Some shows take on a life of their own, and this week’s felt like one big, noisy story unraveling through the speakers.
It began with TV Face, reminding us to Get What We’re Given – a timely mantra when the world insists on throwing curveballs. From there, old-school Teesside hardcore crew Dogsflesh marched in lockstep with their March Of The Damned, dragging us into darker territory where nothing is promised and everything is contested.
The Unknowns might have Lost Me, but that’s half the fun of radio – you’re not supposed to know exactly where you’re going, particularly when you lose your shownotes. By the time Vast Slug crawled in with the brilliantly titled I Look Forward To Reading All About Myself In Your Suicide Note, things had already become beautifully unhinged.
The brutality continued with Times of Desperation, who left us Skinned Alive, and The Skive, who dragged us back to reality with the rough-and-ready supermarket bargain bin brilliance of Bargain. Just when you thought you could breathe, Son Capsun was up there, a Sniper On The Roof Of Tesco, aiming barbs at the mundanity of suburban life.
The middle of the set went global. AM checked in to ask Co tam słychać?, before PESD prowled like Hieny and Polish punk legends Armia growled To Moja Zemsta. It felt like a whole Eastern Bloc uprising pressed into three quick punches.
Hearing Tests reminded us what it’s like to face down a Bully, then Derwyddon Dr Gonzo gave us a surreal ska detour with Chaviach. By the time Mr Huw took us through Ein Budreddi (our filth, our grime), my heart was sufficiently warmed and throbbing.
Punitive Damage then baptised us in flames with Baptism Of Fire, which felt like the perfect lead-in to Schkeuditzer Kreuz, who demanded we Keep Dancing even as the walls shook and the floor melted beneath our feet.
The endgame came thick and fast: Takers & Users served up Bombscare, Exaust ripped open an Open Wound, and GURT rolled in with the sludgy stomp of Sludge Puppies. And to sign it all off? J Pump & The Bulldozers flattened the night beautifully with No.1 Auto.
What a ride.
The Playlist – Show 188
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TV Face – Get What We’re Given
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Dogsflesh – March Of The Damned
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The Unknowns – Lost Me
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Vast Slug – I Look Forward To Reading All About Myself In Your Suicide Note
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Times of Desperation – Skinned Alive
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The Skive – Bargain
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Son Capsun – Sniper On The Roof Of Tesco
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AM – Co tam słychać?
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PESD – Hieny
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Armia – To Moja Zemsta
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Hearing Tests – Bully
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Derwyddon Dr Gonzo – Chaviach
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Mr Huw – Ein Budreddi
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Punitive Damage – Baptism Of Fire
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Schkeuditzer Kreuz – Keep Dancing
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Takers & Users – Bombscare
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Exaust – Open Wound
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GURT – Sludge Puppies
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J Pump & The Bulldozers – No.1 Auto
Next week I’ll be away travelling, so Martin from Noises From The Bottom Left Corner will be stepping in for me. He’s got impeccable taste and a knack for spinning chaos into gold, so tune in and give him your ears. I’ll be back the week after, hopefully in one piece.
