Compilation nr. 8

I discovered today that weird site, selling Greek underground rock albums in outrageous prices.

200$ for a Chaos Generation album.

125$ for an Ipogia Troxia album

100$ for an Antidrasi album…

This is madness…

No wonder why people prefer to download from the internet instead of buying them…

 

The next LP was released in 1985 and was rated at 200$ but for many-many years you could find it for 1 euro…

Yes, for 1 euro.

 

It is a compilation LP that Costas from the Chaos Generation reminded me a few months ago while we were talking about it.

We were talking especialy about the band “Not 2 without 3“.

The faces on the album sleeves look so familiar to both of us but we couldn’t remember jack shit about them.

Of course the band was very active back in those days but I think it’s a long time ago.

 

The title of this compilation is “Outsiders” and Not 2 without 3 participated with two tracks: “I keep” and “Crocodiles“.

It was a dark wave band with a typical line up, bass-drums-guitar-vocals.

“I keep” had a great chorus line on vocals and strangely enough for that era, there is a guitar solo which is very melodic and interesting.

On “Crocodiles” sounds obvious that the rhythm section was influenced by the Cure of the early days (what do you expect ? this was in 1985…) but the singer was clever enough to confuse the listener, singing in a more personal style.

For sure that song would be a great dance floor hit in some gothic clubs in the present time.

Strangely enough, I have a vague memory of linking them to the South of No North.

Maybe they were in the same company of friends.

2 without 3 never released a full album.

 

The compilation track listing:

 

1.  Libido Blume-In my room

2.  Not 2 without 3-I keep

3.  X-Mandarina Duck-Television

4.  Venericna Bolest-To hit

5.  Anti-Troppau Council-Contract with the devil

6.  Anti-Troppau Council-Remissed

7.  Venericna Bolest-Τυπωμένη συνήθεια

8.  X-Mandarina Duck-Passengers

9.  Not 2 without 3-Crocodiles

10.  Libido Blume-House of light

 

Venericna Bolest never released an album either.

This was an Athenian post punk band with Greek lyrics.

George Drakopoulos was on the keyboards (former member of the bands Horis Peridereo, Moist Device, he would join later the band Chaos Generation / Genia tou Haous).

The rest band members were guitar player Andreas Takis, singer/bassist Giorgos Kanavakis and drummer Vangelis Pipinis.

Their sound was close to Wasted Youth’s or the early Modern English.

They never released a full length album or any 7″  single.

 

X-Mandarina Duck was Tom Bouzanis’s three piece band.

Tom was an ex member of Parthenogenesis and joined for a while the punk rock band Stress.

In 1984 he founded the X-Mandarina Duck with Zacharias ‘Zack Antvark’ Vrelianakis on the bass and drummer Chris Mine.

Their sound was close the English punk rock scene of the late 70’s.

They released the 7″ single “Non Stop Sensations” in 1986 and split.

Tom Bouzanis joined later the English bands “Passengers” and “Dynamite Inc“.

In 2005 he released the CD album “13een Black“

This album had little to do with the old X-Mandarina Duck sound.

 

Libido Blume was the post-punk/new wave band that Aki “Bua” Bogiatzis formed in 1984 when Captain Nefos disbanded.

The band released two albums “Colours Melting” in 1986 and “Liquid Situation” in 1987.

They also released a 5 track mini album in 1986, titled “Brilliant names and dames“.

The line up of the band was Aki “Bua” Bogiatzis – bass/vocals, Dimitris Stergiou – keyboards/vocals, Giannis Drenogiannis-guitar

(Stelios Habibis would soon take his place) Dimitris Bourousas-Drums.

Later Tasos Katsaris-sax/keyboards and Makis Vretos-drums joined the band replacing Stergiou and Bourousas respectively.

The track “In My Room” appears also on “Colours Melting” on a different (and better) version.

Their myspace profile is here.

 

Giannis Drenogiannis was mentioned in past postings.

He was the guitar player of Anti-Troppau Council, later joined the band Horis Peridereo for a while, played a little with Libido Blume and finally formed the band Yeah!

I hope I didn’t forget any other band.

 

The compilation “Outsiders” was released by the indie record label Dikaioma Diavasis.

Later, this record label would become “Di-Di music” and “Big Star Promotions“.

“Big Star Promotions” is nowdays the top Greek rock promoter, organizing many festivals every year in Greece with Rockwave Festival on top of them all, which is taking place in Greece every summer.

Rockwave Festival (it was Rock of Gods till the year 2000) hosted bands such as the Black Sabbath, Offspring, Siouxsie & the Banshees, Sisters of Mercy, Slipknot and many others…