booksmusicfilmstv.com: Home Books Music Films TV
booksmusicfilmstv.com Underground & Indie Music Index
Andy Xport - Anarcho-Punk Gtrrr Maestro Still Turning 'Em On Man's Hate Productions I.S.C. Tape SeriesAnarcho-punk guitar maestro Andy Xport was one of the stalwarts of the underground tape scene of the 1980s, and is now proving a wow with a new audience on MySpace. Also in the mid-'80s, Andy launched his respected International Sound Communication (I.S.C.) Tapes, which featured all sounds under the sun, from all around the world. Among the artists featured on the compilations were Blyth Power, Thatcher On Acid, Donald Campau, Lord Litter, and the then unknown Chumbawamba, with their early classic, 'Shovelling Shit'. Personally I remember Andy having thousands of tapes under his bed, because he just didn't have room anywhere else for 'em! In all there were 15 compilations put together in just a few years. Paul Rance on some recent Andy Xport Songs Ma*onna Bought My Babies He's Armless Bite Back Consume Gods On Our Side Brave Neu World Andy Xport He's Armless Video Andy Xport - Still Shakin' The Bush Boss! (Man's Hate Productions/CD)
"Take your chip and shove it up your ass" - 'Brave Neu World' Frankenangel's ultra sublime cover (it's right up there with 'Sgt. Pepper'!) means that the music inside has a lot to live up to, but it's glorious. A glorious kicking is given to that cold, unfeeling monolith that is the Establishment, and the music is as good if not better than when Andy's last album 'Turning Pleasantly Numb' came out in '89. This is an internetised Andy Xport, utilising snippets from comedian Mark Thomas, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, and The Ramones, plus covering 'Consume' by Cress, and, if I'm correct, Andy's first love song is on here, 'Kisses Never Lie', with lyrics by Tim Eldridge. Lots of snippets of dreadful people talking garbage, from 'war hero' prince harry to tony bliar doing a 'funny' turn with Catherine Tate. The only weakness of this album is the dreadful people - I'd rather not hear these idiots. They've said enough already, though they do their best to hoist themselves by their own petards here! Best tracks are 'Widow Six Seven' and 'Royal Fellowship Of Death', which both have a great driving guitar rhythm, and 'Widow Six Seven' has a fabulous spatial sound halfway through. 'Brave Neu World' is the most inventive song on the album, appropriately robotic as it's about Big Brother creeping into our society, especially with ID cards. Pretty much everything is covered here - global warming/animal cruelty ('Bite Back' - a catchy grower, which I was humming cutting the hedge!), celebs buying babies ('Madonna Bought My Babies'), the arms trade ('He's Armless'), the hypocrisy and divisiveness of religion ('God's On Our Side Not Yours'), the sheep-like consumer society ('Consume'), lying world leaders desperate to get their hands on Iraqi oil ('Sexed Up'), and using the internet to fight back ('Internet Warriors'). 'Better Class Of Yob' is a wistful, autobiographical finale, that maybe takes a bit longer than some of the others to grab you, but I found myself singing that one over and over to myself in Spalding town centre, but then I've never really stopped singing Andy Xport songs. Like Angelo Gravity, Andy just writes songs that stay in your head. Andy Xport has always had the ability to write catchy, sometimes witty songs about not necessarily cheery subjects, and his trademark has always been lively tunes combined with his poignant vocals. You look at the lyrics, and you are expecting hardcore punk or death metal! But this is a tuneful collection of counter culture songs - 21st Century style. The full colour accompanying lyric sheet is also impressive, with some amusing, disturbing artwork, photos and snippets. The noble Man's Hate monkey (time for a T-shirt) makes an appearance on the CD label. - Paul Rance/booksmusicfilmstv.com.
Man's Hate Reviews & Track Listings Demo (Cassette) Four tracks containing excellent emotive titles:- 'Men And Women On Horses With Dogs', 'President Botha Kills Children As Well', 'Dewhurst The Master Bastard (butcher)' and 'A Dog's Tale'. Powerful stuff to be sure, but not thrash punk; straight to the point lyrically. Fox-hunting, meat-eating racists would hate it, but for the rest of us, bon appetit. - Paul Rance, Peace & Freedom, No. 4, Summer/Autumn 1986 Suffer In Silence (Cassette) Mr. Straight in potent form. 'Overdose' is a high-energy humdinger, while 'Burn The Flag' shows a Mantovani influence, with some gossamer guitar. 'Suffer In Silence' winds things up - strong tune and words, if a little over-long. Never get a lift from this guy if you've got a weak heart... - Paul Rance, Peace & Freedom, No. 4, Summer/Autumn 1986 Love Me (Cassette) 21 revolutionary trax in just 60 mins. Some natty guitar lines from Peterborough's Hendrix, with some Rottenesque words betwixt. - Paul Rance, Peace & Freedom, Vol. 5, No. 1, Summer 1987
Turning Pleasantly Numb (Cassette) Andy thunders along on his 1,000cc, no easy riders here! 'Frying Tonight' contains the usual catchy guitar riffs, and vocals bursting out. The expertly produced 'Plane Crash' has some stunning effects. While 'Rocket to the Moon' is a slower, melodic track that is performed perfectly. '2009' has a delicate, uplifting quality to it. - Andy Bruce, Peace & Freedom, Vol. 6, No. 2, Summer 1989
Raiders of the Stolen Hearts (Cassette) Great album, and one of the best indie releases I've heard. Well-produced, but too much snob appeal is given to that side of music - it's the quality of songs that really count and these are great. Lot of depth, good tunes, fine playing. - Paul Rance, Peace & Freedom, Vol. 5, No. 1, Summer 1987 1987 Man's Hate - Raiders of the stolen hearts (C60 cassette album) Track Listing
Forward Into the Abyss (Cassette) Some more diamonds from the one-man legend, Anders Xport. Hard to believe this band isn't really die ein groupe mannen. The songs are strong and tuneful without falling into the bland category. The lyrics, socially aware, I hope that is still not too unhip to say so? The playing leaves a lot of pro's pluckings behind in the S. Quo G, C, G7 chord book... It doesn't really need good vocals to successfully put over something when everything is so strong elsewhere, but this contains vocals of quality, too. "Porton Down", "The Struggle", "Murder Most Fowl", "Suburbia" and "Hobo" are memorabilia for years to come. - Paul Rance, Peace & Freedom, Vol. 5, No. 3, Spring/Summer 1988 Consume - Man's Hate
Featuring: Rob Marriott: Vocal; Andy Xport: Guitars, Bass, Vocal; Penny Rimbaud: Drums. 2007 |
This website is designed by booksmusicfilmstv.com.