Musick that Needed Woek: U - Unrest

 

Unrest was a seminal indie rock band from Washington, D.C. active from 1983 to 1994, a pillar of the American indie rock scene from the tongue-in-cheek garage noise of their earliest efforts to the shimmering, manic pop thrills of their later work. The band was the perfect example of DIY, perfecting a genre-hopping eclecticism & ironic lyrical outlook that virtually defined the sound of college rock in the pre-grunge era. Mark Robinson, Tim Moran, & Phil Krauth formed Unrest while students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. 

 

The most popular line-up featured Bridget Cross with Mark & Phil (Don’t forget Simon Le Bon as producer...a running Unrest joke.). I was going to include Perfect Teeth, the perfect Unrest but 4AD reissued it last year so I skipped it even though it Needed Work

On this first one Dave Park plays guitar, acoustic guitar, slide guitar, bass, & makes noises along with the usual from Mark & Phil. It’s produced by legendary Kramer. 

 

Unrest - Malcolm X Park, Caroline Rcords CAROL1366, 1988.
decryption codes in comments

Side One -
Malcolm X Park
Can't Sit Still
Strutter (Kiss cover)
Dago Red
Ben's Red Chili Bowl
Lucifer Rising
The Gas Chair
Ragged (Clthed Hsbnd)

Side Two -
Oils
Dalmations
Stranger in My Own Hometown
Oh Yeah C'Mon
Disko Magic
Christina
Castro 59
The Hill

 

 

 

 

This next 7" 45 was recorded by Wharton Tiers at Fun City, New York, NY, USA September 23, 1990. It features Warhol superstar Edie Sedgwick on the cover.

 

 

Unrest - Cherry Cherry 7", Teenbeat TEENBEAT49, 1991.

1 -
Cherry Cherry
2 -        
Wednesday & Proud 

 

 

 

Enjoy, 

NØ

Musick that Needed Work: U - Uffe

 

Uffe is Danish pianist & producer Uffe Christensen. He produces house influenced electronica. His early listening covered Kraftwerk to DJ Shadow to Dubstep to Danish folktronica but his production values & musical voice are clearly his own unique style. 

 

Words & Endings is Dubby deep House. 

  

Christensen creates all the music except when joined by Julie Maria Hernandez Pavon - vocals (tracks A3, A6), Christian Rhode Lindinger - bass (B3), & Arvid Ingvarsson - drums (B2,B3). 

 

Uffe - Words & Endings, On the Corner Records OTCRLP015, 2021.
decryption code in comments

Side one -
Forfra    
Kill a Sound    
Immortal    
The Moon     
Krasnik Interlude    
Handgrenade

Side two -
Moenten    
Old Balance    
Krasnik Boogie    
Limo    
The Ender

bomus tracks -
The Moon (extended version)
The Ender (extended version)

 

 

 

Enjoy,
NØ

Musick that Needed Work: U - USSA

 

USSA is a side project for Duane Denison (guitarist for Jesus Lizard) & Paul Barker (bassist for Ministry). They recruited Gary Call (Vocals) & Johnny Rabb (drums) to complete the four-piece. 

 

 

Pretty much run-of-the-mill rock.  If you like Tomahawk, The Jesus Lizard, Killing Joke, Ministry, QOTSA then you might like this. Vocalist reminds me a bit of Mike Patton???. 

 

USSA - The Spoils, Fuzz 898931001025, 2007.
decryption code in comments

Dead Voices    
Autumn Flowers    
Blue Light    
Cruel Beauty    
Middletown    
Summer Endless Summer    
Forget Yourself    
Cab Ride    
Peculiar Thing    
Sugarwater    
Wasteland

 

 

 

Enjoy,
NØ

Musick the Needed Work: U - Underworld

 

Underworld was a UK electronic outfit, the brainchild of multi-instumentalists Rick Smith & Karl Hyde after their previous band Freur disbanded. In 1987, Hyde, Smith, guitarist Alfie Thomas, bassist Baz Allen, & drummer Bryn Burrows formed Underworld (Mk1), named after the 1985 horror film Underworld, which was scored by Freur.

Freur was the name of the second band (following the art school collaboration, The Screen Gemz) of Karl Hyde & Rick Smith. The band was formed in the early 1980s in Cardiff, Wales by Hyde, Smith, & Alfie Thomas. They originally had only a graphic 'squiggle' for a name, but after getting a recording contract with CBS Records, the label  insisted on a pronounceable name. The compromise was that the squiggle be pronounced "Freur". 

Underworld originally released more song oriented funky guitar based pop over the course of their first two albums. Change the Weather was their second... 

 

 

Underworld - Change the Weather, Sire 925945-2, 1989.
all decryption codes in comments

Change the Weather
Stand Up
Fever
Original Song
Mercy
Mr. Universe    
Texas
Thrash    
Sole Survivor    
Beach

 

 

 

 

After a break from 1990-1992 to concentrate on their art/design project Tomato, Hyde & Smith relocated from South Wales to Romford, Greater London. At this time they recruited DJ Darren Emerson & signed to Steven Hall's Junior Boys Own label. After several releases & remixes as Lemon Interupt / Steppin' Razor, they readopted the Underworld (Mk2) moniker. On following releases, the duo favored a more dance oriented techno sound. Underworld is known for their atmospheric compositions with Hyde's cryptic stream of consciousness lyrics.

 

 

Underworld - Dubnobasswithmyheadman, Junior Boy’s Own jbocd1, 1994.

Dark & Long    
Mmm Skyscraper I Love You    
Surfboy    
Spoonman    
Tongue    
Dirty Epic    
Cowgirl    
River of Bass    
M.E.

bonus track -
Dark & Long (Dark Train version) 

Underworld - Second Toughest in the Infants, Junior Boy’s Own jbocd4, 1996.

Juanita : Kiteless : To Dream of Love    
Banstyle/Sappy’s Curry    
Confusion the Waitress    
Rowla    
Pearls Girl
Air Towel    
Blueski    
Stagger

bonus track - 
Born Slippy (nuxx)

 

 

 

Enjoy,
NØ

Musick that Needed Work: U - Useless Eaters

 

Useless Eaters was one of bassist Seth Sutton's many (basically) solo projects.

Here Sutton plays guitar & provides vocals while Drew Akers adds keyboards & Chet Jameson adds bass to occassional tracks. Recorded in Nashville next to a garbage dump spring/summer 2012. 

Useless Eaters - Hypertension, Jeffery Drag Records JD18, 2013.
decryption code in comments

Side A -
New Program    
Moody Bitch    
Addicted to the Blade    
Death Gripped    
Life on a Grid    
Black Night Ultraviolet

Side B -
Hypertension    
Shapes of a Mannequin    
Wyte Gurls    
Smoke Alarm    
Malfunction    
Vertical Africa

 

 

Enjoy,
NØ

Musick that Needed Work: U - UNKLE

 

Originally Men from U.N.K.L.E. 

 

UNKLE started as a trip-hop outfit formed in 1992 by James Lavelle & Tim Goldsworthy. For this release, DJ Shadow had a major role in crafting the unique sound. Almost 30 years old & still sounds fresh & hot to me. 

 

UNKLE - Psyence Fiction, Mo Wax 314540970-2, 1998.
decryption code in comments

Guns Blazing (Drums of Death Part 1)
UNKLE Main Title Theme
Bloodstain
Unreal
Lonely Soul
Getting Ahead in the Lucrative Field of Artist Management
Nursery Rhyme / Breather
Celestial Annihilation
The Knock (Drums of Death Part 2)
Chaos
Rabbit in Your Headlights
Outro (mandatory)

bonus track -
Be There

 

 

 

Enjoy.
NØ

Musick that Needed Work: U - Unknown Passage

 

In case you were wondering... 

 

 

Unknown Passage was a Greek psychedelic garage band from Amindeo, Florina. This is their one & only studio album, recorded  at Drumland Studios ,Thessaloniki, Greece in March 2001. 

 

Unknown Passage - Tales from Prison, Unknown Passage self-released CDr, 2001.
decryption code in comments

Whisper    
Crying Lonely Nights
Little Bitch
I Could Have Loved Her
Tears & Songs
Teddy Boy    
Wondering    
The Picnic    
Lucifer Sam & White Rabbit

 

 

 

Enjoy,
NØ

Musick that Needed Work: U - Umar Bin Hassan

 

Made it through Musick that Needed Work: T so far. Hitting the U’s this month. Let’s go. 

 

Umar Bin Hassan was born in Akron, Ohio, into a poor black factoryworker's family. Already as a youngster he dreamed of escaping his family's lot & getting more out of life than slaving for the white man at the local rubber mill. So he sold his little sister's record player to buy himself a bus ticket for New York City, where he joined The Last Poets, a group of black poets spreading a militant political message akin to that of the Black Panthers / Malcom X. 

New York very nearly became Umar Bin Hassan's death. Of course, there was poetry, the passionate performances of The Last Poets. There was bebop, the music of Miles Davis & Charlie Parker, whom he revered, who influenced his poems. But the 'demons' of drug abuse, as he called them, got him into their power. They drove him out into the streets. He wandered from crackhouse to crackhouse, hustling, dealing, shooting up, until his sister finally came to his rescue. She took him into her Connecticut home.

He succeeded in kicking his crack habit, in regaining his zest for life. One day his little nephew played a tape recording of a hiphop band named Tribe Called Quest, who had, without his knowledge, set one of his own poems to music. The new gansta-rap was trying to link up with The Last Poets. Such rappers as Ice Cube & Chuck D. of Public Enemy sought inspiration with them. Umar now felt he should return to New York. There he continued his work with The Last Poets, whose message was still a relevant one. He resumed his writing & performing with the group.

Umar appeared at the Poetry International Festival 2002 in Rotterdam with a guitarist, to perform jazzy, associative narratives such as “The Drums” & “Grace”, evoking dark, infernal journeys through modern-day America, yet also counting his blessings with bebop music & love. With his strongly rhythmic, spectacular presentation, he impressed, bewitching many. 

This is the first solo effort from Bin Hassan.  Here Umar is joined by many of the Usual Suspects: Bootsy Collins; Bernie Worrell; Bill Laswell; Anton Fier; Buddy Miles; on & on. 

 

Umar Bin Hassan - Be Bop or Be Dead, Axiom 314518048-2, 1993.
decryption code in comments

(Niggers are) Scared of Revolution    
Am    
Bum Rush    
This is Madness    
Malcolm    
Pop    
Love    
40 Deuce Street    
Personal Things    
This is Madness (Metal mix)

 

 

Enjoy,
NØ

Dying of Cancer

 

Following up with one more for Día de los Muertos, this time more serious than the previous humor/horror, a variety of tunes from Mary Sims & friends.

You might not know her as Mary. You might know her by her stage name Dinah Cancer of 45 Grave. She was instrumental in the creation of the LA punk scene ghoul rock that spawned gothic deathrock. The band lasted from 1979-1991, when original bassist Rob Graves died from an accidental drug overdose. In the early Teens, Dinah resurrected the band to some success.

Before 45 Grave, Dinah was in the LA experimental punk band Vox Pop active 1979-80 featuring former/future members of 45 Grave, Germs, Nervous Gender, Angry Samoans, Dream Syndicate. They released two singles.

 

Vox Pop - Cab Driver/Just like Your Mom 7", Bad Trip Records 300, 1980.
all decryption codes in comments

Side □ -
Cab Driver
Side 5-
Just like Your Mom

bonus track -
You’re My Favorite

 

 

 

 

Vox Pop - The Band the Myth the Volume, Mystic Records M12452, 1982.

Side A -
Become a Pagan
Side C -
Production
Procession

 

 

 

 

Here's a 12" EP & the first full-length from 45 Grave... 

 

45 Grave - Phantoms EP, Enigma ENIGMA 7, 1983.

Side A -
Phantoms (EP version)
Sleep in Safety (EP version)
Side B -
La Tomba

 

 

 

 

45 Grave - Sleep in Safety, Enigma ENIGMA13, 1983.

this side -
Insurance from God
Evil
Partytime
Dream Hits II
Slice o' Life

the other side -
45 Grave
Phantoms
Violent World
Bad Love
Surf Bat
Procession

Note: The song "Partytime (Zombie version)" was featured on the OST for Return of the Living Dead which led to heavy airplay on MTV in 1984

 

 

 

.

After the initial break-up of 45 Grave, Mary was in the band Penis Flytrap. Here's one from them... 

Penis Flytrap - Tales of Horror, Bloody Daggre Records DAG003, 1998.

Cemetery Girl    
Tears of Blood    
I Wait    
Village of the Damned    
Now    
Dracula's Daughter 

bonus tracks (other releases from Dinah/Mary) -
The X Girlfriend - Castration Squad
Panic in Detroit - Christian Death
Evil (45 Grave cover) - The Nerve Agents

 

 

 

Happy Day,
NØ

How about the Best Band in the Land

 

After a month of weird music, it's time to get a bit more serious. Here, to celebrate Día de los Muertos is that all-time jam band from San Francisco...no wait...not that Garcia ice cream band, they were grateful, oh yeah. 

This is Andy Haldane, Jim Xavier, & Jonni Boa, some lads from the UK & you can believe they’re ungrateful... 

 

The Ungrateful Dead - Black Snakes & Rats, Rainfall Records CLOUD050, 2013.
decryption code in comments

Side 1 -    
Best Band in the Land
She Don't Care
Sick! Sick! Sick!
Come on Down & See the Doctor
Master of the Dead
Sex After Death

Side 2 -    
Real Bad Guy
It's Just Rock 'N' Roll
Snake Venom
The Back Seat
Bug Out
Black Snakes & Rats

 

 

Enjoy,
NØ

I am a Witch

 

Unless you’ve been living under a rock all your life, you know who Yoko Ono is & you know she's definitely weird. 

This one is for celebrating All Hallow’s Eve with a bang-up party. 

Yes, she’s a witch. 

 

Ono - Yes, I’m a Witch, Astralwerks ASW79287, 2007.
decryption codes in comments

Witch Shocktronica (intro) with Hank Shocklee
Kiss Kiss Kiss with Peaches
O'Oh with Shitake Monkey
Everyman...Everywoman with Blow Up
Sisters O Sisters with Le Tigre
Death of Samantha with Porcupine Tree
Rising with DJ Spooky    
Nobody Sees Me like You Do with the Apples In Stereo
Yes, I'm a Witch with Palumbo 
Revelations with Cat Power
You & I with the Polyphonic Spree
Walking on Thin Ice with Jason Pierce 
Toyboat with Antony Hegarty & Hahn Rowe
Cambridge 1969/2007 with the Flaming Lips
I'm Moving On with the Sleepy Jackson
Witch Shocktronica (outro) with Hank Shocklee
Shiranakatta (I Didn't Know) with Craig Armstrong

 

 

 

 
Bonus release for all you special people... 

 

 

Yoko Ono & the Plastic Ono Band - Take Me to the Land of Hell,
Chimera Music No. 19, 2013.

Moonbeams    
Cheshire Cat Cry    
Tabetai    
Bad Dancer    
Little Boy Blue You're Daddy's Gone    
There's no Goodbye Between Us    
7th Floor    
N.Y. Noodle Town    
Take Me to the Land of Hell    
Watching the Dawn    
Leaving Tim    
Shine, Shine
Hawk’s Cal

 

 

 

The end of weirdness for now...onward to the Day of the Dead,
NØ

X-Ray Tech

 

X-Ray Charles was a lo-fi jangle pop (with a raw, experimental edge) duo from Christchurch, New Zealand consisting of multi-instrumentalist James Sullivan with drummer & Melted Ice Cream label head Brian Feary. This lo-fi release was recorded on a Tascam 424 Mk III 4-track tape recorder with digital vocal overdubs. 

 

X-Ray Charles - Selph Titled, Melted Ice Cream, 2013.
decryption code in comments

Covered in Shit    
Field Recordings of Animal Noises    
As a Matter of Fact
Winterlude    
Heavy Fast    
Supersoaker    
One Lady Owner

 

 

 

Weirder & weirder,
NØ

Lots of Vomit & Wanking in the Quiche

 

Cabbage was a post-punk Manchester based five piece made up of: Eoghan Clifford - guitar, percussion; Joseph Martin - guitar, vocals; Lee Broadbent - synthesizer, organ, vocals;  Stephen Evans - bass, vocals; & Asa Morley - drums. They were around from 2015-2021. Their music is an idiosyncratic, satirical attack in the form of discordant neo-punk.

Although from Manchester, Cabbage are more like a northern version of Fat White Family’s southern uproar, with a dash of the Fall’s garage rumble

Young, Dumb, & Full of... is a collection of their early EPs. What's weird about this??? That it's not 1977, it's 2017. 

 

Cabbage - Young, Dumb, & Full of..., Skeleton Key Records SKLP010, 2017.
decryption code in comments

Side A -
Uber Capitalist Death Trade    
Fickle    
Tell Me Lies about Manchester

Side B -
Free Steven Avery (Wrong America)    
Necroflat in the Palace    
Indispensable Pencil

Side C -
It's Grim up North Korea    
Dissonance    
Terrorist Synthesizer    

Side D -
The Road to Wigan Pier    
These Boots are Made for Walkin'
Because You're Worth It

 

 

Weirder & weirder,
NØ

While My Bong Gently Weeps

 

Weeping Bong Band is a stoner space psych outfit from Pioneer Valley, Massachusetts. This, the band's eponymous debut, is perfect fodder for higher consciousness excursions & late-night fade outs into the aether. The band consists of Anthony Pasquarosa - guitar, Beverly Ketch - lyrics, Clark Griffin - bass, Pat Gubler - guitar, Wednesday Knudsen - guitar. They are known for their atmospheric instrumentals creating a state of permanent 2AM Grateful Dead improvisations twisted through the soul of Brightblack Morning Light, doused in the blood of John Fahey. They followed up this release with II & then disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

Weeping Bong Band - Weeping Bong Band, Feeding Tube Records FTR313, 2018.
decryption code in comments

Side A -
Replay I    
Replay II    

Side B -
Replay III    
Jaume 1

bonus track -
Dream Away

 

Weirder & weirder,
NØ

Dub is Addictive

 

Dub Narcotic Sound System is live touring & studio recording band founded 1993 in Olympia, Washington by Calvin Johnson. Johnson is a guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, music producer, & disc jockey born in Olympia. He was a founding member of the bands Beat Happening & The Go Team as well as Dub Narcotic Sound System. He is also the founder / owner of the influential indie label K Records.

All their releases showcase the group’s style which is a lo-fi fusion of punk, funk, Dub, indie rock, & hip-hop highlighted by Johnson’s deeply droning low & gravely vocals.

Dub Narcotic Sound System - Out of Your Mind, K KLP83, 1998.
decryption code in comments

Wicked Bad    
Basemess    
Teenage Time Bomb    
Dub Narcotic's Delight    
Sawed Off    
Rebel Makes Rhymes    
Out of Your Mind
Oslo Calling    
Belly Warmer
Shock Mount    
Papa's Got a Brand New Burnbag 

Weirder & weirder,
NØ

So Just Superman That

 

Injury Reserve was a Tempe, Arizona-based rap group formed in 2013 consisting of DJs Ritchie with a T, & Stepa J. Groggs (R.I.P. June 2020) & producer Parker Corey. They released two acclaimed mixtapes Live from the Dentist Office & Floss (recorded in a dentist office belonging to Corey's grandfather).

The group relocated to Los Angeles in 2017. The two original mixtapes were stylistically jazz-rap, but after moving to California, their sound gravitated to a more industrial / glitch style. While recording this album in 2020, Stepa died (age 32). Ritchie & Coery finished the album but as tribute to their deceased bandmate, they stopped using the Injury Reseve name & became By Storm. 

 

Injury Reserve - By the Time I Get to Phoenix, Injury Reserve self-released, 2021.
decryption code in comments

Outside
Superman That    
SS San Francisco
Footwork in a Forest Fire    
Ground Zero
Smoke Don't Clear    
Top Picks for You
Wild Wild West    
Postpostpartum    
Knees    
Bye Storm

 

 

Weirder & weirder,
NØ

Cheese Legs & All...Forty Years Ago Today

 

Gorgonzola Legs was an improv industrial-jazz group from IJmuiden, The Netherlands, active in the 80s. The band consisted of: Jos Van Duijne - guitar; Hessel Veldman - guitar, bass, piano, synthesizers, tapes; Herman Te Loo - soprano & alto saxophone, clarinet, piano, vocals; & Gert Jan Prins - drums, percussion, sampling, keyboards.

This is a live recording recorded at De Bunker in Rotterdam, October 25, 1986 (forty years ago today). 

 

Gorgonzola Legs - Bunker cassette, Exart EA028, 1986.
decryption code in comments

Side A -
Fishing Withe Black Cow in the Movies
Have You Seen Me on the Tree Quay

Side B -
Caligari's Call Girls
Three's Crowd / No Gnus is Good Gnus
Honey Swahili Qui Mali Pense

 

 

Weirder & weirder,
NØ