Irked (1998) - Contusion

 

Some rare stuff in time for Christmas. You'd think with the events of the year I would be stuck here in my dungeon uploading all of the rest of the obscure goodies I've rescued from opshops over the years, but no, I was super busy doing work. Plus, the op shops were closed.

There's scant info on this EP, aside from this mention on the old Triple J Unearthed website. 

Sort of grungy rock in the vein of Tumbleweed. Actually quite well produced and mixed for a little independent release.

Sorry for the poor quality cover picture - scanner is still in storage.

1. Turning On The Waves        2:05
2. Fugly        3:05
3. R.U.S.H        1:24
4. Paradise Within        3:18
5. Dark Corner        2:53

Irked (1998) - Contusion

Whoosh (1997) - The Mercy Bell

 

 

 Indie pop with emotive female vocals. I'm not sure how to characterise this one, so you'll need to listen to it yourself. Reminds me a bit of Litany, actually. See Discogs for more info.

There are a few Sonic Youthy guitar moments which are quite nice.

1. All We Can Do        4:10
2. Wallpaper Faces        3:37
3. Always        5:37
4. Spare Us        4:16
5. Get Out        3:13
6. Home        4:31
7. Picking Daisies        2:48
8 .Headless Turtle        1:29
9. Follow        4:52
10. Far Too High        4:30
11. Breath Of Fresh Air        3:30

Whoosh (1997) - The Mercy Bell

Organarchy Sound Systems: B.P.M Conspiracies (1999) - Various Artists

 

 

 The network of references that conspired to bring me to Organarchy Sound Systems is too complex to go into here, but I'll add some links and backstory as I can be more bothered.

Organarchy Sound Systems was a sound system associated with the C@T Anarchist Collective in Sydney (famous for developing the software that IndyMedia ran on and for having late Sydney Cave Clan founder Michael 'Predator' Carlton as a member). Their early websites were hosted by C@T and early email addresses point to a cat.org.au server. See here for a mention of an Organarchy tape in a C@T-hosted tale of a doof in Darwin.

There was also a Clan Analogue connection with some of the artists who featured on the Organarchy comps.

Most of the music is amateurish techno, but there are a few sublime moments as you will see.

The Discogs page has a lot more info, including more period links than what I have (bump them into the Wayback Machine).

If anyone has a copy of the 'Filthy Jabilucre' release they'd be willing to share PLEASE get in touch!

1. Sine On        7:44    Fatty Acidz V's Earth Metal
2. Tofu        5:16    John 'badger' Jacobs
3. Apple Song        5:19    The Meddling Kids
4. Hypnotize (Safety Dub Mix)        4:24    Disco Stu
5. Moral Xxxciter        6:42    Nam Shub Of Enki
6. Give Me Funky Disco..Yeah (Late Saki Mix)        6:43    Dee Dee
7. Fizz        4:57    Gasm
8. Freequency Response        5:05    Non Bossy Posse
9. Dance Food        5:45    Sleaze Louise
10. Bush Bebe        5:45    El Toro
11. Party People Politics        6:53    Grumblemorf
12. Softest Thing        6:15    Adrenalentil

Organarchy Sound Systems: B.P.M Conspiracies (1999) - Various Artists

4ZZZ's Hot 100 (1997) - Various Artists

 

One of the best compilations of 1990s Aussie indie that I've found, this 1997 release from Brisbane community station 4ZZZ is studded with gems. Aside from the obvious domestics (Magic Dirt, iNsuRge, Regurgitator, Spiderbait, Clouds, Dirty Three, The Fauves, etc.) there are a few international alternative anthems on board (e.g. Lush's 'Ladykillers' and Butthole Surfer's 'Pepper') and some more obscure Brisbane locals (e.g. Small Fantasy's very cute 'DSS' and the jangly almost-emo of Turnpike's 'Straight to Video').

Even my girlfriend likes it. Enjoy on a hot sunny day.

[Disc 1] 

1. Fish & Chip Bitch From Ipswich        4:27    Escape From Toytown
2. Static        3:21    Screamfeeder
3. DSS        2:21    Small Fantasy
4. Speculator        3:02    iNsuRge
5. Thunder        3:33    The Mavis's
6. Sexual Deviant        3:04    Blowhard
7. Pepper        4:57    Butthole Surfers
8. Spitboy Girl        3:00    Godnose
9. Big Mouth        2:35    Big Heavy Stuff
10. No KFC        1:21    Scrumfeeder
11. Kong Foo Sing        2:58    Regurgitator
12. Aussie Song        6:19    Lee Harvey & The Oswalds
13. Straight To Video        2:11    Turnpike
14. Chunky Doh        3:13    The Melniks
15. Purple Girl        4:46    St. Jude
16. Benediction        5:05    Blood Party
17. Napalm Sticks To Kids        4:10    Alien Virus

[Disc 2]

1. Her Royal Fisticuffs        3:39    Superchunk
2. Punch In The Face        1:46    Frenzal Rhomb
3. Ladykillers        3:15    Lush
4. Will Drop Pants For Airplay        2:04    Nancy Vandal
5. Neon Pressure        2:27    Fur
6. Trophy Girlfriend        3:04    Heavenly
7. Buy Me A Pony        1:46    Spiderbait
8. Down from the Sky        2:58    Clouds
9. Kneecap        2:41    Budd
10. I Remember A Time When Once You Used To Love Me        6:12    Dirty Three
11. I Was Cruel        6:57    Magic Dirt
12. Horny In The Morning        1:36    Pansy Division
13. Kissing The Sun        4:32    The Young Gods
14. Stop & Go Man        2:41    Even
15. Tarmac & Lime        5:12    Gaslight Radio
16. Living Dead        4:43    Discordia
17. Self Abuser        2:53    The Fauves

4ZZZ's Hot 100 (1997) - Various Artists

 

Bad Hair Life (1995) - Rail

I had a go at this one, thinking it'd be like Glide for some reason. Ash Naylor was in it, and he was on TV a lot.

Yes, I did pinch the cover from Discogs because I can't find my scanner. It's buried in here under all this junk... somewhere...

1. Never Whole        4:03
2. Freebird        4:23
3. Billy & K        5:52
4. Immune Deficiency        3:41
5. Rock Dreams        4:17
6. Gonna Bury You        6:20
7. Volume Creep Vs. Nature Boy        3:26
8. The Coolest Thing        3:05
9. Bridget Fonda        3:12
10. Theatre Of Yr Soul        4:47
11. My Last Beer        2:08
12. People Who Look Like Things        0:29
13. Spinning Ball        5:22

Bad Hair Life (1995) - Rail

Something's Wrong With Our Heroes (1993) - Nursery Crimes

Really freaking good EP from another Melbourne band that, like Dweebs, also supported Fugazi in Croydon. From the same sort of suburban punk stable as Rootbeer, Nursery Crimes are more towards the melodic end of the spectrum and verge on the sort of indie quality of Peachfuzz. Hooky pop punk without being quite so nasal as either Frenzal Rhomb or Bodyjar (whom vocalist Phil Rose later worked with).

Plus the artwork was done by Dillon Naylor, who did the Batrisha comics and Da'n'Dill (and about a zillion gig posters).

1. Running Blind        2:31
2. Demand the Impossible        2:19
3. Person Fading Out        3:06
4. 1000 Days        2:31
5. Shot Gun        2:38
6. Second Face        2:38

Something's Wrong With Our Heroes (1993) - Nursery Crimes

Dogbuoy (1998) - Dogbuoy

Frankly bizarre rocky hip-hop in the vein of the Beastie Boys and early Avalanches (not the MTV programme of a similar name). 'D.B.I.T.H', the final track on the album, is the punkiest, sounding like the earlier output of the former band.

According to discogs, copies of the album came with a 3.5" floppy disk containing a screensaver. Why didn't mine come with one of those!?

I think they were from Sydney?

Anyway, see what you think...

1. Mozzies        2:56
2. Alienz        2:34
3. Mk II        4:26
4. Squid Ink        2:58
5. D.B.I.T.H.        2:17



Dogbuoy (1998) - Dogbuoy

Who Wants To Play? (2001) - Sally's Grip

Good lord, someone else has found this album in a Salvos (albeit on the other side of the country!) and uploaded it for your enjoyment, lest it get consigned to be permanently forgotten. As it happens, I picked it up from an op shop somewhere in Melbourne and remarked on the awful cover artwork. What's inside? Surprisingly good cheerful early 00s pop punk. A local production, I seem to recall they had a website but just like the last upload, half my archive of links appear to be on another computer so some period materials will need to wait until I can dig them out. Until then, enjoy Sally's Grip (which was a play on some kind of Selley's adhesive if I remember correctly).

From 'Shoofin Friend on YouTube:

Now let's state the obvious, you might have clicked on this because it featured some of the worst cover art you've ever seen right? Yep you're completely right but like anything you can't always judge a book by it's cover. I picked up this album from Salvos in Freo. Scuffed to the max CD, along with Kermit's swamp years and a heap of old surf VHS tapes for a friend. I was in hysterics about how god awful the album art was. I went out on a whim and picked it up. Took the protective tape off the side and was pleasantly surprised. The little cover booklet was actually pretty cool and showed the actual band members of Sally's Grip. Luke, Adam, Sam and Steve. Recorded at Rangemaster studios in Victoria, (whom i may or may not receive some additional information from, very soon).I'm also trying to get in contact with Jade, seeing as her number is on the album credits. But yeah otherwise, this album is album/ep? is surprisingly ok. I thought it'd be hot garbage, but it's good early 2000's punk-rock (i think it's punk-rock i'm not great with genre's). this was the response from Rangemaster studio : "Hi there, that was some time ago but I'm still mates with Luke who was the primary songwriter. He can be found here" I'll keep the link for myself and message Luke real soon. He's making some really nice stuff now :) expect me to update this when i learn more :)) This album does not belong to me i am merely sharing music i have found and enjoyed, thanks :))

 There you go. Info on a postcard, as per usual, please.

1. Da Di Dah        2:36
2. Let's Go        3:16
3. Tell Ya Friends        0:33
4. Rash        2:04
5. Sally's Grip        3:16
6. [Untitled]        2:46

Who Wants To Play? (2001) - Sally's Grip

Higher Up The Firetrails (1995) - Bluebottle Kiss

Sorry for the lo-res cover image, I stole it from discogs. I can't remember if I even have the proper album release to scan, or just the promo edition with a plain-ish cardboard sleeve. In any case, here's the sort of slow indie Sebadoh-worship that was going on at the time, with Jamie Hutchings capably handling the maudlin indie on this number from 1995. I've never been a huge fan of his voice, but he's a solid songwriter.

As to period web links, hmm... here's a geocities mirror of a mention on the Kill the Cod zine website. I might have some more links on another computer, so when I dig that one out, I'll let you know...

A Melbourne band also appears to have called themselves Firetrail.

1. Beautifully Tragic        4:17
2. One Way Ticket To Antarctica        7:05
3. Dead Again        3:56
4. Paean For Sandpaper Mouth        4:10
5. Requiem For The Holden        5:52
6. Don't Care Anymore        2:13
7. Crush        3:12

Higher Up The Firetrails (1995) - Bluebottle Kiss

Cold Zone (1993) - Various Artists

Ah, promotional tie-in compilations for big brands... They're a bit of a niche for the collector, but it seems like every product aimed at a vaguely 'youth' demographic needed a freebie comp to go with the launch. Do businesses still do tie-in comps? Certainly not on CD in these days of streaming. Maybe an official Spotify playlist. Another thing that's died out in the past ten years...

So, here's this comp presumably released for the launch of Carlton Cold, which is an awful beer that I predict will make a bit of an ironic hipster comeback in the next couple of years. It made a bit of a splash in the 90s as it briefly captured the attentions of the 18-30 year old demographic away from Victoria Bitter and onto somewhat more streamlined product. In reality, it tastes like watered down VB. But this is a music blog, not a beer blog...

 

I'm not quite sure who this was aimed at. Maybe the Elwood-dwelling, cricket-watching poker players I mentioned in the Ice Cream Hands post. You've got the pre-Future Spa Fauves track next to a bouncy techno Boxcar track, with maudlin Dave Graney and then TISM of all people (the high point of the comp, I might add...) Top quality effort from the CUB marketing department. The whole thing is cynical beyond belief, but it a fun stupid way in the same way that Rowville is fun and stupid and has no clue. Please note that the year of release is only approximate (1993 was the year most of the tracks came out and Carlton Cold was released).

Can you get any more 90s than this lineup and Carlton Cold?

I actually like Carlton Cold. It tastes horrible, but I can't stop drinking it.

1. You Wanna Be Loved    5:02    Dave Graney with The Coral Snakes
2. Thin Body Thin Body    3:52    The Fauves
3. Ultrasonic    6:45    Boxcar
4. Singlette    3:39    Custard
5. Let's Form A Company    4:11    TISM
6. Who's Watching Who    3:34    Jackson Code
7. Go Go Go    3:32    The Fireballs
8. You Sleep I'll Drive    3:48    Tall Tales & True

Get Into The Cold Zone (1993) - Various Artists

An Empty Flight (1998) - Scared of Horses

Apparently a rarity (but it is on iTunes and Spotify now)... I found my copy at the Noble Park Salvos, along with about a dozen other CDs (some of which I may have featured on here this month...) Every so often, I think a former record company head honcho clears out his or her shelves in a fit of Kondo-inspired freshening and I happen to intercept the spoils. This happened that time at Narre Warren Savers, at Noble Park Salvos and most recently at Heatherton Savers, which is what inspired this grandiose spree in July.

Scared of Horses is basically a solo project of Something For Kate frontman Paul Dempsey. The funny thing is, he employed a different vocalist on each track. The tracks are pleasant post/math rock noodlings, a bit more laid back than SFK and maybe a bit more sophisticated. Kind of Tortoise/Sea and Cake/Slint/Polvo type stuff. Some of it (particularly 'If It's Chocolate') sounds a LOT like June of 44 if the lead singer of S:Bahn sung lead vocals (which he does).

Personally, I think that Sandpit achieved the sound to greater artistic (if not commercial) success, but that's my opinion (I'm on team Webb!) In fact, it was Sandpit bassist Steph Ashworth's appearance on this album as a guest vocalist that lead to her joining SFK full time

A weird quirk is that the inner sleeve lists the heights (I assume) of each of the featured vocalists. Paul Dempsey being 6'7"? Is that right?

On the old web, there's a SFK tripod page still up that has a page dedicated to this little project. There's also a page on the archived SFK website.

1. Intro        0:28
2. December (Ill at Ease)        6:46 [featuring Glenn Richards from Augie March]
3. In German        4:37 [featuring Heinz Reigler from Not From There. Interestingly, titled 'Obnoxious' on the archived SFK site above]
4. Fishes        2:19 [featuring Jamie Hutchings from Bluebottle Kiss]
5. Almost Too Perfect        6:48  [featuring Andria Prudente from Arrosa]
6. Monologue        3:53 [featuring Stephanie Ashworth from Sandpit]
7. If It's Chocolate        5:48 [featuring Dik from S:Bahn]
8. R and R        0:45 [instrumental - on the CD and the page above, says that Dik does vocals and that track 7 is instrumental]
9. Districts of Elvis        7:25 [featuring Laura Macfarlane from ninetynine]

https://www.mediafire.com/file/sju0rmd70e5p29l/An_Empty_Flight_%281998%29_-_Scared_of_Horses.zip/file
https://www.mediafire.com/file/sju0rmd70e5p29l/An_Empty_Flight_%281998%29_-_Scared_of_Horses.zip/file An Empty Flight (1998) - Scared of Horses

Know (1992) - Rootbeer

 

Not-too-melodic almost-pop punk from Glen Waverley, which is one of two reasons why I bought this CD. The other reason being that they supported Fugazi playing Wall St in 1993. They remind me in general theme of Dweebs, whom I covered earlier. Similarly, Rootbeer were regulars on the outer-south-eastern suburbs all-ages circuit in the early 90s. They broke up in 1995.

The artwork is rather good, but the vocals have that punky nasal twang. But! It gets better the further down the tracklist you get. There's a bit of evolution going on. It gets almost progressive on tracks like 'Private Beach'... Not quite the emo I was hoping for, but it's enjoyable.

Download in high-quality digital or CD formats at their bandcamp page.The band also released a posthumous compilation in 2004, with a bunch of tracks slated for a second LP that never happened, which I recommend you purchase and download.

1. Lost Inside        1:46
2. Way Too Far        1:38
3. Coming Down        2:01
4. Locked Up        2:33
5. Find        1:57
6. Leave Me Alone        2:24
7. Stand Tall        3:28
8. Who Cares        1:49
9. How Old Is Young        1:49
10. Private Beach        2:29
11. Broken        1:48
12. Million Dollar Mess        2:33
13. Dress Down        2:15

Know (1992) - Rootbeer

Now We Are Six (1994) - Various Artists

Cool comp of domestic and international artists distributed by Shock Records. The aMiniature track is awesome.

1. Shreen        2:38    All
2. Motorhead        2:26    Corduroy
3. Silver Train        4:12    East Village
4. Texas        4:03    Magnapop
5. Civilisation        3:20    Snout
6. Physical Climber        3:58    aMiniature
7. Glamorous        3:06    The Jesus Lizard
8. Your Ghost        3:17    Kristin Hersh
9. No No        5:10    Dub Syndicate
10. Pim Pom Pam        4:09    Fur
11. Still Life        3:40    Carl Orr
12. Maria Peripatetica        3:36    Ed Kuepper
13. Lip From Lip        3:33    Hoss    Now We Are Six
14. A Curse On You        3:31    The Blackeyed Susans
15. Borracho        5:40    Mark Lanegan
16. River Runs Red        1:54    Life Of Agony
17. Embers Fire        4:46    Paradise Lost
18. Masses Of Tiny Dots        2:14    Polyphemus
19. Wrong        3:41    Archers Of Loaf
20. Homeboy        4:29    Adorable
21. Will The Fetus Be Aborted        3:43    Jello Biafra & Mojo

Now We Are Six (1994) - Various Artists

Driven (1994) - Snuff

Debut EP from Snuff, who later changed their name to Moler and gained even greater fame. Moler recently reformed to play some shows I think. This EP was re-released on Spotify under the Moler title, but I've kept it under the band's original name here. See Moler's period-era webpage here, hosted on Melbourne.net (if you fancy diving down an Internet Archive rabbit hole for a few hours, browse around Melbourne.net and its parent, Warehouse.net...)

What a great little EP! Noisy, good for a sunny late afternoon drive. Reminds me of Deadstar much of the time, and a bit like the Clouds (but less musically complex) and Falling Joys (but less melodic). Recommended for fans of those bands, and if you want to see what Moler were like before they were Moler.

1. Bliss        3:44
2. Differently        4:03
3. Can't Remember        2:49
4. Like My Dog        3:54
5. A Word You Say        2:16

Driven (1994) - Snuff

You Get Nothing (1992) - Hoss

Joel Silbersher's band after GOD broke up. A bit too rocky for my tastes, but the album artwork is great and I'm sure there's some seminality to it. Released on Dog Meat Records, whose Home Is Where The Floor Is compilation from 1993 I posted a few days ago.

Also featuring an ex-GOD musician was Matty Whittle's band Sauce, also posted up a while ago.

1. It's Everywhere    3:31
2. I'm Not Here    2:39
3. Satan The Cleaning Lady    3:23
4. Too Much Sugar    6:00
5. Bile    3:01
6. Rock'N'Roll Worm    3:35
7. Magpie    5:26
8. Three In The Morning    3:27
9. Stag Party    3:05
10. Cranky Tonkin'    2:50
11. I Wanna Kill Your Boyfriend    5:49
12. Chuck    2:31

You Get Nothing (1992) - Hoss

Not From There (1997) - Not From There

Probably best known for that Recovery staple 'Sich Offnen', Brisbane band Not From There released this, their second EP, in 1997. They're kind of a noisy... well, they're pretty noisy, with some Regurgitator-esque production courtesy of Magoo on the first track. In fact, I'd describe them as sounding a bit like early Gurge, with less electronics and German lyrics at times. There are some great emo-ey guitar tones on the second and third tracks (to my ears anyway - like a more energetic Bubble and Scrape-era Sebadoh). In fact 'Chinchilla' sounds like a Slint ripoff! Good.

They also had a period Internet presence with a links page! Go take a look. Also, subject of fan pages.

Whilst I was there, I found the Australian Alternative Music page, run by 14 year old Jess from Brisbane, which should have some links to all your favourite pages and you can see what the nineties was like.

1. Let Me Out        2:47
2. No Answers        3:09
3. Chinchilla        3:33
4. Can't Shake Him        2:27
5. Cuando Estar De Vuelta        5:20


Not From There (1997) - Not From There

Moo Chewns - Milk This Catalogue (1999) - Various Artists

Hmm, that's funny... looks like I uploaded this one ages ago but never did a post on it. Anyway, here's a fairly standard comp, something to do with Half A Cow Records? Of course it has the Lemonheads on it. And spdfgh!

1. Into Your Arms        2:43    The Lemonheads
2. Here She Comes Again        3:39    Sidewinder
3. The Outdoor Type        2:31    The Lemonheads
4. Doctor Of Love        3:33    Sneeze
5. Pseudo Blues        3:25    Spdfgh
6. Day After Day        3:55    Sidewinder
7. Swollen Venus        2:31    Crow
8. Titanic Days        3:40    Sidewinder
9. Blue Angel        3:36    Spdfgh
10. Railhead        3:45    Crow
11. Kitchen        2:54    The Lemonheads
12. Give Me Time        2:45    Spdfgh
13. Going Home        4:17    Swirl
14. Shaky Ground        1:58    Sneeze
15. April Eight        3:46    Robyn St. Clare
16. Cheerleader        3:38    Plunderers
17. Don't Go Now        2:54    Ratcat
18. Christo        2:41    Plunderers
19. Six Years From Crying        1:29    Cowsuit
20. The Age Difference        3:04    Cashew
21. Divan        2:34    Smudge
22. Table For One        4:32    Godstar
23. Cardriver        3:38    The Daisygrinders
24. Miles To Go        2:26    The Hummingbirds
25. R        0:42    Sneeze

Moo Chewns - Milk This Catalogue (1999) - Various Artists

Adolescent Fantasy World (1994) - Front End Loader

Upbeat stuff! Kind of. Sydney band. A bit of a bitzer in terms of styles, you could call it indie rock, but with a few random funk and pop punk bits mixed in. Some of the riffing is Midnight Oil-esque. The whole affair is super short (we just listened to the whole thing driving up the road and back to get pizza), but good. The first track, and the vocals in general, remind me of Archers of Loaf. The best riff on the EP is probably that of track four ('Ballast'). They have a Wikipedia page.

Probably best known for 'Pulse', which isn't on this EP.

 
They also appeared on Recovery -

Featuring Peter Kostic, who I think later played drums in Regurgitator. Skate-y and fun, but not as poppy as Ratcat.

1. Speck        2:25
2. Gluefoot        2:39
3. Can't Stay Long        1:43
4. Ballast        3:23
5. Totalizator        2:14

Adolescent Fantasy World (1994) - Front End Loader

Icecream Hands (1992) - Icecream Hands

Sort of power poppy stuff probably enjoyed by people who lived in Elwood, Sandringham and Cheltenham in the mid-90s, dressed like a cricketer, drank lots of Carlton Draught, played poker in the back shed and listened to Paul Kelly and the Whitlams.

It's quite good. I'm sure I read somewhere about a band that I was envious of featuring the son of one of the members of Icecream Hands, but I can't remember which member it was (or what the band was called). Released on Rubber Records, distributed by Shock (as Screamfeeder once said, I can see a pattern forming...)

What's with the DX7 and Linndrum sound on track two? Geez. Also, the opening chord of 'Uncle Robert's Questionnaire' sounds EXACTLY like the opening chord of 'Lost Weekend' by Lloyd Cole and the Commotions. Plus the riff is very similar to that Paul Kelly song. You know the one I mean.

This is a probably an entirely unhelpful review. That's what you get when I put four five records up in one evening.

Icecream Hands (1992) - Icecream Hands

Horsehead (1993) - Horsehead

Early 90s cock rock. Featuring members of Uncanny X-Men and Boom Crash Opera. Says it all really.

Except to say sorry for the poor quality cover artwork. I stole it from discogs (again).

1. Slave        4:09
2. Liar        4:32
3. Oil And Water        3:26
4. Power 2        4:45
5. Miss Your Mind        4:32
6. Hazy Way        4:48
7. Other Side        4:00
8. Blood Memory        4:21
9. Sun        4:52
10. Fill Me        3:33
11. Sleeping Dog        4:46
12. Burn        5:50

Horsehead (1993) - Horsehead