From the Top Drawer XXXVIII - The History Of Gardening

Right, I have no knowledge of this band at all other than what I've found posted underneath a video on YouTube. I have no recollection of ever buying this tape either, though I suspect I may have ordered it as a random 'lucky dip' tape from Better Days Distribution when sending off for something else. I thought for years that the name of the band might actually be 'Duck' 'cos that's what it said on the artwork, but it turns out that they were called 'The History Of Gardening' and produced more than one tape during their existence (I only have this one, their third). All I can add is that THOG have a particularly idiosyncratic sound, if U know wot I mean...

'The History of Gardening was a strange little band from East London. They had a revolving and revolting, constantly changing line up of oiks, spotty Herbert's, vagabonds, itinerants, Zeppelin pilots, visionary seers, reefer mystics and the odd person who could play an instrument. A total lack of any ability didn't hold them back from under achieving in the dark underbelly that was the underground, alternative music scene under the bleak, miserable existence that was Thatchers Britain. From 1984 till the early 90's they inflicted upon culture their strange unholy ditties and bizarre tunes. They played regularly all over London mainly for free and benefits for worthy causes. They were more or less the house band for the Bikers pub The Greyhound in Lea Bridge Rd ( why the bikers put up with them we shall never know ) and played dozens of times at the Ruskin Arms, The Plough and Harrow and The Royal Standard in Walthamstow amongst other dives where the landlords didn't have a strict dress code and no sense of smell. They played often with the old Anarcho Punk band The Assassins of Hope, and later Swine and also members of THOG were also key elements in the unique band Bunty Chunks...but since the only people who will read this are the band themselves this is all rather pointless as you know all that, don't you? By the mid 90's the band retreated to a commune in Papua New Guinea to raise Llamas and soon after all contact with them was lost... Culture, common decency and good taste all breathed a sigh of relief with their departure from the music world.'

 from the YouTube page for the track 'Shake Me And I Giggle' which is on the 'Duck' tape.

OK, now you've had a taster, and if you want to dip your organs further into the Duck soup, here we go...

Ripped @320kbps as two side-long tracks (no info or track names given on the artwork)
 - UPDATE -
please take a look at the comments posted below as Tony has supplied much new info there

Download HERE

Alternative cover

From the Top Drawer XXXVII - Karmakanix

Here's a short 3 track tape (more like an EP) dating from 1989 by the Karmakanix, who I remember seeing play and enjoying very much at the Stonehenge Festival in 1984

'The Karmakanix, famous for their all night psychedelic concerts around England during the early eighties, was a conglomeration of musicians from the free festival Bands of the late 70’s - Steve, Rob & Sub’s from Thandoy, Twink from Here & Now And Maz from Zorch. They formed during the summer of 81 playing in the TUMT’s (Tibetan Ukranian Mountain Troupe) Blue and White marquee at Stonehenge and at the numerous festivals across the country until Rougham Tree Fair 1984.

 Stonehenge 1984

After Rougham the band took a much-needed break. They got back together in '87 and continued to record and gig until '93. The band has many live recordings of the festivals and although the tapes usually ran out just as the music was taking off, it was the way it was meant to be, recorded in the ether and in the memories of those who were there, yet not there.

(Guitarist) Steve Higgins has teamed up with bass man Mike Howlett (Gong) and drummer Steve Cassidy (Here & Now) as The House Of Thandoy.'

(taken from http://www.invisiblemusic.co.uk/karmakanix/karmakanix.html)

@ Club Dog (pic taken from http://www.myspace.com/39orbits)

Only three tracks appear on the cassette - both sides of the tape play the same. One melodic track with a beautiful vocal, one with funky space riffing, and one rhythmic jam that meanders pleasantly - someone's obviously into their motorsports, hence the name of the band (?) Good stuff, but we need more...

Ripped as one unit @320kbps

 get a copy HERE

Karmakanix CD 'Krypton Tunes' is available from http://www.planetgong.co.uk/bazaar/cd/karmakanix_krypton.shtml

As far as I can tell there's no footage of Karmakanix online, so here's some of House Of Thandoy enjoying a jam.

michael of bernicia - Beating the Banksters!

michael of bernicia gives a presentation to a Freedom North West meeting on the 21st of March 2012.

Michael tells how he stopped paying tax, the current fight against the mortgage fraud, fighting his child's birth registration and potent alternative cures for all forms of ailments and disease.

Michael also goes into depth about the real history of Britain and Ireland explaining the hidden secret of a comet striking Britain in in the Dark ages leading to Britain being uninhabited for years after...

If you have any interest in the truth about mortgage debt, or any debt 'owed' to a bank at all, or the workings of the 'law'; if you are expecting a child, or have a child at school; if you have any interest in British history; any interest in your health; any interest in freeing yourself from wage-slave tyranny; and any interest in how to stop being a 'tax payer', then you owe it to yourself to watch and listen to this, and hear what michael has to say about these situations, and the remedies available to release yourself from the world of fictions, the Control System maintained by the State.

Free The Planet

Trance-Formation

Max Igan's latest documentary asks questions about the choices that the human race faces in the next few years.

"Civil disobedience is not our problem. Our problem is civil obedience. Our problem is that people all over the world have obeyed the dictates of leaders and millions have been killed because of this obedience. Our problem is that people are obedient all over the world in the face of poverty and starvation and stupidity, and war, and cruelty. Our problem is that people are obedient while the jails are full of petty thieves and the grand thieves are running the country. That's our problem."
- Howard Zinn

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Universal Law trumps all others.

1. No man or woman, in or out of government shall initiate force, threat of force or fraud against my life and property, and any and all contracts I am a party to, not giving full disclosure to me, whether signed by me or not, are void at my discretion.

2. I may use force in self-defense against anyone that violates Law 1.

3. There shall be no exceptions to Law 1 and 2.

Max Igan's website

White Hills - H-p1

White Hills Live at SXSW 2011
Fuzztastic - an edit from the 17 minute version on the album of the same name...nice.

From the Top Drawer XXXVI - Eden

Another cassette issued by the Cornwall-based A Real Kavoom label, here's the second solo release from Webcore/Zuvuya bassist and multi-instrumentalist Phil Pickering a.k.a. Eden. A personal odyssey mainly recorded on 4 track portastudio, 'Re-Member' features a mix of experimental tracks and melodic songs.

'My Shoes' was re-recorded by Webcore for their 1987 self-titled vinyl release and 'Not Sinking Junk' brings to mind that band's mysterious sound collages on their first tape release 'Cinematography' from 1984. Flanged bass and guitars, synths, drum machines and vocal style all recall the moods and dreams of the early 1980s, though they still retain a wistful charm today.

SIDE ONE: HiTiEiTi / Time Out Shout / My Shoes / Abba Abba / How Now Brown Cow

SIDE TWO: I Just Rejoice / Close To The Mark / Not Sinking Junk / Above My Head

Ripped from an original cassette @320kbps as two side-long tracks.

Get it HERE

From the Top Drawer XXXV - The Ullulators

Back with the Ullulators again, as I know there have been requests for this particular tape. As well there might be, for in my opinion it represents the very best of their 1980s output.

Dating from 1989 (?) or thereabouts this album reflects more of a band effort than on previous recordings and a number of tracks such as 'Special Brew', 'Golden Soldier', and 'S.M.I.L.E.' were audience favourites at live shows.

A potent combination of spacerock, dub, electronica, reggae and Eastern-tinged inspired psychedelia presented in many shapes and forms.

  Side One: Pooja Dub/Special Brew/EE-A Whoppa Amu Hé/Jammu-Tawi Express/S.M.I.L.E/In A Space/In Plaited Hair You Hid The Flow Of Ganges Foam!/We All Love The Same Girl/Things Moving About Outside/Mangonian Pop Musik/Ajos Amour
      
  Side Two: Duck Nipples/Buttering The Guttering/Agape Dub/It's A Beautiful Thing/Honey, The Milk/Hinayn/Golden Soldier/Quiche Alaha/Harmal Radio

Ripped @320kbps as two side-long tracks - download a copy HERE

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I believe that remasters of the early Ullulators catalogue will soon be available in digital format, probably a 2CD compilation of the best tracks chosen by Gavin and hand tweaked from the original tapes in his own studio. I'll let readers of the blog know when I discover that they're ready to go - until then, enjoy the tape rips...

(The Ullulators are on Facebook!)