Kalahari Surfers - Living In The Heart Of The Beast - South Africa 80`s Art Rock LP
LP

Kalahari Surfers - Living In The Heart Of The Beast




Label: Recommended Records

RR C24

Format: Vinyl, LP
Record is VG++
Cover VG+ slight cornerwear

Country: UK

Released 1985

Genre:

Rock

Style:





Tracklist




A1 Dance Of The Young Fascists


A2 Europeans


A3 Safety Beat


A4 1999





B1 Township Beat


B2 Zola And The Budget


B3 Song For Magnus


B4 Play It Backwards


B5 The Voice Of Rage And Ruin






Credits

Composed By– Lee Hazlewood (tracks: B3), Tom Fogerty (tracks: B5)



The Kalahari Surfers began with a 1981 home recorded cassette titled "Gross National Products". They then built a reputation as being one of the most politically radical musical forces in South Africa. Their second release was a double single package "Burning Tractors Keep Us Warm" released by Pure Freude Records. German group Can were involved with this label and, along with other,so called, krautrock bands, were an important influence on the Surfers sound at this time. Shifty Records tried to release their 1982 release album "Own-Affairs" but could not find a vinyl pressing plant who would do it. The reasons given by EMI were that it was "too political".

Those who owned the means of production were controlled firstly by themselves (self-censorship i.e. those too afraid to put a step wrong made it impossible for others to realize their objectives) and then by the State: anything which had made it into the mainstream which was found undesirable was then banned.

Chris Cutler's London based Recommended Records pressed the album and set up an alliance that continues to this day. Cutler (ex-Henry Cow drummer) helped set up tours and in 1985 they put out the second album Living In The Heart Of The Beast to critical acclaim.

The album title was taken from the title of a Tim Hodgkinson composition, "Living in the Heart of the Beast" on the Henry Cow album In Praise of Learning (1975). A unique South African album, Living in the Heart of the Beast pushed the barriers of local independent music. Stylistically it ranged from dub-reggae, art rock, rap, and punk—Zappa-ish in places (with the use of rapid tape splice edits and juxtaposing of ironic bits of state propaganda broadcasts).



In 1985 they put out 'Living In The Heart Of The Beast' to critical acclaim. The title came from a Tim Hodgkinson composition on the Henry Cow album "In Praise Of Learning" ......

The mixture of dub rhythms and hard punk social comment made it a unique South African album, which pushed the barriers of local independent music. Musical styles ranged from the avant-garde,to reggae, 80’s rap and punk rock. Quite Zappa-ish in places with the use of tape splice edits and edledtic juxtaposing of diverse styles the album was a South African viewpoint that provided some relief from mainstream cmmercial pop. Like many other artists of the Shifty catalogue it inspired younger artists who are still working today. The need to tour was evident and Warrick moved to London to work on promoting the album. He toured with Chris Cutler and other friends from England. A third album 'Sleep Armed' was completed before leaving and released in 1986.The