Chunklet Rock & Indie 24 Items

Chunklet Industries is proud to announce a breakthrough in broadcasting technology. For the first time, the BBC working hand-in-hand with intergalactic audio pioneers Man…or Astro-man? present to you seven volumes of their famed U.K. radio sessions. The band’s second session for famed UK DJ Mark Radcliffe is the broadcasting debut of Dexter X from Planet Q. 1996 was a great year for Astro-Man? Not only were they touring the world supported by the Touch & Go label, Dexter X's inclusion had a band far sharper and tighter. Four songs were recorded and, except for all the interview back'n'forth, all four tracks are being released on this fifth of seven singles. B in the band's R/o/y/g/b/i/v series.

The band’s third session for famed DJ John Peel is their first with Dexter X from Planet Q. And for completists, "Welcome to the Wicky Wacky World of John Peel" is credited that way in the BBC archive, but we all know it's "The Wayward Meteor." For John Peel, who was one the earliest, most visible and most vocal supporters of the band, all four songs that were recorded are being released on this sixth of seven singles. I in the band's R/o/y/g/b/i/v series.

Released just months after their debut album Dive, "Receiver" finds Lifeguard in a much different headspace. Colder and more direct than anything in their catalog, "Receiver" is the sound of the band fully coming into their own. KAI Slater and Asher CASE’s guitars call, respond, and spider web across the track, centered on Isaac LOWENSTEIN’s tasteful mid tempo beat. The splintered finale is the only time the song feels like it’s losing control, collapsing into its stuttered, feedback laced end. B side "Sun Ra Jane" oscillates between time signatures before opening up into a liminal zone that is truly the threshold of where Lifeguard have pushed their sound to date. A new sense of space and maturity saturates these songs, recorded and produced by the band at their Mixed Messages studio.

The band’s fourth session for famed DJ John Peel is their second with Dexter X from Planet Q. Famously, John Peel who was one the earliest, most visible and most vocal supporters of the band, had an Astro shrine set up at his house. Five songs were recorded, but four are being released on this final installment of seven singles. V in the band's R/o/y/g/b/i/v series.

Chunklet Industries is proud to announce a breakthrough in broadcasting technology. For the first time, the BBC working hand-in-hand with intergalactic audio pioneers Man…or Astro-man? present to you seven volumes of their famed U.K. radio sessions. The band’s debut for famed DJ Mark Radcliffe marks the final BBC session with original member DR. Deleto. Although the band did a complete interview with Mr. Radcliffe, only the four tracks recorded that day in 1994 are presented on this third of seven singles.

The band’s session for the Beat Patrol wasn't even noted within the BBC's vast archives, but trusted Astro-pal THE Boo-yaa BOY (aka Henry @ Chunklet) uncovered this session with the generous help of Paul Carlin up at Radio Scotland. A total of seven songs were recorded, six were usable, and four are being released on this single, the second of seven. O in the band's R/o/y/g/b/i/v series.

After his Chunklet debut lathe single sold out in the blink of an eye, one man pop powerhouse Justin Hubbard is back with five more confoundingly brilliant jams. To those taking notes of such things, Germ House came to our attention after a devoted Chunklet fan turned us onto Justin's frenetic fuzz. And lemme tell ya, Germ House doesn't disappoint. Jam packed with hooks and melody that just won't quit!

You might be asking yourself “Is this some kind of gimmick?” or “Is this really a racquetball record?” or most importantly, “Is this really Mogwai?” The answer to all these questions is a resounding “YES!” The Crease is the “nom de performance” for Chunklet Industries Janitor of the Year (for seventeen years running, that is), none other than Henry Owings. Spawning from a crazy idea Owings hatched from years of being a racquetball player, he hired a professional recording engineer to come in and document (in all its 8-track spelendor) a racquetball match. Then, the isolated tracks were sent to Barry Burns from Mogwai, and The Crease “vs Mogwai” is the result. Includes a long-winded essay by and sweaty courtside photographs of The Crease. This is Henry's sophomore release, and the debut of The Crease. Riyl: Mogwai, Racquetball, sweaty dudes, looking at guitar pedals

“Nobody here at Chunklet HQ can find fault in that there haiku cuz it's the damn truth, folks. After the band's debut single evaporated in mere hours, we decided to try a pressed single this time around. Don't expect these to last long, neither. Get up on a thing.”

TAR were an uncompromising prolific Chicago four piece band from 1988 to 1995 who put out many records and toured the US and Europe frequently with the likes of The Jesus Lizard, Arcwelder, Unsane, Surgery, and Jawbox. Over thirty years since the original releases, Tar’s first three 12" records are being reissued. Co-released by the band’s No Blow Records and Chunklet Industries, the Handsome EP and full length LPs Roundhouse and Jackson are being rediscovered. All three records were remastered and cut to lacquer by BOB Weston at Chicago Mastering Service. The artwork was painstakingly reimagined and recreated by the band’s drummer, Mike Greenlees. This music has withstood the test of time. With the stunning remastering and 180gm pressing at Chicago's Smashed Plastic pressing plant, this is no regular reissue. With exacting detail, the highest quality and attention to detail, the listener and fans are invited to truly re-experience these releases anew. It’s time to celebrate Tar. Again. Includes the Handsome EP, the Roundhouse and Jackson LPs, and the previously unavailable Holding Fast Hitting Long album—an incendiary live set recorded at Lounge Ax in March 28, 1992. The band had just returned from multiple tours and was in top tour shape, tearing through a 55 minute set comprised entirely of songs from that era. This record includes a recreated flyer from the show and your very own copy of the set list. The live record is only available with the Box Set. Numbered edition of 240 boxes. Handsome - Green w/dark blue swirl vinyl / Roundhouse - natural w/ metallic blue swirl vinyl / Jackson - clear with Red swirl / Holding Fast, Hitting Long - white vinyl.

"This is an archival single by Essex’s trash rock/no-fi geniuses Stirling. I was fortunate enough to release their only song “legitimately” back in the 90’s on a Chunklet comp CD, but this is five songs pressed and given to you as a bit of a gift. Pete (the drummer) is probably one of my oldest friends on the planet, John was from punk legends Understand and guitarist Sam Knee is the brain trust behind “A Scene In Between” and serves as a lovely glimpse as to what depraved sounds they’ve got going through their equally depraved minds." - Henry Owings

While putting finishing touches on their next full length, we asked Philly’s Honey Radar if they wanted to do a split single with the Bay Area’s Violent Change. And like that, a release was born. The Honey Radar side is a bit of a departure for them. Instead of working as a band, the pandemic offered them each a chance to do their own individual material and it was all folded together into one gigantic Honey Radar suite featuring songs by the members of the band. Sprawling, baby. That’s the Honey Radar way! The Violent Change side is more of their shambolic home recordings somewhere between The Glands and the Swell Maps all crammed into a cassette tape. A love affair of the most innocent variety.” Edition of 200.

Tar were an uncompromising prolific Chicago four piece band from 1988 to 1995 who put out many records and toured the US and Europe frequently with the likes of The Jesus Lizard, Arcwelder, Unsane, Surgery, and Jawbox. Over thirty years since the original releases, Tar’s first three 12" records are being reissued. Co-released by the band’s No Blow Records and Chunklet Industries, the Handsome EP and full length LPs Roundhouse and Jackson are being rediscovered. All three records were remastered and cut to lacquer by Bob Weston at Chicago Mastering Service. The artwork was painstakingly reimagined and recreated by the band’s drummer, Mike Greenlees. This music has withstood the test of time. With the stunning remastering and 180gm pressing at Chicago's Smashed Plastic pressing plant, this is no regular reissue. With exacting detail, the highest quality and attention to detail, the listener and fans are invited to truly reexperience these releases anew. It’s time to celebrate Tar. Again.

Tar were an uncompromising prolific Chicago four piece band from 1988 to 1995 who put out many records and toured the US and Europe frequently with the likes of The Jesus Lizard, Arcwelder, Unsane, Surgery, and Jawbox. Over thirty years since the original releases, Tar’s first three 12" records are being reissued. Co-released by the band’s No Blow Records and Chunklet Industries, the Handsome EP and full length LPs Roundhouse and Jackson are being rediscovered. All three records were remastered and cut to lacquer by Bob Weston at Chicago Mastering Service. The artwork was painstakingly reimagined and recreated by the band’s drummer, Mike Greenlees. This music has withstood the test of time. With the stunning remastering and 180gm pressing at Chicago's Smashed Plastic pressing plant, this is no regular reissue. With exacting detail, the highest quality and attention to detail, the listener and fans are invited to truly reexperience these releases anew. It’s time to celebrate Tar. Again.

The mid-90s in Madison, Wisconsin wasn’t necessarily the best time to be a band like Xerobot, but thank the gods that they decided to become one. Spastic, hyperactive scrawl evoking the original New York No Wave scene, Xerobot’s recorded output consisted of a CD, a couple split singles and a handful of comp appearances. This self titled LP assembles 37 tracks in almost as many minutes and collects all their releases and even additional unreleased material recorded by none other than Steve Albini. This LP was mastered by none other than Weasel Walter and includes a 16pp booklet featuring photos, first person accounts of the band and lyrics! First edition of 150 copies.

This 7-inch release from the Philly-based band offers a master-class in lo-fi sketches à la Pavement or Syd Barrett.

Hot off the heels of their debut album for Trouble In Mind, delve deeper into the world of Atlanta trio Omni with this short, sharp single. “Fever Bass” and “Thesis” were both recorded by guitarist Frankie Broyles at his studio in Atlanta while they were making Deluxe last year.

The B-52s, R.E.M., Pylon, Love Tractor... The roster of early Athens legends is quite distinguished, but one of their closest peers never so much as put a record out. That band is Limbo District. Active from April 1981 until their unceremonious disbanding in May 1983, there was a grand total of one movie made of them by Jim Herbert entitled Carnival while they existed. "They were the band's band," as Mark Cline from Love Tractor so eloquently put it on NPR. While the "Encased" track is on this, the band's first session in the summer/fall of 1981, two other tracks ("Knock Knock Lobo" and "Rhythm Forward") are included. The lyrics were written by vocalst Craig Woodall and songs were arranged and written by the band that included former Factory star Jerry Ayers (neé Jeremy Ayers, Silva Thin) on percussion, from northern France, Dominique Amet on Farfisa organ, Spaniard Margarita Bilbao on guitar and from Dublin, Georgia, Davey Stevenson on bass. This line up of the band existed no more than a few seasons and then went away to be reborn with TIM Lacy (later of ART IN THE Dark) and Kelly Crow both replacing Margarita on guitar in their own time. Behold the greatest ghost to ever haunt Athens, GA: Limbo District. Expect more. Much more.

Vangas has been a four piece based in Atlanta for a while now. Since they were all in high school, these friends have played their own music. Careening between moody, aggressive and melodic, Vangas have been a marvel to witness as they mature from teenagers into young men. Musically, they've become a force to admire. Live performances can vacillate between new jams and complete improv and all of it is lovely to experience. And here we stand, Vangas first vinyl full length. Four of these tracks were on limited lathe singles (also released by Chunklet), but for the first time, an outside engineer was allowed to mix and master Vangas' home recordings. DAN Dixon (Dropsonic, Plspls, producer of local acclaim) came in and whipped these tracks into the fury that rests before your feet. So behold. Vangas.

"During’s self-titled debut is a pipe bomb of originality, set to detonate and shake the foundation of the tired post-punk sounds of today when it hits via Chunklet on ______. And while some more obvious influences show across the ten track LP—like Devo, Sonic Youth and Gang of Four—its strength lies in some of it’s wilder ideas and influences, creating a wholly new approach as yet unseen in the otherwise very tired genre of post-punk. 'I've always been super influenced by post punk stuff. The Fall is definitely up there, as well as Wire and the Urinals, even the Gizmos,' says Fisher emphatically. 'The coolest thing about recording this LP was we didn't know what we were gonna end up with, it just sort of came out the way it came out. So while those influences are there because that's where we come from, none of it is totally clear because it’s jumbled up with so many of our other ideas.' Starting with a dizzying and frantic base, During's sound can best be classified using the hyper-cerebral approach of Devo, garnished with touches of their more frenetic speedfreak acolytes Minneapolis’ Uranium Club. It’s from there that things drift into territories unseen, with a cold vocal delivery not unlike Mark E Smith, a quirky and free-spirited approach like the Cardiacs, atonal riffing that recalls Sonic Youth, and a mildly funk-focused bed to tether down the madness a la A Certain Ratio or the Contortions. All that comes baked in with the care in songwriting found in the Wipers and nods to favorites like the Adaptors, Urinals and even This Heat. During's debut is boundary-pushing with limitless potential, visionary ideas and a sound that is ten steps ahead of the current legions trying to recreate The Fall and Joy Division. Despite all of the serious references and the nods to dizzying originality, During are quick to point out that this is a fun record at the end of the day. 'I'm not really capable of consciously making fun music but I feel like this record is fun, and much more than I knew I was capable of,' chuckles Cory Plump in response to the overall feel of the record. 'It’s just sort of upbeat—that may be the testament to the people in the band or it could just be because I’ve never done anything like this musically before, so I really extended myself in a way that I like.' Grab some headphones and crack open a coldie down by the beach to create the optimal experience for one of the most mind-bending and brilliant records of the year and in recent memory. A record like this doesn’t come around too often, but maybe a listen or two will conjure a few of your own ideas."—Fred Passaro, Creem Magazine