Free Noise #16
Artist: Culture Shock
Title: Onwards And Upwards
Source: Vinyl 12" LP
Bitrate: V0 VBR
Running time (h:m:s): 00:45:38
Size (mb): 83.6
Label: Bluurg Records
Year: 1988
Notes: Some minor background noise in places
1. Pressure
2. Colour T.V.
3. Fast Foward
4. You Are Not Alone
5. Joyless
6. If You Don't Like It
7. Civilization Street
8. United
9. Catching Flies
10. When the Fighting's Over
11. Open Mind Surgery
12. Don't Worry About It
13. I.S.D.
Centred around Dick Lucas (Subhumans), CS ran for around 3 years in the late 80's and played in a tight, energetic dub-ska-punk stylee. They were always big free festival favourites and I had the pleasure of this experience, jumping around like a loon on acid, on more than one occasion.
The change in sound from the Subhumans gave Dick a chance to use his voice and words in new ways. The lyrics are more introspective and the vocals, while just as impassioned, have a gentler edge to them. The music bounces around nicely and matches the lyrical mood well. It's driving and catchy but manages to add melancholic moodiness to the darker elements of the lyrics too. Each song is solid and coherent with just the right amount of variation to ensure that you don't have time to get bored, and every one is more like a story than a verse-chorus-verse affair. You can read a pretty good track-by-track review written by someone else here.
And, as promised, I've also created and uploaded the CD cover and label art (which is why there are no pictures in this post).
OP's opinion: @@@@@
30/11/2007 at 2:06 am » Permalink
Some music can make you depressed, some angry, but Culture Shock energizes.
30/11/2007 at 3:55 am » Permalink
This is a fantastic album which I havent heard in years. Cheers!
02/12/2007 at 12:25 am » Permalink
I was probably stood next to you tripping me tits off as well! Great L.P. 'You Are Not Alone' & 'Civilization St.' I think are some of the best things Dick ever wrote. My favourite Culture Shock experience was I think Treworgy Tree Festival 1989 where I was indeed off my arse on acid and saw Culture Shock at least twice, and Poison Girls were great as well.
Thanks for this
J
11/12/2007 at 10:41 pm » Permalink
Thanks for this. I have it on vinyl but can't be arsed ripping it. Such a fantastic LP, so much better than Citizen Fish IMO. Cheers.
12/02/2008 at 5:05 am » Permalink
Ah yeah - Treworgey, Swindon etc…will check the d/l link lates; but weren't workin' just now…(Danny, Ben or Matt - if ur on this planet still, email a hullo)
04/05/2008 at 8:46 pm » Permalink
thanks alot for uploading this, some of dick lucas' best lyrics are on this album.
04/05/2008 at 10:32 pm » Permalink
Agreed