Diamond Jubliees and Hidden Mushis
Tell you what.
Running a store is a tonne of actual work and running a website in tandem with it and accurate inventory between the two places is nearly impossible. I barely know what I’m doing and though getting some kind of system in place that functions on it’s own seems very cost prohibitive. That doesn’t mean we’re stopping, absolutely not. We’re idiots and the little that we know here is more than I know about anything else. We’re rolling this train straight to hell.
With all this, we’ve a few things coming in this week that we’ll share with you now. We’ve also got some older titles that have been in the physical store for a little but never made their way to the online shop and a list of things that are on their way right now.
Availble Now:
Alvilda - C'est Déjà L'heure LP
The hype is real and so was the wait for this dreamy Power Pop LP. As stunning as those early Calamities tracks, as vital as modern resurgence groups like #1’s and Tranzmitors. A handful of melodic joy spread over two sides that you’re destined to flip back and forth.
Cindy Lee - Diamond Jubilee 3xLP
Experimental Pop Perfection. Everyone and their mom has been glowing about this triple LP of whimsical, reverberating dreamy rock n roll. Distilling the very best of 60’s girl group and masterful songwriting into a modern masterpiece of shimmering glory. Truly a testament to modern guitar music, I can’t say enough glowing babble about this record but if you still need convincing, consider this: my favourite form of music is a Hardcore 7” and I’ve got zero problem flipping each LP and hearing all 2 hours of this LP and I do it at least once a week.
Life / Destruct - To Stop The Conflict LP
Two bands at the top of scrap-heap in headlong D-Beat, Crust destruction. Tokyo’s Life have been cranking out their variation of Noisy, Japanese Hardcore since the early 90’s while Destruct came out swinging in the last few years with their debut on Grave Mistake which we originally shifted dozens of copies to the D Beat maniacs out there. This East-meets-West split is a must for anyone interested in the genre.
Julia - Self Titled LP
Another 90’s emo violence classic that was under appreciated at the time but has everyone painting up their nails and wearing tight pants again. This one has been selling like hot-cakes and I think we only have one left.
Portraits Of Past - Self Titled LP
Finally reissued by Ebullition in almost an exact replica of the way it originally came out. Portraits of Past never got it’s due when it came out but its popularity ended up growing over time, pre-dating the Emotional Hardcore sounds that would define a large amount of 90’s DIY Punk. It took a moment for people to turn their ear to this but it’s become a classic of the genre.
Straw Man Army - Earthworks LP
What’s not for me seems to be for a lot of people and that’s cool. Members of Kaleidescope and I believe some other groups make up this Political Punk group and their new album shot off like a rocket when released. I will say that Straw Man Army has a sound that isn’t like any other Anarcho group performing but for some reason it reminds me of Perverts Again whom I do love. The main difference here is that I can sit back and have a laugh while listening to Perverts but Straw Man Army just makes me bummed at the state of the world. I need a laugh. I am constantly reminded of the state of the world. Proceeds of the record fund leftist projects which is something I can definitely get behind. Give it a try, I’m certainly on the outside with my opinion of this LP.
Visions - Decay LP
New Goth/Deathrock from Portland with a release on Ebullition. This is their first release since their debut in 2020 and embodies a urgent, melodic approach to the shimmering hi-hat genre. A vocalist that embodies the dramatic mournful mode for this genre. Fans and folk that lament the loss of Arctic Flowers and Pleasure Leftists will appreciate, now doubt.
Voyeurs Market - Songs Of Yule LP
Local should-be-a-celebrity and member of such Calgary local bands young and old, including Vacuum Rebuilders, Hairnet and more - Ash released this as a cassette and it quickly turned the ear of Minimum Table Stacks who requested to release it as a single-sided 12”. Limited to only 200 copies, most of these will likely never leave Calgary and I cannot stress enough how incredible this record is. One of the finest moments of 2024, we sold out initial copies and Ash allowed us to re-up some more copies here so I’m opening it up to the rest of you. Don’t let this pass you by. Yes, technically this is a Christmas album but even if you only play it for a couple of months a year, you’ll be humming this for the lead up to next year. From the press release: The EP’s six track (sleigh) ride makes stops at K Records, Slumberland, Yoyo Studios and the International Pop Underground, Slant 6’s Embassy in D.C. Pop music with something for everyone. Truly a “Christmas record” to spin year-round! Pressed on one-sided red vinyl in an edition of 200 copies. Christmas soon…
Currently Enroute:
Anti Cimex - Scandinavian Jawbreaker LP
Anti Cimex - Absolut Country Of Sweden LP
Anti Cimex - Criminal Trap LP
Quality reissues from the Nada Nada Discos reissue run back in 2014. These are some of the few Anti Cimex reissues around that were made by punks for punks and represent the first three 12” offerings from the Swedish Hardcore masters. Though my personal tastes for this band lie with their earlier E.P. material, there is no denying that these aren’t juggernaut records worthy of their praise. Crucial extreme music and incredibly influential.
Siyahkal - Days Of Smoke And Ash LP
Toronto Hardcore performed in Farsi with some of the most aggressive, dry and nasty attack that’s ever come out of that city. On the venerable Static Shock records and full of total power. From the PR:
“…. thesentiments expressed here are not just Iranian, or Venezuelan, or Palestinian. SIYAHKAL's "Days of Smoke and Ash" reflects the reality of the world as this era comes undone. They've manifested something universal and urgent that blurs the boundaries of hardcore punk. When power attempts to distort you, the only option is to distort back. Let the walls of Evin, of Guantanamo, of Al-Hol, of Ofer crumble at the sounds of SIYAHKAL.”
Vaxine / Last Survivors 7”
New York meets in a raw punk deathmatch referred by taste-maker general: General Speech! A great, Hardcore Punk pairing with two bands a the top of their game complimenting each other’s style perfectly. Highest recommendation for anyone interested in Japanese Hardcore, UK82 like Dead Wretched or Scandinavian Hardcore glory like Bannlyst.
Various Artists - Miniatures LP
A Japanese DIY comp closely associated with the Die Owan group, we still have copies of those reissues too! I haven’t had a chance to spin these yet as I wanted a proper sit with it but from the PR: ““Miniatures” was curated and released by cult teen punk band Die Öwan in 1981. Feeling inspired, they wanted to create their own version with current and cutting edge Japanese artists. Unable to find 50 artists suitable for the compilation, they took it upon themselves to fabricate multiple different bands to flesh out the album in its entirety. Musically you'll find punk, post punk, electronic, early industrial, and experimental avant garde sounds on this record.”
Ignorantes - Demo Buena Onda LP
There’s raw punk and there is South American Raw Punk. Hailing from Chile, this pogo punk mainstay of the last 10 years has been criminally un-clocked or at the least underrated by people in the North. From General Speech: “A modern classic taking equal influence from UK greats like Chaos UK, Chaotic Dischord, and Disorder, Japanese punk like Gai and Swankys, and South American classics like Pestes or Mutantex from Colombia, but always maintaining a sound that feels original and distinctly like Ignorantes.”
Lucta - Eterna Lotta LP
Milan, Italy’s long standing hardcore band with their debut on Static Shock Records. Lucta play a dark blend of Pogo punk that is at least as catchy and memorable as it is dark and brooding. Somehow I slept on this one when it came out near the end of 2024 but that’s been rectified and you can help yourself out here too.
The Stalin - Kubi Dake Atsureki 7"
How did these only recently see the light of day!? One of the best groups from Japan, The Stalin had these recordings hidden away until 2023 when they were recorded in the same sessions or around the same time as their classic Mushi LP. A dream come true to have these tracks in as high quality as they are. Crucial Japanese punk music of the highest order.
We’ll have some tasty things to drop next week so please keep an eye out. For now hopefully there are some things here to wet your appetite. Thank you so much for the support. All of these are currently in the webstore now. You can use the handy search menu on your phone or computer and you’ll find em. Thanks again!