Terminal Cheesecake

Arising from the deepest part of the U.K.'s underground noise-rock scene, Terminal Cheesecake was perhaps best known for their connections to more prominent bands like Skullflower, Godflesh, and A.R. Kane. Similar in many respects to the former two, Terminal Cheesecake offered a spacy, droning brand of neo-psychedelic noise-rock, which also drew from the trance-rock of Loop, early industrial music (particularly Throbbing Gristle, Nurse With Wound, and Chrome), British post-punk, and dub. Much more than their kindred spirits, though, Terminal Cheesecake played up the drug connections inherent in psychedelia, wrapping their music in a haze of pot smoke and LSD hallucinations; their oddly processed vocals and sheer love of strange noises only underlined the esoteric drug references in many of their titles. 

Terminal Cheesecake was founded in London in 1988 by vocalist Gary Boniface, who'd begun his career as a drummer with several rockabilly-revival outfits, then moved on to front the obscure Vibes and Purple Things. He was first joined by guitarist Russell Smith, a tangential member of the A.R. Kane / M/A/R/R/S axis. Accompanied by a virtually anonymous rhythm section, they signed to the fledgling British indie Wiiija and debuted in 1988 with the 'Bladdersack' EP (also the label's first-ever release). Their full-length bow was 1989's 'Johnny Town-Mouse', which took its title from a Beatrix Potter story. It marked the first appearance of Gordon Watson, a guest guitarist who later joined the band officially. A second LP, 'V.C.L.' (which stood for "Valium Chicken Leg"), appeared later in 1989 and featured a cover of Flipper's "Sex Bomb." 

1990's 'Angels in Pigtails' was the band's most fully realized album to date, featuring a stronger rhythm section of Watson on bass and Joe Whitney on drums. It was released on the Pathological label, which also showcased the band on a sampler compilation alongside grindcore acts like Godflesh, Carcass, and Napalm Death, as well as more experimental noisemakers like Coil and God. Russell Smith subsequently left the group, and joined Skullflower in 1992; he also played as a sideman with God from time to time. Watson took over his spot as guitarist, in front of a new rhythm section composed of bassist Steven "Fez" Fesinger and drummer Simon Doling. This core quartet would constitute Terminal Cheesecake for the remainder of their existence, starting with the 1992 album 'Pearlesque Kings of the Jewmost' (for World Serpent). The group next signed with Jackass for 1993's 'Gateau d'Espace' EP, which was followed by the full-length 'King of All Spaceheads' in 1994. This proved to be the group's final album, as they disbanded the following year; Boniface, Watson, and studio engineer Johnno "Poppa" Newman immediately reteamed as Bud Alzir, which pursued a more dub- and techno-inflected direction on their lone eponymous album. [SOURCE: ALLMUSIC]

 

Essendon Airport

Formed in Melbourne, Essendon Airport began as an instrumental electronic music duo in 1978 by Robert Goodge on lead guitar and David Chesworth on Wurlitzer electric piano and a home made drum machine, bought via the Trading Post. Both members lived in or near the suburb of Essendon, and took the name of Essendon Airport which since 1971 was no longer an international terminal (replaced by Melbourne Airport in Tullamarine). 

 

The duo version released a four-track extended play, 'Sonic Investigations (Of the Trivial)', in May 1980 on Innocent Records. The label was co-owned by Chesworth and Philip Brophy (of performance group, → ↑ →). Essendon Airport followed with a single, 'Talking to Cleopatra' (September 1980), with Anne Cessna (a.k.a. Anne Sanger) on lead vocals. 

 

Late in 1980 Essendon Airport became a four-piece, adding Ian Cox on saxophone and Paul Fletcher on drums. They performed around Melbourne's newly emerging post-punk inner-city venues such as The Crystal Ballroom, various galleries such as the George Paton, and the Clifton Hill Community Music Centre (CHCMC), a venue for experimental music, performance and film during this time. They worked closely with → ↑ →.

 

 

Embellished with Fletcher's arrhythmic drumming and Ian Cox' sweet, brittle saxophone, the four-piece provided a range of styles from extreme minimalism to plundering the hidden resonances in the popular song. Examples can be heard on the debut studio album, 'Palimpsest' (Innocent Records), which appeared in May 1982. The group also made recordings for the Fast Forward cassette magazine and a disc give-away for the Art Network magazine. 

 

Adding bass player Barabara Hogarth (from Government Drums with Willy Zygier and Richard Pleasance), the group developed material with a funk feel and performed head-lining shows at the Jump Club, and Crystal Ballroom, and toured to Sydney. No recordings by the quintet were released until 2011, when the 2× CD version of 'Palimpsest' included live and studio tracks, including a live-to-air performances on 3RRR FM from the Crystal Ballroom which was their final performance. The group disbanded in mid-1983.

 

After the dissolution of Essendon Airport, Chesworth continued performing as a soloist and in 1985 formed a new group, Whadya Want?, with Warwick Bone on synthesiser, Phillip Jackson (ex-Whirlywirld, Equal Local) on synthesiser, Bill McDonald on bass guitar and Michael Tinney on lead guitar. Goodge, Cox and Hogarth formed the nucleus of the successful pop-funk band, I'm Talking in late 1983, which included Kate Ceberano as lead vocalist. Chesworth later formed the instrumental group, The David Chesworth Ensemble, for which Goodge has occasionally performed. [SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA] 

 

The Tell-Tale Hearts

The Tell-Tale Hearts evolved from an earlier band called The Mystery Machine, featuring Mark Z (later of Manual Scan and The Shambles). Their first gig in September 1983, was also the first public show played by the Gravedigger V (though they were called The Shamen at the time). Having absorbed the sounds of such ’60s beat and punk innovators as The Animals, Georgie Fame, Them, The Yardbirds, Syndicate of Sound and a dozen others, they regurgitate carefully crafted originals that are hard to distinguish from the real thing. Singer Ray Brandes’ anguished passion, Bill Calhoun’s atmospheric organ and Eric Bacher’s spectacular raveup guitar work all make the debut album a genre classic. Bassist Mike Stax was a former member of The Crawdaddys. The band split in 1986. In late 2017, Munster Records released a seven-inch vinyl EP featuring the earliest recordings of The Tell-Tale Hearts, '517 Fourth Avenue', taped live in the studio on March 7, 1984, with a picture sleeve including liner notes by Greg Prevost. [SOURCE: SAN DIEGO READER]

 

The Moodists

The Moodists were a Melbourne, Australian post-punk band that formed in 1980, when Dave Graney, Clare Moore and Steve Miller of punk group Sputniks moved from Adelaide to Melbourne. They added bass player Chris Walsh and later added guitarist Mick Turner. After recording two singles and a six track EP for Bruce Milne and Greta Moon's Au Go Go label in Melbourne they relocated to London.

 

They then recorded the albums 'Thirstys Calling' (1984) and 'Double Life' (1985). The band supported Public Image Limited on their 1984 tour of Australia, along with punk band Box of Fish. They returned to Australia in 1985 for six months (Turner quit and reconvened his earlier group Fungus Brains; he would later form Dirty Three) and then travelled again to the UK. During this time they toured extensively through Northern Europe and also made a short tour of the United States. In 1985 they recorded an EP for Creation Records. In 1986 they released two EPs on the TIM label. 

 

All their recorded works from the time they first decamped to the northern hemisphere were produced by the band and Victor Van Vugt (who went on to work with Nick Cave, Beth Orton and PJ Harvey as well as many others). Their final gig was in London and the lineup by this time featured Dave Graney, Clare Moore and Steve Miller as well as former members of Scottish band Orange Juice: David McClymont on bass and Malcolm Ross on guitar. (Malcolm Ross was later to play with Graney and Moore as part of the original Coral Snakes). 

 

After they disbanded in 1987, Dave Graney and Clare Moore formed the first of Graney's solo groups, Dave Graney with the Coral Snakes. This band featured Malcolm Ross, Gordy Blair on bass and piano player Louis Vause. They recorded an ep for Fire Records which was produced by Barry Adamson. 

Television

Television were one of the most creative bands to emerge from New York's punk scene of the mid-'70s, creating an influential new guitar vocabulary. While guitarists Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd liked to jam, they didn't follow the accepted rock structures for improvisation -they removed the blues while retaining the raw energy of garage rock, adding complex, lyrical solo lines that recalled both jazz and rock. With its angular rhythms and fluid leads, Television's music always went in unconventional directions, laying the groundwork for many of the guitar-based post-punk pop groups of the late '70s and '80s. 

In the early '70s, Television began as The Neon Boys, a group featuring guitarist/vocalist Tom Verlaine, drummer Billy Ficca, and bassist Richard Hell. At the end of 1973, the group reunited under the name Television, adding rhythm guitarist Richard Lloyd. The following year, the band made its live debut at New York's Townhouse theater and began to build up an underground following. Soon, their fan base was large enough that Verlaine was able to persuade CBGB's to begin featuring live bands on a regular basis; the club would become an important venue for punk and new wave bands. That year, Verlaine played guitar on Patti Smith's first single, 'Hey Joe / Piss Factory', as well as wrote a book of poetry with the singer. 

Television recorded a demo tape for Island Records with Brian Eno in 1975, yet the label decided not to sign the band. Hell left the band after the recording of the demo tape, forming The Heartbreakers with former New York Dolls guitarist Johnny Thunders; the following year, he began a solo career supported by The Voidoids, releasing a debut album, 'Blank Generation', in 1977. Hell was replaced by ex-Blondie bassist Fred Smith and Television recorded 'Little Johnny Jewel', releasing it on their own Ork record label. "Little Johnny Jewel" became an underground hit, attracting the attention of major record labels. They signed with Elektra Records and began recording their debut album. 

 

'Marquee Moon', the group's first album, was released in early 1977 to great critical acclaim, yet it failed to attract a wide audience in America; in the U.K., it reached number 28 on the charts, launching the Top 40 single "Prove It." Television supported Blondie on the group's 1977 tour, but the shows didn't increase the group's following significantly. 

Television released their second album, 'Adventure', in the spring of 1978. While its American sales were better than those of 'Marquee Moon', the record didn't make the charts; in Britain, it became a Top Ten hit. Months later, the group suddenly broke up, largely due to tensions between the two guitarists. Smith rejoined Blondie, while Verlaine and Lloyd both pursued solo careers; Lloyd also played on John Doe's first solo album, as well as joined Matthew Sweet's supporting band with the 1991 album 'Girlfriend'.

 
Nearly 14 years after their breakup, Television re-formed in late 1991, recording a new album for Capitol Records. The reunited band began its comeback with a performance at England's Glastonbury summer festival in 1992, releasing 'Television' a couple months later. The album received good reviews, as did the tour that followed, yet the reunion was short-lived -the group disbanded again in early 1993. In 2001, Television again reunited for a handful of shows in the U.K., as well as an appearance at the Noise Pop Festival in Chicago. [SOURCE: ALLMUSIC] 

 

Zana

Zana is a Serbian and former Yugoslav pop group formed in Belgrade in 1979 by guitarist Radovan Jovićević, keyboardist Zoran Živanović and vocalist Zana Nimani. The first album of the group was made in artistic post punk and alternative rock style with elements of new wave and some acoustic power pop song, but did not gain much attention. Soon they turned to more commercial new wave rock with elements of synth pop or reggae and got large success. Until the mid-1980s the band had moved from their initial new wave and synthpop sound towards euro pop and pop rock. The band released several singles before their first album 'Loše Vesti Uz Rege Za Pivsku Flašu' was released for the Yugoslav major label Jugoton in 1981. During this short and less known initial period, Zana was a New Wave band and part of the Yugoslav New Wave music scene. They were featured on the compilations 'Svi Marš Na Ples!' and 'Vrući Dani i Vrele Noći'. 

 

The band and especially Zana Nimani herself gained nationwide popularity across the former Yugoslavia with their very successful second album 'Dodirni Mi Kolena' released for Jugoton in 1982. With this album, the band shifted towards a more power pop sound, thus fusing New Wave music with more radio-friendly pop. However, certain elements of the then-popular New Romantic and synthpop sound are also evident on this record. The album was recorded in Torsby, Sweden between May 20 and June 25, 1982. After the departure of Zana Nimani in 1984, Jovićević and Živanović continued to lead the band, changing vocalists. 

 

During the 1990s, Zana worked as a trio consisting of Jovićević, Živanović and vocalist Jelena Galonić. In 1999, Jovićević left the group, leaving Živanović and Galonić as the only official members of Zana. In the 2010s, Živanović and Galonić formed a new lineup, making a return to pop rock format. [SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA]

 

The X-Certs

The X-Certs were an English band formed in 1978, which originally started as a punk band. They released the track "Blue Movies" on the Heartbeat Records 1979 EP '4 Alternatives', and subsequently had "Anthem" included on the label's seminal compilation album 'Avon Calling'. They contributed two tracks to 'The Recorder', and were including reggae by the time of their 1981 Recreational Records single 'Together/Untogether'.  This was to be their last recording as they split up in early 1981 when Chris Bostock was recruited by Bernie Rhodes to play with Johnny Britton. Tracks have been re-released over the years. In 2009, the retrospective album 'Fussing & Fighting' on Bristol Archive Records was released. [SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA] 

 

Whadya Want?

Whadya Want? was an Australian synth-pop band formed by David Chesworth (born 1958, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom), an Australian-based artist and composer. He has worked as an experimental electronic musician and in the post punk band Essendon Airport, plus classical ensembles, theatre, sound installations, etc. From 1978 until 1982 Chesworth coordinated the Clifton Hill Community Music Centre in Melbourne, a centre for experimental music, performance, film and video. He also collaborates with audio/visual artist Sonia Leber, including exhibiting in the Venice and Sydney Biennales. In 1993 he formed The David Chesworth Ensemble to perform his own works. Other members of the group were Philip Jackson (ex-Equal Local and Whirlywirld) and Warwick Bone. They only released the LP 'Skippy Knows' ‎and the 7" single 'Life On TV' , both in 1985 in the Correct Records label. 

VS.

VS was the very first all girl punk band in California. Formed in early 1978, VS was the brainchild of bassist Olga DeVolga, fresh from The Offs; the other original members were Anny Unger, guitar (later to go on to The Gun Club) and Jane Weems (Insane Jane), drums (from The Maggots), as well as a few nameless guitarists. In their brief early history, VS included Carola Anderson (Rosenthal), first on sax, then later on some vocal duties. VS were in the orbit on the very early punk scene of San Francisco. They played the very first "Off Broadway" show with The Avengers and The Dils, and were the very first band to ever step onstage to play the historic 1839 Geary Temple Beautiful venue. After recording an early demo, they disintegrated, breaking off into other bands. Later incarnation of VS were to include a constant succession of other members, including men, but the first original line-up proved to be the most visually true and powerful to the original concept of Olga's. 

The Ullulators

The Ullulators are an expansive and alternative space rock / dub / world music fusion band with roots in the UK festival scene, with history going back to the late 80's. In the early days of Ozric Tentacles they had two guitarist, Ed Wynne and Gavin Griffiths. But 'this town ain't big enough for the both of us'. Gavin formed The Ullulators, sharing some bandmembers with Ozrics. Their music was considered awesome, and the tapes released at the time 90 minute gems, 'Beyond The Gates Of Ull', 'Share A Clam' and 'Monads of Mangonia'. There was also a vinyl album, 'Flaming Khaos', and a track on the 'Feed Your Head' Planet Dog compilation. Contrary to other accounts, The Ullulators played for many years after their surpposed demise, playing a small festival each summer, Having achieved cult status over the years, the band continues to release new material and spread it's diverse and expansive musical wings in the digital age. [SOURCE: LAST.FM] 

The Transmitters

The Transmitters were a British art rock/post-punk band active during the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s. Mixing elements of punk, jazz and psychedelia, the band were critical favourites throughout their lifetime and played support slots for a wide variety of underground and mainstream bands, although this did not translate into substantial commercial success. The Transmitters are also notable for featuring future members of Loop Guru and Transglobal Underground and for sharing two members with cult pop band Furniture, as well as a guest stint by Glaxo Babies vocalist Rob Chapman. Their sound was compared to (among others) The Fall, XTC, Gang of Four, This Heat and Magazine. 

 

The band formed in Ealing, West London in 1977. The original line-up was John Quinn (vocals – also known as "John Clegg", "John Grimes" or "John X"), Sam Dodson (guitar, aka "Sam Dodds"), Simon "Sid" Wells (bass), Amanda de Grey (keyboards), Jim Chase (drums) and Dexter O'Brian (lyrics – real name Christopher McHallem). Guitarists Steve Walsh (Manicured Noise) and John Guillani (from O'Brian's other band The Decorators) also stood in as live members at various times. The band's debut single was 'Party', released on Ebony Records in 1978. This was followed in the same year by the album '24 Hours'. On 29 December 1978, the band played a concert at the Electric Ballroom, Camden, supporting The Police. On 15 February 1979, they supported an early line-up of The Human League at the Nashville Rooms, West London. (Other bands played with during this period include Scritti Politti, The Birthday Party, Dolly Mixture, The Slits, Alternative TV, The Fall and Blurt.) 

 

During 1979, Dodson (along with de Grey and Wells) sometimes performed in The Good Missionaries – the art rock band led by Mark Perry, which had evolved out of Perry's previous band Alternative TV. Perry occasionally returned the favour by playing with The Transmitters. 

 

Gaining the attention and approval of DJ John Peel, the band recorded a Peel Session in 1979, following which Dexter O'Brian left the band. (Under his real name of Christopher McHallem, he would retrain as an actor and spend three years in the BBC soap opera "EastEnders", playing the character "Rod Norman" between 1987 and 1990, before branching out into screenwriting.) In September 1979, The Transmitters released two singles within the same month. The first was their last release on Ebony Records, 'Nowhere Train'. The second of the September singles was the four track EP 'Still Hunting for the Ugly Man' (on new label Step-Forward Records) which reached Number 2 in the Our Price New Wave Charts. The Transmitters played a pro-National Abortion Campaign benefit gig at the Hope & Anchor, Islington, London on 28 October 1979. The Transmitters broke up in 1980. 

 

Soon after the split a new Ealing-based band emerged, called Transmitters Presumed Dead. As the name implied this was a merger between members of Transmitters (Dodson, Wells and Chase) and members of the similarly defunct band Missing Presumed Dead (Mikel Lee and Dave Baby). Tim Whelan (one of the two singers of Furniture) was recruited to sing lead vocals. Transmitters Presumed Dead soon transformed into the second Transmitters line-up of Sam Dodson (guitar), Sid Wells (bass), Dave Baby (saxophone) and Julian Treasure (drums, ex Fish Turned Human) with Mikel Lee leaving and Rob Chapman (lead vocals, ex Glaxo Babies) replacing Tim Whelan. This band recorded a second Peel Session in 1981, as well as releasing the second Transmitters album -'And We Call That Leisure Time'- on Bristols' Heartbeat Records later in the year. (In parallel, Mikel Lee (guitar, vocals), Julian Treasure (drums), Tim Whelan (guitar, vocals) and Ian Hawkridge (bass) came together as a reinvented Missing Presumed Dead, gigging and recording their own John Peel Session in the same year which was produced by Bob Sargent and included a strong version of the original Transmitters song "0.5 Alive".) 

 

The line-up of The Transmitters continued to change over the years. Baby, Wells and Treasure all left at various points during the 1980s; Treasure was replaced by the returning Jim Chase, and Whelan also returned to the line-up (replacing Chapman). Several more musicians passed through The Transmitters during this period –including guitarist Vince Cutcliffe and keyboard player Bob Sargeant (aka "the Hand of Borgus Wheems"). Live performances were augmented by several other "floating" members –Joe Sax and theremin player John Woodley.

 

 In 1985, a Transmitters song called "Sheep Farming" became the first song to be remixed by a new worldbeat outfit called Loop Guru (which happened to be led by head Transmitter Sam Dodson). The band's final line-up (between 1987 and 1989) was Dodson, Whelan, Chase, James McQueen (bass), Dave "Mud-Demon" Muddyman (keyboards/accordion/sampler, ex-Birdloom) and Whelan's Furniture colleague Hamilton "Hami" Lee (drums, sampler). This line-up recorded tracks for a third Transmitters album which was not released during the band's lifetime. This music finally saw the light of day as 'Count Your Blessings (1987/89)', which was released as a free download album in 2006 by Portuguese digital record label You Are Not Stealing Records. The Transmitters released a 12-inch single, 'The Mechanic', on yet another label (9CC/Craving Co Productions) in 1989.  The band split up for the second time later in 1989. [SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA]