|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LP
|
|
MNQ 115LP
|
Reissue, originally released in 1987. The self-named LP marked the fifth album and end of the first incarnation of Bourbonese Qualk. Julian Gilbert left the group after The Spike (1986) to concentrate on writing and theatre, leaving Steven Tanza and Simon Crab who parted ways after touring in Europe in early 1986 and recording this album. Steven Tanza went on to found the group The State and while Crab continued as Bourbonese Qualk (with the new line-up of Miles Miles, Crab and Owen If), dissolved the Recloose Organisation label and founded New International as the outlet for future Bourbonese Qualk and Recloose Org releases.
"If we were awarding prizes for making people rush out of the room in blind panic Bourbonese Qualk would have a trophy cabinet to match Bayern Munich's. Strange, because whilst some of their music is damned uncomfortable listening, an equal part is pleasantly ambient. Pretty, even. Their fifth album is no exception with different types of track side by side throughout, so that the listener can neither drift along in a state of slumber nor masochistically subject themselves to the audio equivalent of the Chinese water torture. This makes it all a very stop-start thing but all the more rewarding as a result." --Can't Be Beat, London 1986
Bourbonese Qualk were an experimental music group from England, active from 1979 through 2003. They were always obsessively and uncompromisingly focused on controlling their work: they ran their own record label, recording studio, tour organization, and music venue (the notorious Ambulance Station). They refused to integrate into the commercial music racket and turned down publishing deals from major labels, stubbornly opting for total independence. They're also known for their political activism, formed in the crucible of 1980s Britain amid such influences as the UK miners' strike, The Falklands War, Thatcherism, monetarism, local government corruption, squatting, anti-capitalism, anti-fascism, and anarchism. Their work was often ambiguous and directly critical of cynical power-politics of any color, often irritating members of the traditional organized left. In 1984 Bourbonese Qualk occupied a large empty building -- The Ambulance Station -- on the Old Kent Road in South London, which they turned into a base for their activities, a cooperative space for artists, musicians, and writers, and a center for radical political activism -- specifically as a coordinating center for the Stop the City anti-capitalist riots of 1984. This is music as much for then and today, a radical, revolutionary cultural force that acts as a positive social charge. Remastered by Rude 66. Graphic design by Simon Crab. Edition of 400.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
LP
|
|
MNQ 114LP
|
Reissue, originally released in 1985. Bourbonese Qualk's third album The Spike was recorded during the period 1984-1985 and published by the Berlin based Dossier/Atonal label while Bourbonese Qualk were involved in organizing the Berlin Atonal festival. Parts of side two of the album is a recording of pieces made for a dance and film performance at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London in 1985. Bourbonese Qualk were an experimental music group from England, active from 1979 through 2003. They were always obsessively and uncompromisingly focused on controlling their work: they ran their own record label, recording studio, tour organization, and music venue (the notorious Ambulance Station). They refused to integrate into the commercial music racket and turned down publishing deals from major labels, stubbornly opting for total independence. They're also known for their political activism, formed in the crucible of 1980s Britain amid such influences as the UK miners' strike, The Falklands War, Thatcherism, monetarism, local government corruption, squatting, anti-capitalism, anti-fascism, and anarchism. Their work was often ambiguous and directly critical of cynical power-politics of any color, often irritating members of the traditional organized left. In 1984 Bourbonese Qualk occupied a large empty building -- The Ambulance Station -- on the Old Kent Road in South London, which they turned into a base for their activities, a cooperative space for artists, musicians, and writers, and a center for radical political activism -- specifically as a coordinating center for the Stop the City anti-capitalist riots of 1984. This is music as much for then and today, a radical, revolutionary cultural force that acts as a positive social charge. Remastered by Rude 66. Graphic design by Simon Crab. Edition of 400.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
CD
|
|
GG 371CD
|
"Bourbonese Qualk were an experimental music group from England who where active from 1979 until 2003. The group were always obsessively and uncompromisingly focused on controlling their work - they ran their own record label, recording studio, tour organization and music venue (the legendary Ambulance Station) -- they refused to integrate into the commercial music racket turning down publishing deals from major labels -- stubbornly opting for total independence. Bourbonese Qualk were also known for their political activism which was formed in the crucible of the 1980s Britain: The Miner's Strike, Falklands/Malvinas war, Anti-fascism, Thatcherism, Moneterism, squatting/housing, local government corruption, anti-capitalism, and Anarchism -- which was further re-enforced by touring Europe and meeting like-minded groups and organizations. In 1984, Bourbonese Qualk occupied a large empty building on the Old Kent Road in South London which they turned into a base for their activities and a co-operative for artists, musicians and writers as well as a center for radical political activism -- specifically as a coordinating center for the 'Stop The City' anti-capitalist riots of 1984-1986. They never recorded in a 'proper' studio (not that they could ever afford to), choosing instead to work with their own extremely basic equipment (at a time when home studios were very unusual which now, ironically, is in vogue. If Bourbonese Qualk have a legacy, it is that 'culture' should be reclaimed, re-defined and owned by the people, wherever they are, however small and not by the state or the market and that 'culture' is a vital vehicle for debate and radical change. The Spike was the band's third album, and originally came out in 1985 in Germany on the Dossier label. It was recorded while the group were involved in organizing the Berlin Atonal festival. This first ever CD edition has bonus tracks not on the original vinyl LP and was remastered."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
CD
|
|
GG 335CD
|
"Bourbonese Qualk were an experimental music group from England who where active from 1979 until 2003. The group were always obsessively and uncompromisingly focused on controlling their work -- they ran their own record label, recording studio, tour organization and music venue (the legendary 'Ambulance Station') -- they refused to integrate into the commercial music racket turning down publishing deals from major labels -- stubbornly opting for total independence. Bourbonese Qualk were also known for their political activism which was formed in the crucible of the 1980s Britain: The Miner's Strike, Falklands/Malvinas war, anti-fascism, Thatcherism, monetarism, squatting/housing, local government corruption, anti-capitalism, and anarchism -- which was further re-enforced by touring Europe and meeting like-minded groups and organizations. Ethno, jazz, funk and EBM are all buried deep in the album as it seeks independence. The title, a critique of the Labor movements ineffective and limited call to arms against the prevailing Thatcherism of the mid-80s, encapsulates this wider oeuvre. From opening 'Return To Order', the acoustic gloom is offset by tight musicianship and countering melody. The switch of 'Outcry' precedes psychedelic anthem, 'Boggy Creek', with its VU remembrance. Blighted pulses 'Confrontation', 'Xenophobia', 'Backlash' and closer, 'Insurrection', sense the darkness, but the ground has shifted forwards with the legendary 1.51 minutes of man 'n' machine that is Lies, the enwrapping symphonic dub vocal of Born Left Hearted and incongruously pretty, Is It As It Was? At times, suffocating, uncomfortable, at others light appears as history progresses. Preparing For Power is BQ at their most uncompromising and essential. Available on CD for the first time now, with bonus tracks added that were not on the original vinyl LP."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
CD
|
|
GG 317CD
|
"Bourbonese Qualk were an experimental music group from England who were active from 1979 until 2003. The group were always obsessively and uncompromisingly focused on controlling their work -- they ran their own record label, recording studio, tour organisation and music venue (the legendary 'Ambulance Station') -- they refused to integrate into the commercial music racket turning down publishing deals from major labels -- stubbornly opting for total independence. Bourbonese Qualk were also known for their political activism which was formed in the crucible of the 1980s Britain: The Miner's Strike, Falklands/Malvinas war, Anti-fascism, Thatcherism, Moneterism, squatting/housing, local government corruption, anti-capitalism, and Anarchism -- which was further re-enforced by touring Europe and meeting like-minded groups and organisations. They saw their music as a revolutionary cultural force -- a belief that radical musical forms must be part of positive social change. Despite this position, the group avoided dogma, cliché and propaganda, preferring to let their audience come to their own conclusions -- their work was often ambiguous and directly critical of cynical power-politics of any colour -- often irritating members of the traditional 'organised left'. They never recorded in a 'proper' studio, choosing instead to work with their own extremely basic equipment (at a time when home studios were very unusual -- the unique raw sound of these recordings is the result of their choice -- which now, ironically, is in vogue due perhaps to the overwhelming obliquity of 'clean' audio digital production tools. If Bourbonese Qualk have a legacy, it is that 'culture' should be reclaimed, re-defined and owned by the people, wherever they are, however small and not by the state or the market and that 'culture' is a vital vehicle for debate and radical change. Hope was the group's second long player, released on their own Recloose Organisation label in 1984."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
CD
|
|
GG 312CD
|
"Bourbonese Qualk were an experimental music group from England who were active from 1979 until 2003. The group were always obsessively and uncompromisingly focused on controlling their work - they ran their own record label, recording studio, tour organisation and music venue (the legendary 'Ambulance Station') -- they refused to integrate into the commercial music racket turning down publishing deals from major labels -- stubbornly opting for total independence. Bourbonese Qualk were also known for their political activism which was formed in the crucible of the 1980s Britain: The Miner's Strike, Falklands/Malvinas war, Anti-fascism, Thatcherism, Moneterism, squatting/housing, local government corruption, anti-capitalism, and Anarchism - which was further re-enforced by touring Europe and meeting like-minded groups and organisations. They saw their music as a revolutionary cultural force -- a belief that radical musical forms must be part of positive social change. In 1984 Bourbonese Qualk occupied a large empty building on the Old Kent Road in South London which they turned into a base for their activities and a co-operative for artists, musicians and writers as well as a centre for radical political activism. They never record in a 'proper' studio (not that they could ever afford to), choosing instead to work with their own extremely basic equipment. If Bourbonese Qualk have a legacy, it is that 'culture' should be reclaimed, re-defined and owned by the people, wherever they are, however small and not by the state or the market and that 'culture' is a vital vehicle for debate and radical change. Laughing Afternoon was the group's first long player, released on their own Recloose Organisation label in 1983. It features Simon Crab, Julian Gilbert and Steven Tanza. It's a masterpiece of early DIY Electronic/Industrial music and is available on CD for the first time now."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
12"
|
|
MNQ 059EP
|
Pressed on 160-gram vinyl; includes postcard; limited to 300 copies. Bourbonese Qualk came into existence in 1979 and put out a stream of confrontational albums through much of the '80s and into the early '90s. After a long pause, they released On Uncertainty in 2001 and disbanded the next year after the death of guitarist Miles Miles. "Lies," a terse, TR 808-driven electro-tinged cut just under two minutes long, originally came out in 1986 on the Preparing for Power LP by way of the group's own label Recloose Organization. This EP features Ancient Methods on edit and remix duties.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
2LP
|
|
MNQ 061LP
|
Double LP version; includes four tracks not included on the CD: "Dream Decade," "In Flux," "Sweat It Out," and "There Is No Night."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
CD
|
|
MNQ 061CD
|
Mannequin Records is proud to present a compilation of one of the most important industrial bands active during the '80s in the UK. Bourbonese Qualk were an experimental music group from England, active from 1979 through 2003. They were always obsessively and uncompromisingly focused on controlling their work: they ran their own record label, recording studio, tour organization, and music venue (the notorious Ambulance Station). They refused to integrate into the commercial music racket and turned down publishing deals from major labels, stubbornly opting for total independence. They're also known for their political activism, formed in the crucible of 1980s Britain amid such influences as the UK miners' strike, The Falklands War, Thatcherism, monetarism, local government corruption, squatting, anti-capitalism, anti-fascism, and anarchism. Their work was often ambiguous and directly critical of cynical power-politics of any color, often irritating members of the traditional organized left. In 1984 Bourbonese Qualk occupied a large empty building on the Old Kent Road in South London, which they turned into a base for their activities, a cooperative space for artists, musicians, and writers, and a center for radical political activism -- specifically as a coordinating center for the Stop the City anti-capitalist riots of 1984. Throughout its existence the band had a number of different line-ups; this collection focuses on the period of 1983 through 1987, which featured the trio of Simon Crab, Julian Gilbert, and Steven Tanza. During this time the group released five albums: Laughing Afternoon (1983), Hope (1984), The Spike (1985), Preparing for Power (1986), and Bourbonese Qualk (1987), releasing all but The Spike on their own labels Recloose Organisation and New International Recordings. Most of the tracks on this collection were recorded in their studio at the Ambulance Station. The group chose never to record in a proper studio (not that they could ever afford to), working instead with their own extremely basic equipment at a time when home studios were very unusual. If Bourbonese Qualk have a legacy, it is that culture should be reclaimed, redefined, and owned by the people, wherever they are, however small, and not by the state or the market, and that culture is a vital vehicle for debate and radical change. The fight goes on. Mastered by Rude 66. Graphic design curated by Simon Crab and Alessandro Adriani. Double LP includes four tracks not included on the CD: "Dream Decade," "In Flux," "Sweat It Out," and "There Is No Night." Digipak CD edition limited to 500 copies.
|
|
|
|