Whelks

So what did you do for your Bank Holiday Monday?
Me?
I had a pleasant walk along the beach, then lunched on a punnet of whelks while watching the old folk ride around the harbour wall in their motorized buggies.

After all this sensory experience I felt it was fitting to spend the rest of the afternoon chilling out to some classic punk and early post-punk 45s.
Just seemed appropriate somehow.

Unfortunately I am unable to share the visual imagery associated with the mechanized aged (I'm no Martin Parr that's for sure), nor can I pass on the orally gratifying experience of chewing on a well peppered and vinegared whelk, but I can share some of the music I listened to, inspired by the slow, peculiar, but not unpleasant digestive sensation brought on by the aforementioned mollusc.

Classics all!
Makes for a nice little compilation.











Buzzcocks

A - Orgasm Addict
B - What Ever Happened To?

Produced by Martin Rushent, 1977

Magazine

A - Give Me Everything
B - I Love You You Big Dummy

Produced by Tony Wilson, 1978

The Ruts

A - In a Rut
B - H-Eyes

Produced by The Ruts, 1979

Throbbing Gristle

A - United
B - Zyklon B Zombie

Produced by Throbbing Gristle, 1978

PiL

A - Memories
B - Another

12" version, Produced by PiL, 1979

All ripped from vinyl @320kbs
A fistful of 45s here

Enjoy!

I'm going to try razor clams next week...

Real Live

I was ripping this for myself, and figured it was so good it had to be shared.

From London's Camden Town Roundhouse, this blistering Magazine set was broadcast as part of the BBC's Electric Proms festival.

And boy were they hot.
I don't think I've heard so much energy from a reformed band as apparent on this recording.
The songs sound alive and fresh; delivered with style and vitality; no evidence here of a band merely going through the motions.

The set list is perfect. A collection of A and B sides.
Beginning with the dynamic 'Shot By Both Sides' and ending perfectly with 'I Love You, You Big Dummy', a song they colonize so expertly, it's easy to forget that it was conceived by someone else; and that's saying something about a Beefheart cover.

Devoto is on top form too.
He does ham it up a little for the first few numbers, but as the band settles, Howard loosens up, actually sounding like he's having a good time: enjoying every minute in fact.

After such a blinding set as this, the big question is: what now?
New material? An album?

Norman Fischer-Jones (Noko) has been recruited in to fill the empty space left by the late John McGeoch; during this set he totally justified that choice; and I'm not sure that Jonny Greenwood - often mentioned as a potential collaborator with Magazine - would have made a better job.

But for me, apart from the band's startling sonic effects, it was always Barry Adamson's bass playing that made their sound. And he certainly hasn't lost his touch; playing this set with great gusto and real energy.

I enjoyed this a lot.
I can't recommend it enough.

Magazine - Live at the Roundhouse, 22/10/09

Shot By Both Sides
Rhythm of Cruelty
A Song From Under the Floorboards
Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)
Sweetheart Contract
Feed the Enemy
Give Me Everything
The Book
20 Years Ago
The Light Pours Out Of Me
I Love You, You Big Dummy

Ripped from captured broadcast to mp3s @320kbs
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