Gaye Bykers On Acid

This bunch were "The Next Big Thing "of 86/87 and much lauded by the music press at the time . Gaye Bykers On Acid were lumped in the music journo created "Grebo" scene along with Crazyhead ,Zodiac Mindwarp & The Love Reaction,Pop Will Eat Itself and a few others long forgotten by me. Long hair,biker gear,spraypaint,effects pedals,patchouli oil,drum machines,samplers along with a hint of narcotic allsorts seemed to be some of the elements in the make up of this very brief lived genre.After a couple of indie eps GBOA were signed to Virgin Records in 1987 ,to much expectation. Unfortunately when the debut album (and accompanying movie !) "Drill Your Own Hole" came out it was almost underwhelming after the hype the band successfully generated. Dominated by drum machines , wah wah guitar and samples the album still comes across as gimmicky in places but Git Down , After Suck There's Blow and T.V Cabbage are worthy of a place on anyones alternative 80s' playlist.The next album in 1989s' "Stewed To The Gills" was a a major improvement but it was too late for Virgin and the band were dropped due to poor sales. Two more albums were released on thier own label before before splitting in the early 1990s'. Style over substance ? Dunno but they sure brightened up the dull and over earnest mid to late 80s' indie scene before the rise of Madchester.Some of it still sounds ok to me ,the mentioned tracks from the debut , Nosedive Karma ,Everythang's Groovy and most of Stewed To The Gills are all worth a listen. May post these tunes at a later date in the meantime here is the debut to start with .

The Sid Presley Experience

The Sid Presley Experience were a band from South London operative from 1984 until 1985 who released two singles/eps before splitting up ,with two of their members ,Peter and Chris Coyne going on to form the more successful The Godfathers . Looking like 60s' gangsters with a sound influenced by the Sex Pistols they were certainly different from what was happening in the shiny and bright pop or dull and gloomy indie/goth music scene of the mid 80s' . The full on yob rock of "Hup Two Three Four" ,recently use to promote the latest series of Top Gear ,was originally released in 1984 backed by the frantic instrumental "Public Enemy Number One" complete with the sound of police sirens and gun fire.This was followed in 1985 by a storming cover of John Lennons' "Cold Turkey" along with "F For Fake" and "Firewater".Get them all here.

"Calling The Meek And The Humble ,Welcome To Blackboard Jungle...."

Two Lee Perry /Upsetter albums feature on this long unavailable Clocktower Cd .The first ten tracks comprises "Scratch & Company" one of the better and earliest Lee Perry compilations . Featuring alternate versions and dubs selected from Perry's vast selection of mind boggling work at Black Ark Studio. These awesome dubs are then followed by the classic "Blackboard Jungle Dub", one of the earliest and best ever dub albums . Using well known rhythms from The Upsetters and The Wailers and an almost hypnotic King Tubby mix this is a must listen for any Reggae fan . Although the phrase "Chill Out Music" is used to describe any old new age whale lift type music , I think this album is much closer to what I want from "Chill Out Music" , taking you to another place , with a few surprises on the way and not boring you to sleep. A real earthy organic sound , laden with horns ,one or two Lee Perry trademark cow type noises, appearances from Dillinger and I-Roy and more ,all this mixed together still sounds totally original now , let alone on its very limited first release in 1973."So don't you fumble , just be humble....."