RhoDeo 1307 Aetix

Hello,  Aetix continues with females in the lead, todays post almost became self evident after yesterdays post on Dennis Bovell, afterall he produced most of today's artists work. They didn't release much, in fact their discography is rather limited. When after 23 years they resurfaced again and toured globally as well as released another album the future for a second life for the band looked rather promising, unfortunately the big C put a stop to all that. What is left is the memory of a vibrant collective that did their own thing and didn't bother with expectations. ......  N'Joy

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Along with the Raincoats and Liliput, the Slits are one of the most significant female punk rock bands of the late '70s. Not only did they bravely leap into the fray with little, if any, musical ability, but through sheer emotion and desire created some great music. This was especially true when they worked with veteran reggae producer Dennis Bovell, setting the stage for a future generation of riot grrrls. Though much derided in their short existence, what the Slits achieved and what they meant to succeeding generations of young female rockers cannot be underestimated.

The Slits were a British punk rock band. The quartet was formed in 1976 by members of the bands The Flowers of Romance and The Castrators. The members were Ari Up (Ariane Forster), and Palmolive (Paloma Romero, who later left to join The Raincoats), with Viv Albertine and Tessa Pollitt replacing founding members, Kate Korus and Suzy Gutsy. Palmolive was replaced by the drummer Budgie (later of Siouxsie and the Banshees).

The group supported The Clash on their 1977 White Riot tour along with the Buzzcocks and the Subway Sect. Club performances of The Slits during this period are included in The Punk Rock Movie (1978). In November 1978, The Slits toured with the Clash again on the "Sort it Out Tour". Captured on a Peel Session, the Slits' originally raw and raucous live sound was cleaned up and polished by the time of their debut album. It wasn't until 1979 that they made their first proper record under the watchful, supportive eyes and ears of reggae vet Dennis Bovell. A mixture of reggae rhythms, scratchy guitars, anger and mischief, the debut album Cut was released in September 1979 on Island Records with Neneh Cherry joining as additional vocalist. The album's sleeve art depicted the band naked, except for mud and loincloths.

It was two years before a second album was released (Return of the Giant Slits), which was denser, darker, and full of surprises. But the Slits, due primarily to their interest in incorporating other forms of ethnic music into their mix, were leaping beyond what was commonly accepted as punk rock and, as a result, were no longer seen as a punk band. This probably didn't distress them in the least, as they were more interested in expanding the barriers of punk rock rather than simply adhering to "rules" that claimed all punk bands must bash out simplistic guitar rant.

The Slits' sound and attitude became increasingly experimental and avant-garde during the early 1980s, when they formed an alliance with Bristol post-punk band The Pop Group, sharing a drummer (Bruce Smith) and releasing a joint single, "In The Beginning There was Rhythm" / "Where There's A Will" (Y Records), followed by a bizarre, uncommercial, untitled album of mostly homemade demo recordings, and a few more singles. It was two years before a second album was released (Return of the Giant Slits), which was denser, darker, and full of surprises. But the Slits, due primarily to their interest in incorporating other forms of ethnic music into their mix, were leaping beyond what was commonly accepted as punk rock and, as a result, were no longer seen as a punk band. This probably didn't distress them in the least, as they were more interested in expanding the barriers of punk rock rather than simply adhering to "rules" that claimed all punk bands must bash out simplistic guitar rant.By the close of 1981, Up was singing in Adrian Sherwood's dub/funk aggregation the New Age Steppers, and the Slits had folded become both legendary and somewhat notorious.

Ari Up and Tessa Pollitt reformed the band with new members in 2005, and in 2006 released the EP Revenge of the Killer Slits. The EP featured former Sex Pistols member Paul Cook and Marco Pirroni as both musicians and co-producers. In fact, Cook's daughter Hollie is a member of the current line-up, singing and playing keyboards. Other members of the reformed band were No on guitar, German drummer Anna Schulte, and Adele Wilson on guitar. The band toured the United States for the first time in twenty-five years during 2006's 'States of Mind' tour. In 2007, they toured Australia as well as returning to the US. In their first ever visit to that country, the band undertook a short tour of Japan in October 2007.

In January 2009, the Los Angeles based Narnack Records announced they had signed the band to a recording contract. A biography - Typical Girls? The Story Of The Slits by Zoe Street Howe was published in the UK by Omnibus Press in July 2009. A full-length album entitled Trapped Animal was released October 2009, and the band continued to perform live.

Group founder Ari Up died aged 48 from cancer in Los Angeles on 20 October 2010. Her death that morning was initially announced on her stepfather John Lydon's homepage. A tribute Punky Reggae Birthday Party was held in at the Music Hall of Williamsburg by Dunia Best, Aram Sinnreich and Vivien Goldman on Brooklyn on 16 January 2011. Neneh Cherry, Tessa Pollitt, and Hollie Cook and other former members of the Slits performed as well as members of the True Warriors, New Age Steppers, and friends from all over the world. A tribute 'A punky reggae tribute to Ari Up' was held in Bristol on 30 July 2011. The evening included performances by Tessa Pollitt, Hollie Cook, Adrian Sherwood, Mark Stewart (Maffia, the Pop Group), Viv Albertine, and included a screening of the Slits' last video "Lazy Slam" and other Slits footage and a special video presentation 'A Tribute To Ari' (featuring rare and unseen stills and video).

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Almost as well-known for its cover (the three Slits are half-naked and covered in mud) as for its music, Cut is an ebullient piece of post-punk mastery that finds the Slits' interest in Caribbean and African rhythms smoothly incorporated into their harsher punk rock stylings. Ari Up's wandering voice (a touch like Yoko Ono) might be initially off-putting, but not so much so that it makes listening to the record difficult. Six tracks are revamped from earlier Peel Sessions and sound better for the extra effort (especially "New Town" and "Love und Romance"). With its goofy charm, gleeful swing and sway, and subtle yet compelling libertarian feminism, this is one of the best records of the era. Although it only made a brief impact on the UK top 30 at the time, in 2004 it was voted at no 58 in the Observer's list, The 100 Greatest British Albums.

The Slits - Cut (flac 401mb)

01 Instant Hit 2:43
02 So Tough 2:41
03 Spend, Spend, Spend 3:18
04 Shoplifting 1:39
05 FM 3:35
06 Newtown 3:48
07 Ping Pong Affair 4:16
08 Love Und Romance 2:27
09 Typical Girls 3:57
10 Adventures Close To Home 3:28
Bonus tracks
11 I Heard It Through The Grapevine 3:59
12 Liebe And Romanze (Slow Version) 4:44
13 Typical Girls (Brink Style)
14 Love And Romance (John Peel Session 1977)
15 Vindictive (John Peel Session 1977)
16 New Town (John Peel Session 1977)
17 Shoplifting (John Peel Session 1977)
18 So Tough (John Peel Session 1978)
19 Instant Hit (John Peel Session 1978)
20 Fm (John Peel Session 1978)

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The Slits - unCut   ( flac 433mb)

01 I Heard It Through The Grapevine (Demo)
02 Instant Hit (8-Track Demo)
03 Spend, Spend, Spend (8-Track Demo)
04 Newtown (8-Track Demo)
05 Adventures Close To Home (8-Track Demo)
06 Instant Hit (Rough Mix)
07 So Tough (Rough Mix)
08 Spend, Spend, Spend (Toast Version)
09 Shoplifting (Rough Mix)
10 Fm (Rough Mix)
11 Newtown (Rough Mix)
12 Ping Pong Affair (Rough Mix)
13 Love Und Romance (Rough Mix)
14 Typical Girls (Rough Mix)
15 Adventures Close To Home (Rough Mix)
16 So Tough (Outtake)
17 Instant Hit (Instrumental Outtake)
18 Typical Girls (Instrumental Outtake)
19 Spend, Spend, Spend (Dub Version)
20 In The Beginning, There Was Rhythm (Early Version)

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Never released in America, the Slits' second and final record found them pushing the envelope rhythmically. Although designed to be more commercial than Cut, it's actually less so, sounding more like the innovative work a young Adrian Sherwood was doing with Creation Rebel. Fans of the early Slits, who were put off by the reggae of Cut, were no doubt further alienated by this record's comfortable use of Afro-pop tempos and style. Which was a shame, because this music was interesting, daring and exciting. In comparison with its widely acclaimed predecessor, Cut, released in 1979, it showcases a softer, more experimental sound, inspired by African music. Several months after its release The Slits disbanded.

The Slits - Return Of The Giant Slits I  (flac 269mb)

01 Earthbeat 3:51
02 Or What It Is? 4:24
03 Face Place 4:23
04 Walk About 4:44
05 Difficult Fun 4:06
06 Animal Space / Spacier 6:42
07 Improperly Dressed 4:28
08 Life On Earth 6:34
 
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The Slits - Return Of The Giant Slits II (flac 308mb)

Dub-ble Discuss

01 Earthbeat Japan 5:01
02 Deutsche Earthbeat 4:57
03 Dub Beat 4:59
04 Face Dub 4:24
05 Begin Again Rhythm 5:45
06 Earthbeat 12" 7:17
07 Earthbeat Extra 3:51
08 WORT FM USA Interview 12:03

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