| 48 CAMERAS: «3rd & Last Imitation of Christ» | ||
| «Nifty,
gloomy music from Belgium. The music itself is eerie and echoing, great for late nights.
Over the top are spoken-word vocals... ...Very original stuff that works really well.»
Factsheet Five «The spoken prose lyrics are perfectly complimented by the most subtle musical backdrops.» Stick It In Your Ear zine «... an exceptionally professional sound that deserves a much wider exposure. Melodic acoustic guitars, carefully poised electric guitars, dramatic keyboards, it's musically as competent as any well-known rock band, if not more so. A real surprise!» Electric Shock Treatment |
||
| 45 minutes, 1990. HWE053 | ||
| BALSAM, ANTON: «Helt i min egen verden» (Best of) | ||
| A
best-of collection with great home recorded songs by this strange and innovative artist,
formerly of the band Åreknuteknyterne. Some folky stuff, some electronic weirdness, great
vocals and party mood. «Songs like "Fisken i vanne" and "Like gærn som deg" could be about anything to an ethnocentric bastard like me, but they sure sound like jolly fascist death threats. Anton's music is upbeat, quirky rock that's a lot of fun, even though he appears to have a certain fondness for Utah and bicycle seats...» File 13 «..Balsam touches on several various musical genres along the way, from 60's surf music, to country rockabilly to Dark Side Of the Moon -era Pink Floyd to modern industrial. Balsam also has a penchant for vari-speed vocals and rarely sounds the same from song to song. Anton is definitely one of the my favorite tape artists in the whole world and I highly recommend this release!» Gajoob
|
||
| 60 minutes, 1993. HWE075 | ||
| BARTLES, JOHN: «Unknown Shit» (Best of 1987-91) | ||
| We're
proud to present this half live, half studio collection of tunes by John Bartles, a really
outstanding performer and songwriter. «...one of the few persons who manage to wrap their wild flights of invention around a really eccentric style lyrics. His trump card is his capcity to surprise. The husky vocals are brilliantly matched by the tough music.» Stick It In Your Ear zine .«I don't think I would recommend this stark, angry, and often darkly comic tape to friends, but it sure is an interesting listen on a cold winter's night.» File 13 «Bartles' work is consistently on the mark, humorous social
satire, with a blues rock punch.» Gajoob |
|
|
| 60 minutes, 1992. HWE062 | ||
| BROTHERHOOD OF LIZARDS: «Brotherhood of Lizards» | ||
| Martin
Newell of The Cleaners From Venus went back to the garage in Wivenhoe, recorded on a
4-track with his new band that were not for sale to the big record biz. But later on this
band actually put out a vinyl LP, recorded on Capt. Sensible's 8-track. But this bunch of
tunes is way better. |
|
|
| 40 minutes, 1988. HWE037 | ||
| BRØD & SIRKUS: «Far Familie Flagg» | ||
| One of the best selling norwegian cassette releases ever. Their raw and catchy pop-punk got ecstatic reviews everywhere. Twelve tracks. | ||
| 50 minutes, 1982. NN01 | ||
| CAMPAU, DONALD: «Don's Hyper Hits 1978-90» | ||
| Wonderful
collection of the best songs from veteran home-taper Don Campau from California.
Guitar-based, catchy rock with a very personal style. «... a brilliant insight into his maverick talents. ... oozes class yet displays a fine chaos of rich lunacy. The whole collection is the most unabashed example of gorgeous creativity. Madly indefinable stuff, all of it, truly warranting a listen.» Stick It In Your Ear zine «A rather diverse bunch of Don's prolificacy from over the years, indicating his mindful melding of pop-consciousness and experimental wanderings resulting in an attitude towards songwriting which is friendly & relaxed. While much of the stuff here leans towards rock and/or electric folk, it mostly falls short of standard categories. The diversity is well ahndled by Don's expressive mode based on snappy and melodious guitar/keyboard arrangements in synch with on-key singing.» Factsheet Five |
||
| 60 minutes, 1990. HWE052 Don's web site | ||
| CLEANERS FROM VENUS, THE: «Blow Away Your Troubles» | ||
| The first tape by this legendary band, recorded in «marvy mono on a steam-powered hand-cranked mud-cooled reel to reel». «...complete with drop-out, hiss, hums, bum notes, bad double tracking... A tape of pure genius if I ever heard one.» 19 songs. Not the first CFV recording you should buy, but completists will want this one as well. | ||
| 60 minutes, 1981. HWE018 | ||
| CLEANERS FROM VENUS, THE: «On Any Normal Monday» | ||
| From
this tape on, Martin & CFV becomes the wizards of 4-track recording. Some of the best
60's-influenced pop music around comes from one particular house in Wivenhoe, Essex. «If, at first sight, pop music today is just a dunghill, here's the exception that proves the rule!» Cassette Gazette «They are one peerlessly perfect pop group!» Stick It In Your Ear zine |
|
|
| 45 minutes, 1982. HWE003 | ||
| CLEANERS FROM VENUS, THE: «Midnight Cleaners» | ||
| More
of England's countryside preserved by Martin Newell's songs & ballads. «I'm speechless! These tapes ought to be a hit!» Stick It In Your Ear zine |
|
|
| 45 minutes, 1982. HWE004 | ||
| CLEANERS FROM VENUS, THE: «In The Golden Autumn» | ||
| It's
autumn, when everything is golden... «And next week, I'll be singing their songs in the street, in the supermarket, in the pub...» Stick It In Your Ear zine «... consistently outstanding pop sensibility... Homemade poprock just doesn't get any better than this.» Gajoob |
|
|
| 45 minutes, 1983. HWE005 | ||
| CLEANERS FROM VENUS, THE: «Under Wartime Conditions» | ||
| Many fans' favourite CFV tape, and it was later released on LP and CD in Germany. Including classics like «Summer in a Small Town», «Johnny the Moondog is Dead», «Drowning Butterflies» and «Song for Syd Barrett». | ||
| 45 minutes, 1984. HWE006 | ||
| CLEANERS FROM VENUS, THE: «Living with Victoria Grey» | ||
| Martin
teamed up with Giles Smith and some others to record this, the «home-made» versions of
songs later to appear on their first real studio album «Going to England» (on Ammunition
Rec., UK). Ten great songs, incl. «Ilya Kuryakin Looked at Me!», «Clara Bow», «The
Mercury Girl» and «Armistice Day». «Martin, the playful satirist, smiles a devious grin & laughs contagiously as I melt & fall through the floor.» Stick It In Your Ear zine |
||
| 45 minutes, 1986. HWE008 | ||
| CLEANERS FROM VENUS, THE: «Mind How You Go» | ||
| Along
with five of the songs on «April Fool», two of the songs from this tape were later to be
found on CFV's LP «Town & Country» (RCA Germany) in slick studio versions. But
here's the good old 'demo' versions of «Denmark Street», «Only Cardboard Town»,
«Major Mandy» & «Kingdom of the Cool». «Highly recommended listening.» Stick It In Your Ear zine |
||
| 20 minutes, 1987. HWE020 | ||
| CLEANERS FROM VENUS, THE: «Thirteen» | ||
| From
the psychedelic gardener in Wivenhoe, Essex. After being pissed off at the record industry
again, he recorded this refreshing batch of songs on an 8-tarck borrowed from
Captain Sensible. «All of the new material shows Martin's ability to shape his huge 6-string power-base into irresistible, classic pop structures... ...Highly recommended.» Stick It In Your Ear zine «... conceived and recorded in a warmly endearing and wonderfully clean manner... ... superbly crafted pieces.» Factsheet Five |
|
|
| 45 minutes, 1990. HWE056 | ||
| DYMOND, KEVYN: «Best of Kevyn Dymond 1983-89» | ||
| A
classic in the field of home-tapers. Catchy and raw pop music with great lyrics. «He's the master of irregular, but totally original music, adept at sneaking sensitivity under trad surfaces. He's an old school musician with brains.» Stick It In Your Ear zine «It's amazing that a Norwegian label is the best source I know for American classics in this field.» Factsheet Five «The breadth of styles that Dymond not only explores but actually seems to inhabit very naturally is simply astounding. ...It will leave you breathless, but wanting more.» Gajoob |
|
|
| 60 minutes, 1990. HWE054 | ||
| EN HALVKOKT I FOLIE: «Jättehästbögen» | ||
| Weird swedish people associated with «Njurmännen» plays around, creating a unique brand of twisted pop-art music, including a warped version of Lionel Richie's hit «Dancing on the Ceiling»... | ||
| 60 minutes, 1989. HWE028 | ||
| FREIE ORCHESTER, DAS: «Best of» | ||
| Improvisational free form rock from old East Berlin. They had to build some of the instruments themselves, and had a unique sound, but some affinity to fellow germans Can is detectable. Eight long tracks, some are heavy & groovy instrumentals like «Spionage», some are hysterical, satirical songs with female vocal, like «Residential Area». | ||
| 60 minutes, 1988. HWE033. | ||
| JURYEN: «The Best of Juryen» | ||
| Easily
this label's most extreme tape. Juryen «plays» on all sorts of cheap equipment (anything
within reach), synths, radios, TV's, metal trash and his own voice. Specially compiled for
Hypertonia, and remixed «to avoid listening enjoyment». Twisted humour, parody &
experiments jumbled on top of each other... «'Best' is obviously a subjective term. In this case, though, I am willing to accept it, because I don't want to hear the rest. Juryen is a one-man project of remixed found sounds and chanted vocals, with a strong rhytmic sense (as often found in young children) and manic overtones. I think of this sort of thing as 'eggbeater music' both because it's all mixed up and because the sound of an eggbeater would fit in perfectly.» Factsheet Five |
|
|
| 60 minutes, 1990. HWE051. Juryen discography | ||
| KRONSTADT / TOSHIYUKI HIRAOKA | ||
| Licensed from the german IRRE-label, a split tape between Berlin's aggressive electronic pop-wizard Kronstadt (8 tracks) and the speedy fuzz-guitar pop mania of Japanese artist Toshiyuki Hiraoka (15 tracks). | ||
| 60 minutes, 1988. HWE032. | ||
| LE LU/LU'S: «A Gleam in the Designer's Eye» | ||
| «Sharp-edged European techno/synth pop. What holds it all together as more than just gleaming wallpaper is the female vocals... ....this is a nice blend of computers and humans, voice over crystal notes on the dance floor.» (Factsheet Five) «It's a brilliantly addictive pop music of such perfection that it's simply stunning! ...excellent production that compliments the music superbly.» Stick It In Your Ear zine | ||
| 45 minutes, 1989. HWE042. | ||
| LMNOP: «The Best of LMNOP» | ||
| For the first time ever, all the best tunes collected together! Exclusively available from HWE, a comp. of songs from the tapes «LMNO3», «Pony», «Mnemonic», «Tiny Cupcake Dilemma» and from the album «LMNOPELPEE». Totally addictive pop music with biting lyrics, crips and fresh sound. Please believe me, you need this release, and you'll listen to it over and over. | ||
| 60 minutes, 1993. HWE080. LMNOP web site | ||
| LORD LITTER: «Hyper Hour» | ||
| Lord
Litter is constantly making music in his home studio in Berlin, and he kindly compiled
this best-of tape for Hypertonia, with 18 tracks from his first 15 cassette releases. Join
the Litter-mania of home-made trashpoppsychofolkpunk, and feed your stereo with songs like
«Givin' You a Helpin' Hand», «I'm Not Normal», «Shit Instead of Bread», «Woosh»,
«Boppin' De Blues», «A Strange Story», «I'm Not Michael Jackson» and «I'm Feeling
Fine». «Lord Litter's songs continue to strike that delicate balance between purity of feeling & the sophisticated ambiguity of expression. ... Genuinely original!» Stick It In Your Ear zine |
||
| 60 minutes, 1988. HWE030. | ||
| MAGNHILDØEN, BJØRN J.: «Lego for Napoleon» | ||
| A re-release from the Yecch label, and originally from the cryptic and obscure Broad Broadcasting label in the 80's. In the huge stream of works in the experimental/cut-up/plagiarism styles, this is a tape worth keeping available. It's varied, full of great surprises, off-beat humour, catchy toonz & cheesy sounds. Comes in plastic bag with a 16 page booklet that'll only add to the puzzled look on your face. | ||
| 90 minutes, 1992. HWE066. BJM's «Noemata» web site | ||
| MEADOW MEAL: «Eat» | ||
| A
sort-of best-of collection by this weird german band. Strange minimalistic experimental
music & twisted neo-psychedelia. High quality printed fold-out cover. Licensed from
SHM, Germany. «Pop material that features magnificent keyboards from Guido, the songs are exuberantly catchy. These are thrilling before you catch their sophistication. They possess a quivering freshness that sounds extraordinarily full.» Stick It In Your Ear zine |
||
| 60 minutes, 1989. HWE045. | ||
| M. NOMIZED: «In Search of Shade» | ||
| Electronic
instrumental music by this french guy, licensed from No Unauthorized's label. «Relaxing and pretty in places, cacaphonous and unsettling in others... A lovely and ethereal electronic tape.» Factsheet Five «A sort of Tontos Expanding Head Band 1989 remake, or Terry Riley homage. Highly recommended music.» Stick It In Your Ear zine |
||
| 60 minutes, 1990. HWE043. | ||
| MODERN ART: «Full Tilt at the Chocolate Factory» | ||
| Gary
Ramon (Modern Art/Color Tapes) compiled this especially for Hypertonia. Great selection of
one-man-band far out guitar pop. «They lead us through an assault course of rare grooves and pop mystery into a shimmering global sunburst of sound... Tunecraft is this band's strength!» Stick It In Your Ear zine «Sometimes gay, sometimes eerie, sometimes downright gothic psychedelia.» Factsheet Five |
|
|
| 60 minutes, 1989 HWE046. | ||
| MYSTERY PLANE: «They Could've Been Bigger Than The Rolling Stones» | ||
| A
best-of collection from Color Tapes in London. «... prove once again that they are one of the nation's most effective guitar pop balancing act. Not afraid to write a pop song, & not afraid to suit their bloodyminded selves either, they dole out gifts of sparkling songs, anthemic, primitive & addictive.» Stick It In Your Ear zine «They play a hard rock with poppy, catchy edges which ranges from Alice Cooper madness to something more akin to Big Country on «Coyote». It's all well-executed and listenable, a cut above the pack to these ears.» Factsheet Five |
||
| 60 minutes, 1990. HWE049. | ||
| NEWELL, MARTIN: «Songs for a Fallow Land» | ||
| Excellent
solo tape made by Martin after his Cleaners From Venus partner so far, Lawrence Elliott,
had left the band. Incl. «Julie Profumo», «Gamma Ray Blue», «Late Night» and
«Heroin Clones». «... a veritable pleasure zone of pop craftsmanship.» Gajoob «With bold & quirky arrangements.. Martin & chums are the most aurally exciting band I've experienced for a long time...» Stick it in Your Ear zine |
|
|
| 45 minutes, 1985. HWE007. | ||
| NEWELL, MARTIN: «The April Fool» | ||
| Playing
acoustic guitar on April 1st. Six songs, incl. «Mad March Hare», «The Beat Generation
and Me» amd «I Wasn't Drinking». With the 2 songs from his solo cassette single «Two
for the Winter» ('83) as bonus tracks. «It cleverly uses articulate humour to hammer home life's tragic ironies & thus provides us with a record of great emotional complexity, pouring acid onto home truths & tickling out laughter buds with whimsical observations.» Stick It In Your Ear zine |
||
| 40 minutes, 1987. HWE019. | ||
| NJURMÄNNEN: «Feimert Betong Aktivator» | ||
| A
collection of relics from this gang of swedish beasts, formed in '83. Here's some studio
recordings made in the easter of '84, and live tracks recorded in the autumn. 17 tracks,
incl. «Dalgång», «Jazzflickorna» og «Vampyrer». «... starts off with some very perky pop and gradually adds more punk and gothic touches, as if the sun were setting on a cold night. There's a lot of substance here, a depth to the music that suits it for repeated listenings.» Factsheet Five |
||
| 45 minutes, 1984. HWE026. | ||
| NJURMÄNNEN: «Neurolavemanglive» | ||
| More raw electronic pop. An all-encompassing documentation of Njurmännen. Live recordings from '84-'86. 21 tracks, incl. «Kohh Behh», «Realism» and «Cinq Semaines En Ballon» | ||
| 60 minutes, 1986. HWE027. | ||
| POLITICAL ASYLUM: «System of War» | ||
| A rare live recording of this brilliant scottish punk band, recorded in Germany Aug. 19th 1988. Led by singer Ramsey Kanaan (of AK Press), they take us through 13 songs, including an out of tune instrumental and a medley of old «hits». Other tracks: «System of War», «Henry's Tale», «Apathy», «Solitary», «Window on the World» and «Symptom». Fold-out cover with some of the lyrics. | ||
| 45 minutes, 1988. HWE031. | ||
| SACK: «Tip Top» - Best of SACK! | ||
| We
proudly present this collection of 15 short and snappy songs by Harald «SACK» Ziegler
from Köln in Germany. A brilliant musician with a truly original, funny, fast &
furious one-man-band-style. «This is a powerful & immaculately-produced affirmation that "Sack" is still up & running with the baton handled by the likes of R Stevie Moore & other like-minded solo individualists. It's all performed with enthusiasm by a man playing as though he needs to excel. Fifteen tracks that come close to matching the power, depth & emotion of the very best in today's musical heritage.» Stick It In Your Ear zine «More crazy weirdness from Hypertonia, including the opening song «Lied Der Königin» whose beautiful (despite the creaky falsetto) melody pops up here and there in different forms. There's all sorts of little goodies here, including mixtures of intriguing sounds and some really great live and studio recordings. Truly entertaining.» Factsheet Five |
|
|
| 30 minutes, 1989. HWE047 | ||
| STRAY TROLLEYS, THE: «Barricades and Angels» | ||
| A
studio recording by Martin newell's band before The Cleaners From Venus. Great pop music. «...there's a surge of pop so nimble & quick that it pierces to the heart and flutters all-compass-points out.» Stick It In Your Ear zine |
||
| 50 minutes, 1979. HWE016. | ||
| STRAY TROLLEYS, THE: «Secret Dreams of a Kitchen Porter» | ||
| Five songs, and also five pieces of music Martin Newell wrote for an art exhibition, and a Cleaners bonus track. | ||
| 45 minutes, 1979. HWE017. | ||
| SWAMP BABIES, THE: «Multiple Orgasms - Satisfactorily Achieved» | ||
| An hour of outtakes & rarities from the archives was released on March 5th '93, when they played their last concert. Comes in bag w/booklet, each copy hand-numbered. Norwegian brutal garage rock at it's best. | ||
| 60 minutes, 1993. HWE081. | ||
| TABLES, THE: «From Trash to Gloss» | ||
| A bunch of demo recordings from this norwegian pop band, highly influenced by 60's music and TV Personalities. Many songs not released on their records. Also included are 30 mins. of live tracks. | ||
| 90 minutes, 1990. HWE057. | ||
| TVILEREN THOMAS: «Alltid Barn» | ||
| The world's first DIY-tape for children? Six cute songs with piano and bouncy rhythms. | ||
| 30 minutes, 1984. NN09. | ||
| WHITE LORD JESUS: «Amen» | ||
| A true classic in the «gothic» tradition. Behold ... the only thing greater than yourself: White! Lord! Jeeeeesus!!! Ten tracks. | ||
| 45 minutes, 1984. NN06 | ||
| WÆGG: «The Ultimate Collection» | ||
| A re-release from the Yecch label. This tape consists entirely of rehearsals and interview excerpts by the punk band WÆGG. Most of it is in norwegian Get drunk before listening. All about beer, dope, fishing, junkfood & discos. Song titles: «Kveithau», «Fæle gutt», «Feskslog», «In Deeply Need of Beer», «Gorrhysesangen», «Nu komer hælga», «BP-syndromet», «Fleinsopp», «Kreditora», «Sneipen», «Dø», «Nørst på Landego», «20 pils i pose», «Silda i hopen», «Burger» |
|
|
| 60 minutes, 1992. HWE065. WÆGG discography | ||
| X RAY POP: «Best of Vinyl» | ||
| Didier
Pilot himself put together this compilation for Hypertonia. Here's the best tracks from X
Ray Pop's three first LP's and the first five 45's. Listen to the fascinating sounds of
this twisted french band. 21 songs, incl. «Pam Pam», «El Gato», «Moska», «Ding
Dong», «Louche», «Amazone» and «Cosmofuzz Ballroom». «...a superb introduction to their many aural offerings. Pop music should be both accessible & enjoyable, exhibiting an intelligence in construction & execution. These recordings contain all the aforementioned points & more! X Ray Pop are pop geniuses.» Stick It In Your Ear zine |
|
|
| 60 minutes, 1988. HWE029. | ||
| YM:STAMMEN: «Overvintrende» | ||
| Ym:stammen was a band built largely upon norwegian mythology and old folk-music traditions. This is their debut release, recorded in Nov. '83. Strong rhythms & beautiful melodies. Eight songs. | ||
| 30 minutes, 1983. SANG04. Ym:stammen web page | ||
| YM:STAMMEN: «I:Vi:Landet» | ||
| The second tape (Oct. '84) and even better. Ten songs. | ||
| 30 minutes, 1984. SANG05. Ym:stammen web page | ||
| ÅREKNUTEKNYTERNE: «Hos Fotografen» (Best of 1984-89) | ||
| Norwegian
crazies dabbling in a wide variety of styles. Great fun & never boring. «...marvellously inventive with a very distinctive tongue-in-cheek humourous approach... Twenty five tracks of sheer genius! Recommened.» Stick It In Your Ear zine «With a strong instrumental approach, vocals are used in straight-forward and deliberaltely weird ways over music ranging from rock to folky acoustics, from almost pop to hardcore, with a liberal amount of experimentalism tossed in... ...A conglomerate of languages... mingle freeley amongst the excellent music that these two assemble and play.» Factsheet Five «Kind of lo-fi but wonderfully so ... Recommended, especially for the adventurous listener.» Anemic Billfold «... while many artists can show diverse range of influences, few are able to capitalize on them as well as these guys have here throughout this consistently engaging tape. And humour ismore than abundant, revealing itself even when I have absolutely no idea what's being said. "Hole in the Wall» is my favorite and shows exceptional lyric construction.» Gajoob |
|
|
| 60 minutes, 1990. HWE048 | ||
