These guys were an early 70s Canadian band, Hamilton to be exact, heavily influenced by Syd’s Pink Floyd, The Stooges and The Velvet Underground. Formed in 1972, the first six tracks on the belated album, Cyborgs Revisited, were recorded in 1974 by Bob and Daniel Lanois (fellow Hamiltonians) in their mother’s basement. The sessions were aborted when funds ran out.
Side 2 was recorded when they played live atop a local shopping mall in 1975.
The recordings were not released at the time. The band went thru some changes and stops and starts and got it together to release a single, She’s A Dog b/w I Can Change My Mind, 77 or 78. But then called it quits.
In 1989 Mole Records issued a limited edition vinyl LP Cyborgs Revisited, featuring the “studio” recordings on side 1 and the live recordings on side 2. Following was a limited release on CD by Fistpuppet Records.
Sonic Youth apparently touted the recordings and a cult started to form.
In 2002 a Hamilton label called Sonic Unyon released the definitive version of Cyborgs Revisited, completely remastered, and with a handful of bonus tracks, including the late 70s single. This is now available on eMusic where I stumbled upon it.
They reformed in 2007 and recorded/released their first official album, which I have not heard.
The first track I put up was called Electro Rock. The second was Nazi Apocalypse.
Here’s a couple more tracks:
Bullet Proof Nothing
Cool stuff. The use of unnatural analog synth tones in the middle of Stooges-style rock ‘n roll never went far enough. Damn Yamaha DX7s imitating string sections!
Now I’m trying to remember the name of the New England band with ties to an early Pere Ubu member…
I would’ve NEVER guessed the Lanois connection. At least I was getting geographically closer, but there’s no way I would’ve gotten this one. It’s pretty cool stuff. Thanks Sammy, always enjoy hearing unearthed, unheralded punkish stuff I’ve never heard before.
the new record is more song oriented than the early stuff, but it’s VERY good.
Oh, I forgot to say, “They’re DREAMY!!!”
So, I hope you lads are cooking up a ST. Patrick’s Day thread, preferably one that doesn’t involved the joining of the letter U and the number 2, or contain references to corned-beef & cabbage or green FEKKIN’ beer!