I spent my weekend in Chicago, re-living college life in the dorms and eating a lot of burritos. I left smiling because I found two cd's I have been scrounging the records stores in Minneapolis for. Thanks to Reckless Records I now have two amazing new, well old, albums in my posession:

ESG 'South Bronx Story' and The Slits 'Cut'

These two groups were and are hugely instrumental in the history of punk and music in general, and were two of the first female led bands in punk rock, no wave and hip hop history, inspiring movements such as Riot Grrrl in the early nineties.

Starting in the 70's, ESG is a group of four sisters who grew up in the South Bronx. Their mother, seeing her daughters interest in music and wanting to steer them away from the realities of their neighborhood, begin to buy them instruments as children. She entered them into local talent shows and at one they met Ed Bahlman who owned 99 Records. He became their unofficial manager and booked them shows in the punk rock - no wave clubs. The story of ESG gives them a place in three different musical histories - house music, hip hop, and punk. Their first EP contained 'moody' an all time dance floor classic and 'ufo' one of the most highly sampled tracks in hip hop. They are still playing music today and have added to their numbers with renee's daughter, nicole and valerie's daughter, chistelle.

The Slits were formed in 1976 and after a few shows were invited on tour supporting the clash on the 'white riot' tour in 1977. In the beginning their music was abrasive and loud, shouted choruses with stuttering drums. In 1977 and 1978 they put out two Peel Sessions, the only recordings before 'cut' which was released on Island in 1979. By the time 'cut' came out their sound was much more polished and reggae influenced, thanks in part to Dennis Bovell who produced the record. They continued to play in the early 80's but many feel that their initial energy had deserted them and they disbanded to other projects in 1981. Ari Up and Tessa Pollitt reformed the band in 2006 releasing and EP and going on tour.

Which means that lucky for all of us who weren't around when these bands began playing in the 70's that there is still hope to catch them live.

I don't care who you are these albums will make you dance in whatever capacity you can, so go out and buy these albums, or buy them from the labels online if you can't find them at your local record store.

Oh yeah, and InRadio 4.6: Moments In Movement is on it's way, the theme of which works quite nicely with this.

best,
alice