Records

Rip It Up, Issue 72, 1 July 1983, Page 26

Records

Neil Cartwright

Various Artists Riotous Assembly Peter and the Test-Tube Babies Pissed and Proud No Future The British “New Punk" invasion of the colonies continues. Riotous Assembly has a great cover. Musically, it gives the listener a chance to hear very average up-and-coming bands as they sounded almost a year ago in the land of red, white and blue. Some good, some bad. NZ bands like No Tag, Zyklon B, Aftershock and Flesh D-vice would blow away any band on this album can anyone get together an NZ compilation? The boys are out tonight" that line from an early Blitz song gives some idea of what Pissed and Proud is all about. Unless you have heard some earlier studio efforts (not as yet available in this country) from Peter and his band you may find it difficult to take an instant liking to this live document of tongue in cheek herbert hysteria. Still, if you enjoy goodhumoured punk ballads then pull up a crate of elephant beer, throw this on your stereo and turn up the volume. A record which captures, live and loud, all their "hits" and basically portrays the band as they are meant to sound. Honest noise pissed and proud.

Gerald Dwyer

Secret Life of Punk Secret The Business Suburban Rebels Secret Compilations are like lucky dips a mixture of prizes and junk spot the prizes. Infa Riot, Blitz, 4 Skins, Partisans are among the winners on this release. At the bottom of the pile is a journalist's pathetic joke band (Gonads) and the moronic Exploited (although one of their real songs 'Army Life' is featured here). All the tracks have been previously released, but since most are unavailable here it's not such a swindle for New Zealanders. The good outweighs the bad generally appealing. As with Secret Life, Suburban Rebels has a tacky, cheap cover, ignore it, the Business have potential though some of these songs are boring. The titles sound good 'Work or Riot', 'Sabotage The Hunt', but often they fall into sloganeering choruses instead of lyrics.

Musically they opt for a slower approach than many with singaiong choruses and a noticeable Sham influence. Picks of the bunch are 'Blind Justice', 'Another Rebel Dead' and the wonderful Harry May'.