fusetron O LEVEL, Pseudo Punk

Munster

O LEVEL - Pseudo Punk

"RSD 2014 release. Munster Records presents, in a co-release with Discos Alehop!, the first vinyl reissue of the two official singles of British band O Level: "East Sheen" (recorded in November 1977 and released on Psycho) and The Malcolm EP (recorded in December 1978 and released by the Kings Road label). This compilation also includes three tracks from February 1979 never released on vinyl before, plus a rawer alternative version of "East Sheen" dating from March 1978. O Level was created in 1976 by London guitarist Ed Ball along with two friends from school, the Bennett brothers (John on drums and Gerard on bass), who would leave the band in March 1978. That same line-up plus Dan Treacy (another school friend of Balls) recorded the first Television Personalities single in 1977, titled 14th Floor. O Level self-released that same year a first single which included three tracks strongly influenced by punks energy (Buzzcocks and Undertones guitars and melody on "East Sheen") and attitude (with ironic comments about fake punks on "Pseudo Punk"), but all of it as if seen from a distance, outside a decadent scene which had already been absorbed by the establishment. The single also features a sort of homonymous anthem called O Levels." As a record collector anecdote, there are two versions of the single with different covers, which go for very high prices. Ed Ball, DIY superhero, returned in late 1978 with four more hits, displaying a sound more oriented towards 60s pop but with the new wave spirit of the time. On this occasion, he was accompanied on bass, drums, and backing vocals by... himself, Ball played everything! The single, titled The Malcolm EP, contains a new hit in "homage" to Malcolm McLaren, "We Love Malcolm"; a portrait of the scene, "Everybodys on Revolver Tonight" (where the pseudo punks and part-time punks make another appearance); and two tracks with 60s melodies: "Leave Me Alone" (with a very Love-esque chorus) and "Stairway to Boredom" (pure new wave sound). But Ed Balls music career didnt end with this second single. After recording three more tracks in February 1979, which have never been released on vinyl until now, he continued developing the same strand of wonderful pop through the 80s and 90s with bands such as Teenage Filmstars, Television Personalities, The Times, and many more, ending with four records as a solo artist. O Level was Ed Ball, a passionate pop artisan who deserves to be rediscovered."- Munster.
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After nearly a decade of false starts, multiple game plans veering off the rails, and a handful of shattered hopes and/or dreams, the odyssey is finally complete—the new Fusetron site is here.

This is the first phase of a multipart rollout that will span the next few months: the currently browsable stock includes miscellaneous new releases from the past 8+ months (we have a lot of catching up to do), plus approximately a third of our backstock. Note that we’ve reduced/slashed prices on many titles and will continue to do so in order to make room for new stock. We’ll also be expanding / tweaking / improving / debugging the site itself (for example, we still have work to do on the automated international postage system, not to mention the inevitable inventory discrepancies that come with transferring an ancient and massive database to a new system).

Over the next few months, as we take inventory, clean house, and delve into our storage, we will be uploading thousands of additional items, gradually, on a near-daily basis. This will include the majority of the LPs, as well as many titles, in all formats, once thought long-gone. Many currently “sold out” items are likely to resurface.

Finally, once our general backstock is up (probably in the next two or three months) we’ll begin making our extensive stockpile of rarities available online for the first time: tons of random out-of-print titles, "deadstock," warehouse finds, secondhand collectibles, etc., accumulated over the past few decades.

Frequent/returning customers will be getting early access to these items. Details to follow on how this will work (a priority mailing list? a 'frequent flyer'-like program?), but it will not be based on dollars spent. We want to reward those who consistently support us, especially in the discogs marketplace era (to those who show up trying to poach five copies of a one-off rarity, and nothing else, ever… ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ).

So—we suggest you take some time to dig through the site—even we’ve been surprised by what’s been turning up, and there’s much more to come.
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