4 000 000 TELEPHONES - French Girls (12") Summerhouse #Sums 02 recorded 1986 released 1987

Finally I could get my hands on a copy of this record. It was released after their brilliant debut LP. It's a pity that they never got the attention they deserved.
The title track is way more catchy and pop than the songs on their first release, but still unique. But the other tracks are a fine frowardness in a time when it simply wasn't cool anymore to play that sound. Especially the saxophone is very driving here giving it all a bit The Pop Group or James White & The Blacks feeling. While when it gets more way out in those three tracks The Contortions and La Société Des Timides à l' a Parade Des Oiseau come to my mind. 4 000 000 Telephones even learned some Sun Ra and Art Ensemble Of Chicago lessons here - can't go wrong here.

Is that a xylphone in "Mrs. Brown (The Clown)"? Totally corrosive!

Now: Funk you!

4 000 000 TELEPHONES - French Girls E.P. (12") Summerhouse #Sums 02 recorded 1986 released 1987

side a:
1. French Girls
2. The Same Thing

side b:
1. Mrs. Brown (The Clown)
2. Icebox
[OGG Vorbis, maximum quality, password: antithesis, mirror 1, mirror 2]

THE STICKMEN - get on board (12") Red Music #04 & Stickmanjams 1983

4 000 000 Telephones was a good start, but it' s getting better, because here are The Stickmen1.

The Pop Group, Pere Ubu and Devo are jamming together? These total sickos from Philadelphia just did this 12" and a LP called "This is the Master Brew" in 1982. Cuneiform Records did a discography CD 6 years ago but it' s sold out everywhere, so this posting was a must. Since my puss is dry from all the talking, here is a good biography. And now I ask you: who needs Now Wave?

THE STICKMEN - get on board (12") Red Music #04 & Stickmanjams 1983

side a:
1. funky hayride
2. bone shadow

side b:
1. action man
2. crash my dome
3. jampire
[OGG Vorbis, 256k, password: antithesis]


As bonus a tape version of the LP and the 12" by the devoted but now defunct (?) Teenbeat/ Tienbiet tape label:



THE STICKMEN - get on board (Tape) Tienbeat #Beat18 2002

side a:
1. master brew
2. mystery party 8sub)
3. joy toy
4. levelhead
5. taildragger (decoy) pt. 1
6. do get down
7. action man
8. crash my dome
9. jampire

side b:
1. stickman
2. caged sex
3. set back (i.f.l.9
4. personality polination
5. dura-flame-dog
6. insatiable (hotpoint)
7. funky hayride
8. bone shadow
[OGG Vorbis, 192k, password: antithesis]


1 not to be confused with the bad house music thing

4 000 000 TELEPHONES - self titled (LP) Bunker Records #bonk1 1985

Shame on all of you! Here comes a total forgotten New No or what the fuck ever Wave record! Okay it was released after the first or even second and interesting wave of bands or when the former heroes turned into boring radio music (1985 and New Wave are mutually exclusive) and - of course - the record industry did everything to keep the cash cow going tormenting our ears with shit, but that' s no excuse for ignoring this masterpiece.
Hailing from Lincoln, UK they were quite famous in Germany among lovers of The Fall, The Pop Group, 23 Skidoo and A Certain Ratio (all those bands are a good comparison to 4 000 000 Telephones) and also did a tour in Germany in 1986 right after this album and the "French Girls" e.p. (I am still looking for this one!). I never heard the two albums afterwards but have been told that just one original member was part of the band then and those things couldn't cope with their debut. If this isn't true, then please tell me or prove that black is white.

And now: Funk off!

4 000 000 TELEPHONES - self titled (LP) Bunker Records #bonk1 1985

side a:
1. big house
2. cereal commercial
3. dangerous man
4. stop

side b:
1. salt
2. safe
3. do that
4. horses
5. we're not coming out
[OGG Vorbis, 256k, password: antithesis, mirror 1, mirror 2]

Wow, on Youtube (argh, stop! This is a German TV commercial on their 1986 tour and an early version of "French Girls" - it' s quite ridiculous and they seemed bored. Do not watch the video, listen to the LP which is totally different to this appearance) :

THE WORLD/ INFERNO FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY - Tattoos Fade (7") Blue Ghost Records #01 1995

From the ashes of the divine Sticks And Stones came this brilliant Vaudeville influenced New York band. If you have never seen them live: poor you!
The title track of this 7" has been rereleased on the split 7" with Dawnbreed/ Monochrome (X-Mist Records) and on the "East Coast Superpunk Of Today!" cd on Gern Blandsten, but they always left off the flip side, because it was to obvious that they stole from "Velvet Goldmine" by David Bowie. Even if they did so: it' s a great song and it deserves to be rereleased (and even to be played live)! Since you can still get the title track, I just included "Nothing You Begin".

And yes: all their other records are brilliant and easily to get, but I have some soundboard recordings which were done on a little tape label back then and might post them (if you want to).

500 were pressed back then, I wish you good luck finding it.

THE WORLD/ INFERNO FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY - Tattoos Fade (7") Blue Ghost Records #01 1995

side a:
1. Tattoos Fade

side b:
1. Nothing You Begin
[OGG Vorbis, 256k, password: themesongs]

Links:
Homepage
Tattoos Fade 7" at their homepage