AUSTRALIAN
VA - Can’t Stop It! II, Australian Post-Punk 1979-84 [2007]
If volume I cracked open the door to Australia’s post-punk underground, Volume II kicks it wide open and lets the weirdness flood in. This second set is even more playful, more fractured, and more defiantly unpolished, a glorious mess of outsider pop, bedroom experiments, and art-school detours.
There’s no attempt to smooth things over here. You get twitchy synths, clunky drum machines, and vocals that sound like they were recorded in broom closets, and it’s all part of the charm. The Systematics, Asphixiation, and Severed Heads bring the electronics, while bands like The Limp and The Horsemen tap into something more primitive and rawer. Even future icons like Lisa Gerrard and Mark Seymour show up in early, unexpected forms.
Compiled with love and precision by Guy Blackman and friends, this is more than a sequel, it’s a deeper dig into a scene that thrived on isolation and invention.
For anyone chasing the thrill of discovery, Can’t Stop It! II is a reminder: the best stuff often happens off to the side, where no one’s looking, and it still sounds fresh. (B)
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Track list
01 Systematics - International Voltage 1:57
02 International Exiles - Let's Be Sophisticated 2:56
03 Asphixiation - The Crush 4:15
04 Tactics - Watch My Hands 2:07
05 Severed Heads - Lamborghini 3:49
06 Goat That Went 'Om' - The Pirate Song 1:49
07 Use No Hooks - Do The Job 5:59
08 Microfilm - Centrefold 2:48
09 Scattered Order - Swiss Like Knives and Forks 3:29
10 Jetsonnes - Newspaper 3:53
11 Rhythm Chymx - The Now Generation 2:07
12 Brrr Cold - Mothers at War 3:51
13 SoliPsiK - See Saw 2:26
14 Wild Dog Rodeo - Charging The Lighthouse 6:11
15 Belle Du Soir - Treasure Island 2:22
16 Ya Ya Choral - God's Buzzsaw 2:55
17 Essendon Airport - I Feel A Song Coming On 3:34
18 Swell Guys - Sidetracking 1:55
19 Scapa Flow - Somewhere 2:42
20 Nuvo Bloc - Never Mind 4:39
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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.
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My friend Butter.
ReplyDeleteYou already know I'm a big fan of post-punk sounds. I'm not familiar with the Australian scene, so these two volumes are already playing at maximum volume.
Thanks for this.
Jose
Hi Jose,
DeleteI love that you’re diving into these volumes at full blast. The Australian post-punk scene might not be as widely known, but it’s packed with raw energy, quirky brilliance, and some truly inventive sounds. I’m thrilled they’ve caught your ear.
Thanks for always bringing your passion to the music.
Cheers.
Cultural Exchange:
ReplyDeleteOn one of my blogs a few years ago, I published this splendid compilation of "Spanish Post-Pun," which is really, really good.
https://spanishblogsdreamteam.blogspot.com/2021/11/va-sombras-spanish-post-punk-dark-pop.html
Listen to it, I'm sure you'll like it.
Regards
Jose
Hi Jose,
DeleteThanks for sharing your “Sombras” compilation, it's a beautifully curated dive into Spain’s darker post-punk and new wave sounds from 1981 to 1986. The inclusion of legends alongside underground gems will make it a rich and varied listen. Now that’s a cultural exchange worth celebrating.
I truly appreciate the share and your passion for the genre.
Cheers.