ONE LITTLE INDEPENDENT release the next two singles in the Crass Records’ reissue later this month, with twelve-inch vinyl editions of Zounds’ Can’t Cheat Karma (1980) and Rudimentary Peni’s Farce (1982).
Both records will be issued on black vinyl by OLI, and in digital format through a variety of different online partner platforms.
Zounds – Can’t Cheat Karma
Punk pioneers Crass continue their vinyl reissue series, re-pressing their limited releases by adjacent artists through Crass Records, in association with One Little Independent. The series, including over twenty bands and solo artists recorded at the legendary Southern Studios and produced by Penny Rimbaud, continues with two more historic pieces from the Crass Records catalogue; ‘Farce’ by Rudimentary Peni and ‘Can’t Cheat Karma’ by Zounds, out September 29th.
Zounds are an English post-punk band from Reading, Berkshire, formed in 1977. Originally they were part of the cassette culture movement, releasing material on the Fuck Off Records label, and were also involved in the squatting and free festival scene. The name of the band is derived from the old English “zounds”, a contraction of “God’s wounds”, referring to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus Christ, formerly used as a mildly blasphemous oath. The band met up with fellow anarchists Crass when, legend has it, their van broke down on the road. They made their way to nearby Dial House, where Crass were based, who helped them with repairs. The two bands became friends, and although musically very divergent, they shared many common political views. Zounds shortly afterwards released their first EP, ‘Can’t Cheat Karma’, on the Crass Records label in 1980. The EP featured possibly their most well-known track ‘Subvert’, a call to arms against the grind of daily life. The release of this EP and association with Crass led to an increase in the band’s profile in the embryonic anarcho-punk scene, touring with both Crass and Poison Girls. They split in 1982 but reformed in 2007, and remain active today.
First released on 7” vinyl, limiting the sound, the new series has been remastered for 12” by Alex Gordon at Abbey Road Studios, allowing them to be heard as never before. This, plus enlarged replicas of the original covers, brings new gusto to their already radical sound.
Tracklist
1.War
2.Subvert
3.Can’t Cheat Karma
One Little Independent
Zounds. 2023. Can’t Cheat Karma. One Little Independent.Available from One Little Independent from 29 September 2023.
Rudimentary Peni – Farce
Punk pioneers Crass continue their vinyl reissue series, re-pressing their limited releases by adjacent artists through Crass Records, in association with One Little Independent. The series, including over twenty bands and solo artists recorded at the legendary Southern Studios and produced by Penny Rimbaud, continues with two more historic pieces from the Crass Records catalogue; ‘Farce’ by Rudimentary Peni and ‘Can’t Cheat Karma’ by Zounds, out September 29th.
Rudimentary Peni were a British punk band formed in 1980 emerging from the London anarcho scene. Lead singer/guitarist Nick Blinko was notorious for his witty, macabre lyrics and dark pen-and-ink artwork, prominently featured on all Rudimentary Peni’s albums. They recorded their first EP in 1981 released on Outer Himalayan. The band played their first London show the same year with Flux of Pink Indians and Subhumans. The ‘Farce’ EP was released on Crass Records in 1982. Rudimentary Peni stopped performing in the mid-80s after bassist Matthews was diagnosed with cancer. After a 4 year hiatus, they recorded ‘Cacophony’ (1988), a sonic tribute to seminal New England horror author H.P. Lovecraft. The band continued to record and release material into the 21st century, including the album ‘Pope Adrian 37th Psychristiatric’ (1995) and the EPs ‘Echoes of Anguish’ (1998), ‘The Underclass’ (2000), ‘Archaic’ (2004) and ‘No More Pain’ (2008), and maintained a diverse cult following in the US punk scene. They were namechecked in the Oscar-nominated Sound of Metal, included in a succession of cult band shirts worn by Riz Ahmed. Most reissues of their 1980s albums are now out of print.
First released on 7” vinyl, limiting the sound, the new series has been remastered for 12” by Alex Gordon at Abbey Road Studios, allowing them to be heard as never before. This, plus enlarged replicas of the original covers, brings new gusto to their already radical sound
Tracklist
1.Sacrifice
2.Cosmetic Plague
3.Subdued violence
4.Only Human
5.The Bile Ball
6.Farce
7.Bloody Jellies
8.Mice Race
9.Defined by Age
10.Zero Again
11.Bubble
One Little Independent
Rudimentary Peni. 2023. Farce. One Little Independent.Available from One Little Independent from 29 September 2023.
The Hippies Now Wear Black 
Ker-ching!!