Released
by ROIR as cassette-only in 1987 under the title Mekons New York,
this completely remastered CD, with 2 bonus tracks, is a musical sound
document of the Mekons 1986-1987 road tour of the USA. This recording
includes mostly live club date songs, ad libs, vaudeville sound-bytes
and back of the van ribaldry and banter. New York drew amazing plaudits
from the press and fans.
Originally
founded in Leeds, UK in 1977 at the same time fellow townies Gang Of Four
emerged in the punk scene, the Mekons today, after 23 years of trials,
tribulations and triumphs have become a prominent cult band with legions
of fans and a growing base of international recognition, admiration and
commercial attention. They have recorded for Virgin, A&M, Twin Tone, Blast
First, CNT, Sin Records, Quarterstick, Rough Trade, Fast and ROIR. It
would be hard to find a well-stocked record store that didn't have at
least one Mekon record.
Their fans have a community feeling of personal relationship with the
band and its members that borders on adoration, a sense of possessiveness
and one-to-one bonding. This cult is approaching the dimensions of a small
but growing loyal army, exponentially expanding, steadily increasing sales
of their records!
To ROIR
From Jon Langford
October 5, 2000
Dear Neil here are the two tracks we selected (bonus tracks) for the CD
re-release. They are noisy, shamblin, drunk 1987 versions of our first
two singles back in the dark days of punk rock. Those should be the final
tracks on the CD.
(Editors
Note: Bonus tracks Where Were You? and Never Been In A Riot were the band's first singles on Fast Product UK label in 1978.
They directly confronted and answered the Clash's White Riot and the Sex Pistols Anarchy In The UK. These tracks are regarded
as punk classics by Mekon fans. They are live versions on this CD by the
band from 1987.)
"Last
Spring the band hacked their way through the soft underbelly of the American
heartland. They were drunk, they ached, they were beautiful. A unique
soundtrack to a life style of unending parody" -SPIN
"More
than any band that came out of the late 70s England, the Mekons have perhaps
the most devoted fans of any band even remotely connected to punk rock.
They have produced some of the best rock-n-roll on the planet. They have
done it all with style, grace and a ribald sense of humor. The have continually
re-invented themselves great, great music. There is no good reason not
to possess this recording." -All Music Guide To Rock
"A
Minus!" -Robert Christgau, Christgaus Guide The 80s Recordings
"Punk
drunk, cockney, folky, Cajun, rockabilly, hippie protest blues music.
This tape captures them at their sloppiest most raggedy assed and devil-may-care,
which for true fans means at their best." -John Strausbaugh, Baltimore
City Paper
"This qualifies as a great live album because it makes you wish you were
there." -New Musical Express UK
"The Mekons have grown into one of the most venerable and entertaining
post punk institutions." -Trouser Press Guide To Records
"Now
this is my kind of roots music raw, irreverent, loud and rocking." -Alternative
Press
"The
performances captures the band in fine form and contains some of their
most exciting material to date. Jon Langfords wit is at an all time high."
-Reflex
"The
vital embodiment of just what a touring record should be, with all the
smells, pungency a coast-to-coast gig entails. Dignity in the face of
complete drunken ineptitude. Nobody does it any better." -Record Mirror
UK
"The
Mekons Madcap American caravans are caught in a dada documentary collage.
Live tracks, studio outtakes, stage blather and road fatigue add up to
a lively portrait of life as a Mekon." -Puncture
