Superior Viaduct US Vinilo y CD

Review: Avant-garde composer and guitarist Glenn Branca appears on the archival-focused Superior Viaduct, a label based out of San Francisco that trawls deep to release rare recordings from the likes of Devo, Talking Heads and Ramones affiliate Craig Leon, and San Franciscan punk band The Avengers. This release from Branca, whose label Neutral Records released the first few tracks by Sonic Youth, provided Superior Viaduct with three jangly guitar tracks of his own, spread across two discs. "Lesson No 1 For Electric Guitar" has the slightest of Celtic touches (and Cagean titles) in a progressive and emotionally strummed guitar-lead composition, while "Dissonance" almost sounds like a cheeky reinterpretation of the Batman theme. It's "Bad Smells", though, that will strike a familiar chord with fans of Silent Servant to the aforementioned Sonic Youth. Rock on.

Review: We're pretty sure our catalogue is full of albums by The Fall which we describe in gushing terms. More fool us for using all the words before this re-issue of the band's seminal live record arrived, because it really is that good. Laid down at shows in Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Houston, and Memphis, to put things in no uncertain terms it bangs in the best possible way, offering the kind of unashamed gutter punk we find ourselves sorely lacking in most rock 'n' roll today.

Of course, back in 1982, when this first landed, critics were torn as to whether they wanted to demand more from Mark E. Smith, et al. And back then perhaps that was a valid point. Speaking in today's terms, though, A Part of America Therein 1981 represents a moment in time when authenticity was far more commonplace, and the impact of hearing that is nothing short of profound.

Review: Along with the extended retrospective detailing their earlier music escapades that's surfaced this week, U.S. based reissue gods Superior Viaduct have masterfully relicensed Liquid Liquid's final iconic Optimo single, originally out on 99 Records in 1983 and still a heavily coveted four tracker from all corners of the digging spectrum. "Optimo" - an utterly break-ridden, funked-out monster - "Scraper" and "Out" are all full bodied and sublime on the low frequencies, but it's "Cavern" that gets all the attention on here, bass-heavy roller filled with wavy vocals, a heavy percussion swing and a penchant for being mastered by the kings of hip hop and house. Totally essential 12" in our books.

Review: Alan Vega and Martin Rev's Suicide project is no sideshow; the band have been a monumental part of the punk rock movement since the late 1970's, and they were coldwave before the term had even been coined. These dudes were kickin' back and gigging with Elvis Costello when they conceived Suicide, both their name and the title of their debut album, a total stroke of genius in just about every way. There's fuzzy, metallic drum machining on tracks like "Ghost Rider" and "Rocket USA" - proper warehouse gear - but the most striking moments come through the softer, more pensive songs like the absolutely sublime "Cheree". "Girl" is another jaw-braking ride across the grainiest of beats, but it's "Frankie Teardrop" that puts Suicide twenty years ahead of their time thanks to its rhythmic noise vibe that makes contemporary artists seem irrelevant. We can't recommend this enough - a total must.