VARIOUS - MERCK - Squadron 2 ( 5 x 7") - Box Set

As with everything on this fickle earth, record labels have a lifespan that must one day come to an end - with the latest imprint to announce a terminal pulling down of the shutters that of Merck. Book marking the labels existence, 'Squadron' was the first ever compilation released by the Merck crew, with 'Squadron 2' appearing as one of its last ever catalogue numbers - here re-released after the well limited vinyl edition a few weeks back. Giving IDM its dignity back, 'Squadron 2' is packed with sunlight melodies, filigree electronics and hip-hop guts, as the Merck troops see their General off with dignity and pride. Opening with a five-long flush from Royal Foxbridge, the mood is grand and solipsistic (minus any whiff of unnecessary melancholy) as tracks such as 'Regler Les Problemes Du Monde Pt. 1' and 'Dan Living Pan' overflow onto the hob with a fizz of electronic hip-hop that is straight-laced and all the better for it. Hooking up with Xejax for a couple of juxtaposed gems, the next conscript up to the front line is Omnibus with the crackling bounce of 'Flooded Memory' - where a just out of sight Hammond keeps the delicate melodies, creamy atmospherics and tooled up beats nicely in check. Elsewhere, Sumo Lounge offers up the mealy piano shuffle 'Second Time Around', Deceptikon launches a batch of hard-boiled hip-hop beats, whilst Winnie The Shit caps it all off with a eulogistic flash of sunshine mentalism. Over and out...

Various - Shock and Oar - 7"

Double LTD 7" featuring The Twilight Singers (Feathers), The Walkmen (My Old Man), Echo Static (devil) Low Flying Owls (Looks of a killer) Film School (harmed) and the Heavenly Music Association (The Absolute Elsewhere).

Various Artists- Haggard Beast, Fuck You Toronto - 12"

Haggard Beast's first release is a compilation featuring Local bands by the name of Lunchmeat, The Guest Bedroom, Captain Caveman, Problem, Hot Monogamy, Terror Lake, Problem and 10,000 Watt Head.

It's a limited run of about 300 records. They will be handscreened by Deadweight and Haggard Beast. They will include a CD-R for those of you without a record player.

Various- 'Closet Full of Clothes' Compilation - 12"

rom Portland, Oregon, USA to Manchester, England with six stops in between, 'Closet Full of Clothes' takes the listener on a sonic trip through the Wendy's drive-thru and into the Earth's core. The harsh, glass-melting blasts of Mammal and Hair Police swelter skulls. The sweet, glorious rock of Pearls and Brass sit you on a country porch. The hectic, shifty-eyed panic rock of My Name is Rar Rar teeters on top of an acidic percussion bath courtesy of Black Eyes. Nice Nice fingerpaint a concerto, while Small Rocks and Doormouse chime like evil Grandfather clocks possessed by Sammy Davis Jr. This closet is constantly throbbing with a wide variety of fabrics and textures, yet all possible outfits always end up looking damn good. This 12" long player features unreleased material from all the performing artists.

VIOLENT MINDS -Just kicked in - 7"

4 new tracks recorded in 2006 and features a more MOTORHEAD inspired VIOLENT MINDS. Straight forward hardcore stripped of polish - just raw distorted hardcore delivered at high velocity. Fans of DISCHARGE, MOTORHEAD and early American hardcore like NEGATIVE APPROACH take notice.

VKNGS - S/T - 12"

Clear, one sided 12" from this Halifax post hardcore band featuring members of North of America, Sharp Like Knives, Holy Shroud and JSB. Downstroke enthusiasts who avoid subtlety at all cost. Rebels from the waist down.

Volt - Man on the Ground' - 7"

The Volt machine keeps feeding back on this 4-song EP. I opine that there is a solo Lili Z 7" buried within this one as well, as her two credited tracks sound unnervingly similar to her Ss solo release, feedbacky creepout sessions of disturbing emotional obscurity. I'm conflicted. The whole EP is jawset-sure about referencing the mess of NDW/French Wave that has been enjoying a slowly surging renaissance over the last two or so years. I could say X track sounds like Y band from 1982, but that just shorts the present achievement of Volt, which is to reintegrate these sounds into a garage-punk framework. They threw me for a loop on this. I was expecting the dark-eyed synth-doom from their In The Red release would dominate future releases, but this thing is more like the Spash Four if they had existed 1978-81, their last "punk" record before the band went all 'Depeche Mode'. Weird(ly) punk. - Ryan Wells / The Z-gun.org