Punk pioneers Crass continue their vinyl reissue series, re-pressing their limited releases by adjacent artists through Crass Records. The series, including over twenty bands and solo artists recorded at the legendary Southern Studios and produced by Penny Rimbaud, continues with two more historic pieces from the Crass Records catalogue; ‘Barbed Wire Halo’ by Annie Anxiety and ‘Neu Smell’ by Flux of Pink Indians.

“Trying to categorise Annie Anxiety is a futile task… [she] exudes a magnetic presence on anything she’s contributed to” The Vinyl Factory

New York City musical maverick and performance artist Annie Anxiety, aka Little Annie aka Annie Bandez, began her illustrious career (including work with Adrian Sherwood, Coil, Current 93, and Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry) with Crass. They released her first solo single, 1981’s ‘Barbed Wire Halo’ alongside ‘Cyanide Tears’, an extraordinarily prescient piece of jagged electronics, samples, and skeletal rhythms, led by Annie’s nightmarish vocals.

She tells us; “When creating this single with Penny I hadn’t heard the word ‘avant-guard’ nor could I spell it - I only got explained ‘concretism’ via an interview I did in Berlin regarding some of my work three years ago - My father was a printer so I grew up with sound of printing press and subway train beats and always heard melodies and cross rhythms within those beats - I was just making dance music / disco tunes to my mind and Pen heard those same tunes I was hearing - my first recording, in retrospect I guess, was pretty ‘out there’ at its release, but to us it was dance floor for a club yet to be invented- one day”.

Penny Rimbaud expands; “Annie Anxiety is a total enigma, a passionate voice in the wilderness of consensual reason. Dada in instinct, Monroe in affection, Rambo in inflection, Annie rams it home with divine thunder. An instigator and innovator, she’s the bonkers angel of Yonkers, NYC. With no time to spare, Annie takes to the road with complete conviction, overtaking Kerouac halfway down 5th Avenue. Catch her if you can”.

TRACK LISTING

1. Hello Horror
2. Cyanide Tears

Punk pioneers Crass continue their vinyl reissue series, re-pressing their limited releases by adjacent artists through Crass Records, in association with One Little Independent. The series, including over twenty bands and solo artists recorded at the legendary Southern Studios and produced by Penny Rimbaud, continues with two more historic pieces from the Crass Records catalogue; ‘Barbed Wire Halo’ by Annie Anxiety and ‘Neu Smell’ by Flux of Pink Indians.

“Flux of Pink Indian’s anti-capitalist, vegan, anarchist ideologies still resound today (possibly even more than they have in years)” The Quietus
Flux of Pink Indians were an iconic anarcho-punk band active from 1980-1986. In 1981 the band signed to Crass Records, releasing their debut EP ‘Neu Smell’ the same year, featuring indie hit ‘Tube Disaster’. Pulsating bass and grinding, distorted guitar chaos underpins a vicious takedown of media sensationalism and the reporting of everyday tragedies.

Penny continues; “Punk as it should be, but very often wasn’t, Flux assaulted the airwaves with an intelligent humour which, more often than not, was missing with other protagonists of the genre. Grim as it might have been, ‘Neu Smell’ must rate as one of the true gems of the time. Both drowning and waving, Flux’s irony could always put a smile on your face. If not the Ace, they were undoubtedly the Joker in the pack. Join the shuffle”.

Penny finally notes that “Our (Crass’) interest was never in personalities, profits or power, and neither did we have time for reformist liberals. Our position was solidly revolutionary; we took no prisoners. Talking the talk was never enough for us, no, we demanded that we also walk the walk. Ours wasn’t a show, it was a battle, not a living, but a lifestyle, a lifestyle with a difference – rather than looking only to ourselves, we sought to share our gains. I feel that this willingness added great strength to the form of anarchism that we practiced both on stage and out on the street.”

In giving a platform to an impressive array of other bands, Crass Records broadened the front of what popularly became known as anarcho-punk. Not, it must be said, a moniker that Crass themselves much favoured. In this respect, Crass’ classic line, “There is no authority but yourself”, makes its point. Crass sought to empower others, and the output of Crass Records does much to confirm this, while ‘2 By 2 And Back Again’ seems to nail it – “get out of your own way, we’re all in this together”. 

TRACK LISTING

1. Neu Smell / Tube Disaster / Poem
2. Sick Butchers
3. Background Of Malfunction

Crass Records, alongside One Little Independent Records, reissue their iconic three volume compilation series, ‘Bullshit Detector’. 

‘Bullshit Detector’ was the name of a series of compilation LPs put together by the anarcho-punk band Crass and released on their own label. Three editions were released between 1980 and 1984, consisting of demo tapes, rough recordings and artwork that had been sent to the band.

The sound quality of the ‘Bullshit Detector’ series was mixed and often basic, or even poor, as Crass would master the tapes directly to record without any additional production or enhancement. For Crass, the expectation of a polished performance was missing the point.

After punk had already been co-opted, re-packaged and sold back to us, ‘Bullshit Detector’ volumes 1-3 were, and still are, seen by many to capture the purest ethos of punk culture, an event that inspired hundreds to take to their bedrooms and garages and join the DIY revolution.

Crass believed in the power of community and that their movement was for everybody. These compilations are an admittedly harsh but important part of that story; when Crass gave punk back to the people.

TRACK LISTING

Voice Of The U.K. - Waiting For Bardot
Omega Tribe - Nature Wonder
Suspects - Random Relations
Your Funeral - Think About It
Krondstadt Uprising - Receiver Deceiver
Deformed - Freedom
No Label - Let’s Get It Right
The Rejected - Same Old Songs
Boffo - Garageland
XS - Fuck The System
Polemic Attack - Manipulated Youth
Gardener - A. Gardener’s Song
Toxic - Tradition Of Slaughter
1984 - Breakup
Unknown Artist - Insert
Toxik Ephex - Police Brutality
Sic - Low
Molitov Cocktail - Ain’t Got A Clue
Naked - Mid 1930’s (Pre-war Germany)
Capital Punishment - We’ve Realised The Truth Now
Anthrax - All The Wars
Endangered Species - Slaughter Of The Innocent (Curiosity Kills)
Pseudo Sadists - War Games
Total Chaos - Pyscho Analysis
Dougie - War Without Winners
St Vitus Dancers - The Survivor
Stegz - Christus Erection
Metro Youth - Brutalised
Normality Complex - Black Market Shadow
Youth In Asia - The Power & The Glory
Riot Squad - Security System
Destructors - Agent Orange
The Pits - U.K. In Dreamland
The Bored - Riot Style
Toby Kettle - Theatre Comment
Chumbawumba - Three Years Later
Passion Killers - Start Again
Amerikan Arsenal - Get Off Yr Ass

Crass Records, alongside One Little Independent Records, reissue their iconic three volume compilation series, ‘Bullshit Detector’.

‘Bullshit Detector’ was the name of a series of compilation LPs put together by the anarcho-punk band Crass and released on their own label. Three editions were released between 1980 and 1984, consisting of demo tapes, rough recordings and artwork that had been sent to the band.

The sound quality of the ‘Bullshit Detector’ series was mixed and often basic, or even poor, as Crass would master the tapes directly to record without any additional production or enhancement. For Crass, the expectation of a polished performance was missing the point.

After punk had already been co-opted, re-packaged and sold back to us, ‘Bullshit Detector’ volumes 1-3 were, and still are, seen by many to capture the purest ethos of punk culture, an event that inspired hundreds to take to their bedrooms and garages and join the DIY revolution.

Crass believed in the power of community and that their movement was for everybody. These compilations are an admittedly harsh but important part of that story; when Crass gave punk back to the people.

Sleeve notes from ‘Bullshit Detector Three’ read: “Don’t expect music when the melody is anger, when the message sings defiance, three chords are frustration when the words are from the heart.”

TRACK LISTING

Avert Aversion - Oh What A Nice Day
Awake Mankind - Once Upon A Time
A Nul Noise - Hibashuka
Animus - Nuclear Piss
Peroxide - Ministry Of Death (M.O.D.)
Untitled - We Are Taught To Kill
Xtract - Fight For Peace
Verbal Assault - Not Yet Ron
Fifth A Column - Counterfeit Culture
Potential Victim - People
7th Plague - Rubber Bullets
Rebel A - Genesis To Genocide
Alienated - Living In Fear
Barbed Wire - Weapons Of War
Rob Williams - Lies
Reality Control - The War Is Over
Youthanasia - Power
Sammy Rubette & Safety Match - The Ballad Of Maggie The Maggot
Politicide - 51st State
Markus Abused - The Killing Machine
One Man’s Meat - Your Country Misleads You
Direct Action - Death Without A Thought
Crag - Voice Your Protest
Attrition - In Your Hand
Napalm Death - The Crucifixion Of Possessions
The Impalers - Sun, Sun, Sun
Health Hazzard - Picture Show
Phil Hedgehog - Radio Times
Malice - Faceless
Michael Kingzett Taylor - Paranoia
Brainwashed Pupils - The Demonstration
No Defences - Work To Consume
A.N.E.E.B. - Berlin Wall
Carnage - Carnage
Warning - Beasts Of Fiction
State Of Shock - Excess Youth
Neale Harmer - Hard Nut
Dead To The World - Action Man
Dandruff - Life In A Whiskey Bottle
Richard III - Will You Care?
Funky Rayguns - The Hare And The Tortoise

Crass Records, alongside One Little Independent Records, reissue their iconic three volume compilation series, ‘Bullshit Detector’, on LP, available in both classic black and special edition grey vinyl. 

‘Bullshit Detector’ was the name of a series of compilation LPs put together by the anarcho-punk band Crass and released on their own label. Three editions were released between 1980 and 1984, consisting of demo tapes, rough recordings and artwork that had been sent to the band.

The sound quality of the ‘Bullshit Detector’ series was mixed and often basic, or even poor, as Crass would master the tapes directly to record without any additional production or enhancement. For Crass, the expectation of a polished performance was missing the point.

After punk had already been co-opted, re-packaged and sold back to us, ‘Bullshit Detector’ volumes 1-3 were, and still are, seen by many to capture the purest ethos of punk culture, an event that inspired hundreds to take to their bedrooms and garages and join the DIY revolution.

Crass believed in the power of community and that their movement was for everybody. These compilations are an admittedly harsh but important part of that story; when Crass gave punk back to the people.

TRACK LISTING

Andy T - Jazz On A Summers Day
Counter Attack - Don’t Wanna Fight For You
Alternative - Change It
Clockwork Criminals - We Are You
Reputations In Jeopardy - Girls Love Popstars
Crass - Do They Owe Us A Living
Amebix - University Challenged
Sceptics - Local Chaos
The Sinyx - Mark Of The Beast
Frenzy Battalion - Thalidomide
Icon - Cancer
The Speakers - Why
A.P.F. Brigade - Anarchist Attack
Fuck The C.I.A. - Right Or Wrong
Caine Mutiny And The Kallisti Apples Of Nonsense - Morning Star
The Sucks - 3
Porno Squad - Khaki Doesn’t Go With My Eyes
S.P.G. Murders - Soldiers
Eratics - National Service
Red Alert 8 - Who Needs Society
The Snipers - War Song
Armchair Power - Power
Disrupters - Napalm
Andy T - Nagaski Mon Amour
Action Frogs - Drumming Up Hope (Ferret Skank)