The Greatest Post-Punk Bands You Never Heard

Give til it hurts, you goth wannabe!

Seriously, though, that mag looks great, though could it match the quality of writing on this board (The Associates thread is my all-time favorite).

PS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_gAVZBKoMI

PPS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohJFLK9Autw

Yes! I was going to mention Basement 5 but I was away from a computer when I thought of them.

guitar tone on that track is INsane

just noticed the basement 5 peel session's up on youtube

seems like there should be more Germans in any "unknown" post punk list. Two that come quickly to mind, since they had several albums each, are S.Y.P.H. and Geisterfahrer.

Here's a punky S.Y.P.H. song from their first LP, which has some longer, more experimental pieces too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGl3Hx8kIcc

And the first Geisterfahrer single. Zick Zack 1. 1980

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYJo6MdYRMs

speaking of German post-punk, Instant Music from 1980 - precursor to early 2000s Morr maybe?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rzpRqRU8ZE

Nice record that. Of course, the list of German (and Australian) post punk bands with a single or a 12" EP is long. Getting an album out was less likely, let alone multiple albums.

you could do a lot worse than spending 7 dollars on downloading this:

http://thehomosexuals.bandcamp.com/album/astral-glamour

And if you've only heard the single CD release, make sure you get far enough into it. When I had the original ReR compilation (The Homosexuals Record), I remember loving the first side in it's punky mess, and took a while to get to the second side, where some of their most produced and complete and best pop moments like False Sentiments and Astral Glamour live. Revisiting this now, it's just amazing, I remember well now why I was so obsessed. Really unlike anything. A bit of Syd Barrett or Kevin Ayers. Some power-pop and punk rock. Some ReR rock-in-opposition. DIY deconstruction of the highest order. Dub. Incredible String Band. Such a wild range of sounds.

Regarding the comment above about Sara Goes Pop...those records were Amos aka Jim aka L. Voag who was one third of the band with Bruno and Anton, if I have my story straight. I think he definitely brought the most experimental stuff to the band, though judging by a few of the catchier moments on the L Voag LP and EP, he could knock out a pop hook or two or three when he wanted to. He also did the Nancy Sesay and the Melodaires single, which is great.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MH71-pNxkc

Go to Astral Glamour and check out (Do The) Total Drop. And Walk Before Imitate. And Calvary. And Mad Bombers of Majour Valour....

I was the only person to vote for The Fire Engines? You people are crazy. The correct answer to this poll was probably Big Flame though.

Quickie list of some lesser-known Australian post punk bands with at least one LP-length release. Obviously, there start to be tons more excellent bands if you just go 7" or cassette; the LP standard is a tough one, but it's a place to start.

Laughing Clowns, Makers of the Dead Travel Fast, Moodists, Primitive Calculators, Severed Heads, Slugfuckers/Rhythmx Chymx, SPK, Sunday Painters, Systematics, Tactics, Voigt/465

And for New Zealand you get something like

Bilders, Gordons, Paul Luker/Phantom Forth/This is Heaven. Nocturnal Projections, Pin Group, Playthings, Victor Dimisich Band

But with NZ, you really feel the LP restriction and then have to fudge a bit. Nocturnal Projections, for example, had a strong cd's worth of material, but spread out over two tapes, a single, two 12"S, and some comp stuff. Plus the unreleased stuff that showed up on the cd.

In their honor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duOQMantKVw

Gets more fun if you go singles, as ever....

From NZ, 1981 7". Shoes this High

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm3F1papWgI

Tracklisting of upcoming 80s uk indie compilation, which picks up still in post-punk territory and follows that thread into C86/jangle/Ron Johnson and other indie territories:

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Acute Records shared Scared To Get Happy's status.
5 hours ago
A UK 80s Nuggets featuring The Lines and The Fire Engines!
* STOP PRESS - SCARED TO GET HAPPY TRACK LISTING *

Well, it's taken a while... feels like forever... and maybe it'll change... still a few tracks we want... but... here it is. Bit of room at the end for stragglers. Otherwise... it's done!

Disc 1:
1. THE WILD SWANS Revolutionary Spirit
2. GIRLS AT OUR BEST Getting Nowhere Fast
3. THE PALE FOUNTAINS (There’s Always) Something On My Mind
4. JOSEF K The Missionary
5. THE MONOCHROME SET Jet Set Junta
6. THE BLUE ORCHIDS Dumb Magician
7. THE MARINE GIRLS Don’t Come Back
8. THE FIRE ENGINES Candy Skin
9. DOLLY MIXTURE Everything And More
10. SCARS All About You
11. THE NIGHTINGALES Paraffin Brain
12. FARMERS BOYS I Think I Need Help
13. JANE It’s A Fine Day
14. PREFAB SPROUT Lions In My Own Garden (Exit Someone)
15. WEEKEND Summerdays
16. THE LINES Nerve Pylon
17. FANTASTIC SOMETHING If She Doesn’t Smile It’ll Rain
18. THE HIGSONS The Lost And The Lonely
19. EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL Feeling Dizzy *
20. BLACK Human Features
21. STRAWBERRY SWITCHBLADE Trees And Flowers
22. THE DAINTEES Roll On Summertime
23. NICK NICELY 49 Cigars
24. TRIXIE’S BIG RED MOTORBIKE Norman And Narcissus
25. THE CHERRY BOYS Kardomah Café
26. AZTEC CAMERA Oblivious

Disc 2:
1. HURRAH The Sun Shines Here
2. THE PASTELS I Wonder Why
3. PULP Everybody’s Problem
4. GRAB GRAB THE HADDOCK I'm Used Now
5. FRIENDS AGAIN Honey At The Core (Moonboot Version)
6. THE BLUEBELLS Callander Green
7. LLOYD COLE & THE COMMOTIONS Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken (Indie Version)
8. IN EMBRACE This Brilliant Evening
9. MICRODISNEY Dolly
10. THE WOODENTOPS Plenty
11. THE JAZZ BUTCHER Southern Mark Smith
12. THE JASMINE MINKS Where The Traffic Goes
13. THE JUNE BRIDES Every Conversation (Single Version)
14. THE REVOLVING PAINT DREAM In The Afternoon
15. THE SHOP ASSISTANTS All Day Long
16. BIFF BANG POW! The Chocolate Elephant Man
17. JAMES Hymn From A Village
18. THE JESUS & MARY CHAIN Just Like Honey (Demo Oct ‘84)
19. THE LOFT Up The Hill And Down The Slope
20. THAT PETROL EMOTION Keen
21. YEAH YEAH NOH Temple Of Convenience
22. THE WEDDING PRESENT Go Out And Get ‘Em Boy
23. THE BODINES God Bless
24. WE'VE GOT A FUZZBOX AND WE’RE GONNA USE IT XX Sex (Demo)
25. McCARTHY Red Sleeping Beauty
26. THE MIGHTY LEMON DROPS Something Happens

Disc 3:
1. PRIMAL SCREAM Velocity Girl
2. THE PRIMITIVES Thru The Flowers
3. THE BMX BANDITS Sad
4. MIGHTY MIGHTY Is There Anyone Out There?
5. THE SOUP DRAGONS Fair's Fair
6. THE WOLFHOUNDS Cut The Cake
7. THE CHESTERFIELDS Completely And Utterly
8. THE SERVANTS Transparent
9. THE CLOSE LOBSTERS What Is There To Smile About (Demo)
10. POP WILL EAT ITSELF Sick Little Girl
11. THE RAZORCUTS Big Pink Cake
12. THE WEATHER PROPHETS Almost Prayed
13. JAMIE WEDNESDAY Vote For Love
14. TALULAH GOSH Beatnik Boy
15. THE DENTISTS She Dazzled Me With Basil
16. THE RAILWAY CHILDREN A Gentle Sound
17. THE GROOVE FARM Baby Blue Marine
18. JESSE GARON & THE DESPERADOES The Rain Fell Down
19. ROSEMARY’S CHILDREN (Whatever Happened To) Alice?
20. THE WONDER STUFF A Wonderful Day
21. THIS POISON! Engine Failure
22. THE BRILLIANT CORNERS Delilah Sands
23. 14 ICED BEARS Balloon Song
24. THE HEART THROBS Toy
25. THE ROSEHIPS Room In Your Heart
26. KING OF LUXEMBOURG A Picture Of Dorian Gray

Disc 4:
1. HOUSE OF LOVE Shine On
2. THE DARLING BUDS Shame On You (Native Single Version)
3. THE POOH STICKS Indiepop Ain’t Noise Pollution
4. THE BACHELOR PAD The Albums Of Jack
5. THE SHAMEN Something About You
6. GOL GAPPAS Albert Parker
7. HANGMAN'S BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS Love Is Blue
8. WHIRL Heaven Forbid
9. THE BOY HAIRDRESSERS Tidalwave
10. THE FLATMATES Shimmer
11. APPLE BOUTIQUE Love Resistance
12. LAUGH Take Your Time Yeah!
13. GROOVY LITTLE NUMBERS You Make My Head Explode
14. THE WALTONES She Looks Right Through Me
15. YEAH JAZZ Sharon
16. THE CLOUDS Tranquil
17. THE RAW HERBS She’s A Nurse But She's Alright
18. THE SIDDELEYS My Favourite Wet Wednesday Afternoon
19. RODNEY ALLEN Circle Line
20. THE CORN DOLLIES Be Small Again
21. THE HEPBURNS The World Is
22. BUBBLEGUM SPLASH One Of Those Things
23. THE McTELLS Jesse Man Rae
24. THE CHARLOTTES Are You Happy Now?
25. ANOTHER SUNNY DAY I’m In Love With A Girl Who Doesn’t Know I Exist
26. THE LA's Son Of A Gun (Demo)

Disc 5:
1. THE STONE ROSES The Hardest Thing In The World
2. THE INSPIRAL CARPETS Keep The Circle Around
3. THE SEA URCHINS Solace
4. CUD Only (A Prawn In Whitby)
5. THE POPGUNS Landslide
6. EAST VILLAGE Strawberry Window
7. THE FANATICS Suburban Love Songs
8. THE MILLTOWN BROTHERS Roses
9. THE ORCHIDS I’ve Got A Habit
10. BRADFORD Skin Storm
11. THE CLAIM Picking Up The Bitter Little Pieces
12. THE POPPYHEADS Pictures You Weave
13. THE SUN AND THE MOON Adam’s Song (Pour Fenella)
14. THE DESERT WOLVES Speak To Me Rochelle
15. THE GOLDEN DAWN My Secret World
16. BLOW UP Forever Holiday
17. KOROVA MILK BAR Do It Again
18. AVO-8 Big Car
19. THE RAIN Dry The Rain
20. THE BOO RADLEYS Catweazle
21. THE SEERS Sun Is In The Sky
22. THE TELESCOPES Perfect Needle
23. THE VASELINES Jesus Don’t Want Me For A Sunbeam

hah, sorry I copied part of the Acute facebook page...I had posted this info there so I went there to copy it, and now you can see that at some point while operating as Acute Records I "liked" Broadcast and Sexual Objects (post-post-Fire Engines!)

Oh yeah, the Servants. The Sun a Small Star is lovely

housecleaning

love the diachronic/internoise/island-of-misfit-death-disco slant of the thread, so I’m gonna run w/that f/a minute and add Colin Newman’s new-to-me melted-genre nod Troisieme from lol ’80. could prob. go in this threadbut it’s such a sweet mess of proto-techno stomp, martial guitar + drums from the ghost of Swans future, rinky piano plonking, sax lost in reverb, Fripp-ish guitar, and pop vox w/ hints of Bowie damage that it snaps in here w/out effort, so w/e:

http://youtu.be/fNEkicBxe2o

― Hellhouse, Tuesday, February 5, 2013 10:40 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Even though I have at least half of that material, I'm still really excited for that indie nuggets box!

ha I didn't even see that The Lines were on this list. definitely would have voted for them.

I just ordered all 10 volumes of "The Indie Scene: The History Of British Independent Music" covering 1977-1986. I've had MP3s of these for years but meant to get the CDs, this thread inspired me to do so. I'm a sucker for great compilations!

Just posted a photobooth photo of The Lines dug up by drummer Nick Cash (also of Fad Gadget and PragVEC!) up on the Acute facebook page. I suggest joining it, even though facebook won't show you the page unless I pay to "promote" it.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Acute-Records/304608789347

I just ordered all 10 volumes of "The Indie Scene: The History Of British Independent Music" covering 1977-1986...

Where the heck did you find that?

The first 5 were on AmazonUK and the last 5 were on discogs.com - all were between $10 and $20.

Thanks for the FB link, I've just 'liked' your record label Dan.

Talking obscure post punk - I've always loved "China's eternal" by The Tights since I heard it on the "Business Unusual" compilation. It's got a similar mood to "Chairs missing" era Wire. Did they issue anything else, and has the song appeared on cd?

The Tights! Brilliant call Rob. They released 3 singles on Cherry Red, all of which are on the 8cd singles box that came out a few years back. And they're all good tracks.

I thought they only did one single. I'll have to look into that Cherry Red singles set.

Just found the track listing in another thread. That's my kind of boxed set - Felt, Monochrome Set, Marine Girls, Joe Crow, Passage, Eyeless in Gaza., Hybrid Kids.. Ok, let's see if it's on Amazon... Thanks!

There were three? I only know two, the more post-punk Howard Hughes / china and the more punk Bad Hearts, which has three songs, all very catchy. Of there's a third, send it my way.

I just sold The Indie Scene 1982 on discogs for £10 - seems those CDs are pretty sought after.

My mistake, just 2 singles from The Tights covering 5 songs, all great.

On the "I'll give you my heart" box set, they talk about having a reunion and making a new album for Cherry Red. Did they ever get to do this?

(i.e. The Tights)

Those in Chicago might like to know that Reckless has a used copy of the Kill Rock Stars double CD reissue of poll co-winners Liliput for just $6.99. You already probably know but you can call and put it on hold or transfer from the Broadway store to downtown or Wicker Park.

The Flexible funding campaign for Post-Punk magazine ends Feb 27. $15 gets you their first issue plus a CD comp, $30 an issue + backer t-shirt and $75 a year sub + t-shirt, not much more than it would normally cost for getting a UK sub in the US anyway. I might do the amount where they post a profile and my top 5 post-punk albums.

http://www.indiegogo.com/post-punk

Dangit, I missed the deadline, got swamped at work and spaced. Looks like they didn't make it unfortunately. I just saw this comment on my site from Feb 7 from a Rob Cioffi:

Nice work, brilliant for the uninitiated!

A few things to add -

Sad Lovers And Giants: continue to stage a few shows per year and have been readying a new LP. They have self-released a new single in recent years (Himalaya/Happiness Is Fragile) and have included several new songs in their current set-lists. Singer Garce self-released his first solo EP in 2012. Tony McGuinness (guitars) is 1/3 of progressive trance global heavyweight Above & Beyond. The band is very active on Facebook and have a rabid, loyal following world-wide.

Modern Eon: I actually emailed LTM label head James Nice about releasing Fiction Tales for the very first time on CD (the only CD releases have been two widely circulated bootlegs, one Fiction Tales Plus , the other Peel Sessions & Live). The label investigated this and passed. Cherry Red may end up issuing this sometime down the road.

Breathless: hailed by Jack Rabid in the pages of Big Takeover, and ended up in several best of lists there.

Asylum Party: released 2 LPs, both were reissued as The Grey Years Vol. 1 (2-CD set) and The Grey Years Vol. 2 (2-CD set), both bolstered with singles, non-LP tracks and demos. Both sets can be ordered direct from their label, infrastition.com, and via Discogs.

And Also The Trees: several compilations can be great entry points. The best that is still in print is 1980-2005 but the best is From Horizon To Horizon (Singles 1983-92), which is long out of print.

Lowlife: their final LP, Gush, remains out of print. LTM will not be reissuing due to lack of bonus material.

Opposition: their entire back catalogue, remastered in digital form, is available from their website, http://www.theopposition.fr/ To my knowledge, these are unlikely to receive a physical release.

The following band should also be considered for this article:

Abecedarians

This brilliant Los Angeles post-punk band released their first single on the legendary Factory label and has opened for New Order when they toured Southern California. Their sound is similar to The Chameleons, etc and until 2012, their entire back catalogue remained out of print. Their magnificent debut album, Eureka, was finally released on CD via Pylon Records and can be ordered here http://pylonrecords.com/ in a several different formats.

Their are plans to reissue final LP, Resin, as well.

Despite their demos collection being released on the famed indie label, IPR, they never received recognition for their musical legacy and thus were the hidden jewel in the deepest of deep post-punk collections.

If you love any of the above bands, you must check them out...you will not be disappointed!

Those Asylum Party reissues are tempting, but are possibly more than $30USD each with shipping! Ugh. I was excited about the Opposition site but it looks like it's just streaming. They need to get their post-punk asses on Bandcamp. Abecedarians is interesting, though the only way to get the bonus CD of songs from their 1985-86 era is to buy the vinyl, which is a load of crap.

How can you tell what's on those Abecadarian releases? I have the IPR vinyl but never really dug it. All I want is Smiling Monarchs on vinyl.

forget it, I see the tracklisting on discogs

this stuff come with downloads? It's criminal if labels put out vinyl and not include a download code.

The Dark Entries and Medical Records releases are without downloads, unless I've been missing something. Extra work...

Speaking of Dark Entries, the reissue of The Thing from the Crypt compilation LP is very fine. Grab one. The Fall of Saigon 12" has its moments.

we'll have to talk to those folks. what are they doing without downloads.

FFS, offer a CD option of "The Thing From The Crypt"! Didn't it have a sequel too?

I support not releasing CDs. Gotta have downloads though! Ill bring it up at our next meeting.

Another Thing from the Crypt. Bands not quite as iconic, but still a good record. Don't think anyone will be reissuing it. Mutant Sounds had it up at one point, I think.

Posted this the other day in the Australian Post Punk thread, but that may be too narrow a demographic....

For my money, the greatest post-punk band that nobody's ever heard is a group from Wollongong Australia called the Sunday Painters. Three singles, two LPs, cassettes, and comp tracks. At work on a reissue, but thought I'd put a song on on Sound Cloud since Monday marked the thirty-year anniversary of one of their high points: the Sedition Festival, a three-day showcase of 22 bands, as well as assorted video artists, at the Trade Union Club. $10 for the lot….Other bands included the Scientists, Wet Taxi, Celibate Rifles. The Same, and Severed Heads.

The Painters played the opening night. Three and a half songs have survived from their set; two of which made it onto the Sedition—Go Broke cassette. This one, “In My Dreams,” did not, though it’s a monster, reworked into drum-machine form from its origins as a practice-room kraut jam outtake that made up the b-side of the band’s second single (Painting By Numbers, 1980, 250 copies). Like X covering PIL, with a New Order keyboard flourish.

Please feel free to share, to download, to play.

https://soundcloud.com/michael-train/in-my-dreams

Taught myself to play "Smokescreen" by the Desperate Bicycles and it only underscored how unusual it is. The guy sings straight through for three and a half minutes or however long it is and there are eight verses.

hey, thanks, that's pretty awesome! xpost

Thought I'd try it as a video (well, at least a photo montage):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NTISSJPyLw

Cool. I'm really proud of the iMovie Ken Burns video montage I made for Disco Zombies and Happy Refugees.

Crazy what you can do within ten minutes of opening iMovie for the first time, but wow do I now have respect for real video editors....

One year anniversary, here's a Spotify playlist finally! None of the early And Also The Trees, The Sound or Comsat Angels, but a good sampling of most of what I wrote about.

http://open.spotify.com/user/1212496385/playlist/3RkhJjuRHTIamrXejVwa9H
spotify:user:1212496385:playlist:3RkhJjuRHTIamrXejVwa9H

50 Minute And Also The Trees documentary:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dgp8gwgjTPs&list=PL6B10D8ECB2D36111

90 Minute live show recorded September 28, 2013 at La Cave à Musique in Mâcon, Burgundy, France:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iOivHqNgpQ&list=FLvS7HOg0xXDKPhctmMyG1Qw