GODAM

Nort - GODAM (Games Of Dance & Muscleblood)

Ripped from a vinyl album released on Edsel Records (CALC LP44) in 1988 to high resolution 24-bit flac. I am still loitering in Sheffield for now - Nort left Hula in 1986 and history says Hula had begun to lose their edge from then on. Paul Nortcliffe's only album is a worthwhile mix of groovy industrial funk (never a bad thing) and mood soundtrack pieces. I am reminded of what Workforce were doing around the same time especially on Big Daddy and It's A Dream, and Hula loyalists will find much to love in Slow Down The Insect Pest with its Nort-fuelled percussive breaks.

A1 It's A Dream
A2 Cool On The Loop
A3 An Angel In My Glass
A4 The Ultimate White Man
A5 The Sea Is A Machine
B1 Bad Daddy
B2 Luthers Scream
B3 Sleep For A While
B4 Slow Down The Insect Pest
B5 Looking For The Letter

Twenty Four Track Loop

Nort - Cool On The Loop

Ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Edsel Records (CALC 45) in 1988 to high resolution 24-bit flac audio. Some pounding hard-edged indie-funk from former Cabaret Voltaire & Hula drummer Nort, in three mixes. The side one tracks are actually segued together but are spit here according to the times on the label. Enjoy!

A1 Cool On The Loop
A2 Cooler On The Loop
B1 Cool On The Loop (Muscle Mix)

Play Loud

Hula - Poison (Club Mix)

Ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Red Rhino Records (RED T74) in 1986 to high resolution 24-bit flac audio. A track which has appeared on these pages in various guises before, but at last here it is in its full glory backed with the monstrous club mix. Play loud.

A1 Poison
B1 Poison

Black Wall Blue

Hula - Black Wall Blue

Ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Red Rhino Records (REDT 72) in 1986 to high resolution 24-bit flac audio. Thanks to the blog follower who noticed that I hadn't posted this in 24/96 (I had misplaced my copy eons ago), and sent me his 12" in a big box of blog'able goodies. Enjoy!

A1 Black Wall Blue 4:58
B1 Stocky 4:41
B2 2.A.M.

Cut Loose

Hula - Voice

As promised here is Hula's final album proper - and a mighty majestic work it is. Always best to go out on a high I'd say (if you forget about a misplaced Voodoo Chile cover of course). Voice is full of splendid highlights - this is a broodingly powerful and complex record, heavy on the technics and pounding beats.Cut Me Loose and Poison are classic Hula compositions, but it's the melodic Cold Stare which wins my vote every time. Excuse the occasional crackle on the quieter bits which I have left in for bonus authenticity. The 12" club mix of Poison is worth tracking down, if you can find a copy - I misplaced mine a while back.

Ripped from a vinyl album released on Red Rhino Records (REDLP 75) in 1987 to high resolution 24-bit flac audio.

A1 Give Me Money (Till It's Crawling Out Of My Face)
A2 See You Tomorrow
A3 Cut Me Loose
A4 Bush #2
B1 Cold Stare
B2 Clear Water
B3 Torn Silk
B4 Seven Sleepers
B5 Poison

Ghost Rattles

Hula - 1000 Hours

In many ways, Hula live remind me of early ACR. 1000 Hours is a fine document of their live show at the Amsterdam Melkweg in February 1985 when they were at their peak. This mid-priced double album also featured a Dutch Radio Session and a side of experimental works recorded back in Sheffield.

We haven't had any Hula on here for quite some time and this superbly mastered vinyl album has ripped really well. I only have the swansong Voice album left to rip, so this will no doubt feature soon'ish.

Ripped from a double vinyl album released on Red Rhino Records (REDLP 63) in 1986 to high resolution 24-bit flac.

Two Sides Live
A1 The Yesman
A2 Bad Blood
A3 Hour By Hour
A4 Ghost Rattle
A5 Jump The Gun
A6 Baby Doll
B1 Hard Stripes
B2 Freeze Out
B3 Invisible
B4 Ambient 2
B5 Tear– Up
B6 The Trouble With Benny

To Wind You Up
C1 Big Heat
C2 Sour Eden
C3 Hothouse
C4 At The Heart

To Wind You Down
D1 Big–Car (Both Ways)
D2 Bribery And Winning Ways
D3 Gelsomina
D4 Marnixstraat

Kick The Habit!

Hula - 1000 Hours

Here is more from the superb Hula.In theory Hula only recorded three albums proper, but many would agree that 1000 Hours is more than just a compilation of live and session work. This double album is formed from a powerful and energetic live performance at The Melkweg in Amsterdam in early 1985, four session tracks from Dutch radio station VPRO, and one side of new experimental recordings laid down in the studio during the tour.

Sides one and two are from the mixing desk at the Melkweg gig and show just how well Hula transferred their layered and powerful industrial beats onto the live stage. The band's live sound engineer was Mark Estdale who went onto form the equally good Workforce. Side three is dedicated to the VPRO session which features the excellent Big Heat and Sour Eden. Side four is much more textural and experimental with four atmospheric works recorded at Richard Zeilstra's studio in Holland.

Ripped from a double vinyl album released on Red Rhino Records (REDLP 63) in 1986 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

A1. The Yesman
A2. Bad Blood
A3. Hour By Hour
A4. Ghost Rattle
A5. Jump The Gun
A6. Baby Doll
B1. Hard Stripes
B2. Freeze Out
B3. Invisible
B4. Ambient 2
B5. Tear Up
B6. The Trouble With Benny
C1. Big Heat
C2. Sour Eden
C3. Hothouse
C4. At The Heart
D1. Big Car (Both Ways)
D2. Bribery And Winning Ways
D3. Gelsomnia
D4. Marnixstraat

Cut Loose In Maida Vale

Hula - BBC Peel Session March 1985

With thanks to a blog contributor here is the classic Hula Peel Session from 1985 in 24-bits. What hiss there is tends to linger around the beginning of Freeze Out following JP's introduction, but that shouldn't distract the listener from four fine works of hard industrial funk.

Ripped from a master cassette recording of the original radio broadcast to 24/48 high resolution FLAC audio.

1. Freeze Out
2. Bad Blood
3. Sour Eden
4. Gun Culture

Personnel:
Ron Wright (Guitar, Vocals, Melodica)
Simon Crump (Saxophone, Bass Clarinet)
John Avery (Bass, Keyboards, Percussion)
Mark Albrow (Keyboards, Tapes)
Nort (Drums, Percussion)

Recorded: 12th March 1985
First Transmission: 25th March 1985
Producer: Mike Robinson
Engineer: James Birtwistle
Studio: BBC Maida Vale 5

A Cut Above

Hula - Cut From Inside

The debut long player from industrial art-funk noise terrorists Hula in 24-bits of quality. It took me quite some time to get this one cleaned up and out there, I think the work was worth it. This is the early form of Hula with future Chakk bass-slapper Mark Brydon plying his thumbs.

Ripped from a vinyl album released on Red Rhino Records (RED 35) in 1983 to high resolution 24-bit FLAC audio.

A1. Flesh Metal
A2. Mother Courage
A3. Church Juice
A4. Murder In The Clean States
B1. Release The Grip
B2. Dirt Talk
B3. Stretch The Attitude
B4. Subliminal.

No One Leaves The Fever Car

Hula - Fever Car

A classic industrial 12" single from one of my favourite bands, Hula. I thought I'd have a go at a 24/96 rip and it has come out very well.. It's a big slab of brutish, grinding, hard techno funk as only Hula can do it. You may also note that I've set up a poll on the right hand side of the blog page to check up on the readerships' preferred rip quality. Your opinion is valued.

Ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Red Rhino Records (RED T47) to high resolution 24-bit FLAC audio.
A. (No One Leaves The) Fever Car
B1. In The Shutout
B2. Bats Lost ....Bloodrush
B3. Hard Stripes

Hula - Murmur

A lossless re-rip of Hula's very fine Murmur album. Here's what I wrote a few years back in the original post...

Sheffield's Hula were formed in 1981 by Mark Albrow, Alan Fish and Ron Wright. They all shared a house/squat with the Cab's Stephen Mallinder and Paul Widger (guitarist with They must be Russians, Clock DVA & The Box), which they named The Hula Kula. The band went through three bass players, Alan Watt, Chris Brain and Mark Brydon ( more well known for his later work with Chakk & Moloko), and original drummer Alan Fish was replaced by Nort (both drummed for the Cabs).

The immense and intense Murmur album was their most significant, fusing cut ups, samples, pounding rhythms, hard slap bass & vocal paranoia blended into a hard, industrial white-boy funk sound.

The band's sound developed more commercially with each release and three John Peel Sessions found them Nationwide recognition and eventually a route into Europe. Live shows were accompanied by video cut-ups by Peter Care much like their obvious influence, Cabaret Voltaire.

Hula's biggest exposure to the listening public was a support slot to Depeche Mode at Wembley Arena.

Murmur : ripped from a vinyl album released on Red Rhino Records (REDLP 53) in 1984 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

A1. Ghost Rattle

A2. Invisible

A3. Delirium

A4. Pleasure Hates Language

B1. Tear-Up

B2. Hour By Hour

B3. Jump The Gun

B4. Red Mirror

B5. Cold Kiss

Hear

Hula - Black Pop Workout

The debut EP from Sheffield's Hula was recorded and mixed at Western Works in 1981 and produced by Stephen Mallinder from Cabaret Voltaire. It's a dark & experimental affair, much in the vein of early Cabs, but with a greater use of guitar, bass and drums and less electronics, a direction the Cabs were to sample on their subsequent 2X45 album, which coincidentally featured both Hula drummers, Alan Fish and Nort.

Black Pop Workout : ripped from a 12" vinyl EP released on Red Rhino Records (RED 18) in 1982 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

A1. Feeding The Animal

A2. Ignoring The Famine

B1. Sacred Serials (Circuits On Full Gush)

B2. Junshi

Hear

Hula - VC1

Hula's final output was a pseudo-cover of Voodoo Chile released on Wax Trax in the US only, following the collapse of Red Rhino. It's not their best work and whilst it is a good slab of techno-industrial funk, it veers more into Chakk territory. I'm not saying it is a poor track, but given the quality of their back catelogue, I was disappointed. Jo Cammack had joined the band on backing vox to soften the edges a bit, especially on the b-side Clock Don't Stop The Heart.
Hula continued on for a couple more years before breaking up in 1992 but failed to release anything else.

VC1 - An arrangement of Voodoo Cile (very slight return) : ripped to lossless FLAC from a 12" vinyl single released on Wax Trax Records (WAX 046) in 1988.

A1. VC1
B1. VC7 (Radio Version)
B2. Clock Don't Stop The Heart


Hear

Hula - Threshold

I've covered Hula before and a blog follower has donated another rip which I'll up later. Threshold was an end of career compilation released by the band and this is ripped from my vinyl copy to lossless FLAC. It's not quite a best of, just good examples of the band's unique sound from their large volume of work. (5 albums and 11 singles in 4 years)

Hula were the missing link between industrial experimentation (TG, DVA etc) and the indie dance arena (mid-period Cabs, Chakk, ACR etc). Hula is a much harder sound, but listen closer and you'll find complex rhythm's. structured melody and subtle sampling amongst the clatter and the heavy production. The Hula sound is one to be appreciated and admired, it was never bettered and clearly influenced later bands such as Renegade Soundwave and Meat Beat Manifesto.

Threshold : ripped from a 12" vinyl album released on Red Rhino Records (REDLP 83) in 1987
A1. Fever Car
A2. Get The Habit
A3. Freeze Out (Club Mix)
A4. Black Wall Blue
B1. Big Heat
B2. Mother Courage
B3. Walk On Stalks Of Shattered Glass
B4. Tear Up
B5. Junshi


Enjoy

Various Artists - Abstract Magazine : Volume 6

The sixth edition was to feature slightly more accessible artists, many of who have featured on the pages of this blog. Deacon's coup was the exclusive ACR remix and the first outing in public of Adi Newton's post-DVA Anti Group (who also signed to the Sweatbox label). Sheffield standards Chakk, Hula and Workforce contributed high quality industrial funk (with a little help from Hamilton Bohannon) and French obscurity Clair Obscur roped in with an early version of his techno Smurf single. Peel faves Clan Of Xymox lent an unreleased version of a session favourite and a twisted Blurt likely lost more fans than they gained.

Again ripped to a 32bit / 48000hz lossless wav file on a Soundlab Pro GO56C deck through a Creative 24bit USB External soundcard with Cool Edit Pro. Then manually cut up, de-clicked, balanced and normalised in Cool Edit Pro before resampling down to CD friendly 16bit 44100hz audio file and compressed to lossless FLAC (level 8) in Traders Little Helper.

As you can tell, I'm rather chuffed with the quality of this rip, though some rather nasty jumps on the Chakk track may well still be audible.

Abstract 6 : ripped from a 12" vinyl album released on Sweatbox Records (SAM 006) in 1986
A1. Breach Birth (Remix) - In The Nursery
A2. Skin Scraped Back (Remix) - Workforce
A3. Moscoviet Musquito (Remix) - Clan Of Xymox
A4. Gravespit (Live) - Blurt
A5. Smurf In The Goulag - Clair Obscur
B1. Sounds Like Something Dirty (Remix) - A Certain Ratio
B2. Ha (Remix) - The Anti Group
B3. Theme - Chakk
B4. Motor City Nightmare - Hula
B5. They're Biting - A Primary Industry

Re:Upped

Hula - Poison

A huge big slab of heavy industrial funk from Sheffield's Hula. I have most of their catelogue and have always planned drip feeding this stuff to blog followers rather than doing a whole discography. When the Cabs went House and Chakk tried to go mainstream, Hula just carried on getting harder and harder and harder. The Belgians think they invented industrial dance music and called it EBM - many know better. The Club Mix is a spendid and wonderful toe tapper, which will no doubt go down well at weddings, christenings and other social gatherings!

Poison : ripped from a 12" vinyl masterpeice released on Red Rhino Records (RED T74) in 1986

A. Poison
B. Poison (Club Mix)

Noise

Hula - John Peel Sessions

Hissy tape time again, but as always very essential stuff. Here are the first two BBC Radio Sessions recorded for John Peel's late night show. My dates conflict with those on the Keeping It Peel website. I don't think these recordings have ever been rebroadcast or commercially released.

Session 1 (25th March 1985)
1. Freeze Out
2. Bad Blood
3. Sour Eden
4. Gun Culture

Session 2 (16th October 1985)
1. Big Heat
2. Ninth Degree
3. Torn Silk
4. Motor City

Listen

Various - Four From The Floor

Various - Four From The Floor

The second coming of Sheffield experimental / industrial music was slightly more commercial that the original tamperings of Cabaret Voltaire, Clock DVA, early Human League etc.

By sheer coincidence, Surface Mutants were clearly influenced by the twisted methology of Adi Newton and Clock DVA.

Hula had heavy leanings to mid-period Cabs (and even let them borrow their drummer). Bass Tone Trap were very good avant-jazz.They Must Be Russians had a poppier feel, but after a few singles and albums, failed to break through.

Of the artists on this 7" EP, it was only really Hula who laid down a marker to their peers and left an impact on the national scene.

Re:Upped