Lexicon Devil

OIL TASTERS - S/T

Originally issued by Lexicon Devil in 2005. The Oil Tasters only existed between the years 1980-1983 and managed to release two 7s and an LP in their lifetime. Out-of-print for well over 20 years, Lexicon Devil stepped up to the plate in an attempt to reintroduce this mighty Milwaukee juggernaut back into the general public with a CD compiling all their long-deleted catalog. A three-piece with the unusual line-up of bass/vocals (Richard LaValliere), saxophone (Caleb Alexander) and drums/backing vocals (Guy Hoffman), Oil Tasters set the Milwaukee scene alight in their day with their trailblazing mix of Dada-esque smart-arse lyricism, avant-garde jazz rhythms and skittering, punk-rock energy which blended together to produce a unique, unprecedented sound. Both Richard and Guy had spent time in the late 70s in The Haskels, Milwaukees original punker outfit, and when that band called it a day, they decided to take a less orthodox musical approach. Roping in friend Caleb Alexander on saxophone (who actually learnt his trade from another 70s Milwaukee habituate and wildman, James Chance aka James White/Black of The Contortions) and inspired by a strange mixture of old Dixieland jazz, Coltrane and post-punk a la Public Image Ltd., they created something really different from the then-emerging cookie-cutter punk scene. Sonically, you could throw a few names around: in Oil Tasters one can hear traces of John Lydons snarl in the way LaValliere barks out his sarcastic tomes; the menacing, angular punk-funk-jazz of the Minutemen, especially so in the meaty, Watt-ish bass lines; and the Dada art-rock styling of Pere Ubu ca. 81/82. This release comprises both of their self-released 7"s and their subsequent LP released on Joe Carduccis excellent Thermidor label (they were actually recommended to Carducci by his good friend, Jello Biafra), all of which have been newly remastered at Dex Audio in Melbourne from the original reels which, funnily enough, had spent the last 5 years collecting dust on the shelves of none other than Henry Rollins office. Huh? The CD reproduces the front cover of the original LP, contains an 8-page booklet with liner notes from longtime fan Keith Brammer (of Die Kreuzen/Boy Dirt Car) and Richard LaValliere himself, a plethora of band flyers and photos and a full 40 minutes of surrealist, one-of-a-kind post-punk."- Lexicon Devil

  • Sale
  • Regular price $13.00


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.
I understand these terms

Sale

Unavailable

Sold Out