v.a. Crack – Gojira Records Complete Collection 1978-1979 LP

The six 7“es on this compilation album, all released in 1978 and ’79, are the complete output of the Mirrors-run Gozira Records. Mirrors, who also had two tracks on the Tōkyō Rockers live compilation, were the only band to release two 7“es on Gozira. Their songs range from simple, pounding punk rock on the first one to funky/off-beaty post-punky greatness on number two (this is not to say, that the first 7″ was any less great!). Mr. Kite played slow, pondering punk; their lovely track Exit B-9 was also featured on Tōkyō Rockers. Tsunematsu Masatoshi would later release more solo records and several albums while playing in E.D.P.S. Compared to his later output these two simple punk tracks are a lot less experimental. Though Flesh’s band members would later go on to play in a number of other acts, this 7“ of cheeky/snotty punk rock (with a synth) was their only release as a band. The same holds true for Maria 023, whose fast stompers are definitely the most aggressive songs on this compilation.

There are several versions of this compilation on tape, LP and CD, with different track lists, sometimes with a different album title. Some include live tracks or even one more band -Pain- from the Tōkyō New Wave ’79 compilation / the Rockers movie.

This album is pure gold.

v.a. 東京 Rockers LP

If I am not completely mistaken, Tōkyō Rockers was originally a video documenting Tōkyō’s 78/79 punk scene, with this LP of live performances being released by CBS/Sony as the soundtrack. All the bands are kind of experimental, somewhere between Post-Punk, New Wave and Punk. Friction are jangly, noisy and aggressive on this recording. They kept releasing stuff at least up into the nineties, I’m not sure if they ever split up. Mr. Kite, who seemed to have named themselves after a song by the Beatles (ack, again), are slower and more quiet, and only released one 7″ of their own. Mirrors are mid-tempo punk with somewhat dissonant guitars; they later released two 7″es. S-Ken produced psychedelic pop music with wah-wah pedals and synths, and managed to release on LP afterwards. Lizard! (exclamation mark!) are the undisputed winners on this comp with two awesome, bouncy synth-heavy tracks. Sadly missing from this compilation are SS who also recorded live tracks for this release. One song (Mr. Twist) can be found on youtube for all those who want to know just how much more awesome this -already awesome- LP could have been!

Get it!

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