Various artists - Hit Or Blank? The No Fun Singles

Not a blanking hit among ’em…

Some 25 years ago, No Fun Records was born over in Hannover with a social and political manifesto that was much more artistically experimental than what the punk scene had undoubtedly become in other countries. What this meant was that, rather than dunderheaded bunch of Oi! type bands Bushell-ing along about birds, footy, being sick and shagging, there was a definite nod toward Warhol’s Factory in approach.

It’s undoubtedly the case that, unless you’re a major collector of Neue Deutsche Welle and underground Euro singles (or an avid taper of Peel in those days), most of this will be unfamiliar, which gives it a freshness that transcends the years, even if the recordings are often a little dated. The minimal psych of 39 Clocks nuzzles up against Barchen Und Die Milchbubis, who sound a bit like Y Fflaps, and Daily Terror’s fullon punk splash into Der Moderne Man.

This release brings together all the singles released by the label which, by 1983, had all but disbanded, with the founder Hollow Skai going on to write a series of music books. Odd, rabble-rousing, charming, daft and inventive: contrary to the label name, this is actually quite a lot of fun.

Sireena | SIREENA 2009

Reviewed by Joe Shooman
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