Various Artists Four Stars (****)
- Released
- 24th March 2022
Michael's Pick
View All Staff PicksFormat Info
- LP - black vinyl
Almost like the Wellington, New-Zealand version of Buntingford’s Long Playing Record, Four Stars (often called ****) finds lesser names of the Wellington scene recorded in fine form in 1980.
Like their English counterparts, there’s enough charisma and charm in this one small city than is humanly possible or fair. Beat Rhythm Fashion sound a little like Pere Ubu or Mission Of Burma, while Life In The Fridge Exists feel like they’ve lost the Kiwi sun and discovered their goth but in that way in 1980 that it wasn’t so cliched and codified yet. Naked Spots Dance are bordering on No Wave, all single string guitars and Y-Pants, cluttering percussion with a pissed off sounding female vocal under threat of being smothered by the doomy band.
A holy grail item amongst deep NZ collectors, the **** comp was pretty much rare right outta the gate back in 1980. Released on the legendary Sausage label (Six Impossible Things, anyone?) in a minuscule edition of 250, most copies never made it out of Wellington. **** documents the city’s ‘Terrace Scene’, which is one way of saying these bands bear zero relation to either the Gordons or Shoes This High. 13 tracks found nowhere else & offer up a fantastic snapshot of a phenomenal DIY scene most people never knew existed. Naked Spots Dance & Beat Rhythm Fashion would go on to release records, but the efforts here are my favorite. Wallsockets clock in w/3 tracks & make you wonder, is there more? Life In The Fridge Exists may be familiar to some from their inclusion of Bruce Russell’s ‘and the maggots dance’ podcast & that track (+1 one other) is included here.
Sorry!
Four Stars (****) – Various Artists is no longer in stock
Other Releases by Various Artists
-
Bob Stanley & Pete Wiggs Present: Incident At A Free Festival
Bob Stanley & Pete Wiggs Present: Incident At A Free Festival
-
25 Years Of Optimo
25 Years Of Optimo
-
I still can't believe you're gone
I still can't believe you're gone
-
If There's Hell Below
If There's Hell Below
-
Mondo Organico
Mondo Organico
-
Sad About The Times
Sad About The Times
-
In The Light Of Time
In The Light Of Time
-
Searchlight Moonbeam
Searchlight Moonbeam
-
Help
Help
-
The Virgin Suicides (Music From The Motion Picture)
The Virgin Suicides (Music From The Motion Picture)
-
V4 Visions: Of Love & Androids
V4 Visions: Of Love & Androids
-
...Still Sad
...Still Sad
-
Hearts For Sale - Girl Group Sounds USA 1961-167
Hearts For Sale - Girl Group Sounds USA 1961-167
-
Vigilantia: What Happens When Artists And Writers Pay Attention To Mogwai
Vigilantia: What Happens When Artists And Writers Pay Attention To Mogwai
-
A Majik Moment
A Majik Moment
-
Jacques Tati Swing!
Jacques Tati Swing!
-
Barbie - OST
Barbie - OST
-
Written On The Wall - American Soul Vol 7. 1958-74
Written On The Wall - American Soul Vol 7. 1958-74
-
The Love You Save - American Soul Music Vol. 1 1955-72
The Love You Save - American Soul Music Vol. 1 1955-72
-
Eccentric Northern Soul
Eccentric Northern Soul
-
YO! BOOMBOX: Early Independent Hip Hop, Electro And Disco Rap 1979-83
YO! BOOMBOX: Early Independent Hip Hop, Electro And Disco Rap 1979-83
-
Nuggets: 50th Anniversary
Nuggets: 50th Anniversary
-
Cease & Resist - Sonic Subversion & Anarcho Punk In The UK 1979-86
Cease & Resist - Sonic Subversion & Anarcho Punk In The UK 1979-86
-
Unbroken Melodies: Various Artists Out Of Norfolk, Virginia
Unbroken Melodies: Various Artists Out Of Norfolk, Virginia
-
Cairo Vol. 9: This Is The Place
Cairo Vol. 9: This Is The Place
-
Happy Land (A Compendium Of Electronic Music From The British Isles 1992-1996 Volume 1)
Happy Land (A Compendium Of Electronic Music From The British Isles 1992-1996 Volume 1)
-
Studio One Space-Age Dub Special
Studio One Space-Age Dub Special
-
Time Is Away Present: Ballads
Time Is Away Present: Ballads
-
Longing for the Shadow: Ryūkōka Recordings, 1921-1939
Longing for the Shadow: Ryūkōka Recordings, 1921-1939
-
Artificial Intelligence: Electronic Listening Music from Warp
Artificial Intelligence: Electronic Listening Music from Warp
-
Pete Wiggs and Bob Stanley Present: Winter Of Discontent
Pete Wiggs and Bob Stanley Present: Winter Of Discontent
-
Southeast Of Saturn Vol 2
Southeast Of Saturn Vol 2
-
The Telstar Story: Joe Meek's Tea Chest Tapes
The Telstar Story: Joe Meek's Tea Chest Tapes
-
Padang Moonrise: The Birth of the Modern Indonesian Recording Industry (1955-69)
Padang Moonrise: The Birth of the Modern Indonesian Recording Industry (1955-69)
-
SEX - We Are Not In the Least Afraid of Ruins
SEX - We Are Not In the Least Afraid of Ruins
-
The Truth Is A Lie: American Soul Music 1955-1972
The Truth Is A Lie: American Soul Music 1955-1972
-
Ghost Riders
Ghost Riders
-
The River's Invitation
The River's Invitation
-
Neuro-Defragmentation
Neuro-Defragmentation
-
Music For The Stars (Celestial Music 1960-1979)
Music For The Stars (Celestial Music 1960-1979)
-
Anime & Manga Synth Pop Soundtracks 1984-1990
Anime & Manga Synth Pop Soundtracks 1984-1990
-
Afro Psych: Journeys Into Psychedelic Africa 1972 - 1977
Afro Psych: Journeys Into Psychedelic Africa 1972 - 1977
-
Stranger Things: Vol 4.
Stranger Things: Vol 4.
-
Silberland Kosmische Musik Vol 1
Silberland Kosmische Musik Vol 1
-
End Of The Road Present: Between The Music
End Of The Road Present: Between The Music
-
Polyphonic Cosmos: Sonic Innovations In Japan (1980-1986) (Compiled By JD Twitch)
Polyphonic Cosmos: Sonic Innovations In Japan (1980-1986) (Compiled By JD Twitch)
-
Alien Parade Japan
Alien Parade Japan
-
Mr Bongo Record Club Vol 5
Mr Bongo Record Club Vol 5
-
Sharayet El Disco
Sharayet El Disco
-
Belle (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Belle (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
-
Almost Famous 20th Anniversary OST
Almost Famous 20th Anniversary OST
-
Love Glasgow Hate Racism: Lockdown Sessions
Love Glasgow Hate Racism: Lockdown Sessions
-
Music From Saharan Whatsapp
Music From Saharan Whatsapp
-
Greensleeves Ganja Anthems
Greensleeves Ganja Anthems
-
Franco Nero
Franco Nero
-
The Buntingford Long Playing Record
The Buntingford Long Playing Record
-
Swifter Than The Moon's Sphere: English Fairy Lore
Swifter Than The Moon's Sphere: English Fairy Lore
-
Pop Psychedelique
Pop Psychedelique
-
Do You Believe It? American Soul Music 1960 - 1972
Do You Believe It? American Soul Music 1960 - 1972
-
Labyrinth Of Memories
Labyrinth Of Memories
-
Summer Of Soul (Original Soundtrack)
Summer Of Soul (Original Soundtrack)
-
Jon Savage's 1977-1979: Symbols Clashing Everywhere
Jon Savage's 1977-1979: Symbols Clashing Everywhere
-
FAME: Jon Savage's History of Post Punk, 1978-1981
FAME: Jon Savage's History of Post Punk, 1978-1981
-
Licorice Pizza
Licorice Pizza
-
Americana Railroad
Americana Railroad
-
Standing In The Shadows Volume 2
Standing In The Shadows Volume 2
-
Somewhere Between Somewhere Between: Mutant Pop, Electronic Minimalism & Shadow Sounds of Japan 1980-1988
Somewhere Between Somewhere Between: Mutant Pop, Electronic Minimalism & Shadow Sounds of Japan 1980-1988
-
Fire Draw Near: An Anthology Of Irish Traditional Song And Music
Fire Draw Near: An Anthology Of Irish Traditional Song And Music
-
Do You Have The Force? Jon Savage's Alternate History Of Electronica 1978-82
Do You Have The Force? Jon Savage's Alternate History Of Electronica 1978-82
-
Intermission
Intermission
-
Jon Savage’s 1972-1976: All Our Times Have Come
Jon Savage’s 1972-1976: All Our Times Have Come
-
Ghost World OST
Ghost World OST
-
Studio One Soul (RSD 2021)
Studio One Soul (RSD 2021)
-
Spiritual Jazz 13 Now! Pt. 1
Spiritual Jazz 13 Now! Pt. 1
-
Spiritual Jazz 13 Now! Pt. 2
Spiritual Jazz 13 Now! Pt. 2
-
Strong Love: Songs Of Gay Liberation 1972 - 1981
Strong Love: Songs Of Gay Liberation 1972 - 1981
-
Paura: A Collection Of Italian Horror Sounds From The CAM Sugar Archive
Paura: A Collection Of Italian Horror Sounds From The CAM Sugar Archive
-
After Dark 3
After Dark 3
You might also like…
-
Various Artists The Buntingford Long Playing Record
Various Artists The Buntingford Long Playing Record