This band is mainly known for upping the speed in punk rock and release a 7'' that was probably one of the very first "hardcore" records. This LP though, is not hardcore and maybe not even punk rock. It's a sort of rhythmic post punk that reminds me of a simplified Gang of Four meets one of the second-tier factory bands. Not a mindblowing LP per se, but if you dig this kind of sound, the LP is worth seeking out. OOP but Frontier Records has 80s shrinkwrapped backstock copies for $18 shipped. My copy arrived with a very slight warp, but nothing that affects play.
Been waiting for these for several months, not disappointed so far. I've posted about this band before, but I wanted to post these because IMHO this band is very underappreciated. Hopefully this recent reissue campaign goes some distance toward correcting that. FYI these have also been reissued on vinyl, but I didn't buy any of those yet. I may get them as well next year. For now, my early UK copy of Sleep No More suffices if I feel the urge to listen to the band on vinyl.
In case anyone is wondering, these are not crappy loudness war remasters, but seem to have been done with some care, and the bonus material is all really solid (mostly b-sides, radio sessions, decent quality demos). Each set is packaged in a nice looking digipak and there is a booklet with lyrics and some details about what was going on with the band during each era.
The first album is the band still trying to find their sound, but it's a good one. There are some poppy new wave touches as well as some darker post-punk bits, lots of young energy going on. By the second album the band matured considerably, with the singers' voice taking on a deeper tone and the band finding their own style. I still think this is the group's masterpiece and is probably the album they are most remembered for today. The third album is still growing on me. It pulls back from the darkness of the second one, but doesn't necessarily go for a commercial sound. Several tracks are still somewhat dark, but the album as a whole is lighter than Sleep No More. A couple of the tracks sound better to me in their radio session versions.
After this the band would move toward synthpop for a few albums before coming back with a "serious" album in the 90s.
Cortex were an early 80s post-punk, goth rock/death rock, whatever you want to call it band. Sure there were a lot of bands at the time doing similar things varying from great to very much second and third string. I'd say this band falls into the "great" category, though of course not everyone will agree with my opinion.
I originally discovered this group on a blog a few years back and went searching for their records. Due to the cost and difficulty to find an old copy of this album, I never got it. I did end up coming across a copy of their second LP in a used record shop a couple years ago, but that was it. I actually like their second LP, but fans seem somewhat divided on it. Regardless, this first LP and outtakes collected here are the "prime" material from this band that you really need to hear if you like this sort of thing.
From the label site:
Spinal Injuries were published last spring in the form of a double-LP, one of the disc was just bonus material. The first two pressings are already completed and now we press a third edition (in transparent vinyl). When Cortex March 16, 1980 opened his first gig with "The shadows will 'could be seen as a statement of what would come after punk; underground dance music, psychotic rock or post-punk. Cortex was Freddie Wadling band; the music was the pop music of fear and desperation; manic pounding drums, rattling percussion, hypnotic synths, stubbornly grinding guitar and the legendary Freddie's magical voice.
While Spinal Injuries was released in 1983 was released Aunt Struls Amazon, Rasera of the Empire and the Venus Transit of the Reeperbahn. Four discs all took punk to new heights with the help of eg keyboards, poetic lyrics, and more thought-out arrangement. Spinal Injuries have inspired several generations of Swedish musicians; Thåström, Olle Ljungström, Union Carbide, Brother Daniel, Håkan Hellström, Bob Hund and now 30 years later even invasion, Pascal and power Haver's wife. This double-LP consists of Cortex original album Spinal Injuries (LP1) and a range of tracks never released before; recorded both live and in studio (LP2). All recorded and produced by Henrik Venant from Skåne TT Reuter, and creator of the label Heartwork. With the plate: Freddie Wadling - vocals, bass, various keyboards Uno Wall - drums Gerth Svensson - guitar Conny Jörnryd - Percussion Michael Örtendahl - synth
Now, you may be wondering where you can get this. This is where things get a little dicey. There is Swedish record shop called Bengans that will ship to the U.S., but I have to say I was not impressed with their packaging at all, so order at your own risk. Just be aware, you may wind up with a record that is completely destroyed. I already emailed Bengans about this, so maybe they will fix things in the future (maybe not).
You might pay more to get it from a third party seller via Discogs or whatever, but I'd imagine it will also be packaged a bit better.
The Church's most popular album, and cited by many to be their best. While I wouldn't make that claim, it's a very good album, with no real weak spots. Of course everyone knows the big hit from this LP, but I think "Reptile" is the hit that should've been.
If you buy this one on vinyl, try to find a NM copy because there are several quiet parts and surface noise tends to ruin the mood. Unfortunately NM copies of this 80s Arista edition are becoming more scarce and expensive lately, which sucks. MOV reissued the album but reportedly they used a digital source from a 2000s remaster that is compressed to hell. Plain Records is reissuing the album with some other Church stuff next year, but I don't trust that label at all (same company as 4MWB, not exactly known for quality). My copy is probably closer to VG than NM on side 1, which is annoying, so I've got to keep searching for a true NM copy or just be satisfied with the 80s Arista CD, which admittedly sounds quite good.
I remember being greatly disappointed with this one when I first heard it several years ago. After awhile it grew on me considerably and now I really enjoy it, but if you are expecting something on par with the intensity of Marquee Moon, you really need need to temper your expectations. This is more a subtle album that reveals its charm over time. I thing the softer songs on this actually work better than the rockers, but there isn't a bad track on the LP. My copy is an old 70s U.S. Elektra pressing, which can still be picked up at reasonable prices.
