XTRAVERTS
SO MUCH HATE
Bin Liner Records (1997)
Reissue of late 70’s UK punk by Xtraverts from Wycombe UK.
Not as obscure as
I’d thought. I’d never heard of these
guys before I got this record though. I got this for a tenner “on spec” at a
record fair. This is Pistols/’77 (inspired) stuff that goes some way to
bridging the gap between the ‘70’s stuff and the UK82 stuff perhaps. Their facebook page says “Xtraverts were noted as one of the very first Punk
Rock bands, established in 1976 in England”.
These songs were recorded in 1978
-79 , but never released until 1997 – I
think. Apparently “So much hate” was
released in 1978 by Detour records, but I can’t qualify that, and I don’t know
if it’s true.
This comprises all the XTRAVERTS recorded output, sound
quality varies throughout. Some of the strongest and best recorded songs
commence this record – Police State (single
version) and I hate you (“pick on skinheads punks and teds”)
Other highlights include “Who sent the boys” (didn’t they hate the cops!) “Speed”, which
kicks off side two (which The Damned
circa ’79 would have been proud to call their own) “Blank generation”
(it appears on side two in it’s “single format”, along with Police State), and “Dehydration Pill”. All in all great
stuff, and it retains anger, energy and melody throughout.
Apparently they were very influential, and left a legacy of
Xtaverts graffiti in their home town of Wycombe , as illustrated by the back
cover.
Package wise, OK, I guess. front cover is a B&W collage of the band. Back cover
features graffiti pic and song/band info. No insert. Sound quality varies,
which is reasonable for its era and multiple recording sessions. A great record,
and a great document of a band that perhaps didn’t get the exposure they
deserved. They have reformed though, and are planning gigs.
