Back catalogue: Punk/Hardcore

Review: Following on from 2020's exceptional return to form Alphabetland, which saw the first full-length from Los Angeles punk pioneers X in 27 years (35 years with the OG line up), the incomparable four-piece of Exene Cervenka, Billy Zoom, John Doe and DJ Bonebrake finally get to go out on their own terms with the self-proclaimed swan song LP Smoke & Fiction. Between line up changes, differing visions, commercial flops and radio-baiting sonic shifts, the band's tumultuous 90's era would cause many a hiatus and add further blemishes to their early iconic catalogue, ultimately leading to an unsatisfactory conclusion to their life's work that they've managed to reclaim in a manner not many seasoned veterans ever get the chance. Ten bangers infused with their quintessential rockabilly-punk charm and elevated by Cervenka's still ludicrously intense cadence, with a coinciding farewell tour to come, this is the finale for X the band and we dear listeners have always deserved.

Review: The sophomore and final studio album from punk icons X-Ray Spex. The highly sought-after album received a very limited CD-only release in 1995 on Receiver Records, and has been officially unavailable for the past 27 years. The album reunited the iconic X-Ray Spex vocalist Poly Styrene with original saxophonist Lora Logic and bassist Paul Dean, as well as guitar from Kula Shaker frontman Crispian Mills (as Red Spectre). Conscious Consumer was an upgrade of the classic debut with a same punk rock urgency and themes of consumerism, but with a poppier edge and a more considered wisdom gleamed from the ups and downs of life from the perspective of an older, wiser, Krishna devotee. This reissue includes the original and expanded artwork, as well as previously unpublished lyrics and original sleeve notes from Poly.

Review: One fateful night on September 6, 2008, London's Camden Roundhouse played host to the iconic punk rock/new wave legends X Ray Spex in all of their frenetic glory. Celebrating the 30-year anniversary of their singular classic album Germfree Adolescents, the sold-out show amassed an immensely fortunate 3000 souls in attendance including The Slits bassist Tessa Pollitt, Chrissy Boy of Madness and Eater drummer Dee Generate. With the untimely, tragic passing of punk pioneer frontwoman Poly Styrene in 2011, the show has gone on to become the stuff of London punk mythology, as history proports her beret-sporting swagger was on top form across the evening. Sleeve notes included by Celeste Bell, Pole Styrene's daughter, who also features on the encore of 'Oh Bondage Up Yours!', adding further weight and insight to an already iconic piece of musical history.

Review: Radiation Reissues has put plenty of effort into this welcome reissue of X-Ray Spex's seminal gig Live At The Roxy Club. It comes with remastered audio, updated artwork, and exclusive sleeve notes from original saxophonist Lora Logic almost fifty years after it was first recorded on April 2, 1977, at the legendary London venue. It was an early performance by the new wave punk icons ahead of the arrival of their debut single 'Oh Bondage Up Yours!' and their genre-defining Germfree Adolescents album. The setlist includes tunes that went on to become future hits such as 'Let's Submerge,' and 'I Live Off You,' which were both performed months before their official release. As such this record offers a rare glimpse into the band's vital formative days.

Review: Xmal Deutschland commemorate their influential 4AD years (1983-1984) with a brand new release, literally presenting us with Gift. The collection celebrates the band's profound impact on British audiences in the early 80s, marked by a unique and half-devised lyrical language, as well as a magnetic feminine mystique commandeered by the women in the group. Their breakthrough support slot with Cocteau Twins accompanied the first two albums to come out via 4AD, which grabbed audiences by the collective ear with a painter's stroke of hard-graded darkwave and goth. Gift brims with a penumbral presence, while the titular "gift" is intended as pharmakon, both a present and a poison; Xmal's music is appropriately contradictory and complex, skating thin ices of beauty and elusivity. This limited-edition 3xLP boxset includes Abbey Road remasters of their albums Fetisch and Tocsin, along with tracks from related releases like Incubus Succubus II and Qual, packaged with striking artwork and a photo booklet. The magic of Xmal Deutschland lingers like radiation and has an indelible half-life.

Review: The influential German band Xmal Deutschland are overhead rafters in the great mead hall of goth. Their propulsive successes throughout the 1980s meant the genre likely couldn't've done without them. A large band come music collective, made up of at least eight members at any given time, Xmal's formation in Hamburg and would presell audiences on a stalwart performance rep, thanks to an early tour and gig residency in support of dream pop preeminents Cocteau Twins. Rallied to fame by their goth classics 'Incubus Succubus' and 'Qual', this 2xCD review conjoins two of the earliest and most pivotal albums on which both of said singles were housed - Fetisch and Tocsin - along with tracks from other key releases, such as Incubus Succubus II. Helping blacken an otherwise dreamy time, these LPs highlight the gloomier soils of a superficially bright 1980s soundfield, which otherwise roseated by shoegaze. Photography by Kevin Cummins, Paul Slattery, Sheila Rock and more all capture the spirit.

Review: This CD edition of X Mal Deutschland highlights the Hamburg formed band in its infancy. The band started making music in 1980 and this compilation gathers their first two singles worth of music along with two special tracks off other compilations they were featured on. The band sound is unqiue and powerful - goth rock, experimental and new wave are just a few styles the tracks can verge into. In just the two years that make up this CD, you can hear the band growing from a raw experimention with sound and structure to a powerful goth rock band. A special shout out to the Sacred Bones label for trusting in their music enough to release this.

Review: Sacred Bones is one of the top indie labels around releasing some of the best variety of great music also. This time they are on the reissue mission to highlight a band that is lesser known outside Germany. Hamburg's X Mal Deutschland. The all-female band were formed in 1980 and released four albums and a handful of singles throughout the 80's. Most notably known for being on the iconic 4AD label some time and even opening for Cocteau Twins in the UK on dates. This compilations collects their first two singles and two key tracks that were featured on compilations only. Eight tracks in total that show their early sound. From experimental sounding pieces to all out Goth Rock, in just the two years this CD covers, you can hear the evolution of the band harnassing their power.

Review: X Mal Deutschland formed in Hamburg 1980 into the post punk era. Most well known for being signed to 4AD records but are slowly being discovered and enjoyed by more fans in recent years. One of the top indie labels in recent years, Sacred Bones is an ideal home to house this early compilation of their work. This package takes all three tracks from their first two singles Schwarze Welt and Incubus Succubus plus adds two other compilation only tracks in 'Allein' and 'Kalbermarsch'. The music is raw and powerful; blending a German punk sound while sprinkling in some avante-garde electronics and atmosphere. You can hear the evolution and growth in the band in just the two years this release covers. Growing from a raw band experimenting with sound and structure to a powerful goth rock band. This version is presented on beautiful purple vinyl. If you are big fan of Minimal Wave discoveries then you will be happy to add this great sounding vinyl to your collection. Thank you Sacred Bones!

Review: English band XTC served up White Music, their debut album, in 1978 having already impressed three months earlier with their debut EP. The album had modest chart success, making number 38 i the charts, and spaced the infamous single 'Statue of Liberty' which the BBC promptly banned on account of the line 'In my fantasy I sail beneath your skirt. It sure seems tame by modern standards but it helped gain the band more notoriety for their hyperactive post-punk sounds. While one reviewer at the time said the album was "aimed at bored Yes fans" it was a fine and hard to define debut that set the band in good stead.