Nothing Short Of Total Noise (1980-1990)
NOTHING SHORT OF TOTAL NOISE (1980-1990)
Chi negli anni Ottanta ha lastricato la strada di quel noise rock che negli anni Novanta ha avuto il suo quarto d’ora di celebrità? Chi più di dieci anni prima dell’esplosione del grunge rock ha volontariamente o involontariamente dissodato e concimato il terreno sul quale formazioni come Jesus Lizard, Helmet e Unsane hanno piantato i semi di una popolarità durata troppo poco, seppure gloriosa? Non è facile rispondere a questa domanda. Per farlo Asbestos Digit ha deciso di scavare nelle profondità di questo sottogenere del punk e dell'hardcore, per portare alla luce alcune pietre preziose ancora incrostate di residui aggrumati dal tempo.
Come già avevamo fatto con il catalogo Italian Pigfuck, ci siamo posti il problema di tracciare i confini del campo d'azione, ma in questo caso con qualche difficoltà in più: se negli anni Novanta il noise rock era arrivato a stabilire i propri stessi confini attraverso l'utilizzo di stilemi più certi (i.e.: interpolazione con elementi math e metal di certo hardcore punk, calcificazione di suoni chitarristici riconoscibili), negli anni Ottanta tutto stava venendo alla luce, proprio come nella cruda metafora kafkiana della creazione artistica come parto lordato di muco e sporcizia, come una violenta eiaculazione.
Già a partire dai primi anni Ottanta band come Flipper, Happy Flowers, Kilslug e No Trend avevano saputo fuggire le stilizzazioni del punk sottoponendo quella materia a stress terribili: aumentando i volumi e la distorsione sulle chitarre e in particolare sul basso, sfruttando le infinite possibilità del feedback, infondendo maggiore rabbia, rallentando parossisticamente la fuga frenetica dell'hardcore punk, frantumando gli ultimi residui di melodia e facendo tesoro della lezione artsy del post punk. Naturalmente quelle band non erano sole: ovunque negli Stati Uniti si stava timidamente affermando un nuovo modo di plasmare la materia punk per renderla ancora più granitica e resistente.
Tenendo conto delle due macro-coordinate di spazio (gli Stati Uniti) e tempo (il decennio degli Ottanta) abbiamo proceduto analizzando tutti i database più affidabili, le playlist più coerenti, gli archivi più autorevoli, e abbiamo avanzato nelle nostre ricerche con un occhio di riguardo alle ramificazioni di alcune scene, cercando di tracciare un albero genealogico del noise rock.
Nell'elaborazione dell'elenco delle cento band che è stato stilato dopo un'attenta valutazione delle caratteristiche di ognuna, si è tenuto conto di alcuni criteri concentrici.
1. L'appartenenza quanto più prossima al canone strettamente musicale del noise rock così come descritto sopra.
2. Una giustificabile ascrivibilità al genere nel caso in cui si siano riscontrate ascendenze indubitabili (per esempio: i Sonic Youth e gli Swans vengono considerati padrini del fenomeno pur avendo sviluppato grammatiche musicali diverse nel corso del tempo).
3. Il coinvolgimento di band non strettamente noise rock ma che hanno fatto parte della scena per affinità artistiche e sovrapposizione di personale.
Dopo una prima selezione su base regionale, abbiamo deciso di optare per un principio strettamente cronologico: le venti playlist da cinque band ciascuna seguono in ordine di tempo l'evoluzione del genere dal 1980 al 1990. Inoltre, per quanto possibile, di ciascuna della band si scelto di privilegiare il materiale meno recente, al fine di coglierne i primi vagiti. Dove ciò non sia stato possibile si è scelto il materiale più prossimo all'idea di noise rock da noi stessi elaborata.
Esaurite queste debite premesse, non possiamo che augurarvi buon ascolto.
w/ ASBESTOS DIGIT
ASBESTOS DIGIT
is an Electronic/Avant-garde label from Asbestos City, based in Rome. Run by Andrea Prevignano.
All the music you find on Asbestos Digit is free, with some reported exceptions. If you want to contribute with a handful of euros, we will be delighted, and we will be able to fund the physical copies of the albums in our catalog.
https://asbestosdigit.bandcamp.com/
Podcast
Item # 96. S.T.P.. From New York City, New York.
Song Title: “Safer”.
From: Smoke ‘Em 7” E.P.
Released in 1990 by Circuit Records.
Item # 97. Harry Crews. From New York City, New York.
Song Title: “Man Hates A Man”.
From: “Naked In The Garden Hill” L.P.
Released 1990 by Widowspeak Productions.
Item # 98. Railroad Jerk. From: Trenton, New Jersey.
Song Title: “I’m Not Mad”.
From: “Railroad Jerk” L.P.
Released in 1990 by Matador Records.
Item # 99. God And Texas. From Athens, Ohio
Song Title: “Shit House”.
From: “Industry Standard” L.P.
Released in 1990 by Lovehammer Records.
Item # 100. King Carcass. From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Song Title: “Hoof”.
From: “Blind” L.P.
Released in 1990 by No. 6 Records.
Item # 91. Casus Belli. From: Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Song Title: “Punishment”.
From: “Punishment” 7” E.P.
Released in 1990 by Amphetamine Reptile Records.
Item # 92. Slug. From: Los Angeles, California.
Song Title: “Freak Of Nature”.
From: “Demo 1990” Single Sided Cassette.
Self-released in 1990.
Item # 93. Distorted Pony. From Los Angeles, California.
Song Title: “Angel On A Haugh”.
From: “Concrete Bruises” 7” E.P.
Released in 1990 by Piece Of Mind Records.
Item # 94. Red Bliss. From Boston, Massachusetts.
Song Title: “Get You”.
From: “Fishkill” L.P.
Released in 1990 by Axis Records.
Item # 95. Dazzling Killmen. From: St. Louis, Missouri.
Song Title: “Numb”.
From: “Numb” 7” EP.
Released in 1990 by Sawtooth Records.
Item # 86. Halo Of Flies. From Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Song Title: “Death Of A Fly”.
From: “Death Of A Fly” 7” E.P.
Released in 1989 by Amphetamine Reptile Records.
Item # 87. Bastards. From: Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Song Title: “Drunk”.
From: “Monticello” L.P.
Released in 1989 by Treehouse.
Item # 88. Love And Respect. From: Seattle, Washington.
Song Title: “If I Only Had A Brain”.
From: “Deep And Heartfelt” 7” E.P.
Released in 1989 by Penultimate Records.
Item # 89. Phantom 3 O 9. From Atlanta, Georgia.
Song Title: “Slowboat To China”.
From: “A Sinister Alphabet” L.P.
Released in 1989 by Tupelo Recording Company.
Item # 90. Lonely Moans. From Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Song title: “Slave”.
From: “Lonely Moans” L.P.
Released in 1990 by Tupelo Recording Company.
Item # 76. Monoshock. From: San Francisco, California.
Song Title: “Destination Soil”.
From: “Welcome To My Meat Market” Cassette.
Self-released in 1989.
Item # 77. Crust. From: Austin, Texas.
Song Title: “Travelling With Berlitz”.
From: “Crust Demo” Cassette.
Released in 1989 by Butterylicious Productions.
Item # 78. Jesus Lizard. From: Austin, Texas.
Song Title: “Rabid Pigs”.
From: “Pure” E.P.
Released in 1989 by Touch And Go Records.
Item # 79. Action Swingers. From: New York City, New York.
Song Title: “Kicked In The Head”.
From: “Bum My Trip” 7” E.P.
Released in 1989 by Noiseville Records.
Item # 80. Barkmarket. From New York City, New York.
Song Title: “Buy America”
From: “The Easy Listening Record” L.P.
Released in 1989 by Purge/Sound League Records.
Item # 61. Cop Shoot Cop. From New York City, New York.
Song Title: “Eggs For Rib (Speedway)”.
From: “Piece Man” 7” E.P.
Released in 1988 by Vertical Records.
Item # 62. Unsane. From New York City, New York.
Song Title: “What Is This?”.
From: “Improvised Munitions & Demo” L.P.
Released in 2021 by Lamb Unlimited Records.
Item # 63. Bunny Brains. From Danbury, Connecticut.
Song Title: “Dan Phones In It”.
From: “Bunny Brains Demo 1988” Cassette.
Released in 1988 by Observation Deck Information Records.
Item # 64. Vertigo. From Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Song Title: “Two Lives”.
From: “Two Lives” 7” E.P.
Released in 1988 by Skidmark Records.
Item # 65. Pogo The Clown. From Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Song title: “Lederhosen”.
From: “Lederhosen” 7” E.P.
Released in 1988 by Amphetamine Reptile Records.
Item # 56. S.T. 37. From: Austin, Texas.
Song Title: “If You Could”.
From: “Feature Silica Vicarious” Cassette.
Released in 1988 by SPASMS Cassettes.
Item # 57. Ed Hall. From: Austin, Texas.
Song Title: “Who’s Ed”
From: “Albert” L.P.
Released in 1988 by Boner Records.
Item # 58. Strangulated Beatoffs. From: St. Louis, Missouri.
Song Title: “Shake Your Dick”.
From: “Shake Your Dick” 7” E.P.
Released in 1988 by Firefighter Records.
Item # 59. Unholy Swill. From: New York City, New York.
Song Title: “I Want to Be God”.
From: “Wanna Be God” 7” E.P.
Released in 1988 by Noiseville Records.
Item # 60. Mudhead. From Kansas City, Missouri.
Song Title: “Eleuteromania”.
From: “The Jumbo Sound Of Mudhead” 7-inch E.P.
Self-released in 1988 by Mudhead.
Item # 51. Of Cabbages And Kings. From: Chicago, Illinois.
Song Title: “I”.
From: “Of Cabbages And Kings” Mini L.P.
Released in 1987 by Purge Sound League Records.
Item # 52. Steel Pole Bath Tub. From Bozeman, Montana.
Song Title: “What Can You Say”.
From: “We Own Drrrils” Cassette.
Self released in 1987 by Steel Pole Bath Tub.
Item # 53. Iowa Beef Experience. From Iowa City, Iowa.
Song Title: “When I Think”.
From: “The First Killing Gang” 7” E.P.
Released in 1987 by Smudged Records.
Item # 54. Black Snakes. From New York City. New York.
Song Title: “Same Old Shit”.
From: “Crawl” L.P.
Released in 1988 by Radium Radium 226.05 Records.
Item # 55. Pain Teens. From: Houston, Texas.
Song Title: “Brown Jenkin”.
From: “Pain Teens” LP
Released in 1988 by Anomie Records.
Item # 46. 64 Spiders. From: Seattle, Washington.
Song Title: “Dance Of Ages”.
From: “64 Spiders” Cassette.
Released in 1987 by Endgame Records.
Item # 47. T.V.B.C.. From St. Paul, Minnesota.
Song Title: “Not Ok”.
From: “Ex Cathedra” L.P.
Released in 1987 by Treehouse Records.
Item # 48. Hellcows. From: Portland, Oregon.
Song Title: “Piranha”.
From: “G Spot Crush” 7” E.P.
Released in 1987 by Pigface Records.
Item # 49. God Bullies. From: Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Song Title: “Sex Power Money”.
From: “All I Want Is My Mamma” 7” E.P.
Released in 1987 by Mad Queen Records.
Item # 50. Laughing Hyenas. From: Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Song Title: “Candy”.
From: “Merry Go Round” L.P.
Item # 41. White Zombie. From New York City, New York.
Song Title: “Gun Crazy”.
From: “Psycho-Head Blowout” 12” E.P.
Released in 1987 by Silent Explosion Records.
Item # 42. Missing Foundation. From New York City, New York.
Song Title: “Eat By The Pool”.
From: “Missing Foundation” L.P.
Released in 1987 by Purge Sound League Records.
Item # 43. Big Stick. From New York City, New York.
Song Title: “Billy Jack Paddy Wack”.
From: “Crack Attack” 12” E.P.
Released in 1987 by Buy Our Records.
Item # 44. Dig Dat Hole. From New York City. New York.
Song Title: “Cooler Than Thou”.
From: “Kneejerk” L.P.
Released in 1987 by Ruthless Records.
Item # 45. Thrown Ups. From Seattle, Washington.
Song Title: “My Cock Is The Coin”.
From: “Smiling Panties” 7” E.P.
Released in 1987 by Amphetamine Reptile Records.
Item # 36. Blind Idiot God. From St. Louis, Missouri.
Song Title: “Tired Blood”.
From: “Blind Idiot God” L.P.
Released in 1987 by SST.
Item # 37. Blissed Out Fatalists. From: Los Angeles, California.
Song Title: “Can You Feel It”.
From: “Blissed Out Fatalists” L.P.
Released in 1987 by Motiv Communications Records.
Item # 38 BALL. From New York City, New York.
Song Title: “Treasure Island”.
From: “Period (Another American Lie)” L.P.
Released in 1987 by Shimmy Disc.
Item # 39. Bench. From New York City, New York.
Song Title: “Fall, Fall, Fall”.
From: “Anxious Bench - 1987 Remaster” CD Compilation.
Released in 2006 by Noiseville Records.
Item # 40. Ritual Tension. From New York City, New York.
Song Title: “The Grind”.
From: “Hotel California” 12” E.P.
Released in 1987 by Sacrifice Records.
Item # 31. Phantom Tollbooth. From New York City, New York.
Song Title: “Ohm On The Range”.
From “Phantom Tollbooth 12” E.P.
Released in 1986 by Homestead Records.
Item # 32. Will To Live. From: Trenton, New Jersey.
Song Title: “Stick This”.
From: “Will To Live” 12” E.P.
Released in 1986 by Flesh Records.
Item # 33. F.i. From Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Song Title: “Union Grove 1”.
From: “F.i/Boy Dirt Car” Split L.P.
Released in 1986 by R.R. Records.
Item # 34. Stickdog. From Iowa City, Iowa.
Song Title: “Cure”.
From: “Stickdog” L.P.
Released in 1986 by Smudged Records.
Item # 35. Army. From Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Song Title: “Percodans Please”.
From: “What Happened To Your Hand” 12” E.P.
Self released in 2012 by Army.
Item # 16. Scratch Acid. From: Austin, Texas.
Song Title: “She Said”.
From: “Scratch Acid” 12” E.P.
Released in 1984 by Rabid Cat Records.
Item # 17. Killdozer. From Madison, Wisconsin.
Song Title: “Man Of Meat”.
From: “Intellectuals Are The Shoeshine Boys Of The Ruling Elite” L.P.
Released in 1984 by Bone Air Records.
Item # 18. Live Skull. From New York City, New York.
Song Title: “Boil”.
From: “Live Skull” 12” E.P.
Released in 1984 by Massive Records.
Item # 19. Drunks With Guns. From St. Louis, Missouri.
Song Title: “Got The Gun”.
From: “Drunks With Guns” 7” E.P. .
Released in 1985 by Cheap Beer Records.
Item # 20. Blues Daisies. From: Los Angeles, California.
Song Title: “100 Tears”.
From: “Wilt” L.P.
Released in 1985 by Iridescence Records.
Item # 11. Swans. From New York City, New York.
Song Title: “Stay Here”.
From: “Filth” L.P.
Released in 1983 by Neutral Records.
Item # 12. No Trend. From Ashton, Maryland.
Song Title: “Fashion Tips For The 80’s”.
From: “Too Many Humans...” L.P.
Released in 1983 by No Trend Records.
Item # 13. Sonic Youth. From New York City, New York.
Song Title: “Brother James”.
From: “Kill Your Idols” 12” E.P.
Released in 1983 by Zensor Records.
Item # 14. Blight. From Lansing, Michigan.
Song Title: “Prophet Of Doom”.
From: “Blight” 7” E.P.
Item # 15. Tales Of Terror. From Sacramento, California.
Song Title: “Chambers of Horror”.
From: “Tales Of Terror” L.P.
Item # 6. Hose. From New York City, New York.
Song Title: “Dope Fiend”.
From: “Hose” 12” E.P.
Released in 1982 by Def Jam.
Item # 7. Mr. Epp & The Calculations. From: Seattle, Washington.
Song Title: “Wild Youth On Money”.
From: “Of Course I'm Happy, Why...” 7” E.P.
Released in 1982 by Pravda Records.
Item # 8. Big Black. From Evanston, Illinois.
Song Title: “Live In A Hole”.
From: “Lungs” 12” E.P.
Released in 1982 by Ruthless Records.
Item # 9. Fang. From Berkeley, California.
Song Title. Law And Order.
From: “Landshark” L.P.
Released in 1983 by Boner Records.
Item # 10. Kilslug. From Boston, Massachusetts.
Song Title: “Autopsy Performing”.
From: “Necktie Party” 7” E.P.
Self released in 1983.
Item # 1. Circle X. From Louisville, Kentucky.
Song Title: “Onward Christian Soldiers”.
From: “Circle X” 12” E.P.
Self-released in 1979 by Circle X.
Item # 2. Flipper. From: San Francisco, California.
Song Title: “Love Canal”.
From: “Love Canal” 7” E.P.
Released in 1981 by Subterranean Records.
Item # 3. Stick Men With Ray Guns. From Dallas, Texas.
Song Title: “Grave City”.
From: “Some People Deserve To Suffer Compilation”.
Released in 2000 by Emperor Jones.
Item # 4. Notekillers. From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Song Title: “Juggernauts”.
From: “Notekillers (1977-1981)” L.P.
Released in 2004 by Ecstatic Peace!.
Item # 5. Smegma. From Pasadena, California.
Song Title: “Mutant Baby”.
From: “Pig For Lepers” L.P.
Released in 1982 by Pigface Records.
