מעצ

1982, days of the Lebanon War, a couple of Israeli leftists formed an activists group called ועד למען בריאות הציבור (Public Health Committee). Among their anarcho activities, they were also making music, playing live in some peace protests.
Those roots led to the formation of מעצ (Ma'atz), a socio-political band, merging ethnic/oriental music with new wave. Minimal Compact would be the first thing to come to mind, but influences are varied from Gang of Four to Yemenite folk.

Based in Tel Aviv, yet they weren't really part of the local new wave scene. They didn't perform often and when they did it was mostly on students festivals in colleges and less in clubs.
Ilana Tzabari (Bass, Vocals), Ziv Lewis (Synth), Hezi Davidian (Guitar), Lior Saar (Bass, Drum Machine). Also contributed in the group's early days were Nevo Svorai (Vocals) and Ido Amin (Drums).

The bandcamp up above is their first and only cassette, self released on February 1988. 200 copies were initially pressed by their own "label" called "לא BUDGET" (לא=No). Later sources say about a 1000 were sold, I think it's a bit exaggerated, but probably more were pressed indeed. Personally I think it's a cool album, but not something I listen to often, other than the first track which is a straight-up classic with its iconic samples (Hebrew needed) and guitar work. Track 8 is also a personal favorite, but I'll always come back to a cover made by the blog sweethearts Mujahideen. 
In 2001 it was re-released by Earsay on CD with bonus tracks. Those are not on the bandcamp version so I got you.

Ilana Tzabari, Hezi Davidian, Lior Saar, Ziv Lewis

מעצ - שבת אחים קטעי בונוס / Ma'atz - Brotherhood Bonus Tracks 

10. הודי
11. לעבודה ולמלאכה
12. שישי אינסטרומנטל
13. עיזים
14. שעונים
15. קן בין עירוני
16. מוצקים
17. Jc Hopes
18. Remix השעון ההיסטורי

Now the real intention of this long planned post (since this blog formation pretty much, like most other posts), is to share rare demos that I have on my PC. I can't remember how I got these. I'm sure it'll interest some local readers of this blog who probably enjoy this band more than I do. I know the band has recorded a full length worth of materials with Nevo, I reckon this is it. 1985-ish recordings, maybe someone will correct me. I left the titles as they were in the original files.

Tzabari, Saar, Davidian, Lewis
Photo by Dvora Gruda

מעצ - סקיצות / Ma'atz - Demo

1. מוצקים [full version of track 16 above]
2. עיזים [full version of track 13 above]
3. גטס
4. תורכי [early version of אילמז]
5. ערבי
6. קונסולה [early version of שבת אחים]
7. טבול ראש [early version of טבול ראש בחול]
8. על האדמה
9. פלייבק [early version of השעון ההיסטורי]

In 2023 Nevo also uploaded a collection of his demos with the band to his own bandcamp:

First track here is an early version of a song that Nevo's later group (called Israel) will play.
The following are the same as in the demo I uploaded (some are slightly different versions):
3 is track 5, 4 is track 8, 5 is track 2, 6 is track 7, 7 is track 1.

If you wanna see some videos documentation, they participated in an indie film called Tiftuf directed by Danny Yitzhaki (Tzabari's husband at some point), where you can catch them in action in a couple of scenes.

Shithammer - Demo

Many years ago this was posted on Avalanchers forum (Godflesh related groupies forum), and since then I've seen it circulating only around Soulseek, so here it is.

"Dave Cochrane (Bass, "choppy guitar", vocals on 3 tracks) & Paul Neville (Drum programming, "droning guitar", vocals on 2 tracks)"
A very lo-fi demo for die-hard fans only. If you're into this blog than you probably know these names, and if you know the names you can probably guess what this sounds like.
5 untitled tracks, track 2's line sounds like a slowed up version of Sweet Tooth's Soul Shark opening bass, if you need a general idea of what you're going to hear.
Wish we could get to hear more of this with better audio.

Gotta love these Brummie folks

GAM - Phase 8

 As I approach to post this album, one of many I planned to upload since this blog started, I came upon this youtube channel, which is uploading live GAM videos as I write this, so I guess this post is right on time.

GAM were a Savannah (with some Louisville roots) weirdos group, active for most of the 90's. This album is pretty diverse, a bit too diverse, but other than that it's a great one. They call the music Freak Folk, you'll notice it just means a wide variety of genres flavored with a southern twang.
FFO Butthole Surfers, Cows, Captain Beefheart, Chrome, Cramps, Country Teasers, Flaming Lips, Von LMO

1. Woo Yeah
2. Brain Damage
3. Detroit Steel
4. Fishin' UFO
5. Kant Keep Me In Check
6. Rose
7. Speedfische
8. Freewheelin'
9. Greg Ginn Body Bag
10. Sleep
11. Something In Here
12. Gigantor
13. Lonely Boy
14. Legendary Spaceman I
15. Legendary Spacemen II
16. Slowwurm
17. Truck

That's What I Like About The South..

If you have their EP (1994) or single (1998), share with us.
Please.

Human - Transmission

Tony Calvert (vocals), Tony Hamill (bass), Richard Lewis (guitars, programming).
The first two played in a group called Tortoise Corpse, so I think this was also recorded in Swansea, but not too sure.
Ministry-Skinny Puppy industrial metal. The third track has this quirky dungeon-synth line that I highly appreciated, as primitive 90's as it gets.

1. Don't Fuck With Truth
2. Pornocracy
3. Terra Nostra
4. Insignificance
5. Human Abattoir
6. Interzone
7. Panopticon
8. Simulcra
9. Human
10. Sex War
11. The Silent Minorities

Get (Over) Here

Heiland Solo - Heiland Solo

An Austrian fellow named Helmut Heiland, his guitar and a drum machine.. Mechanic metallic noise rock.
This '90 album is more primitive than the next one which is available here. . and is predated by a cassette which can be purchased here.

1. Opportunity
2. Why Shall I Never Fall In Love Again
3. In All Secrecy
4. I Can't Love You Anymore
5. I Talk
6. The Truth
7. Killed Time
8. Tanzstück (Remix)
9. Insanity

Also included are two more compilation tracks,
get all your files here