Song Of the Day: April 15, 2005
The Alpaca Brothers-The Lie
From the "Legless" EP, Flying Nun Records, 1986
Perhaps the best of the Flying Nun records by bands who never saw any sort of US release were the Bird Nest Roys LP and the "Legless" EP by the Alpaca Brothers. The latter is notable not only for a great bass sound (lots of strings slapping against the fretboard in a distinctly non-thumb-popping kind of way) but also a strum-velocity that reminds me of the Feelies, and great quirky songs. The Alpacas included Steve Courname, who would later drum for the Verlaines, and featured guest musicians Peter Gutteridge (Snapper, The Clean) and Norma O'Malley (Look Blue Go Purple). Another of FN's releases funded by the QEII Arts Council, wherin the New Zealand Government gave grants to make punk records (usually 12" EPs, which is why Flying Nun seemed to like the format so much).
5 Comments:
Government commissioned punk rock records!?! That sound this good!?! Is New Zealand really such a utopia-like paradise? I really liked this tune, and all the tunes this week. It is mind boggling to think of this wonderful, unique scene tucked away in a country many Americans can't point to on a map. I think you have convinced me to order that early flying nun comp you suggested in a previous post. Little Hits for president!!
i can point to new zealand- it's right there next to new jersey. jeez...for those of you out there who haven't listened to side two of cheap trick's first album in a while, I suggest doing it today. I did, and I feel great.
Back some years ago when I was a volunteer DJ
at KSPC 88.7 (Worlds greatest college radio station) I played this wonderful EP by the Alpaca Bros. I managed to record it on a cassette
which i seem to have temporarily misplaced. So while I was at work I thought I would do a search on Said band and I found ya' all.
Yes I agree the Alpaca's were overlooked among all the great stuff that came out of NZ in the 80's via Flyin' Nun. I got a copy of the Bird Nest Roys CD which
has the vinyl release + a live song and I believe a single or two(Minus the B side Bus Stop Hollies cover) The first time I heard Jaffa Boy I cried. I've seen the Bats, The Clean, The Verlaines, Strightjacket Fits, The Chills when they came to the US. I have a high quality casette of the Bats
from 1988 playing live in LA which has them playing most everything From Daddys Highway. Amazing. I think I love you!!!
Speaking of New Jersey...
The last time I saw this disc was in Hoboken's long-lost Pier Platters Records. I only had enough to pick up the Dunedin Double and a few singles and I thought, "I'll pick it up next time I'm back in the city." Well, a month later I return to find not only the record gone, but the entire store! I'd given up ever finding it, until now. So thanks, Jon -- you've made my day (week, year, decade...)!
Cheers,
Jaysound - Chicago
Thanks whoever you are for playing that track. I was the drummer a young 18 or 19 year old and I think we had a unique sound back then.. Thanks for playing that all this time later..im actually trying to track dwon the other guys in the band.
I have not seen them for many years.. Im a jazz drummer these days working on cruise ships but I also have a great group back home called clbob and we just have out third album coming out.
Take care everybody
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