2021: PAGE 1
VISIBLE FUCKER/STINKERS
'Chiba Trash Punk'
(Private Scandal)
SPLIT CD 2021
26 track split CD release from the early 90's Japanese punk archives. Featuring 2 incestious Jap punk bands who ceased existing over 12 years ago and continuing Private Scandal's quest to bring us obscure long out of print punk.
First up is Visible Fucker (don'tcha just love these band names) who were apparently leaders in the early 90's Chiba punk scene. On first impressions they so remind me of early Bad Brains, especially with lead singer Kasai's snotty vocals. They were active for just 4 years and recorded 2 demo tapes and appeared on 2 compilation CDs, for a total of 15 tracks. All of which are included on this CD. Sound wise features buzzsaw guitars and loads of energy on the opening track 'Flasher'. They also throw in some Heartbreakers inspired guitar licks as they slow things down a touch. There's no lyric sheets on the bright foldout CD insert. But you can tell by the collage of images inside featuring pix and flyers of the bands life and crimes. They are undeniably punk rock. Even if there was some lyrics you'd be hard pressed making em out, as the singers style sort of dubs them out with his mouth full of gob stoppers routine. They throw in a 999 cover of 'I'm Alive' with an interesting guitar solo in this slowed down version. There's another familiar cover too, but I just can't put my finger on it? Some of the song titles are in Japanese, but it sounds good. Strangely 'Kill The Cat' has a totally different vibe, the grind has gone on the guitars and they almost sound like one of those poxy Postcard indie bands. However the vocals are still definitly snot drenched and the solo is back in vogue and sleazy. 'Shit My Brother' heads back to a more UK82 rabid take, but by now the singing might take some getting used to. It was was novel aspect at first, but after 8 tracks his style really quickly started to grate. However the redeeming feature of this band were definitely the rare solo's which were short punk bursts in nature and definitely rescued the tracks from the vocal monotony. 'Endless Night' was a bass rumbling growler and another highlight where Kasai tried to slow down and become a sorta gumby Sean Purcell from Raped who I reckon are a bigger influence than has been mentioned before. Finally 'Groggy' ups the tempo even more.
Stinkers are ushered in who just so happen to feature the same singer. ("Oh no" I hear you cry from the stalls). They were less well known but managed to record 2 demos, both included on this CD. Kicking off with 'Speedball' and sound a lot more raw rock'n'roll inspired with a certain Maniacs allure musically on their better track 'Cashier'. However Kasai definitely ain't no Alan Lee Shaw and his vocals do start to wear you down once more after 3 or 4 numbers. Reason being you soon realise there's not gonna be any variation in tone or range from the monotonous strangled bombardment, even though the music is going off in different directions. During 'Kill Yourself' which has a load more different styles involved which can be hard to take in. They also throw in a couple more covers conveniantly hidden with Japanese titles to leave you guessing which one is it this time? Gotta say you can understand why these never got bigger than Cult Status, although track 16 was heading in a better direction despite the delivery coz those guitar licks running over the top of the rythym section were really good.
Track 17 hails the return of Visible Fucker once more with a different version of 'Kill The Cat' but I'd never have guessed, except the vocals by now were less snotty and more strangled especially with the vocal enhancement which didn't do much for our aural sanity. The hilariously titled 'Dick Is John' is a great tune probably their best, but ends up being dragged down by a tortured Mr Kasai which is a shame, coz it sounds great and the music would be so much better with a more adaptable singer.
Stinkers close this album out with some live recordings. Musically they can certainly knock a decent tune together, but it all gets sabotagued by the vocalist who by now you just knew his style wasn't ever gonna move in any direction for the better and was a relief when this 26 tracker was finally over.
I think if had to choose i'd say Visible Fucker barely nicked it, maybe if they'd tried out a different singer they could've had way more impact but in his defence Kasai did look a million dollars punk. On reflection, I have heard a few Japanese punk bands over the last few years and noticed they all like to try out different styles of punk which is great when your starting out, but you soon loose your identity and it confuses any fans you pick up along the way. Maybe that's why they mostly stay unheard of in most western punk circles?
AVERAGE!
Private Scandal
THE GODDAMNS
'Scavenger'
(Private Scandal)
2 X CD 2021
'Scavenger' is a bright pink 33 track 2 disc discography of '90's Tokyo punks The Goddamn's. Who were on the loose between 1990-2000. Obscurities like this deserve some exposure and the label that deals with such anomalies is the reputable archaeologists of the Jap punk scene Private Scandal. Who must have trawled the vaults of downtown Tokyo and bassist Inkichi's record collection combining video and audio soundtracks, plus some unreleased demo cassettes and live tracks onto this slick looking double whammy.
DISC 1
Getting things rolling is their debut 45 'Never' from 1991 with an ode to 'Dear Johnny Rotten', which is an interesting start and features a mid paced romper in a rock 'n' roll trashy format. Wasn't quite expecting Carrot the singer who does his best Rotten take on this number complete with Orange barnet to sound like this. Musically it owns a distinct Raped vibe going on with those trashy guitars and some neat solo's who I always liked. They slow things down for the metallic 'Dorei' which has a rock ballad feel which Carrot pulls off with a neat croon. Ain't got a fucking clue what any of these sings are about as they sound like they're sung in Japanese or it sounds that way with his nasal whine. But who cares, if it sounds ok. The Goddamns seem less thrashy than their contemporaries at the time who had big Disorder fixations. Maybe UK street punk hadn't quite kicked in yet? As the bass driven 'Headache' heads back into the trashy realm. Next up is 2 tracks taken from 'Fool' which was a 6 track video release they put out themselves in 1992. 'Money Money Money' ditches the Abba take and continues in the Raped vein but 'Dead Zone' has a definitive Heartbreakers swagger about it, which I like a lot, Although Carrot just can't keep in key, which would've made this song so much better like the bass driven arrogance it deploys. Their second EP 'Look At The Pretty Face' from 1993 continues in trash city on 'No Ecstasy In Japan' which is a lot more faster and energetic. 'Helpless' has an almost '77 confidence about it which is a good technique. However by now they lost a few members shortly after, but came back once again with a new line-up in 1997 and released the 4 tracker EP 'Da, Da, Da' which sounds a little more experimental with break downs and drum solos. The guitars are less beefy for the first couple of numbers. I liked the way the guitars added a certain PIL (circa Keith Levine) element to some of the tracks. Best tracks however were 'Lady Judy' and 'Ramblin Fish' with those beefier guitars coming back into play to create tension amidst good backing vocals. Meanwhile ending on a high with an almost anthem in 'Feel It All Tonight' which sounds like it would've been a great live number.
DISC 2
Features 17 unreleased tracks dating from 1997-98 plus 9 live recordings from April 28 1992. Obviously with demo's the sound quality drops a bit, but gives us a good impression of what they were capable of. 'POL' is a good start and stands out as being the best from this first session but 'El Dorado' also gives it a good run for it's money. 'No Varied Head' from '98 is a better sound as Carrot curls his lips around his 'r's'. 'Risky Game' is another neat demo track that shows loads of potential. Carrots vocals seem to come to the forefront as do the band as a whole on this session. They seem to have got that dynamic together just right. 'At Random' is great it's a shame these were their last recordings and were soon to split up in 2000. I thought these later demo sessions showed a lot better songs were coming through than the earlier official releases with well timed rowdy choruses. We finally finish off with a 9 set live recording which is not the best quality but gives you an instant snapshot of what they could do in a live setting and as no surprise its an explosive glimpse. The guitars sound great as they end with a rowdy version of 'Anarchy In The Uk' which uncannily sounds like one of those early bootleg Pistols recordings except the bassplying was better than Sids lol. Talking of which bass guitarist Inkichi was interviewed in issue #5 of Private Scandal fanzine and he reckons only a 100 people in the world will be interested in this CD and he could well be right, but with songs like 'No Varied Head' or 'At Random' lets make that 101! Coz they are a lot better than some of the crap I heard over the last couple of years. However 33 tracks is by anyone's standards a long haul.
WORTH A LISTEN!
Private Scandal
