Do That Glitter Dance

The Primitive Calculators made a baffling, strident, beat-driven noise, jerkily syncopated to the last drum machine pock. I was never a great fan, just an admirer, but when they got it absolutely right, like on "Do The Icepick" I wondered why I didn't like them more. And, ofcourse, they were the apex of the grungier, punkier part of the Melbourne experimental music scene spawing the "Little Band" nights where the DIY ethic was prime: a necessary balance to the private school dilletantes of St Kilda and the art school noodlings at Clifton Hill.

Their 1979 s/t LP + 6 bonus tracks + the video for the "I Can't Stop It" single is now available on Chapter Music. It's a terrific document of a great band with the bonus material outshining the original LP in many ways. Buy it.

As for mp3s:

Go to The Primitive Calulators' Releases Page and you'll find 5 tracks from their whole career.

And below are the B-Side tracks from the Glitter Kids vinyl release:

mp3: Signals

mp3: Lullaby

These (along with the A-Side) were recorded live at the Champion Hotel, Fitzroy in 1979. The single was released on clear vinyl via meeuw muzak in 2003.

You can also visit an interesting page by some un-named individual who talks about the recent CD launch.