You got to respect a band that opened up for such phenomenal acts like Ultravox, XTC and Fingerprintz(I must post something from this excellent band). And that they gigged with the Bureaucrats is nothing to be ashamed of either. But no matter what bands Canadas Red Squares played with, their one and only single stand as one of the greatest moment in Canadian punk history. Everything I know about them is from the great booklet that follows Smash The State Volume 3. The single came from the pressing plants with reversed labels as a result some band member attacked “…some copies with exacto knives, slicing the song titles out and gluing them on the proper side.” The pressing of the sleeve fucked up too so less then 250 copies came with the sleeve you can see here.

“I can’t stand the vacant stares. The vacant people with their vacant cares. The government girls and the government guys. In the government suits telling government lies. Automatic pleasure and automated pain. Automatic, instamatic, kodacolour brain.” -Ottawa Today. Pure poetry. Two classics for you to enjoy.

Country: Canada
Year: 1978
Label: Double Helix
Format: 7″
Songs:
Ottawa Today.mp3
Transmitter.mp3

I’m in a finnish mood. Maybe it’s all the sauna I’m doing after the work out at my job. Or maybe it’s the wish for drunken punx with mohawks redesigning my flat to look like a dumpster? Studs on the floor, broken bottles in the kitchen, crusty hair in the sink, leather jackets (with Discharge and Conflict written on the back) serving as wallpapers. Anyway, Nukketeatteri released one(?) 7inch that I also decided to keep among the finnish stuff post 1982. Especially for the first song Lopettakka!!!. Whatever that means it’s a fantastic song with nasty production. The treble is set to the max.

En halu tehda itsermurhaa is forgettable but the other tracks are pretty great too. When ordering this from Welmu(vocals) he sent me three Nukketeatteri leaflets that would be really fun to know what they say. Perkelle sataana.

Country: Finland
Year: 1982
Label: Self Released
Format: 7″
Songs:
Lopettakaa!!!.mp3
En halua tehda itsemurhaa.mp3
Joku valehtelee.mp3
Jos sota tulee.mp3

Like a Swedish answer to Geza X’s The Deadbeats. This has to be one of the most underrated Swedish gems out there. Observation galen is such an instant hit. This is their only “punk” release but from what I remember when seeing them on the telly in the early 80’s they had some more punky tunes. They quiet fast went into a more synth direction which I happen to like a lot too. Their first LP Dada Koko still has some punk in it so it might be worth checking out for some visitors here. Their second LP 4668 is great but more of a darker synth album. Listen to the very special guitar playing on Isolatorer that became kind of a trademark for CO. After awhile they evolved into the two man synth band Twice A Man which still today did some of the greatest gigs I’ve been to visually.

Country: Sweden
Year: 1980
Label: Silence
Format: 7″
Songs:
Observation galen.mp3
Isolatorer.mp3

As far as I’m concerned few guitarist have used feedback in such a creative way in punk as David Hill of Texas Non Compos Mentis. I have a hard time choosing a fave here. While Ultimate Orgasm just hits you in the face as the obvious hit Twist The Blades tasteful contrast between the calm verse and the catchy chorus is just as hard to resist.

Their second single is not as good as this but not as bad as it’s reputation and deserves a post later on. If we’re talking THE best song by N.C.M. nothing beats the furious Six Feet Under included on the Sacred Cattle compilation. Check it out and listen to the instant drive of the bass drum! Who needs double bass drums ha ha.

Here’s Break My Face clearing some things up:
http://www.breakmyface.com/ine/ncm.html

Country: USA
Year: 1980
Label: VVV
Format: 7″
Songs:
Ultimate Orgasm.mp3
Twist The Blade.mp3

The obscure and unknown stuff is the funniest stuff to post cause hopefully a lot more people will get to hear it and will shake their heads just as I do and think “why wasn’t these guys better known”. Still there’s so much stuff that are quiet known to most of the people visiting this site but still have escaped the radar of many punk consumers. Especially the younger boys and girls cuming ops! coming here I think. Satans Rats might be such a band that many have heard about but never got around listening to. I must say that the discography released a couple of years ago What A Bunch Of Rodents didn’t do much for me. The only great tracks are the ones found on their three 7″s and the mastering job made them sound kind of dead.

Satans first 7″ In My Love For You was posted a long time ago but needs a repost since I only uploaded the b-side. I think this is their second release? The Rats would’ve fitted perfectly on the Raw label. In the same urgent and inspirational vein as The Users, Killjoys etc. Excellent production by Vic Maile who among other things produced Ace Of Spades by Motorhead and gave The Jam their killer sound.

Recommended read:
http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/satan2.htm
“Fuck off-you’re nobodies,” they shrieked
“Fuck off yourselves,” I replied
“We want the Pistols.”
“Never mind the Pistols, we’re Satan’s Rats.”
“We want the Pistols.”
“Fuck off and find them.”

Country: UK
Year: 1978
Label: DJM
Format: 7″
Songs:
You Make Me Sick.mp3
Louise.mp3