LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

Bedroom / lo-fi psychedelia by these unsung heroes from the 80s DIY cassette culture scene.

From outsider synth-pop to Barrett-esque lysergic folk, from lo-fi garage-punk to basement prog: acid-fuzz guitars, cheap keyboards, primitive electronics, homemade vibe and bizarre, funny lyrics. 

Pig Rider were formed in Kent, UK, in the late 60s by John Mayes and Colin Kitchener. With the help from some friends they recorded and self-released a series of acetate only psych-folk albums in the mid-70s (“Heterophonies”, “Bloody Turkey Sandwiches”…) which are prime examples of early DIY psychedelic music, highly sought-after since a review of “Heterophonies” appeared on the Galactic Ramble book.

In 2013, collector Alexandre Mansuy (from the influential “Somewhere There Is Music” blog), having only listened to their “Heterophonies” album, found John and Colin and was astonished when they told him their story: “Heterophonies” was only one of their many, many great recordings, 22 in all, including 45s, acetates and tapes. Those included complete, and to date unperformed, opera for schools, a song-cycle about Luton, a town they knew nothing about; songs designed to be played backwards, songs which are slightly offensive and others which are too offensive to play at all, anywhere, ever.

Starting with “The Robinson Scratch Theory”, a compilation featuring tracks originally recorded between 1980 and 1986 and released as private cassettes. Pig Rider’s sound bring to mind obscure DIY bands like Desperate Bicycles, Instant Automatons or Beyond The Implode but only if those bands knew how to write catchy and well-crafted songs. But the most amazing thing is that Pig Rider were creating this kind of music for their own amusement without any knowledge of the post-punk or DIY movement. Although they were listening to bands like the Bonzos, Pink Floyd and The Misunderstood  - “I played their “Children Of The Sun” 45 until the groove was worn out! - says Colin, Pig Rider claim the main influence on what they played was the availability of instruments and what they could do with them - not always what they were designed for and always pushing their limits.  “We listened to everything, but copied nothing, which is why Pig Rider doesn’t sound like anything else”, says John.

“We didn’t try to copy anyone else’s style because they were better at it than we were!” – Pig Rider

Compiled by Alexandre Mansuy (Somewhere There Is Music)

Insert / booklet with detailed liner notes and photos

Master tape sound

Tracklist:

Disc 1:

1.     The Incredible Stan (1982)

2.     Ralph The Poisoned Ferret(1983)

3.     Edwin Threlfall, Man Of Many Parts  (1981)

4.     Can’t Stand People  (1981)

5.     Mabel’s Undercover Lover  (1983)

6.     Life On Brighton Pier  (1981)

7.     Mabel Incurs A Four Point Penalty (1982)

8.     The Slough Tobacconist’s Blues (1981)

9.     I Want To Make A Million (1986)

10.  Glory, Glory Halitosis (1983)

11.  Give Your Lunch To A Lemming (1981)

12.  Elephants Over Dingo Rock (It Must Be Love) (1982)

Disc 2

1.     I Wanna Play With You (1981)
 
2.     Just Can’t Dance (1983)
 
3.     Thanks For The Home Run, Elijah  (1982)
 
4.     Alight With Prowling Hamburgers  (1981)
 
5.     McStoat  (1981)
 
6.     Not A Love Song (1983)
 
7.     Pervert  (1985)
 
8.     Luton Beds (1982)
 
9.     The Parting (1980)
 
10.   The Fish Fetishist (1981)