Mick Hobbs and Benb Gallaher - "Bite My knee" (Life and Living Records) 2011

This Strobe Talbot 'spin-off' spoken word project recorded in 2002, involving Mick Hobbs and Benb Gallaher, apparently has sunk without trace in the heaving mires of modern information overload. Ramming headlong into a flatulent Iceberg from the 21st century musical glacier that threatens to consume all noble vessels that sail beyond the middle 'c's' . It rested on the seabed of taste for 7 long years only to be discovered in perfect condition in my e-mail inbox, courtesy of one Benb Gallaher!
Like Sir Lew Grade's abysmal "Raise The Titanic" movie, the album has been raised from the depths in near mint condition to sail,but not for sale, again to a new audience......well probably the same old audience, but who cares huh, it lives? 

This is rather good for the continuity of this blog, because I was looking for tenuous links to post some new 'This Heat' bootlegs. Mick Hobbs' Cold Storage links aside,the original backing sounds for these spoken word pieces were originally to be comprised of unreleased works from the late Gareth Williams.....of This Heat.
A reverence towards Gareth's work, led to that idea being dropped. So that task fell squarely on the more than capable shoulders of mick Hobbs, Benb and the usual suspects including Jad fair, R. Stevie Moore, and Rick Wilson.

Tracklist:

1. 99 Similes (for the Ploughman's Lunch)
2. Upon Waking
3. Sad Saturday
4. I Hate Text
5. After Driving A Considerable Distance Within A Short Time
6. Stock Exchange As Seen From Afar
7. Paintings Of Pears
8. Prompts and Replies (For Dr. Dexter -- My Physical, Revisited)
9. Attempted Definitions
10. Fun
11. The Death Of Dignity
12. New Math
13. Statements
14. Between
15. Bite My Knee
16. A Dozen Things That I Chose Not To Say Today
17. Yourself And Elsewhere
18. Business Is Brisk
19. Comme Tu Dis (Excerpt From The Memoirs Of My Mirror)
20. Someone's Birthday
21. State of Affairs
22. My Latest Theory

words: Benb Gallaher
sounds, Mick Hobbs, Benb Gallaher

aided by various pals:

R. Stevie Moore (1)
Jad Fair (2)
Alig Pearce (3)
Rick Wilson (14)
Andy Fisher (18)

Recorded May 2002 in London, UK
Released on Life and Living Records in May, 2011,

DOWNLOAD and bite someone else's knee HERE!

Half Japanese ‎– "Perfect" (Joyful Noise Recordings ‎– JNR183) (2016)

Yeah, Mick Hobbs of 'The Work' fame, has been a member of Half Japanese for 28 years,since 1990!
Which is the reason for posting a modern, David Fair-less, 1/2 Japanese lp. The music is fair-ly radio friendly american Indie Rock, with an abnormally subdued Jad Fair providing the singing.....maybe he misses his brother? It doesn't stand up to their earlier wild untutored standards, but this always happens when a version of a classic group get back together, minus certain key-members; the same thing happened to Pere Ubu,who also resorted to radio-friendly Indie, probably to fulfill some offers to play a few Avant-Rock nostalgia shows to earn some belated income from the upwardly mobile. This is happening more and more with those bloody awful festivals choc-a-block with dancing dads freaking out to alternative groups with one original member 're-forming' after a 20 year lay off.
I can see it now, Half-Japanese and Pere Ubu playing at the Dingleberry Festival alongside Dolly Parton and Neil Diamond.The swelling crowd of 50-something baby-boomers paying 200 quid a pop, to sing-a-long to "30 Seconds over Tokyo" and "Forever in Blue Jeans"......rock is definitely very DEAD!

Tracklist:

That Is That
We Cannot Miss
You And I
Perfect
Hold On
Man Without A Shadow
Here We Are
Listen To Your Heart
We'll Go Far
That's Called Love
In Your Spell
A New Beginning
That's Right

DOWNLOAD but its far from perfect HERE!

Strobe Talbot ‎– "Funland" (Moone Records ‎– MR032) 2017

I've got a headache from a weekend of excess and too much spring sun,but what did I find in my inbox this morning?.....only the most recent LP from Strobe Talbot!
Headphones on,headache gone.
Jad,Mick,Benb,and notable chums return after a short gap of 14 years as if time didn't exist.
Jad Fair continues to speak in a kind of tongues that bypasses the strait-jacket of adulthood ,ably backed up by the ever inventive Mick Hobbs, and the tumbling stickwork of Benb Gallaher.
There ain't many records from 2017 i'd happily post on this blog, but there are obvious exceptions, this being one,and anything I'm on of course (New ZOG and Scouts of Uzbekistan coming up in 2018).
Whats more is that this fine record was released in a strictly limited edition of 100, pressed on very attractive (is that marbled?) blue vinyl, and allegedly is the first LP to be pressed with a 'Morphing Hollogram'?....see this phenomenon in action HERE!

The news is that a second edition of 300(!) is now ready to relieve you all of the contents of your piggy banks,for only 25 bucks plus shipping from Moone Records. A beautiful thing it is too.
I suppose this is an advert?....but its for a worthy cause I guess?

Tracklist:

A1 On The Go
A2 Forever
A3 Superstar
A4 Werewolf Of The Timberland
A5 The Awakening
A6 All At Once
A7 Made That Way
A8 Alien Dead
A9 With Sprinkles
A10 1-Letter Alphabet
A11 Hunger
A12 Evil Of Frankenstein
A13 I Don't Know
A14 I Love You
B1 Poetic Heart
B2 Blame It On...
B3 The Token Waltz
B4 A New Day
B5 Pretty Flowers

Usually i'd offer it up for free downloading, but I guess they wanna sell 'em to break even,so............Place your order HERE!

Strobe Talbot ‎– "Let's Born To Rock!" (MRW44 ‎– mrw4407) 2002

Basically, this is how to 'Rock!'....... in 15 easy lessons.
I say 'easy' because Jad fair makes it seem easy, but it ain't! Many have tried and this is why the work 'Rock' is now an utter embarrassment, when it is in fact the greatest musical form ever shat out of the arse of man and woman kind.
Its primal nature has been flushed away leaving the floating turd of 21st century rock'n'poop glistening on the surface in the crapper of meaningless entertainment.
You can't teach this kind of authenticism in those despicable 'Rock Schools' and Pop Music University courses, you've either got it or you ain't; and anyone who needs to be taught it, AIN'T GOT IT!
Its my Birthday today, so endure this charmingly untutored record and tell me I'm Right!

NB...three tracks feature cassette legend R. Stevie Moore on guitar.He was doing it himself as far back as 1969 for Chrissakes!

Tracklist:

1 Riverflow 3:39
2 Red & Yellow Stars 2:45
3 Nutrition 3:16
4 Love Is Here 3:03
5 Pear Tree 2:55
6 Drinking Time 1:43
7 Love Earthquake 4:46
8 Newyear's Day 5:07
9 Lifted 3:25
10 On The Go 2:09
11 Party Mix 2:21
12 Woooooo 2:14
13 Back On Track 3:40
14 Pretty Flowers 4:52
15 Love And Comfort 2:27

Lets Born to DOWNLOAD HERE!

Strobe Talbot ‎– "20 Pop Songs" (Alternative Tentacles ‎– Virus 273) 2001

Is there a group that Mick Hobbs wasn't in? Family Fodder, The Work, The Momes,Officer! Half Japanese and....the magnificent Strobe Talbot.Which is essentially Jad Fair,Hobbs and a drummer.
Jad Fairs childlike freedom is infectious.The tumbling time signatures liberate your mind forged manacles.The jumbled song structures erase the last thirty years of pop music in one stroke.
As far as I'm concerned this IS pop music, and one of my favourite records of the 21st century, which is a very exclusive list indeed.
The opening tune makes me happy and almost want to dance, and would be laughed out of any serious record company offices anywhere in the developed world.Its that good.

DOWNLOAD 20 unpopular pop songs HERE!

Officer! ‎– "Dead Unique" (Blackest Ever Black ‎– BEB CD006) 2014

Mick Hobbs with friends and acquaintances, subverting the medium of the 'Pop Song' in Baltimore, in 1995, and belatedly released twenty years later.
One must say, this is actually the best 'Officer!' album,and is strewn with minor celebs from the avant-rock hinterland; like most of The Work, Jad Fair, and Amy Denio ,among others who I ain't necessarily heard of. In fact all of the fabulous 'Strobe Talbot' appear on this,and will, coincidentally, be featured next, as fate may have it!?

DOWNLOAD and be dead unique HERE!

The Lo Yo Yo ‎– "Extra Weapons" (Floppy Discs ‎– FLOP 1) 1985

The early eighties were full of generic groups and generic people like this who fitted in with the waves of fashionable right-on-ness, temporarily. What's surprising is that Mick Hobbs of The Work was in it,and it was recorded at Cold Storage by Charles Bullen(This Heat).
There is a Family Fodder connection however, Mick and Alig of The lo Yo Yo were guilty of this.
Nonetheless,"Extra Weapons" is a fairly weedy, late in the day attempt at hip chart-worthyness, like a  lo-budget Belle Stars or a more middle class Au Pairs or The Passions.Christ there are even a couple of 'white Reggae' numbers to add a rather unpleasant cherry to the top.The Beefheart inspired name is definitely a red herring left out of the fridge for too long.
Most of the members of The Lo Yo Yo would have disappeared back to their day-jobs at a Solicitors Firm, or as a senior member of the councils social equality department,or as a candidate for the Green Party, after this brief foray into pop music.But at least they could tell the kids that they were in a band once.
Weren't we all?....and ,sadly, still are!

Tracklist:

A1 Bad Intentions
A2 All The Atrocities
A3 I Can Hold My Own Hand
A4 Learning To Fly
A5 Petroleum
B1 More To Come
B2 China Blue
B3 Cache-Cache
B4 You Never Know
B5 Cog
B6 The History Of Weaponry

DOWNLOAD that lo yo yo stuff HERE!

Officer! ‎– "8 New Songs By Mick Hobbs" (AAA ‎– C01) 1984

Eight, thirty-four year old songs by Mick Hobbs, with chums from 'The Work' and others, recorded at This Heat's 'Cold Storage' studio, by Charles Bullen. You simply can't get any more post-punk Avant-Prog than that!?
It all sounds like if Caravan had formed in 1978 and mated with Henry Cow.....and Yes, 'Tunnels' is rather good indeed.

Tracklist:

A1 Join The AA 0:49
A2 Life At The Water's Edge 5:05
A3 Dogface 1:43
A4 Tunnels 3:49
B1 Way 3:23
B2 You 3:36
B3 Spooky 3:20
B4 All Reality Is Symbolic 2:38

DOWNLOAD 8 more mp3 files of mick hobbs songs HERE!

Officer! ‎– "Yes Yes No No Yes No Yes" (Officer! Self-released ‎– NO 001) 1988

Whereas "Cough" from 1985 reminded me of 'The Dirty Three', this lime green offering from the second summer of love reminds me of 'The Legendary Pink Dots' or maybe a more dysfunctional Deep Freeze Mice"?
This is an unfortunate comparison as I can't stand 'The LPD's', but love 'The Dirty Three',even'The Deep Freeze Mice' are growing on me,whereas they used to leave me cold (haha!?).
It's not quite as irritating as any LPD's release, and its eccentrically shambling and jaunty quality is actually rather charming.
The LPD's wore obvious influences on their sleeves, in their Casiotone Syd Barrett stylee, but I can't really identify Officer's specific inspirations, beyond perhaps some tuneful prog, like Caravan maybe?
Above all, this was one of the better records from the year that carved its name on the tombstone for the rock group forever,and the year zero of 'Chav' culture.I doubt Mick Hobbs was ever seen with a Brian Jones haircut shaking a pair of maracas or a tambourine ,dancing like a Twat!

Tracklist:

A1 Coma
A2 R Tune
A3 Simone
A4 Old St
A5 Remove Your Hat (Parts 1 & 2)
B1 (I've Got A) Nice Girlfriend
B2 (I Only Want To Make You) Smile
B3 Truck
B4 Hid It ('Cos I Wanted You To Find It)
B5 Gawping
B6 Bright Star

DOWNLOAD HERE!.....Yes or No?

Officer! ‎– "Cough" (Ayaa Records) 1985

I rather like this lo-fi outing for Mick Hobbs' 'Officer!' 
Dare one suggest that this sounds not unlike post-cave Australian trio 'The Dirty Three' in places, which I intend as a compliment.
A lot of the tunes are Violin led , like the aforementioned antipodean '90's threesome. Which seems to replace the Henry Cow-isms that tarnish Officer!'s other records.
Recorded in France, it says, and sounds as if it was either done at a concert where the audience didn't turn up, or in a rehearsal room with very little sound dampening.Either way it adds a very agreeable 'Live' feel to the proceedings.
On a more sombre note.....
I don't usually pay tribute to the Police,but....Play the 'sad' tunes in tribute to the Officer of the French Gendarmerie who was killed yesterday after selflessly signing his own death warrant and took the place of a hostage at the Carcassone Supermarket siege, by one of those Islamic Fuckwit Terrorist Twats!......and for any Flat Earth 'truthers' out there; no, it wasn't a fucking 'False Flag' attack!

DOWNLOAD some cough medicine HERE!

Officer! ‎– "Ossification" (Ayaa ‎– DT 1284) 1984

Mick Hobbs' post-prog post punky pop collective 'Officer!' made some slightly annoying but very eccentric song based Avant-pop. This is their/His debut disc, predictably distributed by old mate Chris Cutlers' Recommended Records. They all sounded like this on Recommended. Blatant echo's of the Avant-Prog days of the early 70's can be heard, tinged with folky, operatically trained upper middle class ladies, and classically trained musicians; all this blended with the new DIY prog of the post-punk era. Classically English sounding, but big in France apparently. I've heard Mick speak French with a heavy English accent(as I myself speak it), they (*the Frogs) like that y'know.When they 'like' you, you stay liked,one thing they* ain't is fickle.

Tracklist:

Side Alpha

Dynamite
Anagrams
Air
Telepathy
Spitter's Hooked (On Love)
Dogface
Some

Side Béta

Boxers V Wrestlers
Tunnels
Apply
Office Occasion
Origin
Hello
Top. Top, Top

DOWNLOAD some new bone for your hip bone HERE!

Mick Hobbs ‎– "Bandagen/Officer!" (No Records ‎– No. 002) 1989

The Quirky post-prog lunacy of Mick Hobbs on solo duty,as theatre score composer and as his 'band', 'Officer!'.
Side A sees our Micky as provider of an avant-garde soundtrack to Pergoletti's stageplay "Bandagen", and side B has some 'Officer!' songs masquerading as superior 'Filler'.
For the Theatrical side,I suppose you need the play to augment the sparsity of the minimal content for maximum effect?
The 'Officer!' side  is Mick's usual abstract post-punk prog inventiveness,as he regularly churns out for The Work, The Momes, and Half-Japanese.
Naturally he gets some help from the usual suspects Like Tim Hodgkinson and Andy Wake, both from The Momes.

Tracklist:

Music From Bandagen

A1 Undovetailing
A2 Heartwood
A3 Kindliche Kleidung
A4 Spewing
A5 Jasminduft
A6 Inflation
A7 Ballacodep
A8 Deflated
A9 Happy Days, Lonely Nights
A10 Arbeitstitel 

Officer! - Some Songs

B1 Good Cement
B2 Plan For Peace
B3 My Song About My Head
B4 Hunter
B5 Damage
B6 Good Citizen's Car

DOWNLOAD illegally HERE officer!