Hammering The Cramps - Hammering The Cramps LP

Every few years the sole long player from Hammering The Cramps returns to my orbit of regular listening and I re-write a similar endorsement saying that the Wormwood Grasshopper Records milieu of Tasmanian music circa 2010-ish is a more budget friendly alternative to the Pin Group/Jefferies Brothers/Dead C/Xpressway Records end of the 80s NZ underground.

I’m not surprised that HTC are yet to be canonised into underground infamy, although since I last posted about this record related acts Elli & Bev have been included on the ‘Volcanic Tongue (A Time-Travelling Evangelist’s Guide To Late 20th Century Underground Music)’ compilation and it’s rumoured Drunk Elk are negotiating a six album deal with Matador Records.

Have you ever enjoyed a little weird past corner of music that hasn’t got the baggage of being subculturally important? It’s actually nice. You could do that with this album for under $20. Anyway this Hammering The Cramps LP is at points grating and ugly, but also soaring and beautiful. They plagal-ly grind their way into the warm jets zone in an uncanny and magical way. We need to ensure there’s space for idiosyncrats like this in music’s future! Highly curated and vibey arts entrepreneurs, please make some space. — Nic