**Mind-crushing 7CD box set housed in a deluxe book-like folder featuring the earliest recorded material from the legendary S.P.K., dating back to the late '70s and including some properly eye-opening material. Includes t-shirt.** Vinyl-On-Demand has been diving into the archives of Australian underground outfit, S.P.K., for more than 10 years. Stretching across a beautifully produced 7 CD box set, S.P.K. Dokument - Recordings 1979-1983 is easily their most comprehensive survey of the band to date.
Pioneers of the Australian noise scene, S.P.K. was formed in Sydney in 1978 by Graeme Revell and Neil Hill. Over the project’s ten years of activity - five of which are covered by S.P.K. Dokument - Recordings 1979-1983 - it incorporated the contributions of nearly 20 members, including Sinan Revell, Brian 'Lustmord' Williams, John Murphy, Karel Van Bergen, Mike Wilkins, James Pinker, producing a mind-blowing range of sound that began as an outright sonic assault, and ended a dreamy zone at the outer reaches of synth pop.
S.P.K. has often been regarded as one of the earliest and most influential industrial / noise / post-punk bands in history, breaking unprecedented ground during their first five years and laying the seeds for an entire movement to come, including seminal projects like Throbbing Gristle, Clock DVA and Cabaret Voltaire.
Drawn from mixing desk masters, found recordings and studio takes, stretching across 7 CDs, S.P.K. Dokument - Recordings 1979-1983 dives into S.P.K.’s early explorations of razor-sharp noise and a brutal pallet of rhythms, samples and electronics. In totality, it gathers their albums Information Overload Unit (1980), Leichenschrei (1982), the material from three insanely rare 7"s Factory, No More, and Mekano (1979 - 1981), the previously unreleased Backing Tracks for Leichenschrei (1982), the choice rarities of Other Studio and Compilation Tracks (1981-1983), live recording made at London’s Heaven and Electric Ballroom (1982-1983), and a final disc of previously unheard haul of backing tracks that trace toward proto-techno and tribalism.
Certainly not for the faint of heart, but an absolute must of the brave and devoted fans of industrial and noise. These recording are as historically important and thrilling as anything out there. Issued by VOD in a beautiful box complete with a bonus t-shirt, we couldn’t possibly recommend it enough.
CD01 Information Overload Unit (1981)
CD02 The 7inch Tracks (1979 -1981)
CD03 Leichenschrei (1982)
CD04 Leichenschrei Backing Tracks (1982)
CD05 Studio and Compilation Tracks (1981-1983)
CD06 Live London / Electric Ballroom (1982 / 1983)
CD07 Backing Tracks (1983)
