ALARMS AND DIVERSIONS

Various Artists-  Turn of The Grindstone

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     An excellent compilation of "Independent Electronic Music" from the year 1988.  The label is K.O. City Studios and most of these basement types are from TN, VA, and MA.  An impressive pedigree.  Add a Conrad Schnitzler cameo on the last track and you've got a pretty nice Independent Electronic Music comp.  Turn of the Grindstone?  

     For the most part, the first side has some sort of dojo newsroom obsession throughout.  Astonishing.  But, the real standouts are to be found on the second half... "Keep Down" by Mental Anguish/Nomuzic sounds like John Bender covering the Cure (maybe not such a suprise).  And with their track "The Heat Is Gone," Victimized Karcass preempt a track or two off of the extended version of A.P.'s "The Doldrums."  Then..."Media Hunt" by the group/artist Curious Voltage (aka Christopher Elston c/o Spare Room Studio 133 Willard St. Lowell MA 01850) nicely manages to shift the momentum from all out late-80's basement luno-fringe songwriting into the final "out" trio piece featuring Conrad Schnitzler, David Prescott, and someone credited as Montgomery. 

V/A-Turn Of The Grindstone

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