Easily my most expensive 7" (by a long shot). Just had to have it, no questions asked. This single is for sale for up to EUR 500.00 on a good day. What you get here is Finnish proto Punk released in 1979, so it's a real item from the time when this genre was making waves. I was (and still am) quite interested in this scene, although I was never a Punk myself. The first such LP I bought was "London Calling" (Clash), which turned out to be anything but Punk, but a hell of a Rock album in it's own right.
This has led to a fair few 7"s, LPs and CDs in my collection and to this day, I'd argue you under the table regarding the worth of this kind of music. It's not one and the same bullshit and no, Sir/Madam, it doesn't sound all the same either. The imbeciles (Sid Vicious et al) trying to make a ruckus and proclaiming their "vision" were very few and far between. That's not to say they didn't have a voice, just that they didn't really matter in the big picture. No, friends and neighbours, even the Sex Pistols made a rather small dent in the history of Rock. If it was Rolling Stones or the Beatles, I was always on the Clash side.
I should think, that Punk was alive in Finland as much as in the rest of Europe. Now, crucify me, but Punk, at least to me, was a European thing. Of course I know the claims of mid-60's bands from the States being the Punk types, but frankly, they are Garage and nothing more. Just don't get me started on the subject, I've enough recordings in my collection to cover most angles there. I do like Garage, but don't fly a flag that's not yours. I wouldn't be too surprised if one day Elvis Presley would have the dubious honor, to be named the first Punk ... oh, wait, this has happened already.
Here are four tracks that sound like they were recorded when they were recorded. Typical songs, that seem, at least to me, a bit slow. They must have had someone stomping on the brakes all the time. I wish it would pick up every now and then. Still, if you're one of the folks thinking this is not worthwhile, I'm telling you, you are ... right! No, forget it, you're completely mistaken. This is a period piece and really, I've heard worse. My copy looks mint, but I guess, they've recorded this somewhere near the sea, with the studio doors wide open. The swooshing is like the tide swapping up on a beach. And to my ears, it sounds like the recording is not quite in balance. The drummer is a bit to prominent and the guitar player is to far set back.
Is this "Audiophile Today" or what? This is a bloody Punkrock review and certainly not about sonic qualities. What I'm hearing is like travelling back in time, 35 years in a flash and the soundtrack of some half forgotten era is here again. To me, this is well worth the cash spent, but you might think otherwise. A few years ago, I began to understand people who collect only original Vinyl (no 2nd pressings, reissues and the like), it's as much about owning such a period piece than the music itself.
Cheers
Devon
