|
Quite probably there hasn’t existed any other group within the Greek underground scene that
represented the synth punk genre better than AΝΤΙ… . In fact, considering the band’s uniquely
performed sound-delirium as well as its straightforward anarchistic and generally rebellious versification,
we would argue that it’s unfortunate (though their members would consider it as fortunate)
that ANTI… has heretofore been unknown to the wide public and consequently, not regarded as one
of the finest exemplars of minimalistic electronic punk in the international scene. Quite luckily however,
there is always the time to put things back in some order… and order in this circumstance
surely pertains to an “ANTI…-an” disorder…
Born out of the ashes of PPF, a band formed in late 1981 and with only one concert in its vitae
(Heliopolis, Athens in 1982), ANTI… presented their work for the first time in 1985, playing live in
Pegasus (a well-known Athenian musical stage). The group, which composed of three members
(two synthesizers and a bass) and a drum machine, performed an innovative mixture of punk and
electronic music accompanied by corresponding socially, economically, politically and culturally
wakeful lines. It was this idiosyncratic combination of a frantic sound performance and lyrics seething
with an absolute rebellion ranging from the purely adolescent to the desperately mature plus the
use of the Greek language rather than a foreign one, which reserved a special place for the group
within the Greek underground music firmament.
Next, apart from a series of live performances, ANTI… released two self-produced cassettes, a
split album [in 1990 along with a group named Koinonika Apovlita (standing for Social Waste in English)
via the Wipe Out! label] and participated in some compilations [for instance, Fragmenta and
Syntagi Anti-Thanatoy (Anti-Death Prescription)]. Apparently, it needed 25 long years since the
appearance of their original work (1986) until a full-work of the band could be released in
vinyl. More specifically, the present album which is issued in 500 numbered copies is basically
the re-release of ANTI…’s first tape, presenting however, a slight variation concerning the tracks
included as well as those tracks’ order of appearance. In particular, apart from the inevitable failure
(due to vinyl’s total-time constraints) to include the song “Instrumental” (which was actually composed
by PPF), the present edition includes a previously unreleased track [Τελευταία Μπύρα
(Last Beer)] which was kept in the group’s archive patiently waiting to see the light of day for
more than two decades.
Therefore, we present you with eleven arousing compositions of a straightforward electronic punk
idiom properly dressed with informative, remindful and overall riotous words. Finally, upon agreement
with the pioneers of this musical story (ANTI…), the re-mastering of the tracks was grounded
on an aim to provide the listener with the atmosphere of the group’s live performances (which, as it
should be noted, generated more vertigo than that experienced by listening to the Vertigo track).
The only thing left now is to live this musical experience hoping that you will enjoy it as strongly
as we do. CLEAR VINYL, looong out of print.
|
