Michael Carpenter's debut solo release Baby has been picked up by Castle distribution in the UK/Europe. It'll come out on the When! Records label early next year. However, he is still looking for an Australian release… Baby is still available through Not Lame's website.

Those of you who have the chance to hear Baby will be happy to know that Michael has been making inroads into his next record over the last month or so and has already recorded 12 new songs. He's currently putting the finishing touches to the tunes and will take a week or so off before starting the mixing.

The Finkers are taking a short break from the seemingly frantic recording of the new record. Most of the basic tracks are done, and several tunes are mixed. There'll be more work after Xmas and early in the new year. Screaming Apple in Germany will be including new track 'Pretty As A Picture' on a comp in the new year. The Finkers debut album 'Fresh Set O Prints' is getting excellent reviews and will be released for the European market on 12" vinyl through France's great Hellfire Club Records, hopefully by January 2000.

Michael Carpenter has also been mixing a new project by a band called Hey! Maker, which features members of the Finkers, Orange Humble Band and Eva Trout among others. A few more mixing sessions and the boys will start shopping this great pop album around for a deal. You can hear MP3's of each song at the bands website.

He has also finished producing and mixing the eagerly awaited new Challenger 7 album. This will be a Japanese release for the moment, which will probably be released in February. The band are currently looking around for an Australian release, like quite a few other bands.

Ivy League records have had a big year with the release of the very successful EP by 78 Saab called 'Hello Believers'. 78 Saab have just released a new single, titled 'Sunshine', which was recently launched to a packed Punters Club in Melbourne. The band go into Hothouse studios in mid-December with producer Greg Wales to record their debut album which is due out in April/May 2000.

Youth Group have released a few great singles over the past few months and a new single 'Interface' will be available in the next few weeks. For more information point your browser to http://www.ivyleague.com.au

Dom Mariani's new band Majestic Kelp have their first rehearsal on January 4th, 2000. So far the band consists of Dom, Stuart Loasby (Jack & The Beanstalk, Frantics) and Robbie Scorer (Someloves). The plan is to put together an album of mostly instrumentals (surf & otherwise) and play a few gigs around town and see what happens. Apparently Dom has about 8 songs already written.

The December issue of CAT SCRATCH FEVER, the official newsletter of Vicious Kitten Records, is out now and it's FREE !!! Features interviews with Kevin K, Freddy Lynxx, Ginger Coyote from the White Trash Debutantes & Nikki Sudden. Nikki Sudden talks about 'Red Brocade', plus reviews of Ruin, Johnny Casino's Easy Action, Flattery ( Radio Birdman Tribute), Brother Brick, The Jezebelles, Orange County, Sylvain Sylvain, I Love Rich, Trash Brats, Lazy Cowgirls, Dicky B, Hardy, Deniz Tek & Chris Masuak, Repo, Montgomery Cliffs, The X-Impossibles, as well as Adelaide Rock City news, Spencer Jones, Dragster Barbie, Rick Blaze & the Ballbusters plus label news, merchandise and a Sheek The Shayk photo collage !! Twelve A5 pages in all, and it's FREE. To order a copy, send in a 45 cent stamp to Vicious Kitten Records. If you live outside Australia, send in one IRC (International Reply Coupon). You can also download this issue for FREE.

Also out on Vicious Kitten Records is the new album by Nicki Sudden called Red Brocade. Recorded with various members of the Chamber Strings and other assorted Chicago luminaries as well as featuring Wilco's Jeff Tweedy on guest vocals on one track. This won't be in the shops until January, but you can order your copy through their mail order set up.

Vicious Kitten Records
GPO Box 20
Canberra ACT 2601
Australia
records@viciouskitten.com.au

Finally, One Way Street is a relatively new Australian record label set up by the collective forward thinking of Tim Pittman and John Needham, who as individuals and as partners they have been responsible for the success of some of the country's more inspired original music. As a pair they pieced together the extremely successful Radio Birdman reformations of '96 and '97 while as individual managers they have helped steer the careers of the Hard-Ons, Kim Salmon, Died Pretty, New Christs, The Eastern Dark and The Mark Of Cain. This is in addition to John's knowledge gained by 15 years successfully running the legendary independent record label Citadel.

The debut release for One Way Street is the EP Yesterday & Today from the Hard-Ons, which features new material from a session recorded with producer and Australian music/punk icon Ed Kuepper as well some rare demos recorded way back in 1985.

Other releases are the EP The Story of Mr. Brainache and the album Kids In Satanic Service from hot new Norwegian punks The Wonderfools, who apparently signed to One Way Street to guarantee themselves a European release! I also wouldn't be surprised if the opportunity to be on the same label as the Hard Ons wasn't a major factor. Personally, Kids In Satanic Service is one of the better rock 'n' roll albums going around at the moment. Also worth noting is that Triple J called their debut EP 'terrible', which means it has to be good!

The other initial release is Nunchukka Superfly featuring Hard-Ons Ray and Blackie. Described by journalist Murray Engleheart as "representing perhaps the greatest career U turn since Ed Kuepper embarked on the Laughing Clowns". Psychedelia, Krautrock, hardcore and funk all get a workout on their self titled album.

For more information, visit the One Way Street website.

Back To Archives current