Prank has not updated it's website with the new stuff yet because We sold out of the new Gauze 12" in record time on the basis of sending out a message on our Yahoo group ( where new prank releases are always announced first in a bulk email) and a few internet posts. There are still copies at NO IDEA, Havoc, PAINKILLER, Moo Cow Records 16oh, Sorry State, Sound Idea Brickwall, Velted regnub and more. La Vida Es Musin London Will have these shortly. This record is currently being re-pressed.
WORLD BURNS TO DEATH " The Graveyard Of Utopia" is also currently sold out at Prank, but available at all of those places and more. WB2D thank everyone who showed up at their Shows in Europe, and we're now working on both a japanese and european version of their new LP.
PAINTBOX colored vinyl is still available through prank direct. Write for details. AVSKUM "Uppror Underifran" Lp/CD should be done any day.
Showing posts with label Gauze. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gauze. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
GAUZE U.S. TOUR in 1996....Part 2!
In retrospect, it was often asked if that show was TOO BIG for epicenter, same time they had done sold out capacity shows with everyone from BIKINI KILL to THE MAKEUP, so it didn't seem too ridiculous to book the show there, though I remember a little sense of foreboding going into it.It was a word of mouth show with no flyers, no listing in the vital bay area concert calendar "the list".
After the epicenter Fiasco, the band wanted a day of sight seeing- Japanese bands often requests days off between gigs as most don't commonly play day after day tours in Japan, THEN the recording of the prank single- (the photo of most of His Hero is gone, Katie G. Warrior and I with Gauze in their fourth LP is outside the iron Gate to Polymorph studios, taken at the end of the night they recorded), and the night before they left they were interviewed at the last minute at the Hotel they stayed at for MRR, with Ayumi Nakanishi helping translate for the interview that did not appear until the April 1997 issue of MRR. Gauze rarely, if ever, grants interviews, even in Japan, so it was quite an honor, though in retrospect I wish I'd had more time to prepare for it as there's even MORE questions I'd want to ask them now.
We then put them on a flight for Minneapolis the next day on September 10th and I took a seperate flight that routed through Dallas or Houston- I remember that I had a incredibly short connection, so had to run full steam with all this merchandise through this giant airport, otherwise Gauze would arrive at the show without me and stuff to sell, Show promoter Felix Von Havoc picked me up at the airport and took me over to the Bomb Shelter where the show was scheduled later that day.
The bomb Shelter was in a hot basement in a dodgy area of Minneapolis. Pat Davis, the original guitarist of His Hero is Gone had been attacked walking around the neighborhood there earlier that summer with a baseball bat but fended off the guy. After the show there there was a random fist fight of just neighborhood people across the street. They had been having trouble with the Police and noise complaints there, so it was decided Gauze would play early in the bill, with State of Fear playing before and then Code 13 playing afterwards. This show was video taped by a single camera angle, but decent quality and circulated in the midwest as a bootleg DVD in the past few years. Despite my efforts to stagehand, The place was small, packed and someone flew through the audience and into the drum kit ( and sent the cymbals into Hiko, Gauze's drummer) which did not go over well- You made GAUZE STOP PLAYING! but they set the equipment up again and continued.
Jack Control ( of Mind Control records/ Later World Burns to Death) drove a crew of people up from Texas for this show.We stayed with a gracious host from MISERY and spent the next day with Dan From profane playing tour guide at the Mall of america buying souveniers ,at the bar in the mall of America and later trying to find good Sake in Minneapolis ( which on short notice, at least, was impossible). The next day We flew to Chicago, again on separate flights.
The Chicago show on September 12th was set up by Martin of Los Crudos, but the problem with the show in Chicago was that CRUDOS was on tour in Japan at the time of the show. Martin had friends pick us up in this amazingly cruddy van that could not go more than 15 or 20 miles an hour or the engine would jump and stop. It stopped a lot anyway. Chicago is huge, so it was a long stop and start ride through Side streets from Midway Airport over to O'hare Airport to pick up Gauze and then back to the gig, But that aside, these friends took really great care of us. Their Show was that day at the Fireside bowl , but as they used to do, GAUZE was-suprising to us- the early show and there was some sort of Indie or garage rock show later. The fireside bowl was an Actual large bowling alley ( and now, apparently has been refurbished to JUST be that) with the lanes closed off and the bands played in the smaller area between the lanes and the snack bar.
Great chicago band MK ULTRA and Indianpolis' ICE NINE, who were working towards finishing writing a prank LP at the time ( this Lp was never recorded, though demos for some of the tracks appear as unreleased tracks on the phenomenal and recommended discography on Happy Couples never last) opened. Gauze played a great set, and jumped back on stage to play "children fxxk off" for two people from Montreal that showed up during the last song.The photo of Shin from the old Prank Poster catalogs is from this show, as well as a few photos on the insert of their fourth LP.
There was a small turnout at this Chicago show- 100 to 150 people. it might have been that it was not promoted properly with in Chicago with Crudos gone, Crudos at the time could draw between 300-500 people themselves at the fireside and maybe overestimated the draw the show would have. In retrospect it was the same as I felt New York would've been, though people like Wedge from Nine shocks terror came with a bunch of the Ohio punk people and Brian drummer from
Dropdead ( who came all the way from Rhode Island and back on greyhound)all figured it out to make it to the show. Dan and profane existence crew, so blown away by the Minneapolis show, drove down for this show ( an eight hour drive both ways!) as well.
In retrospect I can't find the MRR ads which were the primary way the tour was advertised, but it was maybe Naviete on my part that that was enough, same time there was not a broad reach of the internet in the way that there is now.The other cities were chosen for where we thought the strongest response would be.It was a different time as hardcore was still climbing out of it's collapse in the mid to late 80's and reestablishing itself as a viable music force , so the venues were whatever you could find to make it work. Prank had maybe five releases at the time of this tour,and not the broad wealth of contacts it has now.
It was also a really different time for acceptance of Japanese hardcore- it was more of a cult thing with a small group of fans, opposed to the overarching influence it has on the US and international punk scene it has now. Boxes of Gauze's only previous U.S. release, their appearance on pusmort's U.S. pressing of " thrash til death" had been clearanced for $2 apiece at Epicenter and Vacuuum mailorder a few years earlier. The JPC bootleg CD was circulating, but I think most copies of those were just shipped to japan- there were 2,000-3,000 of those made with a $6 wholesale and maybe a $2 production costs tops and after putting out a call through Vaccuum Mailorder, Gauze was generously provided 25 copies for their tour. Do the math...Well, better than nothing. FXXK the bootlegger.
In a way, I think this tour, as well as early to mid-90's West coast tours by Gaia, Assfort, Slight Slappers, Romantic Gorilla, Wag Platy, The Heck, Smash Your Face, FxxK on the Beach,Corrupted as well as Later tours on the East coast by DSB and Assualt that turned the corner towards acceptance of and later total obsession with Japanese punk in the U.S. scene.
Gauze flew back the next day on Friday, So were in the US a total of seven or eight days including the days they arrived and left. I stayed in the Pilsen over the weekend. Saturday was Mexican Independence day, and Martin's roomates cleared out for family events and I ended going to a nearby theatrical production of the OPTIC NERVE comics books that was in walking distance from their place. Fate would have it I ran into a friend of a friend I had met the year before in the Bay Area at this play, completely at random, who is now my wife and the better part of prank. Gauze declined to play our wedding five years ago, simply replying "Gauze is not wedding band"!!!
After the epicenter Fiasco, the band wanted a day of sight seeing- Japanese bands often requests days off between gigs as most don't commonly play day after day tours in Japan, THEN the recording of the prank single- (the photo of most of His Hero is gone, Katie G. Warrior and I with Gauze in their fourth LP is outside the iron Gate to Polymorph studios, taken at the end of the night they recorded), and the night before they left they were interviewed at the last minute at the Hotel they stayed at for MRR, with Ayumi Nakanishi helping translate for the interview that did not appear until the April 1997 issue of MRR. Gauze rarely, if ever, grants interviews, even in Japan, so it was quite an honor, though in retrospect I wish I'd had more time to prepare for it as there's even MORE questions I'd want to ask them now.
We then put them on a flight for Minneapolis the next day on September 10th and I took a seperate flight that routed through Dallas or Houston- I remember that I had a incredibly short connection, so had to run full steam with all this merchandise through this giant airport, otherwise Gauze would arrive at the show without me and stuff to sell, Show promoter Felix Von Havoc picked me up at the airport and took me over to the Bomb Shelter where the show was scheduled later that day.
The bomb Shelter was in a hot basement in a dodgy area of Minneapolis. Pat Davis, the original guitarist of His Hero is Gone had been attacked walking around the neighborhood there earlier that summer with a baseball bat but fended off the guy. After the show there there was a random fist fight of just neighborhood people across the street. They had been having trouble with the Police and noise complaints there, so it was decided Gauze would play early in the bill, with State of Fear playing before and then Code 13 playing afterwards. This show was video taped by a single camera angle, but decent quality and circulated in the midwest as a bootleg DVD in the past few years. Despite my efforts to stagehand, The place was small, packed and someone flew through the audience and into the drum kit ( and sent the cymbals into Hiko, Gauze's drummer) which did not go over well- You made GAUZE STOP PLAYING! but they set the equipment up again and continued.
Jack Control ( of Mind Control records/ Later World Burns to Death) drove a crew of people up from Texas for this show.We stayed with a gracious host from MISERY and spent the next day with Dan From profane playing tour guide at the Mall of america buying souveniers ,at the bar in the mall of America and later trying to find good Sake in Minneapolis ( which on short notice, at least, was impossible). The next day We flew to Chicago, again on separate flights.
The Chicago show on September 12th was set up by Martin of Los Crudos, but the problem with the show in Chicago was that CRUDOS was on tour in Japan at the time of the show. Martin had friends pick us up in this amazingly cruddy van that could not go more than 15 or 20 miles an hour or the engine would jump and stop. It stopped a lot anyway. Chicago is huge, so it was a long stop and start ride through Side streets from Midway Airport over to O'hare Airport to pick up Gauze and then back to the gig, But that aside, these friends took really great care of us. Their Show was that day at the Fireside bowl , but as they used to do, GAUZE was-suprising to us- the early show and there was some sort of Indie or garage rock show later. The fireside bowl was an Actual large bowling alley ( and now, apparently has been refurbished to JUST be that) with the lanes closed off and the bands played in the smaller area between the lanes and the snack bar.
Great chicago band MK ULTRA and Indianpolis' ICE NINE, who were working towards finishing writing a prank LP at the time ( this Lp was never recorded, though demos for some of the tracks appear as unreleased tracks on the phenomenal and recommended discography on Happy Couples never last) opened. Gauze played a great set, and jumped back on stage to play "children fxxk off" for two people from Montreal that showed up during the last song.The photo of Shin from the old Prank Poster catalogs is from this show, as well as a few photos on the insert of their fourth LP.
There was a small turnout at this Chicago show- 100 to 150 people. it might have been that it was not promoted properly with in Chicago with Crudos gone, Crudos at the time could draw between 300-500 people themselves at the fireside and maybe overestimated the draw the show would have. In retrospect it was the same as I felt New York would've been, though people like Wedge from Nine shocks terror came with a bunch of the Ohio punk people and Brian drummer from
Dropdead ( who came all the way from Rhode Island and back on greyhound)all figured it out to make it to the show. Dan and profane existence crew, so blown away by the Minneapolis show, drove down for this show ( an eight hour drive both ways!) as well.
In retrospect I can't find the MRR ads which were the primary way the tour was advertised, but it was maybe Naviete on my part that that was enough, same time there was not a broad reach of the internet in the way that there is now.The other cities were chosen for where we thought the strongest response would be.It was a different time as hardcore was still climbing out of it's collapse in the mid to late 80's and reestablishing itself as a viable music force , so the venues were whatever you could find to make it work. Prank had maybe five releases at the time of this tour,and not the broad wealth of contacts it has now.
It was also a really different time for acceptance of Japanese hardcore- it was more of a cult thing with a small group of fans, opposed to the overarching influence it has on the US and international punk scene it has now. Boxes of Gauze's only previous U.S. release, their appearance on pusmort's U.S. pressing of " thrash til death" had been clearanced for $2 apiece at Epicenter and Vacuuum mailorder a few years earlier. The JPC bootleg CD was circulating, but I think most copies of those were just shipped to japan- there were 2,000-3,000 of those made with a $6 wholesale and maybe a $2 production costs tops and after putting out a call through Vaccuum Mailorder, Gauze was generously provided 25 copies for their tour. Do the math...Well, better than nothing. FXXK the bootlegger.
In a way, I think this tour, as well as early to mid-90's West coast tours by Gaia, Assfort, Slight Slappers, Romantic Gorilla, Wag Platy, The Heck, Smash Your Face, FxxK on the Beach,Corrupted as well as Later tours on the East coast by DSB and Assualt that turned the corner towards acceptance of and later total obsession with Japanese punk in the U.S. scene.
Gauze flew back the next day on Friday, So were in the US a total of seven or eight days including the days they arrived and left. I stayed in the Pilsen over the weekend. Saturday was Mexican Independence day, and Martin's roomates cleared out for family events and I ended going to a nearby theatrical production of the OPTIC NERVE comics books that was in walking distance from their place. Fate would have it I ran into a friend of a friend I had met the year before in the Bay Area at this play, completely at random, who is now my wife and the better part of prank. Gauze declined to play our wedding five years ago, simply replying "Gauze is not wedding band"!!!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
GAUZE US TOUR ...IN 1996! Part 1
I keep getting random emails with questions about when Gauze came to the U.S. in 1996 and get asked about it all the time, so figured I'd do a post with the story of the tour.It's a lot of obsessive detail,but so have been the questions about the tour, so Read on!
I had been a fan of Gauze since the 1980's- having traded with people in Japan in the late 80's and 90's for all of their records, and in 1992 or so a cassette tape I had made of their third LP was perpetually glued to my car stereo at all times. After moving to the Bay Area, I had visited Japan in 1995 to see a gig of GISM/GAUZE/DEATHSIDE and from that visit met people and organized a tour with ASSFORT in 1995 of a few cities on the West coast close to the SF Bay area- Santa Rosa ( an amazing show in a coffee shop to about 12 people), Berkeley, Petaluma, and SF.They also played shows around the Boston Area, set up by Yasuhiro Koketsu of the DEVOUR label, who later returned to Japan to play in MUGA. The Berkeley Gilman show is pictured on the cover of the Prank 7", which was my deal at the time, come to the U.S., record a 7" for my new label- the assfort was done at House Of Faith and I had no idea what it sounded like until I received the test pressing. In retrospect, ASSFORT was the perfect first japanese hardcore band to tour the U.S. as they were young, did not have a lot of expectations, were easy going about things and wanted to have a great time and were at their absolutely peak of a live band with their line up at the time. One of the best live bands I've ever seen... after Bad Brains.
Toshio Iijima, who then was working at either Vinyl Japan or Nat records, but now runs the great
Record Shop Base and Mangrove label was contacted by Fax as to whether Gauze would want to come to the U.S. and assisted with all the details as well as came on the tour- on the cover of the prank 7" 's he's underneath the cymbal next to Matt Average from MRR and later vocalist for Reagan SS who's taking a photo in the white shirt - you can also spot Jeff from Capitalist Casualties/Six week records ( in Glasses) in that photo and the back photo of guitarrist Momorin has Max Ward grinning along and Katie from Canada, who flew out for the shows and is now in Brutal Knights in the corner). The band gave me only a week or so to do the entire tour,as well as record the 7" for my label... so it was decided to fly between cities. They wanted to go to New York City, but at the time I had no contacts there and I felt the turn out would be low, so it was decided to go to San Francisco for Two shows-Minneapolis and Chicago. I also considered Los Angeles, but the only show I could find was a non-paying gig via Ron FInal Conflict as an add on to the band filming sequences for Decline Of Western Civilization 3 . Gauze would not have been filmed, but just played for the assembled audience.
I can't remember but I think on the thursday- * wait actually I'm wrong here, they had a day off after the SF shows then recorded then we went to Minneapolis**, The band first recorded at Polymorph studios in Oakland with Dan Rathbun. SCHLONG who had played a bunch of shows in Alabama I had set up ( including Man Or Astro-man?'s first show), turned me on to polymorph after I somehow got the part intended for lint on their insane re-working of the west side story soundtrack, Punk Side story. Gauze used Schlong's equipment and Dave Mello was kind enough to drive the band around while they were in the Bay area. The entire recording for Prank 09 was done in one afternoon, and while they considered recording a 12", they recorded five old songs and a unreleased track that was re-recorded on their fourth LP. Unfortunately, the started playing "shot" from Fuckheads in the studio but decided not to record it. The 7" of that recording never sounded as good as the Actual recording, though It was test pressed twice. There were 500 of these 7"s' with Patches and a white splatter on black vinyl that were entirely shipped to the band and the photos of the band are from the first show at Gilman, buy Ayumi Nakanishi. John Yates designed the t-shirt for the tour, turning in a really basic shirt with their logo and then I said " no john, this is the band that plays with Discharge In Japan, make something more insane!" and ended up with the shirts with the Dead Guy on them, which were probably off the mark a little bit, but were to echo the cover of "Equalizing distort" as well.
First show was Friday September 6th 1996 at 924 Gilman show was with Assfort, who had returned with a new line up and toured the area before Gauze arrived, Spazz, Dead And Gone and Eldopa . I got long time Gilman Engineer Radley Hirsch to come and do sound at Gilman so it would have the best sound possible, though he I think was a little stunned that Gauze would not stop playing even though they'd knocked themselves questionably out of tune.This show was the prank one year anniversary show and completely packed with people.
The next day, September 7th the band was scheduled to play at Epicenter Zone Record store, which used to be located at 475 Valencia in the mission. They did shows there all the time. His Hero is Gone, who I think had just completed recording " 15 counts of arson" were opening. This show was packed, and while they were playing some dork from San Jose grabbed ahold of the fire sprinkler pipe which hung over head only a few few feet from the audience, swung on it, and it broke in half under his weight and started spraying water everywhere like a high pressure hose. Carl Auge, His hero's bassist realized what was happening and turned off the band's equipment before they were electrocuted.Ironically, the next song on their set list was "rain Dance"!! Devon Morf made a valiant attempt to plug the pipe shut with the t-shirt he was wearing at the time, and on the 12" label of "15 counts of Arson" you can see him, shirtless, with William From Copout/
Talk Is Poison and Timojhen Mark of Vacuum Mailorder and MRR trying to figure out what to do. The HHIG banner in the photo is duct taped over the large wall painting by now-famous gallery/graphitti artist Barry "Twist" MCGee that was in the back of epicenter. Later it came out, maybe in MRR, that Epicenter worker and MRR contributor Tom Hopkins had let the guy who swung on the pipe in the show for free in exchange for free drinks the night before, a fact he apologized for or at least admitted he liked the free drinks! Gauze meanwhile had been hanging out backstage in what used to be Blacklist mailorder and We rushed them out of the building with everyone else as the fire department showed up. We wanted to cover tracks that a concert had been going on, so
Jello Biafra helped me carry all of Gauze's t-shirts back to the Van we were using. While everyone at Epicenter was in a total panic ( and luckily their stock was in a part of the building with no sprinklers and was undamaged) the fire Department, walks in, sees that no one is dead and nothing is on fire and nonchalantly goes and gets a pump to pump the water out of the building. Floyd took Epicenters Freight elevator down to see if he could find the water main, and said it was insane, like taking an elevator down a waterfall. Bad thing is the pipe being broken also set off the fire sprinklers in the clothing store below epicenter, soaking the entire place and their inventory...and since Epicenter was sliding away from being a great record store at the time, this caused them to stop being able to do shows which by then was really supporting the place and it sadly closed a few years later.
Gauze Sat outside and smoked cigarettes,They were then surprised when Pushead walked up with a member of City Indian who was here on business-who they said they had not seen in ten years. A member of the JAKS skate team tried to get us to go over to their annual party and jump on the bill there, but it was too chaotic, and We had to fly to Minneapolis the next day. I asked them if something like this had ever happened in one of their shows in Japan. They thought about it for a second, took another drag on their cigarettes and cooly replied " No...".
I had been a fan of Gauze since the 1980's- having traded with people in Japan in the late 80's and 90's for all of their records, and in 1992 or so a cassette tape I had made of their third LP was perpetually glued to my car stereo at all times. After moving to the Bay Area, I had visited Japan in 1995 to see a gig of GISM/GAUZE/DEATHSIDE and from that visit met people and organized a tour with ASSFORT in 1995 of a few cities on the West coast close to the SF Bay area- Santa Rosa ( an amazing show in a coffee shop to about 12 people), Berkeley, Petaluma, and SF.They also played shows around the Boston Area, set up by Yasuhiro Koketsu of the DEVOUR label, who later returned to Japan to play in MUGA. The Berkeley Gilman show is pictured on the cover of the Prank 7", which was my deal at the time, come to the U.S., record a 7" for my new label- the assfort was done at House Of Faith and I had no idea what it sounded like until I received the test pressing. In retrospect, ASSFORT was the perfect first japanese hardcore band to tour the U.S. as they were young, did not have a lot of expectations, were easy going about things and wanted to have a great time and were at their absolutely peak of a live band with their line up at the time. One of the best live bands I've ever seen... after Bad Brains.
Toshio Iijima, who then was working at either Vinyl Japan or Nat records, but now runs the great
Record Shop Base and Mangrove label was contacted by Fax as to whether Gauze would want to come to the U.S. and assisted with all the details as well as came on the tour- on the cover of the prank 7" 's he's underneath the cymbal next to Matt Average from MRR and later vocalist for Reagan SS who's taking a photo in the white shirt - you can also spot Jeff from Capitalist Casualties/Six week records ( in Glasses) in that photo and the back photo of guitarrist Momorin has Max Ward grinning along and Katie from Canada, who flew out for the shows and is now in Brutal Knights in the corner). The band gave me only a week or so to do the entire tour,as well as record the 7" for my label... so it was decided to fly between cities. They wanted to go to New York City, but at the time I had no contacts there and I felt the turn out would be low, so it was decided to go to San Francisco for Two shows-Minneapolis and Chicago. I also considered Los Angeles, but the only show I could find was a non-paying gig via Ron FInal Conflict as an add on to the band filming sequences for Decline Of Western Civilization 3 . Gauze would not have been filmed, but just played for the assembled audience.
I can't remember but I think on the thursday- * wait actually I'm wrong here, they had a day off after the SF shows then recorded then we went to Minneapolis**, The band first recorded at Polymorph studios in Oakland with Dan Rathbun. SCHLONG who had played a bunch of shows in Alabama I had set up ( including Man Or Astro-man?'s first show), turned me on to polymorph after I somehow got the part intended for lint on their insane re-working of the west side story soundtrack, Punk Side story. Gauze used Schlong's equipment and Dave Mello was kind enough to drive the band around while they were in the Bay area. The entire recording for Prank 09 was done in one afternoon, and while they considered recording a 12", they recorded five old songs and a unreleased track that was re-recorded on their fourth LP. Unfortunately, the started playing "shot" from Fuckheads in the studio but decided not to record it. The 7" of that recording never sounded as good as the Actual recording, though It was test pressed twice. There were 500 of these 7"s' with Patches and a white splatter on black vinyl that were entirely shipped to the band and the photos of the band are from the first show at Gilman, buy Ayumi Nakanishi. John Yates designed the t-shirt for the tour, turning in a really basic shirt with their logo and then I said " no john, this is the band that plays with Discharge In Japan, make something more insane!" and ended up with the shirts with the Dead Guy on them, which were probably off the mark a little bit, but were to echo the cover of "Equalizing distort" as well.
First show was Friday September 6th 1996 at 924 Gilman show was with Assfort, who had returned with a new line up and toured the area before Gauze arrived, Spazz, Dead And Gone and Eldopa . I got long time Gilman Engineer Radley Hirsch to come and do sound at Gilman so it would have the best sound possible, though he I think was a little stunned that Gauze would not stop playing even though they'd knocked themselves questionably out of tune.This show was the prank one year anniversary show and completely packed with people.
The next day, September 7th the band was scheduled to play at Epicenter Zone Record store, which used to be located at 475 Valencia in the mission. They did shows there all the time. His Hero is Gone, who I think had just completed recording " 15 counts of arson" were opening. This show was packed, and while they were playing some dork from San Jose grabbed ahold of the fire sprinkler pipe which hung over head only a few few feet from the audience, swung on it, and it broke in half under his weight and started spraying water everywhere like a high pressure hose. Carl Auge, His hero's bassist realized what was happening and turned off the band's equipment before they were electrocuted.Ironically, the next song on their set list was "rain Dance"!! Devon Morf made a valiant attempt to plug the pipe shut with the t-shirt he was wearing at the time, and on the 12" label of "15 counts of Arson" you can see him, shirtless, with William From Copout/
Talk Is Poison and Timojhen Mark of Vacuum Mailorder and MRR trying to figure out what to do. The HHIG banner in the photo is duct taped over the large wall painting by now-famous gallery/graphitti artist Barry "Twist" MCGee that was in the back of epicenter. Later it came out, maybe in MRR, that Epicenter worker and MRR contributor Tom Hopkins had let the guy who swung on the pipe in the show for free in exchange for free drinks the night before, a fact he apologized for or at least admitted he liked the free drinks! Gauze meanwhile had been hanging out backstage in what used to be Blacklist mailorder and We rushed them out of the building with everyone else as the fire department showed up. We wanted to cover tracks that a concert had been going on, so
Jello Biafra helped me carry all of Gauze's t-shirts back to the Van we were using. While everyone at Epicenter was in a total panic ( and luckily their stock was in a part of the building with no sprinklers and was undamaged) the fire Department, walks in, sees that no one is dead and nothing is on fire and nonchalantly goes and gets a pump to pump the water out of the building. Floyd took Epicenters Freight elevator down to see if he could find the water main, and said it was insane, like taking an elevator down a waterfall. Bad thing is the pipe being broken also set off the fire sprinklers in the clothing store below epicenter, soaking the entire place and their inventory...and since Epicenter was sliding away from being a great record store at the time, this caused them to stop being able to do shows which by then was really supporting the place and it sadly closed a few years later.
Gauze Sat outside and smoked cigarettes,They were then surprised when Pushead walked up with a member of City Indian who was here on business-who they said they had not seen in ten years. A member of the JAKS skate team tried to get us to go over to their annual party and jump on the bill there, but it was too chaotic, and We had to fly to Minneapolis the next day. I asked them if something like this had ever happened in one of their shows in Japan. They thought about it for a second, took another drag on their cigarettes and cooly replied " No...".
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
NEW PRANK RELEASES OUT! FINALLY!
After unprecedented Pressing plant delays, the latest prank releases are now available! Prank is having set deals on all four releases, so drop us a line if you want ordering information or check www.prankrecords.com:
WORLD BURNS TO DEATH
“The Graveyard Of Utopia” LP
8 Track Raging Attack of Absolute Hardcore... with searing guitars, a thundering and rapid fire drum pound, and harsh vocals spitting forth a brutal vision. This third LP from Austin, Texas's WORLD BURNS TO DEATH further evolves and refines their trademark sound as dark, ramcharging ultra-punk comes full circle... Here is the speed and severity of their debut 45's AND the refinement, heaviness and precision of their two previous landmark albums on Hardcore Holocaust .While WB2D's lyrics have always been caged in Historical reference, the theme of this LP is rooted in the Failures, Disasters and Massacres of the Soviet State Apparatus and the records packaging includes a detailed 12- page lyric booklet..
"The Graveyard Of Utopia", was tracked initially in Tokyo, Japan after the WB2D 2007 Japanese tour at the legendary OUR HOUSE studios with final recording tweaks and mixing done at THE BUBBLE in Austin . It features guest appearances from Ishiya FORWARD , Iizawa BASTARD/JUDGEMENT/ TETSU AREI Souichi FORWARD, Keiro AKUTARE and Chelsea DEATHSIDE/PAINTBOX, Ashley SIGNAL LOST.
WORLD BURNS TO DEATH are On their first European tour WORLD BURNS TO DEATH will appear in San Francisco on August 23rd at the Prank 13th anniversary show at Annie's Social club with IRON LUNG, DESOLATION and one more TBA.
GAUZE
"Binbou Yusuri No Rizumu Ni Notte " 12" LP
The Fifth LP from Tokyo, Japanese Hardcore legends, GAUZE. Since 1981 GAUZE have played some of the world's most intense hardcore punk, and at this point might hold the title of the World's greatest continually playing, original 1980's hardcore band . A "Living tradition" of Japanese hardcore that has never mellowed with age, GAUZE have played monthly in Tokyo for 27 years, devoting most of their energy to their Live performances . Many of their songs are hammered out at their Live shows long before their sporadic recorded releases ( their last release was ten years ago!).GAUZE's songs just seem to get FASTER with each record, and the blinding ten tracks here are no exception. Issued in Japan in late 2007 as a CD- only release, this is one of GAUZE's rawest recording yet and it's first appearance on vinyl.
PAINTBOX “SINGING SHOUTING CRYING” LP
Mail-order only orange vinyl Available now, wholesale in July
Blasting, energetic rocking hardcore from Tokyo, The debut LP by Tokyo, Japan’s PAINTBOX is a stunning blend of traditional “burning spirits” japanese hardcore mixed with melodic pop and driving hard rock influences, fueled by raging guitar leads, a rampaging rhythm section and husky, tough sung vocals. Original Issued on the HG FACT label, It is Issued for the first time in the U.S. on Vinyl. The Prank Records version features different artwork, a translated lyric sheet, a different A/B side breakdown and improved mastering from a now deleted vinyl pressing on Canada’s Ugly Pop records. Guitarist Chelsea was instrumental to the creation of “Burning Spirits” sound as a member of 1980’s legends DEATHSIDE, but forged new ground with Paintbox with it’s infectious, upbeat energy.
.
PAINTBOX “ EARTHBALL SPORTS TOURNAMENT” LP
Gatefold Lp Mail-order only white vinyl Available now, wholesale in July
A kinetic blend of high energy hardcore, melody and hard rock, Tokyo’s PAINTBOX second full length “Earthball Sports Tournament” was released as a CD- only in 2000 by Japan’s premiere punk label, HG FACT. In the intervening time since it’s release, it’s become widely regarded as one of the band’s masterpieces and one of the Greatest Japanese Hardcore punk records released this decade. While blasting with the ebullient intensity and upbeat energy of the best of Japanese hardcore, PAINTBOX cull influences from all over the musical map, incorporating horns, keyboards, strings and more, simultaneously weaving bits of melody, psychedelia, classic rock into their mix of “burning spirits” styled hardcore, surpassing expectations as they blow through unexpected soundscapes at top speed. PAINTBOX are now completing work on their long delayed third LP ‘ Trip Trance and Travelling” to be released this year on HG FACT.
Still available:
CHRIST ON PARADE " LOUD AND LIVE" LP/CD
13 Tracks Recorded live on their 2007 West Coast tour on KFJC radio, this
represents the set the "all original members" band played on both their West coast and European
tours featuring classic tracks from all Eras of the band. It was re-mixed from it's
original broadcast, mastered by George Horn Mastering and come complete with a "Evil
Live styled Record jacket and insert.
ACURSED " Tunneln I Ljusets Slut" LP/CD
COLOR COPIES STILL AVAILABLE
Brutal, devastating metallic hardcore from Sweden, over loaded with feedback as
it blasts track after track of savagely shouted, throttling hardcore that slows only to
deliver mid-tempo crushing blows . Akin to the HIS HERO IS GONE / TRAGEDY/
FROM ASHES RISE school of dark riffs and mood, and the classic original " Prank Sound",
ACURSED's years-in-the-making prank debut, and one of the most bleak releases on the label
yet Members also play in VICTIMS, SUNDAY MORNING EINSTEINS), SAYYADINA
WHOLESALE THROUGH EBULLITION, NO IDEA, REVOLVER USA, SUBTERRANEAN to Stores and distributors.
Available By Mailorder direct or through ARMAGEDDON SHOP, BRICKWALL, FERAL WARD, HARDCORE HOLOCAUST, HAVOC RECORDS, PAINKILLER, SOUND IDEA DISTRIBUTION VELTED REGNUB and More.
Locally in the Bay Area, You can pick these up at THRILLHOUSE RECORDS in SF, 1234 GO! RECORDS in Oakland, AMOEBA, Rasputins, Etc.
WORLD BURNS TO DEATH
“The Graveyard Of Utopia” LP
8 Track Raging Attack of Absolute Hardcore... with searing guitars, a thundering and rapid fire drum pound, and harsh vocals spitting forth a brutal vision. This third LP from Austin, Texas's WORLD BURNS TO DEATH further evolves and refines their trademark sound as dark, ramcharging ultra-punk comes full circle... Here is the speed and severity of their debut 45's AND the refinement, heaviness and precision of their two previous landmark albums on Hardcore Holocaust .While WB2D's lyrics have always been caged in Historical reference, the theme of this LP is rooted in the Failures, Disasters and Massacres of the Soviet State Apparatus and the records packaging includes a detailed 12- page lyric booklet..
"The Graveyard Of Utopia", was tracked initially in Tokyo, Japan after the WB2D 2007 Japanese tour at the legendary OUR HOUSE studios with final recording tweaks and mixing done at THE BUBBLE in Austin . It features guest appearances from Ishiya FORWARD , Iizawa BASTARD/JUDGEMENT/ TETSU AREI Souichi FORWARD, Keiro AKUTARE and Chelsea DEATHSIDE/PAINTBOX, Ashley SIGNAL LOST.
WORLD BURNS TO DEATH are On their first European tour WORLD BURNS TO DEATH will appear in San Francisco on August 23rd at the Prank 13th anniversary show at Annie's Social club with IRON LUNG, DESOLATION and one more TBA.
GAUZE
"Binbou Yusuri No Rizumu Ni Notte " 12" LP
The Fifth LP from Tokyo, Japanese Hardcore legends, GAUZE. Since 1981 GAUZE have played some of the world's most intense hardcore punk, and at this point might hold the title of the World's greatest continually playing, original 1980's hardcore band . A "Living tradition" of Japanese hardcore that has never mellowed with age, GAUZE have played monthly in Tokyo for 27 years, devoting most of their energy to their Live performances . Many of their songs are hammered out at their Live shows long before their sporadic recorded releases ( their last release was ten years ago!).GAUZE's songs just seem to get FASTER with each record, and the blinding ten tracks here are no exception. Issued in Japan in late 2007 as a CD- only release, this is one of GAUZE's rawest recording yet and it's first appearance on vinyl.
PAINTBOX “SINGING SHOUTING CRYING” LP
Mail-order only orange vinyl Available now, wholesale in July
Blasting, energetic rocking hardcore from Tokyo, The debut LP by Tokyo, Japan’s PAINTBOX is a stunning blend of traditional “burning spirits” japanese hardcore mixed with melodic pop and driving hard rock influences, fueled by raging guitar leads, a rampaging rhythm section and husky, tough sung vocals. Original Issued on the HG FACT label, It is Issued for the first time in the U.S. on Vinyl. The Prank Records version features different artwork, a translated lyric sheet, a different A/B side breakdown and improved mastering from a now deleted vinyl pressing on Canada’s Ugly Pop records. Guitarist Chelsea was instrumental to the creation of “Burning Spirits” sound as a member of 1980’s legends DEATHSIDE, but forged new ground with Paintbox with it’s infectious, upbeat energy.
.
PAINTBOX “ EARTHBALL SPORTS TOURNAMENT” LP
Gatefold Lp Mail-order only white vinyl Available now, wholesale in July
A kinetic blend of high energy hardcore, melody and hard rock, Tokyo’s PAINTBOX second full length “Earthball Sports Tournament” was released as a CD- only in 2000 by Japan’s premiere punk label, HG FACT. In the intervening time since it’s release, it’s become widely regarded as one of the band’s masterpieces and one of the Greatest Japanese Hardcore punk records released this decade. While blasting with the ebullient intensity and upbeat energy of the best of Japanese hardcore, PAINTBOX cull influences from all over the musical map, incorporating horns, keyboards, strings and more, simultaneously weaving bits of melody, psychedelia, classic rock into their mix of “burning spirits” styled hardcore, surpassing expectations as they blow through unexpected soundscapes at top speed. PAINTBOX are now completing work on their long delayed third LP ‘ Trip Trance and Travelling” to be released this year on HG FACT.
Still available:
CHRIST ON PARADE " LOUD AND LIVE" LP/CD
13 Tracks Recorded live on their 2007 West Coast tour on KFJC radio, this
represents the set the "all original members" band played on both their West coast and European
tours featuring classic tracks from all Eras of the band. It was re-mixed from it's
original broadcast, mastered by George Horn Mastering and come complete with a "Evil
Live styled Record jacket and insert.
ACURSED " Tunneln I Ljusets Slut" LP/CD
COLOR COPIES STILL AVAILABLE
Brutal, devastating metallic hardcore from Sweden, over loaded with feedback as
it blasts track after track of savagely shouted, throttling hardcore that slows only to
deliver mid-tempo crushing blows . Akin to the HIS HERO IS GONE / TRAGEDY/
FROM ASHES RISE school of dark riffs and mood, and the classic original " Prank Sound",
ACURSED's years-in-the-making prank debut, and one of the most bleak releases on the label
yet Members also play in VICTIMS, SUNDAY MORNING EINSTEINS), SAYYADINA
WHOLESALE THROUGH EBULLITION, NO IDEA, REVOLVER USA, SUBTERRANEAN to Stores and distributors.
Available By Mailorder direct or through ARMAGEDDON SHOP, BRICKWALL, FERAL WARD, HARDCORE HOLOCAUST, HAVOC RECORDS, PAINKILLER, SOUND IDEA DISTRIBUTION VELTED REGNUB and More.
Locally in the Bay Area, You can pick these up at THRILLHOUSE RECORDS in SF, 1234 GO! RECORDS in Oakland, AMOEBA, Rasputins, Etc.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
DROKK! WHERE THE FRAK IS THE GAUZE AND WB2D RECORDS???
In the history of Prank, we've never experienced delays like we have on our two most anticipated releases this decade- the vinyl version of the 5th GAUZE LP and theWORLD BURNS TO DEATH "THe Graveyard of Utopia". If you
haven't been watching the news that vinyl is making a huge comeback.
This has tripped up the delivery of these two releases, which our faithful and always recommended pressing plant has been cranking away, reporting they've been having to run their vinyl press 7 days a week, 24 hours a day to meet demand.. They've also be kind to put up with our stress and general cranky and ogrsh behavior as we sweat getting this much stuff out! Thank You.
Prank's sales have always been vinyl heavy, sometimes half or more of the release, and we never have really considered the record "done" until it appears on LP, for all these reason these articles mention, artwork, Mastering,etc.
Anyway, Still not done...and We think these should be ready finally in the next Week to ten days, So stay tuned, Check back here for more updates.
haven't been watching the news that vinyl is making a huge comeback.
This has tripped up the delivery of these two releases, which our faithful and always recommended pressing plant has been cranking away, reporting they've been having to run their vinyl press 7 days a week, 24 hours a day to meet demand.. They've also be kind to put up with our stress and general cranky and ogrsh behavior as we sweat getting this much stuff out! Thank You.
Prank's sales have always been vinyl heavy, sometimes half or more of the release, and we never have really considered the record "done" until it appears on LP, for all these reason these articles mention, artwork, Mastering,etc.
Anyway, Still not done...and We think these should be ready finally in the next Week to ten days, So stay tuned, Check back here for more updates.
Friday, May 23, 2008
NEW GAUZE!
The vinyl version of the New GAUZE "Binbou Yusuri No Rizumu Ni Notte " 12" LP PRANK 100 Will be out in a few weeks.
WE"RE NOT READY TO TAKE INDIVIDUAL MAILORDERS OR PRE ORDERS( Mainly because a bunch of the other stuff might hit at the same time and we'd rather pack one order as opposed to two or three) but We are taking reservations if Stores or Distros want to purchase these directly from us, Since They are a bit more than usual prank prices. There's a ten piece minimum and they must be paid for in advance. Contact us for details. There are only 1100 first press and they WILL sell out immediately.
The Fifth LP from Tokyo, Japanese Hardcore legends, GAUZE. Since 1981 GAUZE have played some of the world's most intense hardcore punk, and at this point might hold the title of the World's greatest continually playing, original 1980's hardcore band . A "Living tradition" of Japanese hardcore that has never mellowed with age, GAUZE have played monthly in Tokyo for 27 years, devoting most of their energy to their Live performances . Many of their songs are hammered out at their Live shows long before their sporadic recorded releases ( their last release was ten years ago!).GAUZE's songs just seem to get FASTER with each record, and the blinding ten tracks here are no exception. Issued in Japan in late 2007 as a CD- only release, this is one of GAUZE's rawest recording yet and it's first appearance on vinyl.
WE"RE NOT READY TO TAKE INDIVIDUAL MAILORDERS OR PRE ORDERS( Mainly because a bunch of the other stuff might hit at the same time and we'd rather pack one order as opposed to two or three) but We are taking reservations if Stores or Distros want to purchase these directly from us, Since They are a bit more than usual prank prices. There's a ten piece minimum and they must be paid for in advance. Contact us for details. There are only 1100 first press and they WILL sell out immediately.
The Fifth LP from Tokyo, Japanese Hardcore legends, GAUZE. Since 1981 GAUZE have played some of the world's most intense hardcore punk, and at this point might hold the title of the World's greatest continually playing, original 1980's hardcore band . A "Living tradition" of Japanese hardcore that has never mellowed with age, GAUZE have played monthly in Tokyo for 27 years, devoting most of their energy to their Live performances . Many of their songs are hammered out at their Live shows long before their sporadic recorded releases ( their last release was ten years ago!).GAUZE's songs just seem to get FASTER with each record, and the blinding ten tracks here are no exception. Issued in Japan in late 2007 as a CD- only release, this is one of GAUZE's rawest recording yet and it's first appearance on vinyl.
Friday, April 25, 2008
PRANK RECORDS UPDATE-MAN IT's BUSY! YET AGAIN
I posted awhile back how MAY is incredibly busy, and it's turning out to be one of the busiest months for Prank Yet. At the printers right now is The New World Burns to Death LP and You can check out a track of it at the Profane Existence Message board. The CD should hit shops in Japan next week, but the LP HOPEFULLY, HOPEFULLY will be done in time for Chaos In Tejas. WB2D are headed to Europe shortly after and will have the LP on Sale for the entire tour.
The Vinyl Version of the New GAUZE is also underway, though the tests came back bassier than expected and that might push this into June.Both the initial Presses of WB2D and GAUZE are being done on heavy weight sleeves, stoked.
Also in Production are the Prank vinyl versions of Paintbox 's two LP's "Singing Shouting Crying" ( which had a Canadian Press a few years ago on the recently re-invigorated Ugly Pop label) but is being re-issued with new artwork, lyrics, mastering and a slightly different A/B side, and the long awaited vinyl issue of their classic Second LP " Earth Ball Sports tournament" , which will receive a deluxe gatefold treatment.
Also in the works with HG FAct is a split 7" release between SIGNAL LOST and japanese band PROTESS, which features two tracks from each band. Singal Lost also have a song on the "Viva Kopi" benefit sampler LP , with a DIRT cover! A benefit for the Kopi Squat in berlin which appears to have a reprieve from developers. Awesome!
We also have everything in now for the new AVSKUM LP/CD, their fourth LP which the band says is their best record yet. This will go into production in May and should be out for Punk Illegal!!
*** UPDATE- Just finally got the hear new AVSKUM: HOLY COW!!!! They were Not Kidding!!!!!!!NEXT LEVEL!
Finally, Out any Day is CHRIST ON PARADE " Live and Loud" LP/CD which ended up taking longer than Expected to finish. This is an "evil Live" styled treatment of a live set from their 2007 tour recorded on KFJC and features the set they were doing on the tour with tracks from all eras of the band and is limited to 550 copies on Green vinyl and 600 CD's. CHRIST ON PARADE just completed a successful tour of Japan and is contemplating a fall East Coast tour with select West coast dates as well.
At the Same time We also will finally have CROW " live at GIlman" DVD on crow records for sale.
We have just re-pressed the GRIMPLE " Get me out of the Van I have no Key" 7" Debut on Clear vinyl, The first HIS HERO IS GONE 7' " the dead of Night In Eight Movements" on Clear vinyl, the DROPDEAD / TOTALITAR Split 7" EP on multi-colors of vinyl, HIS HERO IS GONE LP/CD's "fifteen Counts Of Arson"and " "Monuments To Thieves" and AVSKUM "Punkista"LP on purple vinyl.
Like I said= Busy! Prank pretty much has the summer off after that, taking time to pay some folks, re-press a few other things and will roar back in the fall with IN/HUMANITY Re-issues, SUNDAY MORNIING EINSTEINS LP and a few other things up our sleeve. Meanwhile, because we're not busy enough :) , and since postal rates are about to go up and the dollar is at an all time low, we've launch a one-week "buy wholesale" sale. Details at a number of online spots, but try My post a Viva La vinyl about it Brew More coffee!
The Vinyl Version of the New GAUZE is also underway, though the tests came back bassier than expected and that might push this into June.Both the initial Presses of WB2D and GAUZE are being done on heavy weight sleeves, stoked.
Also in Production are the Prank vinyl versions of Paintbox 's two LP's "Singing Shouting Crying" ( which had a Canadian Press a few years ago on the recently re-invigorated Ugly Pop label) but is being re-issued with new artwork, lyrics, mastering and a slightly different A/B side, and the long awaited vinyl issue of their classic Second LP " Earth Ball Sports tournament" , which will receive a deluxe gatefold treatment.
Also in the works with HG FAct is a split 7" release between SIGNAL LOST and japanese band PROTESS, which features two tracks from each band. Singal Lost also have a song on the "Viva Kopi" benefit sampler LP , with a DIRT cover! A benefit for the Kopi Squat in berlin which appears to have a reprieve from developers. Awesome!
We also have everything in now for the new AVSKUM LP/CD, their fourth LP which the band says is their best record yet. This will go into production in May and should be out for Punk Illegal!!
*** UPDATE- Just finally got the hear new AVSKUM: HOLY COW!!!! They were Not Kidding!!!!!!!NEXT LEVEL!
Finally, Out any Day is CHRIST ON PARADE " Live and Loud" LP/CD which ended up taking longer than Expected to finish. This is an "evil Live" styled treatment of a live set from their 2007 tour recorded on KFJC and features the set they were doing on the tour with tracks from all eras of the band and is limited to 550 copies on Green vinyl and 600 CD's. CHRIST ON PARADE just completed a successful tour of Japan and is contemplating a fall East Coast tour with select West coast dates as well.
At the Same time We also will finally have CROW " live at GIlman" DVD on crow records for sale.
We have just re-pressed the GRIMPLE " Get me out of the Van I have no Key" 7" Debut on Clear vinyl, The first HIS HERO IS GONE 7' " the dead of Night In Eight Movements" on Clear vinyl, the DROPDEAD / TOTALITAR Split 7" EP on multi-colors of vinyl, HIS HERO IS GONE LP/CD's "fifteen Counts Of Arson"and " "Monuments To Thieves" and AVSKUM "Punkista"LP on purple vinyl.
Like I said= Busy! Prank pretty much has the summer off after that, taking time to pay some folks, re-press a few other things and will roar back in the fall with IN/HUMANITY Re-issues, SUNDAY MORNIING EINSTEINS LP and a few other things up our sleeve. Meanwhile, because we're not busy enough :) , and since postal rates are about to go up and the dollar is at an all time low, we've launch a one-week "buy wholesale" sale. Details at a number of online spots, but try My post a Viva La vinyl about it Brew More coffee!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
NEW GAUZE= PRANK LP VERSION ON THE WAY!!!
Prank is honored and stoked to announce that PRANK 100 will be the vinyl version of GAUZE 's latest LP released in Japan on CD by XXX Records, Who keep all of Gauze's catalog in print on CD in Japan. (Try Record shop Base for ordering these from overseas and Armageddon Shop has also been importing copies) .
The 12" been mastered by George Horn to vinyl at 45 RPM and should sound huge as it's a short, to the point record, ten songs clocking in at a little over 13 minutes. The initial first press will be 1,000 copies and hopefully will be released in May or June.
As a fan, Gauze have been one of my favorite bands since the 1980's and it was honor enough to assist with their 1996 US tour, which was one of the crucial turning points -along with tours by Assfort, Gaia and Smash Your Face and others in American acceptance and then fanaticism over Japanese hardcore. Gauze's 7" EP on Prank has continued to be a steady part of the prank catalog, and for many people in the US and Europe, one of the few records they can find and their introduction to the band.
I spent years in Alabama listening to their third LP over and over- a record that was taped onto cassette, and then by default glued to my car's stereo for the better part of a year or longer in the early 1990's, this new record is quickly becoming glued to my home and car's stereo as well with it's psychotic intensity. There's been low grade MP3's of this floating around from almost the moment this was released, but they compress a record that was already really compressed in recording and miss a lot of the impact of the manic drumming that drives the entire record. It's case in point of how people who JUST are downloading and listening to mp3 are often getting a signifigantly diminished musical experience.
The recording of this new LP is completely lo-fi and raw, but the thing I like most about it, in Gauze's way of simplicity is there is no trickery, there is no reliance on low end to accomplish brutality, the speed, the music captured in a simple , straight forward recording speaks for itself. There's been a lot of records that prank has released, (past, present, future )where the band thickens the recording in mixing, and the overall effect is it slows the record down. This might, ironically be an after effect of what was "the prank sound" of low end bashing and down tuning, but the point stated here is that's not the only way you accomplish brutality as the songs here are completely, once again, jaw dropping in intensity ( especially tracks 2-4, 6,7) .
Since Japan has largely abandoned Vinyl buying- or at least on the massive scale it was in the 1990's , were it was virtually propping up entire labels and bands, there were no plans to release this on 12" vinyl, which did not sit welll with us at the prank office!!! So we worked things out to release this here. It will also reduce the cost for people of the high expense of importing from Japan, and hopefully make the music more broadly available. We do plan on keeping this release available.
27 years on, Gauze probably can stake claim to be the World's greatest and longest standing, continuously playing hardcore band in the world from the 1980's. They still play monthly in Tokyo to packed live houses, and We've tried to convince them to return to the US, though the 1996 tour was marked with difficulty (Out of four shows, one was cancelled in San Francisco when some dork swung on the sprinkler pipes and yanked them loose, flooding the venue...), One was spottily attended ( In Chicago), and two were packed full. This was before the manic interest in Japanese hardcore, and before the internet was used as a tool to keep people informed. We'll keep working on convincing them to return, but meanwhile there's a virtual feast of Gauze live shows on You Tube
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