PHILIP JOHNSON - "Ellis is Poofyman" (Year Zero Records YEAR035) 2015

As Twelve Cubic feet and Exhibit A main man Paul Platypus was in Doof with the legendary Philip Johnson;it is about time I plugged the last release on Year Zero records;- the excellent "Ellis Is Poofyman", EP? Mini album?....i dunno, but its rather good.
All together now...."I've Been farting On The Moon!"
I dunno how he does it? Another sing-a-long classic from a world reflected in a fairground mirror in an underwater House of Fun. More synthetic voice phrases assembled and rearranged to reveal the true meaning of language. Backed up with all the aural abstract expressionism of a DIY Willem de Kooning;.... before he developed Alzheimers!
You should know by now NOT to be disappointed by any Philip Johnson recording,and this definitely is no exception.
Made,originally, in the much maligned 3" CD format to further limit his audience.

DOWNLOAD ellis here you poofyman!

Twelve Cubic Feet ‎– "Straight Out The Fridge" (Namedrop Records ‎– NR2) 1982

After featuring The Casual Labourers gig at the Africa Centre, one thought you should hear the other bands on the bill; The Lemon Kittens you can hear HERE.
So that leaves Twelve Cubic Feet; so here's their debut 10" ep on the near perfect Namedrop records; home of Doof and Philip Johnson (who's namedrop release, "Youth In Asia" has been reissued recently,check it out here).

"Paul Platypus(Doof/Reflections), Andrew and Matthew joined Fred, Sally and Glenna to form 12 Cubic Feet, who recorded the second 10" LP on Name-drop Records –with "Evercare". After this and a cassette they fell in with Alan McGee's Creation / Communication Club crowd, and met Dave Evans [Biff Bang Pow] who replaced Matthew on bass. The late Duncan Jack [What is Oil?] replaced Glenna on guitar, Dave Morgan [Take It, The Loft+++] came in on drums... and 12CF cut a final Joe Foster-produced demo. Plans for a new band foundered, and Paul checked into a commune (temporarily); Fred went to university, Dave M got famous, Dave E became a roadie for Jesus & Mary Chain, Shop Assistants and later, Belly; Sally sang in Khmer Rouge, and Matthew and Dan formed Solid Space... Got that?" (info from hyped2death)

Classic proto-indie wimp pop ,with scratchy guitars Joe Meek monophonic organs,and lazy weak vocals. All this and seven catchy tunes that you can dance in an Indie Disco stylee to.

Tracklist:

A1	Blob
A2	Evercare
A3	The Almshouse
B1	Mary's Got The Bug
B2	Escaping Again
B3	Hello Howard
B4	Tuesday Afternoon

DOWNLOAD straight from the fridge HERE!

The Reflections - "4 Countries" (Cherry Red CHERRY33) 1981

Another peerless Mark Perry related release, this time accompanied by Nag(The Door and the Window), Karl Blake (Lemon Kittens),as well as Dennis Burns(The Good missionaries),and Paul Platypus(Doof).
Not quite up to the standard of The Reflections LP, "Slugs and Toads", but still high on quality anti-rock non-musicianship of the highest standard.
Of note,it is nice to see uber-weirdo Karl Blake try his considerable skills in crafting an alternative dimension pop tune with the genius's of the genre/non-genre, nag and Perry.

Track Listing:

A		4 Countries
B		The Coroner And The Inquest

Download Four Countries HERE!

The Reflections - " Slugs and Toads " (Cherry Red BRED 22) 1981

Anyone remember Blind Faith? Well this is the DIY equivalent, the nearest DIY land ever got to a super group.Dennis Burns and Mark Perry from ATV or The Good Missionaries,Karl Blake from The Lemon Kittens,and The legend that is Nag,from The Door and the Window. If that wasn't enough,the sleeve was designed by Danielle Dax!
The music ,bizarrely enough sounds like that of all the aforementioned bands,but....erm ...different. There's a hint of the pop song about it,and in this case its a good thing, 'cus it works.A great album indeed,even the cover version of Rocky Erickson's "Interpreter" is great, aided greatly by the dulcet tones of Mark Perry.An overlooked classic of the genre methinks.(click on the mp3 sample of tightrope walker for a taster)

A1		Tightrope Walker
A2		Zigzagging
A3		Keep It Easy
A4		Toy Dog Ripped By Cat
A5		Demon Of My Desires
A6		The Human Touch
B1		The Interpreter
B2		Oh Baby, Look Out ( It`s The New Dance)
B3		I Had Love In My Hands
B4		Clamming Up
B5		Nag Takes A Ride
B6		The Parting

Mark Perry, Nag, Dennis Burns, Karl Blake, Grant Showbiz,
Justin, Michele Bonett, Vicki Bonett, Steve Tannet
Recorded at Street Level and Denmark Street Sudios May/June/July 1981

Download Slugs and Toads HERE!

Philip Johnson - "Minumarine" (Year Zero Records YEAR 026) 2014

The first new album from Legendary cassette underground original, Philip Johnson, for nigh on twenty years!!?
The latest release on the resurgent Year Zero records, and Its like he's never been away! Full of highly original noisescapes,avant classical composition, sampladelia, sound collage, minimal electronica, single drum abuse, with the odd drone and scraping noise.
Track Three, "I am Wearing", is a reference to what he's been doing for the past twenty years. "I'm wearing Wellington Boots and I'm going to tie you up and gag you", says a female in the style of a 'Watch with Mother' narrator. You can almost imagine a banned episode of Andy Pandy, when Looby lou got Teddy alone in a dark corner of Bill and Ben's Garden.(if you're not from the UK and you watch these clips,then you'll understand why Brits are so weird and fucked up).
This refers to the novel "Jeanette" where Wellies plays a major role, written by Philip's alter-ego Joe Simpson walker.

But ,now, unlike a reformed pop group,he has returned, and he's as good as he used to be.....dare I say better?

DOWNLOAD it in 320k HERE!

Philip Johnson - "HEARTACHE’S WORST ASSISTANTS VERSUS THE GENIUS WITH THE SECRET OF MAKING GOLD INTO DYNAMITE!" (Year zero Records YEAR017) 1986/2012

From the vast archives of DIY cassette legend, Philip Johnson, we bring you the previously unreleased, "HEARTACHE’S WORST ASSISTANTS VERSUS THE GENIUS WITH THE SECRET OF MAKING GOLD INTO DYNAMITE".Now released at last on everyones favourite Net label, Year Zero Records.
(note: after being erased from the net by the authorities, Year Zero is now back,although be warned it is a site under reconstruction, and not everything is working;but most is,so feel free to download anything for free!)

Dating from 1986, this spoken word and sound collage involves material from between 1981 and 1986. Philip explains:"There are bits of various other tapes and records, unreleased bits, and bits recorded for the occasion to fill gaps, for instance “Black Rubber Towel” which begins the second side. It got reviewed by Dave Henderson in Underground, and an A&R man at EMI wrote and asked me for a copy. I sent him one, though now I think I really should have ignored him."

A Classic Philip Johnson melange of spoken narrative, found sound, noise, tape manipulation, and unhinged songs.I even detected a tv interview with Mark and Brix smith,from the Tube i think; where Brix Cringingly answers 'Smash Hits' style questions about her boyfriend, like 'what kind of music does he like?'

Print out the original artwork and make your own cassette!

Track Listing:

Side A (20:49)
Side B (26:02)

DOWNLOAD the secret of reverse alchemy HERE!

Doof - " Exist " (Namedrop Records NR1 ) 10" EP ,1981

Phillip Johnson, who regularly appeared on Deleted records compilations, and released several c-90's during 79-80, is the man behind Doof! He and Paul Platypus ( of DIY supergroup The Reflections), created this audio mumble, that must have been recorded under a duvet or something equally acoustically deadening. That something as dysfunctional as this ever made it onto ten inch vinyl is as much a miracle as the sub-genius that is contained within these grooves.This record has the logic of Dreams, and that is a quality which David Lynch and the like spend millions of dollars,and years of thought to achieve......Doof could shit surrealism in their lunch hour, and Dada is just their father.Nothing extraordinary for Doof.......who the hell were they anyway.........i'm glad i dont know.
(check out the excellent booklet that came with this great record too; now available below in a thoroughly modern PDF stylee )

Tracks:

1- Brighton pt.1
2- Nine Years old
3- Brighton pt.2
4- On it In it.
5- Treat Me Like (the man I am)

DOWNLOAD the original and remastered versions HERE!

DOWNLOAD the accompanying "exist"booklet HERE!