Blues Vinyl 203 Items

The music of instrumental-folk quartet NRQ seems to defy categorization. Drawing their influences from styles as disparate as free jazz, Chinese folk songs, Calypso music, and the music of the Appalachians, every song presents a new twist or turn, and every album succeeds in defying expectations. Their third album, ‘was here’ saw the band welcome trumpeter and steel pan player MC. sirafu (The Natsuyasumi Band, Kataomoi, etc.), keyboard player Emerson Murakami (mmm, Kisel, etc.), and percussionist Okyon to create a sound quite unlike anything else they’ve ever done. The album was recorded exclusively with vintage tape machines, and the result is a warm, analog sound, with just the barest amount of hiss gently enveloping each track. Combined with the oddly mesmerizing artwork, this album has been practically begging for an analog release. P-vine is proud to be giving ‘was here’ the analog treatment it has long deserved!

In the middle of the punks vs Teds battles, Whirlwind became the go-to support act for the Clash, Blondie, Ian Dury and many others. With charismatic frontman Nigel Dixon’s pop star good looks and vocally channelling Billy Fury, this debut LP grabbed the sound of Whirlwind in the raw.

The look was encapsulated in the spectacular cover design by Barney Bubbles, which brought the 50s into the 70s. The sight of punks doing the Rock-A-Billy heel and toe skip dance in bondage trousers never ceased to amuse.

This all predated the amalgamation of the two into psychobilly and “Blowing Up A Storm” is now regarded as a quintessential album for every discerning punk hepcat…