Originally written by Mia Clarke · 28 January 2002
Various
0-60 In Five Years
Label: Shifty Disco Release Date: 28/01/2002
"It’s not about fiscal planning and schedules based around market forces. It’s about discovering something shiny and new out of nowhere and doing our damnedest to make sure the world sits up and listens."
As Oxford’s premier independent record label, Shifty Disco, has a rising/falling relationship as one of England’s most diverse and forward focused outlets for bands who want to have control and action over what they do. To celebrate their fifth anniversary, the label have released a fantastically packaged five CD cross out booklet. On it are 60 dated tracks- one a month since Dustball’s debut single 'Senor Nachos', released back in January 1998.
So then…where to begin? What to pick? Well, as expected, the collection is a wide ranging, eclectic mish mash of songs varying from truly obscure bedroom electronica come hardcore (DJ Remould’s fucked up spat on sample of The Undertone’s 'Teenage Kicks'), to the craziest barking banshee vocal delivery of Beaker and the Patrick Fitzgerald meets circus sideshow malarkey of Joey Herzfeld. And the in between…well, that’s plenty of Oxford emo-indie boy rock courtesy of The Samurai Seven, The Four Storeys, and the aforementioned Dustball- treasured heroes in their hometown. Of course, there are some duds, but there is also some really great material- the tenderfooted wanderings of 'EEEBLEEE', the cowboy anthem rock and roll of Six Ray Sun.
My favourite? The Corsettes 'Sexy and Blue', an utterly bizarre package holiday theme tune flamenco attack, with drippingly sarcastic and hilariously funny vocals. The content of this collection is inconsistent- but that, by all means, is no bad thing. It just goes to show that the powers that be behind Shifty Disco, are more open minded and un-elitist than they may be given credit for. Shifty Disco: Pioneers of independent music making. I raise a glass to you.
The Tracklisting IN FULL**
VOLUME 1 - 1997 Jan. DUSTBALL - Senor Nachos Feb. THE UNBELIEVABLE TRUTH - Building Mar. NØUGHT - Cough Cap Kitty Cat Apr. IMPOSSIBLE MUSIC FORCE - Blah Na Na May. DJ REMOULD - Teenage Kicks Jun. MARK GARDENER - Magdalen Sky Jul. BEAKER - Backgarden Aug. SPUNKLE - Lubetune Sep. CODY - Simple Oct. THE FULL MONTY - Welcome Nov. THE BIGGER THE GOD - If Everyone I Ever Loved Left Me Dec. ARTHUR TURNER'S LOVECHILD? - Son Of The Human Cannonball
VOLUME 2 - 1998 Jan. HOWLITE - Halo Feb. CRACKOUT - Chuck Mar. PAN TONIC - Tonic Planet Apr. JOEY HERZFELD - Always The Same May. KILTER - Call The Day Jun. THE SAMURAI SEVEN - Xeroxy Music Jul. MULTISCREEN - Radio Kids Aug. SECT - Break The Law Sep. CREEPER LAGOON - Dear Deadly Oct. NORK LAW - Swings And Roundabouts Nov. OVERGROUND - Drugs Dec. SPU.N.K.L.E. ALL STARS - Where Will You Be This Xmas?
VOLUME 3 - 1999 Jan. BEULAH - Sunday Under Glass Feb. THE FOUR STOREYS - Castaway Mar. SCRIBBLE - God Bless The Kids Apr. WHISPERING BOB - Don't Bring Me Down May. FRIGID VINEGAR - Dogmonaut 2000 Jun. DUSTBALL - …Like Monkeys Do Jul. CALC - Not Involved Aug. MANATEE - Easy Sep. MURRY THE HUMP - Thrown Like A Stone Oct. SPINACH - Tootsie Roll Nov. PENNYEACH - Gracie b Dec. PERSIL - Agony Aunt
VOLUME 4 - 2000 Jan. THE PANDA GANG - Flipside Feb. PLUTO MONKEY - Jetstream Mar. VIGILANCE BLACK SPECIAL - We'rewolves Apr. BURT LUMP ORCHESTRA - Feed Me To The Lions May. FORMULA ONE - Future Has No 23 Jun. JACK DRAG - At The Symphony (I Could Be) Jul. THE DREZ - You And Your Dog Aug. BLUE APPLE BOY - Who's That Calling? Sep. LOKOMOTIV - Next Time 'Round Oct. ELF POWER - Jane Nov. BLACK MOSES - Eye On You Dec. JASON MORPHEW - Badass With A Heart Of Gold
VOLUME 5 - 2001 Jan. MONKEY STEALS THE DRUM - Injured Birds Feb. MORBIUS - RockandRoll Mar. FOR STARS - Spectators Apr. ASTRO B - Yoga Disco May. SIX RAY SUN - Bad Batz Maru Jun. THE SOMATICS - Last Days In An Old Town Jul. EEEBLEEE - Midnight Creatures Aug. CORSETTES - Sexy And Blue Sep. 50Hz - Armchair Army Oct. THEREMIN - In The Barn Nov. DOMES OF SILENCE - Tarnished Evidence Dec. SIX INCOMPETENT REFAIL - Blunt (Pointless)
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