vast legion of bedroom dwellers across the land ,frustrated by their lack of ability to play or afford the mega expensive Gibsons and fenders played by so-called "punks" like Strummer and Steve Jones. The Sex Pistols had become another untouchable Rock Groop which the average kid had no chance of emanating.
The answer? Simple, buy that cheep organ from the junk shop instead of an American guitar. Plastic bins,cardboard boxes and tin cans replace the drum kit. That crap mono cassette recorder can be your recording studio, and then you can start your own record label and advertise in Sounds or the NME's D.I.Y. corner.
This was/is the REAL punk.
The EMI of the genre was of course Kif KIf le Batteur's profoundly titled FUCK OFF RECORDS, and his Street Level recording studio was the Abbey Road of ,what they regularly referred to as the "Weird Noise " scene. Hence the title of Fuck Off records first vinyl release from 1980, The "Weird Noise E.P". This collected a few of cassette culture's leading lights together in one 33rpm 7 inch diameter work of art, worthy of display in place of the mona lisa in the louvre of D.I.Y.
It contains my personal favourite tune from the genre by the untouchable Danny and the Dressmakers, the fantastic "(Don't make another Bass Guitar) Mr. Rickenbacker". That closes Side Awful, side Bad, I assume is the B-side? Although conventions like side A and B rarely existed in this basement world.
Danny and the Dressmakers included Graham Massey ,of 808 state fame, and Alan Hempsall of Crispy Ambulance, amongst their other more dubious side projects( some dodgy prog included).
We also have those blues masters of the Humber delta themselves, The Instant Automatons, who headed the prolific cassette label Deleted Records. Fuck Off Records chief rivals, but we were all friends in the world of DIY, had morals etc.
Also featured are Kif Kif's (Keith Dobson) 012, which featured members of Hippy improv combo Here and Now.

SIDE A
1 The Door And The Window - The Number One Entertainer (3:39)
2 Danny And The Dressmakers - Legalize Vimto (3:33)
3 Danny And The Dressmakers - Hey Ho Hey Ho My Cholestrol Level Is Low {0:25)
4 Instant Automatons - Electronic Music (3:10)
5 Danny And The Dressmakers - Don't Make Another Bassguitar Mr Rickenbaker (2:05)

SIDE B
1 The 012 - Fish From Tahiti (4:02)
2 Danny And The Dressmakers - Cathy And Claire (1:42)
3 The Sell-Outs - The Ballad Of Fuck Off Records (3:17)
4 Danny And The Dressmakers - The Truth About Unemployment (0:07)

Sleeve notes: "The Sell-Outs, The 012, The Door + The Window, and The Instant Automatons recorded at home on 4 track and 2 track tape machines. Danny + the Dressmakers get that unique "Dressmakers white noise" effect with 3rd generation cassette recordings. Whole thing got together by Kif Kif, Nag, Bendle and Protag and dedicated to the Street Level organisation. 60p maximum price."

Download this black slab of hissy ineptitudinal majesty HERE!!!!!!!!!

Various Artists - "The Street Level EP" - (Fuck Off Records FEP 002) 1980

The Street Level EP released on Fuck Off Records in 1980. What we have here is the usual mixture of Here and Now/Street Level supergroups, and Bands that existed purely to get on a vinyl record then disappear. Such a noble lack of ambition that many in this world could learn from and adopt it as a sustainable way of extending the life of this planet. Especially impressed by "The Entire Cosmos", with 'Gary from Newcastle' on Guitar, which shows off the 'prog' roots of the Street Level scene. The Voltones unleash an early indie pop classic in "Poisoned", with a jaunty punk pop number From Vince Pie and the Crumbs to complete this DIY quartet of Street Level classics.  

Track Listing:

Pontin Stomp VINCE PIE AND THE CRUMBS
Blues Exterminator BLUE MIDNIGHT
Poisoned THE VOLTONES
Looking For You THE ENTIRE COSMOS

DOWNLOAD the street level ep HERE!

The Petticoats - "The Petticoats" (Bla Bla Bla Records 01`) 1980

A DIY classic recorded at the mecca of 'weird noise', Street Level. Its doesn't say if Grant Showbiz or Kif Kif were at the controls, but its sounds like they were for these three B-sides of sublime year zero pop. German bird,Stef Petticoat plays all the instruments, Mike Oldfield style, and manages to sound uncannily like a proudly untutored group of strangers. The ease in which she totally de-prog's the Who's rock opera classic, 'I'm Free', is beyond admiration; in which you can actually believe that she is Free, as in free from the manacles of rock cliché. ( I never really believed Daltrey when he screeched the same words in Tommy). Also looking at the photo's, she seems to be a bit of a Nutjob, which I like, if genuine.So often they turn out to be University Lecturers or something even more Terrible.( Did you know Genesis P.Orridge was some kind of University Lecturer in History, before TG!...shocking huh?)

DOWNLOAD and be Free HERE!

Mark Perry - "Snappy Turns" (Deptford Fun City 1980)

The fabled 'solo' lp from Mark Perry.Recorded at Street level in the summer of 1980 has several of the known Perry associates helping out with the recording. Dennis Burns, Nag, Tyrone Thomas, Anno and Grant Showbiz. The tracks are great, although ‘The Object Is Love’, ‘You Know’ and ‘At War’ are the stand out tracks.
But its another brave example of Perry's anti-rock stance of the time. He must have endured a tumult of slagging for these records, which makes them sound even better for it.
A Superb ramshackle glorification of amateurism,topped off with perrys brand of faux-naive poetry which is both at once endearing and challenging. Another classic!

Tracklist: 

A1	Snappy Turns
A2	The Object Is To Love
A3	You Know
A4	Inside
A5	At War
B1	Death Looks Down
B2	The Game Is Over
B3	Quagga's Last Stand

DOWNLOAD some snappy turns HERE!

Mark Perry ‎– "Whole World's Down On Me / I Live - He Dies" (Deptford Fun City ‎– DFC 12) 1980

Everybody from 1977 to 82 did it, so why not Mark P?
That's correct, White boy punky reggae makes an appearance in the Alternative TV camp. Its a pretty honest attempt , and at least there's no mention of 'Jah', or mastering of those loose Jamaican rhythms like The Clash or The Ruts. It retains that essential naïveté that sets Mark Perry's projects apart from those awful musician types.I love the way the beat count wavers like a stretched tape,almost losing syncopation with the superb non-reggae reggae drumming of Mr Bendle.Someone should have played this to the Police to teach these fake-punkers how to do White Boy Reggae properly (although that means Gordon and the boys wouldn't have had any hits.......Oh what a wonderful dream?)
The B-side, however is quite splendid, classic Perry-esque poetry set to a classic "Vibing up the Senile Man" ,free for all, improvised backing.Excellent scraping violin provided by Anno (Androids of Mu, and Here and Now), and great falling apart drums from the one and only Bendle (Door and the Window).
All recorded at the Abbey Road of DIY, Street Level, under the auspices of the George Martin of DIY, Grant Showbiz.

Tracklist:

A	Whole World's Down On Me
B	I Live - He Dies

DOWNLOAD and the whole world will go down on you HERE!

Mark Perry and Dennis Burns - "You Cry Your Tears" (NB Records NB7) 1980

Just have a butchers at that photo of Mark .P on the sleeve of this single. The mirror-image of a 'Popstar'. Slightly chubby, dirty old school jumper,looking miserable,diy haircut,hands in pockets.....its enough to give an A&R man an anxiety attack. The A&R man continues: "They can't sing,can't play their instruments,its not a proper recording,and the songs aren't happy enough.".....wrong on all counts mr. Fictional A&R man,you're gonna lose your job soon anyway when your poxy record company goes bankrupt. And when they do i'll play this single to celebrate; fucking cultural fascists that they are. This single is from an honest place, its folk music, its real,and Bendle and Anno play...Weebles???...on it? Are these the egg shaped toys that wobble but they don't fall down?......if John Cage incorporated Weebles in one of his conceptual pieces with prepared piano,we'd all be praising his undoubted genius; but because its Mark "school of the streets" Perry, this innovation is forgotten.
But, its no longer forgotten,as its a work of great power and charm, which exists in its own bubble in space, deserving, but not asking, to be loved......so love it!......and then check out the Mark Perry solo album.

Track Listing:

A		You Cry Your Tears
B		Music Death?

Recorded at Street Level Studio March / April 1980.

Download and Cry Your Tears of joy for a lot less than 70p HERE!

The Reflections - " Slugs and Toads " (Cherry Red BRED 22) 1981

Anyone remember Blind Faith? Well this is the DIY equivalent, the nearest DIY land ever got to a super group.Dennis Burns and Mark Perry from ATV or The Good Missionaries,Karl Blake from The Lemon Kittens,and The legend that is Nag,from The Door and the Window. If that wasn't enough,the sleeve was designed by Danielle Dax!
The music ,bizarrely enough sounds like that of all the aforementioned bands,but....erm ...different. There's a hint of the pop song about it,and in this case its a good thing, 'cus it works.A great album indeed,even the cover version of Rocky Erickson's "Interpreter" is great, aided greatly by the dulcet tones of Mark Perry.An overlooked classic of the genre methinks.(click on the mp3 sample of tightrope walker for a taster)

A1		Tightrope Walker
A2		Zigzagging
A3		Keep It Easy
A4		Toy Dog Ripped By Cat
A5		Demon Of My Desires
A6		The Human Touch
B1		The Interpreter
B2		Oh Baby, Look Out ( It`s The New Dance)
B3		I Had Love In My Hands
B4		Clamming Up
B5		Nag Takes A Ride
B6		The Parting

Mark Perry, Nag, Dennis Burns, Karl Blake, Grant Showbiz,
Justin, Michele Bonett, Vicki Bonett, Steve Tannet
Recorded at Street Level and Denmark Street Sudios May/June/July 1981

Download Slugs and Toads HERE!

Missing Persons - "The Nuclear wasteland" (Self-Released Cassette) 1980

There was an extremely shit US new wave band called "Missing Persons" that existed around the same time as these middle class farm dwelling punk-hippies.
I am pleased to say that this is not that awful American atrocity, but those very sub-crass post-prog hippie-punks that were very prominent on the original DIY scene of the late seventies. They released cassettes on Kif-Kif's Weird Noise label, were on Deleted Records' classic "Deleted Funtime", recorded at Street Level, and were very active on the Fuck Off records scene.
As you can see, they seemed very fond of the "Concept Performance", a very rare hangover from the recently deceased Progressive Rock scene, this can be heard in some of their very Pink Floyd Demo style acoustic guitar.
These are the very weak points on this sprawling cassette. Hearing the sixth-form poetry and fifth-form politics sung in by a bourgeois rural rebel, accompanied by a well strummed acoustic guitar make me wanna smash something!
There's something very wrong with an acoustic in the hands of a Brit*, Americans ok, but in the UK it usually points to a privileged or middle class background(see James Fucking Blunt etc). What is more disturbing about this recent inclination towards middle and upper class kids to pick up a banjo, or Double fucking Bass, is that the irrelevant rich are taking over the pop charts, like they did Football (that's soccer for you Americans). If I saw that tribe of Toffs , Mumford and Fucking Sons, in the street, I'd have to organise a swift stoning to death. Oh their God, I despair for the young people of today, what the fuck are they playing at?

 In fact I know; they have been systematically brainwashed to accept this shit status quo(not the magnificent band) and be happy with the crap that we are drip-fed by the TV,Internet, glossy mags, and False Flag media lies.
Mumford and Son are the poster boys of these systems of control. So smash your Banjo's before they have your mind too!
(counting to ten........breathing slowly........relaxed again!)

*I have to, at this point, say, that this generalization does not include the peerless Patrik Fitzgerald, in who's hands the Acoustic Guitar has the same power as that of Woody Guthrie,or Bobby Dylan.

Back to Missing Persons:
The non acoustic tracks are really rather splendid, and at times sound like The Residents when they were good.
Amongst the cheap beat box electronica, we have the odd, and the very ODD, standard melodic Punk Rock number, wot ain't half bad. This would have made a fine C-30.

Track Listing:

ONSIDE:

A. "5 Tracks on an 8 Track"

1.Rotten to the Core
2. Angst in my Pants
3.The Blue Eyed boy
4. the british Dissidents
5. The empty Gesture.

B. "5 x Wendy"

1. Mirror Box
2. Identikit.
3. Over-exposed
4. Shadow Detail
5. Cameraman.

C. "from "What am I doing Here? part one"

1. the Officers mess
2. Any Questions
3. I am A Union Leader.
4. The Urbane Gorilla.
5. The Leonard Cohen songbook.
6. To be continued....

OFFSIDE:

D. from "Acoustics in the atomic age"

1. 101 Magic tricks
2. Supply and Demand
3. Between your legs
4. The Liberal Limp.
5 Consequences

E. from "what am I doing Here? part one"

1. repressive Tolerance
2.What the butler saw.
3. Platform 15 (day return)
4. Medium-Rare

F. "Casual Labour"

1. Gestures.
2. Polaroid Test.

DOWNLOAD this audio wasteland HERE!