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viewing 1 To 11 of 11 items
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LP
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ETAT 019LP
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"Los Angeles Free Music Society (LAFMS) formed in the mid-1970s as a loose-knit experimental music collective and multimedia publishing vehicle. Founded by teenage Le Forte Four members Chip Chapman, Joe Potts and Rick Potts and soon joined by Tom Recchion of Doo-Dooettes, LAFMS incorporated free improvisation, modular synthesizers, tape music, sampling, musique concrète, homemade instruments, noise, mail art and avant-rock in permissive and anarchic sessions at the Raymond Building and Poo-Bah Record Shop in old Pasadena. Inspired by The Residents, LAFMS self-released records and periodicals, organized performances and connected with fellow outsiders via post in the years before punk. Their uninhibited, egalitarian ideal of music-making and DIY distribution would influence generations of underground musicians. Poo-Bah Records, with its import bins and backroom jam space, attracted the pseudonymous artists forming the initial incarnation of long-running collective Smegma. Early members Ju Suk Reet Meate, Dennis Duck, Cheez-it Ritz, Big Dirty, Amazon Bambi and Dr. Id contributed to various LAFMS compilations and combinations before several core members relocated to Portland, Oregon in 1975, where they recorded their debut album Glamour Girl 1941. Originally released on the LAFMS label in 1979, the LP combines rock instrumentation with tape, synthesizer, horns and voice in a tempestuous cauldron of anti-academy improv and alien noise. Beyond its roots in LAFMS, Smegma would help shape the early Portland punk scene in the late '70s alongside Wipers and Neo Boys. In more recent years, they have collaborated with Merzbow and Wolf Eyes. This first-time vinyl reissue is limited to 500 numbered copies. Comes with insert."
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TES 169LP
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Limited restock. Alga Marghen's third installment of Smegma's original "Suburban Primitive Avant-folk music" period (1973-1975) based in Pasadena, featuring three previously unreleased tracks from the deep vault of their home recordings. In the beginning, the band Smegma had only one rule. No musicians. Starting from scratch, they took the road much less traveled. They were inspired by outsider musical artists of the time such as John Cage, Sun Ra, Captain Beefheart, Wild Man Fisher, Art Ensemble Of Chicago, etc. and they recorded every experiment with youthful enthusiasm. Mostly they only succeeded in tormenting their own friends and neighbors (except for the few who joined the band) but somehow, they never chose imitation, but stumbles on a path that allowed past (shamanistic) and future (space) sounds to lead the way. The titled track gently pulls you in and carries you off with a way-out inner-mind group jamming/not-jamming trip, featuring prepared piano, modular synthesizer, human mouth sounds, pan pipes, tabla, and electric bass guitar. "Rainy Day Mushroom Pillow" (defiantly not the 1960s pop hit) rips you straight into a high energy New Years Eve Party jam, in a romping free jazz style with stream of consciousness vocals and exuberant alto sax solos. Side B starts with Beatnik finger popping and wild dogs barking from a record player, while breathless flute playing leads you down the rabbit hole of mysterious group vocalizing, including imitating the cry of the wild tropical parrots that lived in the palm trees in the front yard of the house in Pasadena that they had lived in. Always out of sync with their own time, 49 years later these tracks still throb and pulsate Beautifully with their own inner logic. Edition of 230.
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LP
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TES 158LP
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New primitive-suburban-folk music from Temple City and Pasadena, CA, circa 1973-4. This new edition is culled from the original unissued Smegma tape vaults of Ju Suk Reet Meate and represents the most pure expression of the insular sound-world that was spontaneously discovered as a group. Unlike 2017's Look'n For Ya (TES 154LP) no song forms are ever used, instead fearless group improvisational vocals take you on a strange shape-shifting journey through operatic show tunes, spirit visions and visits to a delirium motel room. The only exception is the title track "Abacus Incognito" that features poetry by Dennis Duck (Human Hands, Dream Syndicate, LAFMS...) with accompaniment by the family stereo console record player/radio unit and utilizing conventional instruments creating a strangely unique non-jamming sound. Except for the first track, all sounds were recorded casually in various band-members parents' houses while they were away... they would have been horrified! The final track is possibly one of the strangest concepts ever recorded, inspired by both the Lord Dunsany story The Three Infernal Jokes and the most popular record of 100 years ago, The O.K. Laughing Record (or OKeh), there is The Smegma: Laughing to Death Record. Edition of 200 (numbered).
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TES 154LP
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2021 restock. In 1973, when Smegma (the band) was born they had only one rule: No Musicians! That way they could re-invent the musical wheel with a new primitive, suburban, anti-hippie approach. 44 years later perhaps the world is ready for the first full LP of this original, uncompromising sound. At the time, it seemed they thought they were on a solitary journey, but shortly after these recordings, it was discovered that there was another local group, The Los Angeles Free Music Society, that they shortly became a part of, and are a part of, to this day. Originally recorded in 1973-75 at the house in Pasadena they all lived in, these previously unreleased tracks feature vocals of a different kind. It includes the 1960s L.A. freak and street singer Wild Man Fischer reprising his dance tune "The Taster", a straightforward Memphis/rockabilly slow dance ballad "Red Cadillac And A Black Moustache", and examples of their unique "group singing" style that has to be heard to be believed. Opening and closing the LP are vocals by someone they had never met, a local C.B. radio operator whose handle was "Turkey Mon" and had such a hi-power transmitter that his signal was picked-up by the tape-head as they recorded! Several of these same folks (Dennis Duck, Ace Farren Ford, Ju Suk Reet Meate) are in the Smegma touring band as of 2017.
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6LP BOX/DVD
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VOD 070LP
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"This astonishing 6LP/DVD box-set compiles most of Smegma's long out or print and impossible to find vinyl-releases and contributions on labels such as their own legendary Pigface Records, LAFMS, Trap, Dom And Selekton. The box includes their first three 7" inches Disco Diarrhea, Flashcards, Pigface Chant, their LPs like Pigs for Leper or Glamour Girl 1941 as well as a 2LP-sided extract of the Live 73-82 double tape Spontaneous Sound, all in one place. Smegma started collectively by Ju Suk Reet Meate, Cheese it Ritz, Chucko Fats, Dennis Duck, Amazon Bambi and Cheesebro and found many other avantgarde/freejazz/improv-musicians to participate in the next 3 1/2 decades to come. This box is taking you on a journey with the least likely folk-primitive-avant-gard band in Pasadena, California, through Portland Oregon's punk rock revitalization and first melt down, to become the serious force in weird music that continues today. Box is accompanied with a DVD version of the original amazing video The First 10 Years by Mike Lastra released in 1983 plus 2 bonus tracks of performances from 1978 & 80."
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CD
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IMPREC 311CD
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"With Mirage on Important Records, Smegma again does the impossible. 38 years after reinventing the musical wheel, they have recorded a stunning masterpiece. With four of the original members working together again for the first time in many years, together with many new collaborators, they have kept alive their unique brand of old school primitive, avant/garage music. Running the gamut from the 'music concrete' inspired subtlety, the bombastic mood of the title track, 'world of my own's' frenzied noise/funk jams, that morph past rock'n [Eno/Roxy Music era] garage band, before finally slipping into a primitive meditation involving silly voices, toys, record players and such. On the other hand 'F-85 Turbo Rocket' blasts strait to psycho rockabilly heaven and is over before it all sinks in. Also worth mentioning, with its timeless creepy beauty, the front cover drawing/collage sets the stage for this strange journey. Several of the tracks were recorded 'live' at a Smegma House Party in Portland September 2009. The CD includes a unique Smegma house party track and a bonus 1973 original Pasadena unreleased recording."
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LP
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IMPREC 311LP
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LP version, featuring a "spontaneous jam" exclusive to the LP.
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CD
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IMPREC 137CD
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" 33 1/3 is Smegma's tribute to their 20th century avant-garde and out-jazz influences. The title is one part reference to the happy revival of passionate vinyl listening in the 21st century and one part celebration of their long hard slog of 33 1/3 years of being one of the most free thinking and original American underground groups. Their focus, ideas and determination has brought them through more than three decades and to this day they remain unparalleled, original and highly influential. 33 1/3 is enhanced with live videos of 'Happy Holidays' live at End Times Festival (with Spencer Yeh and Twig Harper) as well as 'Grubsteak' live at the Three Million Tongues festival in Chicago. Smegma. Seriously. They've been at it for so long now that you can't really even say they sound like anyone else. You can only say that others sound like them. They're all here on 33 1/3: Oblivia, Ju Suk Reet Meate, Burned Mind, Conroy, Dr. Id. The core group drumming up their influences and pulling off another burning album of magnificent proportions. While Smegma has never really fit in anywhere their influence on the modern avant garde and improvised noise scene is absolutely undeniable. However, it's essential to remember that Smegma has never been noise for noise's sake. While they've had two feet firmly planted in avant-garde & free jazz, one must not forget their rock roots as well. For this reason alone they're bound to not fit in anywhere. Influences aside, no matter how much everyone else sounds like Smegma, you can bet that Smegma is always going to sound like nobody else. Nobody else channels so much energy, effort, influence or sound into their work. They may just be the greatest American band. Ever."
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IMPREC 145LP
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Limited restock. This vinyl edition of 33 1/3 is limited to 1000 copies on black, red, red/black split and red & black splatter vinyl. Includes a bonus track only available on the vinyl version.
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CD
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HARB 051CD
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"The second in the series of Harbinger Sound's efforts to present the Smegma back catalog. This album originally came out in the UK only back in 1987 and is backed by the studio side from the 1988 cassette release, Morass. Twenty-one tracks in total. Dedicated to Tom (Pig Champion) Roberts. Limited to #1000 copies. CD features an eight-page booklet with photos and a pre-1988 Smegma discography."
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CD
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HN 122CD
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"Considered by many the kings and queens of American free noise, Smegma have been confusing minds since 1973 when they helped form the Los Angeles Free Music Society. They've recorded with everyone from Wildman Fisher to Merzbow and more recently, with noise goons Wolf Eyes. This disc is their first full length in nearly 10 years and also the first to feature vocalist / punk beatnik / Blue Oyster Cult lyricist Richard Meltzer. Rumblings is a sound collage of turntable manipulations, electronics, horns, bells, junk, toys, marijuana, and surf rock band. Smegma have been around forever and show no signs of slowing down. They just hopped off a killer west-coast tour with Wolf Eyes, Rubber O Cement and Comets On Fire where they ripped the skulls off of everyone." Limited stock, deleted edition.
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viewing 1 To 11 of 11 items
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