Musick the Needed Work - S: Sophisticated Boom Boom

 

Way back in the golden age of music, in the year 1982 there were two bands named after one of the best songs by one of the best bands of all time, namely "Sophisticated Boom Boom" by the Shangri-Las.

One of the two groups was a five-piece girl group from Glasgow championed by John Peel. This is not them.

If you google Sophisticated Boom Boom today, you'll find a lot about Dead or Alive's debut album or about the Glasgow band mentioned above, but little about this Swiss band. This was a group fronted by three girls, Esther, Marianne Sunier, & Monique Sieber. 

 

They were accompanied by Ernest "Nez" Maeschi, his younger brother Stefan Maeschi, & friend Pasquale Isernia. They wrote most of the music & provided the musical backing. 

 

Their self-titled album from 1982 was origianlly released on Off Course Records, the label run by Swiss new wave notables Grauzone & Stefan Eicher.

Sophisticated Boom Boom transported the Brill Building/Red Bird/Girl Group sound from the Sixties into the New Wave of 1982. These 14 original compositions don't lack in punk esprit. Their sound was probably too cheerful, too bubblegum, & too life-affirming for the gloomy early Eighties. That's probably why they fell gloriously out of sight in those jagged times & stopped after just one album. 

(Eshter & Marianne Sunier went on to form the C86/power pop girl group Chin-Chin) 

 

Sophisticated Boom Boom - Sophisticated Boom Boom, Off Course Records ASL3306, 1982.
decryption code in comments

Side 1 -
Yeah Yeah Yeah
Boom Boom Rap
Jimmy Jimmy
Frustration
Trocadero
Beat Girls 1
Numa

Side 2 -
Boom Boom a-GoGo
Dance with Me
Number One in Radio
Train to Boyscamp
Beat Girls 2
Ready to Dance
Out & On My Own

 

 

 

The fix is in,
NØ

Musick that Needed Work - S: Susan Cadogan

 

Susan Cadogan is a Jamaican reggae / lovers rock singer who I have shared four times in the past: Hurts So Good 7“ (#1 UK reggae charts - #4 UK singles charts) & Hurts So Good bonus tracks as well as two Mad Prof joints: One Mad Professor showcase &  the Mad Professor produced Soulful Reggae during the Fems of Feb.  

Check out any of those if you're not familiar, or this double has plenty to offere right now.

The Girl who Cried CD1 was a 2016 project started in collaboration with Canadian producer Mitch Girio. Throughout the process, there was only telephone contact between Susan & Mitch. He made the backing tracks in Canada, Susan recorded the vocals in Jamaica, overdubbing was done in Germany, & the final mixing took place in Canada.

Chemistry of Love CD2 was a JA only release. It was issued in very limited quantities, on the Mint label. It was produced by veterans Bubbler Waul & Noel Hearne, backed by accomplished musicians such as Sly Dunbar, Danny Browne, Robby Lyn, Scully, along with various members of Chalice. 

 

Susan Cadogan - The Girl who Cried, Burning Sounds Recordings Ltd BSRDD881, 2021.
decryption codes in comments

The Girl who Cried (2018) CD1 -     
Crazy    
The Best of Me    
Don't Know Why    
Leaving (remix)    
Lay Down Beside You    
I Don't Want Anybody but You    
Breakfast in Bed    
I Don’t Wanna Play Around    
The Girl who Cried    
Take Me Back    
Nine Million Bicycles    
Truth Talkin'    
Don't Burn Your Bridges Behind You    
Crazy (remix)
        
Chemistry of Love (1992) CD2 - 
Chemistry of Love    
Lay Down Beside You    
Kiss You All Over    
Until You Say You Love Me    
Part Time Love    
Take Some Time    
Instincts    
Reaching Out for Your Love (Touch Me Baby)    
Indian Love Call    
Ain’t No Cure for Love    
5.32    
It's Only a Feeling    
Chemistry of Dub    
Now That It's Over & Done

 

 

 

The fix is in,
NØ

Musick that Needed Work - S: Salamanda

 

Salamanda is a Seoul, South Korea based Leftfield ambient electronic music duo of Uman Sala & Yetsuby Manda, Their style is primarily 20th Century minimalism. 

 

ashbalkum was written during the surrealist landscape of Covid 2021 settling in somewhere between a sweet dream & a beautiful nightmare. The music presents the juxtaposition of playful tranquility clashing with our tumultuous times. At once both instantly intimate & static while constantly changing, like moving while standing still. narrowly avoiding the pressures of our pre-apocalyptic world looming just overhead. 

The duo play with all the tones of the natural world around us, using music & voice as individual instruments for layered choruses of hypnogogic pop sounds in timeless film scores & dance-club rave-ups. There are serpentine reggaeton drum patterns with its driving dembrow rhythms weaving itself with Dub's expansive spacial awareness,

The title "ashbalkum" stems from a Korean phrase for the realization that what you've been experiencing as "reality" is actually a dream. It describes this music perfectly. 

 

Salamanda - ashbalkum, Plancha ARTPL170, 2022.
decryption code in comments

Overdose
Melting Hazard
Rumble Bumble
Mad Cat Party featuring Ringo the Cat
Living Hazard
Coconut Warrior
Hard Luck Story
Stem
Kiddo Caterpillar
Catching Tails

bonus track (on Japanese release) -
Cold Water Manufacture

 

 

 

The fix is in,
NØ

Musick that Needed Work - S: Screenatorium

 

Screenatorium is a trip hop / jazz band from Montpellier, France composed of Djeh, Nawelle Saïdi, & Nelly Burn.  

 

Started in 2006 & built around Djeh as composer & multi-instrumentalist, the project welcomes vocalists & musicians according to the needs of each individual composition.

In 2007 Nawelle Saïdi joined the project as lead vocalist. 2009s Audimat was the band's first full-length.

 

Screenatorium - Audimat, Electrobel NetLabel, 2009.
decryption codes in comments

Audimat
Pearls
Summer Rain
Silent Disaster
Dawn & Apologies
8:17am in Geneva
Second Chances
Faith
Tricknology Interlude
Voices
Wasted Days
Aimlessly
Violence
Deadphones
Lady Ana
Stuck in My Dreams

 

 

 

For 2010s Takeoff for Naïve the group added a second voice, Nelly Burn.

 

 

Screenatorium - Takeoff for Naïve, Freezeec FRZ008, 2010.

Takeoff for Naïve
Vertigo Pistols
Diagnosis
Origins
Monochrome
Ease the Fall
Hurricanes Have Women Names
Nonday
Les Echappées de L'Eternité
Oh Mellow
Lips on Slow Motion
Invisible
Anyone Else but You

 

 

 

 

The fix is in,
NØ

We Interrupt this Program for a Public Service Announcement

Fair thee well, Ivanhoe Martin... 

 

Jimmy Cliff - Treat the Youths Right (Special Mix) 12" maxi single, CBS, 1983.

Side A -        
Treat the Youths Right (remix – Francois K)

Side B -
Roots Radical (remix – Francois K)
Peace Officer (Dub) 

 

 

R.I.P.,
NØ

Musick that Needed Work - S: Soulstice

 

They've been called at different times Downtempo, Trip-hop, Deep House, future Jazz...all those styles we adore & all in one band...

 

Andy Caldwell (keyboards & production), sister & brother Gina Rene (vocals) & Gabriel René (keyboards), & DJ Mei-Lwun Yee (turntables) make up this San Francisco Dance music group... 

 

Soulstice - In the Light, OM Records OM949, 2011.
decryption code in comments

Realistic    
Love Cliché    
Soul on Fire    
Alright (3PM mix)    
Where Were You (re-edit)    
Interlude    
In the Light    
Lost in the City    
Goog Organ    
Wizard    
Changes (Westside vocal mix)    
I Believe    
Soul on Fire (Tribute to the Angel Man mix)

 

 

The fix is in,
NØ

Musick that Needed Work - S: Satanismo Calibro 9

 

If you couln't kinda guess from their name, Satanismo Calibro 9 is a dark, ominous Industrial band from Italy. Satanismo Calibro 9 began in the fall/winter 2005/2006 as solo project of Doktor Pery. By the time Pery recorded Supernova, he had assembled a band to be SC9..

Rodrigo sez:
       "Theirs is a particular ritual sound: hypnotic electronic sequences, infernal chants and invocations, a dismal atmosphere and satanic samples combine to create a powerful trip to the darkest corners of the soul."

Doktor Pery believes deeply in Cultural Terrorism. His music is power electronics, raw field recording, provocative, & edgy words. SC9 have their own System that they practice, & each of their releases are like pieces of their puzzle or like the different chapters of a book. Supernova is a most important step. 

 

Here SC9 is: Doktor Pery - guitar & noises; Gnosis - bass; Ciano - electronics; Henker - beats; Plague - vocals; plus various others. 

 

Santanismo Calibro 9 - Supernova, Old Europa Cafe OECDR039, 2009.
decryption code in comments

Prequel    
Corrosione    
Monroe Transfer    
Incubi Pt.I    
Supernova    
The Well    
Inquietudine    
Propaganda Satanica 2
Incubi Pt.II

 

 

The fix is in,
NØ

Musick that Needed Work - S: Subway Sect

 

Subway Sect was Vic Godard plus numerous other musicians over the length of their run. They were followers of the Sex Pistols. It was in fact Malcolm McLaren that suggested they form a band. They were prominent in the early London punk scene, playing along with Siouxsie, Sex Pistols, & the Clash as early as September 21, 1976s notorious 100 Club Punk Festival.

The original line-up was: Vic - vocals; Rob Symmons - guitar; Paul Myers - bass; & Paul Peckham - drums. The band initially had a new drummers every few gigs. Third drummer Bob Ward is on the band's first John Peel session, their initial single, & their unreleased first album. Right after the album was recorded, Bernie Rhodes, manager for the band (as well as the Clash & head of Braik Records label) fired everyone except Godard.

Subway Sect - 1978 Now is a re-recording of the songs from Vic Godard & Subway Sects's unreleased debut album, featuring some original members (Mark Laff - drummer #2 & bassist Paul Myers) as well as former Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook. It is a total re-make of the original 1978 album as, according to Godard, it was originally intended to sound. 

 

Subway Sect - 1978 Now, Overground Records OVER118VPCD, 2007.
decryption code in comments

We Oppose All Rock & Roll    
Stayin' Out of Touch    
Chainsmokin'    
I Changed My Mind (on the Telephone)    
Eastern Europeans    
Why Did You Shoot Me? (Birth & Death)    
Stand Back    
Imbalance    
Derail Your Senses    
Not Watchin' the Devil    
Stool Pigeon    
Idiot of All    
Exit-No Return    
Rock 'n' Roll Even

 

 

The fiv is in,
NØ

Musick that Needed Work - S: Sexbeat

 

Sexbeat was the brainchild of Batcave club DJ Hamish Mcdonald. He wanted to make extemely danceable Goth, what he called "trash glam punk". They were one of the vital components of the early 80s Goth scene, especially with the Batcave crowd. Their song "Sexbeat" was an anthem of the time (though unreleased until 2024). They only released this 12" single (until Cleopatra Records released Live at the Batcave CD / vinyl & Sexbeat purple 7" in 2024).

Sexbeat is: Hamish McDonald - guitar & vocals; Sophie Chéry - bass; & Linzi Arundale - drums. I added the bonus track "Sexbeat" that I had floating around somewhere.

 

Sexbeat - Pump 12", ABC ABCS002T, 1984.
decryption code in comments

Side A -
Pump (extended mix)
Side B -
Sweat
bonus track -
Sexbeat

 

 

The fix is in,
NØ

Musick that Needed Work - S: Smersh

 

I always dug the concept of Smersh, even more than their music. The duo of Poptards alums Mike Mangino & Chris Shepard along with buddy Bob Craig never played live shows & supposedly never played the same song twice. 

They started their own label, Atlas King, & released many many items, mainly cassettes since 1981. 

They also released a slew of tapes on Atlas King under various alternate monikers (The Black Ciecle, The Gas Gang, Neon Noodle & many others). 

 

They created experimental big-beat techno/industrial music. They recorded improvised cuts every Monday night & released them as cassettes.

This is a CD compilation of previously released tracks from various of their cassettes. Tracks: 1, 4, 5, & 7 are from Party on Now Street; 2 from Big Delushus; 3 & 11 from Chad; 6, 8 & 10 from Brown Out & 9 from Untitled. 

 

Smersh - Emmanuelle Goes to Bangkok, KK Records KK047CD, 1990.
decryption code in comments

A Touch of Venus
Armored Man Dub    
Great Caesar's Ghost
Under Your Hoop    
Burn!    
Brown Out
Titanic Fantastic
Riding with the Pharaohs
Blonde Devil    
Discoteca
You Remind Me of Summer

 

 

 

The fix is in,
NØ

Music the Needed Work - S: Sandals

 

London-based Sandals play downtempo, trip-hop, & acid jazz styled early-90s dance music mixed with poetry & conscious hip-hop. They only recorded two albums (the second has never been released) & one EP (1995s Cracked, seen by many as one of the essential early examples of trip-hop) even though they had signed with a major label (London) & scored a pop hit with their single "Feet".

The band consisted of Derek Delves on lead vocals & percussion, John Harris on various reed instruments, Ian Simmonds on bass, & Will Blanchard on drums. The group never had a full-time guitar or keyboard player, preferring to rely on friends on a song-by-song basis. 

 

London released Rite to Silence, preceded by the single "Profound Gas," in early 1994. The second single, "Feet," was a hit. The album got generally positive reviews, but the A&R executive who signed Sandals quit the London label shortly after the album's release. His replacement neither enjoyed nor understood their music. Sandals recorded a new album with Luke Gordon, aka Spacer, who had produced their EP.  London rejected the album. The group split up in early 1996. Ian Simmonds went on to release several well-received, jazz-oriented solo records under his own name & as the Juryman. Will Blanchard drummed for both Dot Allison & Beth Orton.

On the US CD release of Rite to Silence, the tracks vary from the EU version that I have. The US version begins with the 8:40+ track "Profound Gas" while the final track "Profound Dub" was relpaced by the tracks: "Feet (Dust Brothers mix)"; & "Feet (Wrong Side of Town mix)".  I have included "Profound Gas" & the "Feet" remixes as bonus tracks here.

 

Sandals - Rite to Silence, Open Toe Records 828488 2, 1994.
decryption code in comments

Feet
Nothing
No Movement
Change
Ardens Bud
We Wanna Live
We Don't Wanna Be the Ones to Take the Blame
Lovewood
Here Comes The Sign
Profound Dub

bonus tracks -
Profound Gas
Feet (Dust Brothers mix)
Feet (Charles Webster Wrong Side of Town mix)

 

 

 

The fix is in,
NØ

Musick that Needed Work - S: Swans Way

 

Swans Way is a jazz / pop trio formed in 1982 in Birmingham UK, made up of Robert Shaw - vocals & saxophone, Rick P. Jones - double bass, & Maggie De Monde - percussion & vocals. Although short lived (they split in 1984) they enjoyed some chart success, releasing an album & several singles. Rick & Maggie went on to form Scarlet Fantastic. 

 

Swans Way's light shone brightly for the short time they were together. They are one of those groups that sound timeless. If you like soul, jazz, & blues mixed with some Brit-pop, this one's for you.

I've included two bonus tracks from the cassette release of The Fugitive Kind not found on the vinyl. 

 

Swans Way - The Fugitive Kind, Phonogram SWAN 1, 1984.
decryption code in comments

SIDE ONE -
Soul Train
Keeping it Strong
Club Secrets
In Trance
Je Joué

SIDE TWO -
The Blade
The Anchor
When the Wild Calls
Stay
Illuminations

bonus tracks -
Hangover
Fires Were Started 

 

 

The fix is in,
NØ

Musick the Needed Work - S: Spring Heel Jack

 

The musical duo of John Coxon & Ashley Wales formed Spring Heel Jack in 1993 in London, England. They began their career exploring drum 'n' bass & jungle, but have since branched out into free improvisation & jazz. 

 

By the time the duo released Disappeared, they had stepped up their game from drum 'n' bass / jungle dance music, adding a new level of improvisation along with sparsely inventive organ / keyboard / synthesizer melody & processed saxophone, trumpet, & clarinet. Later on, Spring Heel Jack would abandon drum 'n' bass entirely for an improv jazz style, but on Disappeared they have the perfect blend & balance of the old & new to make this extremely listenable. 

 

Spring Heel Jack - Disappeared, Thirsty Ear THI57091 2, 2000.
decryption code in comments

Rachel Point
Mit Wut    
Disappeared 1
Bane    
Galina    
Trouble & Luck
I Undid Myself    
Lester
To Die a Little
Disappeared 2
Wolfing

 

 

 

The fix is in,
NØ

Musick that Needed Work - S: Seven that Spells

 

Seven that Spells is a psychedelic / space rosk band from Zagreb, Croatia, formed in 2003 by Niko 'Brain' Potočnjak, the guitarist & producer along with Tomislav Kalousek on bass & Stjepan Jureković on drums.

 

Shortly after this self-released CD they signed to the Russian RAIG label, a well known label among the Russian avant/prog circles. They toured Japan & hooked up with Acid Mothers Temple to record two joint efforts. After that they signed to the prestigious Beta-lactam Ring Records. Throughout their hisory they had had many line-up changes with only founder Niko Potočnjak being a constant member. They are still active today. 

This is their first self-released CD. 

 

Seven that Spells - The Blowout, Ambush Suicide Records (StS self-released), 2003.
decryption code in comments

La Via Della Prostituzione    
Radio Luxemburg Orbital Station of Love    
The B-side of the Universe    
Rosie's House of Pleasure    
69th Door to Venus

 

 

 

The fix is in,
NØ

Musick that Needed Work - S: Skafish

 Skay as in slay, not ska as in...well, ska.  

I believe the first time I was aware of Skafish was when I saw Urgh! A Music War. They did “Sign of the Cross" & were weird in that way that I really enjoy, so I sought out their debut self-titled & then their next release, Conversation. Then they just disappeared off my radar. 

Skafish was a Chicago based punk band fronted & named for the inimitable Jim Skafish.. 

Without batting an eye, Jim sez he's 
       "the sole originator and godfather of punk in Chicago."

Altough not what was considered "punk' at the time, the band’'s stage shows catapaulted them into the world of punk.. Over six feet tall with an unforgettably enormous nose & sagging man-boobs, Jim often came on stage dressed in vintage ladies' bathing suits or tube tops. When the band opened for Sha Na Na at the Arie Crown Theater, Jim took the stage done up like a middle-aged woman, eventually stripping down to a one-piece bathing suit as he applied lipstick.

After the Sha Na Na show the band found their audience at early Chicago punk clubs like La Mere Vipere & O'Banion's. In 1978 they played CBGB, the first Chicago band to do so. They were one of the early signees to Miles Copeland's fledgling I.R.S. label.

I.R.S. released Skafish's self-titled debut in 1980. The album is a triumph in innocent naivete & honest oddity. The band toured internationally to promote the record. This was the time that their performance of “Sign of the Cross” was included in the Copeland-produced concert film Urgh! A Music War. 

Conversation followed in 1983. It was savaged by critics who thought it was generic 80s dance music with lyrics that weren't up to snuff. But if you listen closely, this isn't genereic 80s dance music. It's definitely Skafish in depth & the lyrics are definitely Jim's usualy psychotherapy as music. Jim was never totally happy with the album. He believes that I.R.S. warped the production because they wanted a more commercially viable record than he intended. The band never recorded again. After taking one last shot at touring, they packed it in for good in 1985.

Skafish's music was always much less abrasive & more complex than what people tended  to associate with punk. There were lots of key & time signature changes, with synths & keyboards washing over jittering guitar & bass. The vocals were always front & center. The lyrics were as tortured as the music was genial: Skafish was much more a new wave art-music project than a punk band. 

 

Skafish - Skafish, I.R.S. Records XSP008, 1980.
decryption codes in comments

Side A -
Introduction / Joan Fan Club
Maybe One Time    
Obsessions of You    
We'll See a Psychiatrist    
Romantic Lessons

Side B -
Work Song    
Guardian Angel    
Disgracing the Family Name    
No Liberation Here    
Take it Out on You

 

 

 

 

Skafish - Conversation, I.R.S. Records SP70038, 1983.

Side One -
Secret Lover
Wild Night Tonight    
Made Up in the Dark    
Victims of the Night
She Lives for Love    
Mother is Waiting

Side Two -
Lover in Masquerade
She's Taking Her Love Away
Might Move in Next Door    
Bad Feelings Have Died    
In Another Time, in Another Place

 

The fix is in,
NØ

Musick that Needed Work - S: Secret Chiefs 3

 

I've shared a bit of Trey Spruance's Secret Chiefs 3 here before. 

 

You can read all about them on my other previous shares. I had a couple more items from SC3 that needed work, so here they are for any of you who enjoy this band.

Here's their third & fourth releases on their new label Web of Mimicry, Trey's label for Secret Chiefs 3 projects... 

 

Secret Chiefs 3 - Eyes of Flesh, Eyes of Flame, Web of Mimicry WoM002, 1999.
decryption codes in comments

Set Two (8-part single track) -    
     a. Adept Chamber of the Magian Tavern
     b. Inn of Three Doors
     c. Theme from 23rd Nade
     d. Inn of Three Doors
     e. eeeee
     f. Combat for an Angel
     g. Theory of the Supreme Ones
     h. Mary of Magdalen

Set Three -    
Renunciation
Jãbalqã/Jãbarsã
Rose Garden of the Mystery
Assassin's Blade
Zulfikar
Ciocarlia

 

 

 

 

Secret Chiefs 3 - Book M, Web of Mimicry WOW006, 2001.

Observance of the Word -    
Knights of Damcar
Hagia Sophia
Vajra
Ship of Fools (Stone of Exile)

Engagement of the Sword -    
Horsemen of the Invisible
Combat for the Angel
Zulfiqar III
Siege Perilous
Dolorous Stroke

Ritual of the Cup -    
Blaze of the Grail
Lapsit Exillis
Lapis Baitulous
Safina

 

 

 

The fix is in,
NØ