I first discovered Manc punk-funksters Twang at a couple of low key gigs and then from a flexi disc that came with the great Debris magazine in 1985. Stabbing guitar riffs, manic drums and funky basslines always make me sit up and pay attention. Ripping this was not easy as there was a lot of surface noise, but as this was such an important release, I've stuck at it and it sounds ok. The other band on the flexi disc were the wonderful Laugh.
Ripped from a 7" flexi disc released with Debris Magazine (LYN 16630) in 1985 to lossless FLAC audio.
1. What's The Rub? by Twang
2. Take Your Time, Yeah! by Laugh
The debut single proper was a self-released local affair on their own Stet label in 1986. It was quickly reissued on Ron Johnson Records to give it greater distribution through The Cartel. It's funky and jerky, it's loud and manic, it is truly wonderful. Readers should remember that there were only two bands turfing out this kind of stuff at the time, Big Flame and Twang. The sound was miles ahead of anything else - it was the short-lived bastard sound of a post-Smiths, pre-Madchester scene which lay undiscovered away from the indie discos of Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield. Years later, a bunch of Red Hot Chillis were to make a fortune replicating it.
Sharp : ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on Ron Johnson Records in 1986 (ZRON 14) to high quality lossless FLAC audio.
A. Sharp
B. Eight At A Time
John Peel had already picked up on the Twang sound and the band were to record two sessions for his late night BBC Radio show in 1986, and one further in 1987. I don't have the third but the first two were superb and are featured in this archive.
BBC Radio Peel Session : Recorded 2nd February 1986
1. Big Dry Out
2. Eight At A Time
3. Law Suit Man
4. Cold Tongue Bulletin
BBC Radio Peel Session : Recorded 7th September 1986
1. What's The Rap?
2. Every Home Should Have One
3. Intrusion
4. Lukewarm
The first proper release on Ron Johnson was the four track Kick And Complain EP released in early 1987. It included studio versions of a couple of session tracks and a rerecording of Sharp.
Kick And Complain : ripped from a 12" vinyl EP released on Ron Johnson Records (ZRON 22) in 1987 to lossless FLAC audio.
A1. Cut Candidate
A2. Cold Tongue Bulletin
B1. Sharp
B2. Every Home Should Have One
I don't know if it was down to changes in the band line up or industry pressures, but Twang forgot their roots for their final output, maybe we can blame Age Of Chance (coming soon), and they went dance. Snapback is a heavy thumping, sample laden, attempt at following a scene rather than driving one. The good points: wonderful raw punk-funk guitar. The bad points: the fucking awful rapping, synth bass lines and horns! This was to be Twang's last effort and they split quickly afterwards.
Snapback : ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Ron Johnson Records (ZRON 29) in 1987 to high quality lossless FLAC.
A. Snapback
B. Snapback (Defence Mix)
So there you are, the complete history of Twang. All neatly packaged up in one zip : here
