V/A Asphyxies LP
From the esteemed archivists at Cameleon Records, Asphyxies is a striking collection of tracks focused on three different French bands from Dijon spanning the late ’70s and early ’80s. The first five tracks are from STAND BY, whose “Aristocracy” is so strong a tune that it was selected as the opener for both this record and the label’s more comprehensive Thesaurus, Volume 7 2xLP. The band’s sound is a fantastic take on rockin’ ’77-style punk with a raucous edge, and this brief sampling will leave ears of a certain inclination wanting more. Next up is SUSPECT DEVICES, who blend power pop and new wave elements into a decidedly punky stew. Listen to the sunny “Civilisation” with caution, as it has serious potential to become an unshakable earworm. Finally, a duo of rough-hewn tunes from BOXON deliver straightforward rockin’ with a dark undercurrent in contrast to the more polished approaches of the two previous featured acts. This sharply curated comp is a great listen, impressively confirming suspicions that there’s still amazing stuff lurking beneath the surface that has yet to be culled.