ThisIsHip

2006-02-14T12:45:00.000Z

Some people are full of hip. Even though recorded at a home studio, this privately pressed CD from around the turn of the millenium still beats the hell out of a lot of 'Indie-scene' records available. 'I'm Asian'/'Azdub' by (the) COOL JERK could have been recorded by 'CREATION Records' in 1986; maybe.
Written out of frustration by British-Persian 'Dj DIRTY ARRY', he explains; "the chorus is to do with the fact that for years people didn't believe me that Iran is an Asian country and not Arabic! That used to really get me going. I'm 100% Persian, which basically means that I'm from Iran and not Arabic. Oddly enough, the chorus in that song has nothing to do with the verses, in which I moan about computers and stuff!". The first track is not without humour, the second is much more of a serious electronic affair and I will leave alone (for now, at least). This is too good to keep to myself.

As with most linked files in blogland, the user should click anything underlined. Then on the bottom of the new 'Sendspace' page that opens they will see the file to download. I advise then right-clicking and choosing 'save target as' from the little menu that appears to control where on the user's computer they would like to download the file to. Please let me know if anything doesn't work and feel free to leave a comment. If anyone knows how to easily solve the problem of the disappearing text due to the 'peek-a-boo bug' in IE6 please get in touch, also.

COOL JERK
'I'm Asian'

2006-02-11T23:03:00.000Z

Another band that never made it but should have is 'MOLOKO PLUS'. Right away the name alone sucks you in. Think back to just before there was such a thing as 'Britpop'. Five guys from outside Brighton who became part of a 'Brighton scene' that then became a London scene thanks to bands such as 'MENSWEAR'. Raal Harris was the front man & singer, Joe Byrne was bassist, Dan Flach on organ/piano, Mick Long was guitars and Martin Smith was the drummer. The lyrics were actually supplied (or at least started) by a mysterious third party (Simon Martin??) and this is what makes this band hip. Each song comes over like a dramatic essay on real life. The songs touched everyone so closely at the time (most people were fed up with being fed commercial house music). They generated a lot of interest from only a small amount of gigs. They had label interest after only three Brighton live shows! And by spring 1995 they were at their peak, supporting 'MENSWEAR' at The Zap in Brighton. They also supported (and were more pleased to be) 'THE WEEKENDERS'.

Raal & Joe appeared on the front cover of the 1994 November issue of MELODY MAKER thanks to the music paper wanting to do a feature on 'the new mod generation' which actually ended up looking more like a vehicle for the new band 'MENSWEAR'. Amazingly, the Italian fashion mag "L'UOMO VOGUE" also wanted a piece of the Mod pie and did a 10-page black & white feature strangely called 'Pre-Mods' (March 1995). Raal took up the challange and with a bit of persuasion the photoshoot was led away from the original idea of recreating the pictures in Richard Barnes' 'MODS!' book a-la throwing stones at people on the beach and into the local club where the band were to play that night. The feature was eventually published in their 1995 October edition, together with some smart colour photos of 'THE SMALL FACES'.

Then disaster struck. Suddenly a Dance outfit appeared with the name of 'MOLOKO'. Even worse they annoyingly mispronounced the name. (It comes from the 1962 novel by Anthony Burgess - 'A CLOCKWORK ORANGE' where a gang of suedeheads drink 'Moloko Plus', which is a milk based amphetamine drink). With fame apparently 'round the corner' the guys decide to sign to local indie/major label 'LOWLIFE'. Advised to change their name to 'SHINER' the band record and release a CD single. And that's where the story ends. To the bands credit their major release actually seams to chronicle what was happening to the band at the time in their usual style. Let this be a lesson to similar realistic bands. Don't change & don't sign until it's right. The 1994 demo and subsequent promo copy of their 1996 release are given below.

1994 DEMO TAPE TITLED 'THE FIVE FACES OF MOLOKO PLUS'

(1) 'Blackbird Sky Gardens' (Mick)
(2) 'So Hard' (Raal)
(3) 'Don't Let Your Country Bring You Down' (Raal)

1996 PROMO SINGLE AS 'SHINER'

(1) '(We'll Make You) Famous Honey' (Harris/Long/Flach)
(2) 'Rachel Says' (Harris)
(3) 'We Don't Mind' (Harris)

2006-02-11T16:20:00.000Z

THE BUNCH PLAY BEAT CLUB 1967

Not much is known about this British Soul band from Bournemouth, England. In their time, they had a Radio 1 session, an audition with the BBC where they covered 'Respect' by Otis Redding & 'Barefootin' by Robert Parker and played at The Star Club in Hamburg. In April 1967 they were featured in a TV documentary called 'SWINGING LONDON', alongside Twiggy and Cathy McGowan. That same year they also performed 'Big Time Operator' & 'You Don't Know Like I Know' live for the German TV series 'BEAT CLUB'. Zoot Money recorded the original version of the former and was written by Tony Colton & Ray Smith. The latter was a big soul hit for Sam & Dave (thanks to Russ at ModRadio for the information there). Who John Smith is I have no idea, but he helps on the singing for the 2nd song. This band went from brassy cover versions of Mod classics by American Soul & R'n'B bands of the day to releasing their own driving Freakbeat with 'We're Not What We Appear To Be' (alt. version) and then the classic swinging London tale 'Looking Glass Alice' that adorns many a Psychedelic bootleg compilation album. Both songs are expertly written and possibly the best they recorded. As is usually the way with great obscure bands from the sixties both are 'B'-sides.
I love their matching silk shirts which appear to be silver or possibly a bright colour? Indeed, this band raise more questions than give answers. Here is them at their raw British R&B best with a version of BO DIDDLEY's 'Bring It To Jerome' also done by 'DAVID JOHN & THE MOOD' and here is an instrumental track from their BBC audition tape which is untitled, but surely another cover of 'Philly Dog' by HERBIE MANN. Finally, another home studio 'reel-to-reel' version of 'Spare A Shilling' is a genuinely moving original. A hip band that are well overdue an album release of collective works.

SINGLES DISCOGRAPHY

1966? 'Don't Come Back To Me'/'You Can't Do This' CBS 2740

1967 'You Never Came Home'/'We're Not What We Appear To Be' CBS202506

1967 'Spare A Shilling'/'Looking Glass Alice' CBS3060

1968 'Birthday'/'Still' CBS3692 (also re-pressed 1968 CBS3709)