Order-Nr.: ss056 Angebot : |
LP / S-S Records / 2010-12
S.S. Records is pleased to present the first vinyl edition of the FM-BX
Society Tape 001. Originally released in 1981 only on cassette, with a
limited run of 200, FM-BX 001 was the first in a series of compilation
tapes released by the staff of a radio station in Brussels, Belgium.
Needless to say, not many tapes made it around, and very few survive
today. I'd say that is a shame but with this vinyl release, the word
will get out about the bands on this tape, albeit a few decades after
its initial release!
FM-BX 001 features three bands, two from Belgium, one from Scotland. The
Belgium bands are Isolation Ward and Unit 4. Isolation Ward are known
in underground synth collector circles, as they had a bit of a run after
their debut on this release. Bleak and futuristic, Isolation Ward fuse
post punk with early 80s synth sounds and a DIY approach.
The big surprise of FM-BX are the all-woman foursome Unit 4. Little is
known about the band or their current whereabouts. No problem because
their music is all you need to tell you that they had something special
going. By their sound, the influences are obvious: Kleenex, Delta 5, and
the Raincoats all reverberate here though less "slick" than any of
those bands. Unit 4's aesthetics are more akin to the Petticoats and, at
times, the Shaggs. Fans of current day lady singers Titmachine and the
Dead Clodettes will dig. This is truly wonderful punk rock.
From Scotland comes the Topplers. If the name sounds familiar, it is
doubtful that it is because of the band. One of the Topplers is a guy
named Allan Henry, who runs the excellent DIY label Topplers Records. In
fact, it is Allan who turned me on to FM-BX to begin with. His band The
Topplers? Great stuff. Teens with an ear towards the TV Personalities,
The Times, and Subway Sect. They only existed for a couple years but
wound up on this tape and, as a result, with an opening slot for Golden
Earing! These are the only recordings that exist. Had they come out at
the time on a 7"s, I have no doubt DIY collectors would be fighting over
copies.
500 pressed on vinyl, housed in a sleeve cobbled together from the
original cassette release. Brief liner notes by The Topplers' Allan
Henry. (SS056)
