Into The Subterranean Zone

front cover of the first Subterranean Records release

Subterranean Records is one of the earliest and most influential labels of indie era. Founded in 1979 in San Francisco by Steve Tupper (and Mike Fox - member of The Tools) in order to help the local underground bands to put their music out. First issues presented sounds from Bay Area's punk-hardcore-noise scene, soon though label's interest expanded to embrace wider the 80's evolution of alternative music culture (industrial-experimental-damaged art...). FLIPPER, DEAD KENNEDYS (one single), PENELOPE HOUSTON (1st solo LP), MINIMAL MAN, CHROME, NERVOUS GENDER, the neo-beatnik poets LONGSHOREMEN are some of the most popular subterraneans... and there are so many others...

SUBTERRANEAN ZONE

THE JARS Electric Third Rail
("Start Rite Now", 7'', 1980)

FACTRIX Night To Forget
(V.A. "Live At Target", 1980)

PRE FIX Ectomorphine
("Underneathica/Ectomorphine'', 7'', 1981)

FLIPPER First The Heart
("Gone Fishin' ", 1984)

PSYCLONES Tribulation
("Psyclones", 1985)

BRUCE LOSE Waking To Sleep
("What's Your Name?", 7'', 1983)

MINIMAL MAN Tired Death
("Two Little Skeletons/Tired Death, 7'', 1983)

ARKANSAW MAN Mark Twain
("Every Job", 7'', 1983)

LONGSHOREMEN Putra - Car Of The Future
("Grr Huh Yeah", 1985)

LOW FLYING AIRCRAFT Amnesia
("Low Flying Aircraft", 1987)

INFLATABLE BOY CLAMS Boystown
("Inflatable Boy Clams", 2x7'', 1981)

ANGEL'IN HEAVY SYRUP Why Don't You Take A Sight-Seeing Bus With Me?
("Angel'in Heavy Syrup'', 1992)

HOUSECOAT PROJECT Bed Bad
("Wide Eye Doo Dat", 1987)

WILMA Pornography Lies
("Pornography Lies", 1981)

MINIMAL MAN Jungle song
("The Shroud Of...", 1981)

LOW FLYING AIRCRAFT Radically Conservative
("Low Flying Aircraft", 1987)

LONGSHOREMEN Hot Rod
("Walk The Plank", 1986)

RESEARCH LIBRARY Insomnia
(V.A. "Red Spot", 1981)

KATHLEEN YEARWOOD Tam Lin
("Book Of Hate", 1992)

compiled by LaFolieDuJour

Subterranean Zone
(19 tracks - approx. time 65min)

subterranean news!!

Celebrating the 30th anniversary of historical "CLUB FOOT"compilation, SUBTERRANEAN RECORDS is preparing a limited red vinyl pressing (450 copies) of the album. This release will coincide with a Feb. 11 2010 show at Cafe Du Nord, San Francisco. Some version of all the bands will perform... while SUBTERRANEAN is also working for some extra surprises...

For more subterranean culture see here: www.subterranean.org

V.A. "CLUB FOOT", Subterranean Records, US, 1980

Legendary San Francisco label, SUBTERRANEAN Records, mostly known for classic late 70's/early 80's post-punk & proto-industrial releases, takes here a walk on the underground-art-jazz side of the area, presenting, in this mini compilation, sounds from avant obscurities as LONGSHOREMEN, CLUB FOOT ORCHESTRA, NAKED CITY, BAY OF PIGS, ALTERBOYS...

Listen to CLUB FOOT compilation

Penelope Houston

In 1988 the punk-folk-pop star Penelope Houston recorded her first acoustic indie pop LP "Birdboys". From this great album i have chosen the track "Bed of Lies", an odd lovesong whose painful lyrics, is contrasted with its luminous tune.

Expressing the grevious loss of love in an almost cheerful way, Houston's fragile voice enhances the beauty!

Bed of Lies

MINIMAL MAN " The Shroud of " (US,1981)

Classic debut from avant-postpunk-industrial band, formed in San Francisco (1979) by visual artist and musician PATRICK MILLER (1952-2003) who started MINIMAL MAN intending at first to make music for his film experimentations. Patrick Miller pushed punk /DIY attitude to industrial-experimental extremes drawing grey environments and hostile situations that lead people to wildness, poorness or madness. His spoken words, wild screams and mournful murmurs fill the noise-crossed spaces with the sad, violent, desperate echo of efforts for surviving. Despite of its raw character, Miller`s music reflects a sensitive spirit, a high artistic instinct and also hides some hope. "THE SHROUD OF", whose front cover was painted by Miller himshelf, was followed by a second LP, SAFARI (1983), before Miller`s relocation to Belgium, where he was related with Tuxedomoon and released four more LPs. Early 90`s Miller returned to USA, giving though, no further music documents of his persona of "minimal man".
This post is for his memory and comprises the 13 tracks of the original release. A quite recent reissue of the album includes 5 extras (singles, live...).

the shroud of minimal man (50mb)