I own probably 90% of RHK’s various solo projects done over the years and I have to honeestly admit that RAIJ doesn’t ring a bell. if it was a one-off, it was probably for a single track on one of the URP (Unreleased Projects) compilation albums. I just peeped that MySpace link and there’s definitely nothing Kirky about the sample songs…and RHK himself is a self-proclaimed atheist so I doubt you’ll find anything in the way of overt Christianity in his music, unless its used for humor or ironic effect (he likes to take jabs at American televangelists in particular). So yeah, I’d say it’s pretty much a coincidental thing and there’s nothing really connecting them other than the name…unless one of 'em borrowed that title from the other party?
While we’re on the subject, I really hope to see some continued Cabs rereleases, especially anything video-related. Ya know, they were supposed to do a longform “Plasticity” video to accompany the album in '93 or so but it was apparently shelved due to lack of funds (what looks like video stills is on the cover artwork of the album). I would love to see any of that footage unearthed at some point in the future.
Just a note for everyone wondering about CV live material:
Of all their official live stuff:
-Live at the YMCA
-Live and the Lyceum
-Hai (live in Japan '81)
-Radiation/BBC
-Live at the Hacienda
-Disc 3 (LiveCode) from Conform to Deform
Hai, Radiation, and Conform to Defort disc 3 are my personal favorites. YMCA is good if you are into their noise/post punk stuff. Lyceum is quite good as well but has rather tinny sound. Sound quality-wise, the Hacienda is pretty thin sounding and by far my least favorite of the bunch–I’d definitely go with Radiation for a better overview of live material from their mid '80s era.
If there’s any interest I may try to put together a collection similar to 1002’s but I could focus on a certain time period or style for CV (early experimental, postpunk, 80s funk, 90s house etc). Or I could put together an RHK overview as well if there’s any interest.
I’d love a RHK retrospective, there’s so much of his solo work that I know I’m missing some serious gems.
Also, in terms of live output they released a series of three “Archive” editions on iTunes last year covering different periods of CV live. I’ve been meaning to pick that up.
01 1978 Extended Play EP - The Set Up
02 1979 Nag Nag Nag 12" - Nag Nag Nag
03 1979 Mix Up - On Every Other Street
04 1980 The Voice Of America - Obsession
05 1981 Red Mecca - Sly Doubt
06 1982 2 x 45 EP - Yashar
07 1983 The Crackdown - Over and Over
08 1984 Micro-Phonies - Sensoria (12" Mix)
09 1985 Drinking Gasoline - Sleepwalking
10 1985 The Covenant, The Sword, and The Arm Of The Lord - Kickback
11 1987 Code - Don’t Argue
12 1990 Groovy, Laidback and Nasty - Hypnotised
13 1991 Body and Soul - No Resistance
14 1994 The Conversation - Brutal But Clean
1002
Ok, so Cab Vol have been on my “to listen to” list for ages, so I grabbed this too - thanks 1002.
First 4-5 tracks were good, but I didn’t get into the vocal distortion at all, sounded just eh meh… one of the tracks (maybe Nag Nag Nag) sounded like it could have come from Piper At the Gates of Dawn or something, that was really cool.
Another few of these early tracks sounded like they would have been inspiration to the post-experience Prodigy.
I’ve only heard up to track 9, but 6-8 definitely my favorites.
was loving Yashar, and Sensoria… well I can see why Al J liked them, got a Ministry (Twitch) or Meat Beat Manifesto type vibe from them, except these guys came first judging the dates…
Havent heard the 85-94 stuff ( I couldnt fit Brutal but Clean on the cd actually) but will check it out this evening… is the rest of the 82-84 stuff on the albums sound similar to the tracks selected here?
Ok, here is one more sampler, split into two parts. The first is 1974 thru early 83 era, and the second is 1983 thru 1987. I think hkklife or someone else might be a better expert on the later years (90-94). I tried to mix things up with some live tracks and a few oddball selections.
The first part goes back to the beginning ('74), and includes live material from Live At The YMCA and Hai, as well some oddball selections from 8 Crepuscule Tracks and Johnny YesNo. The second part covers the synth-driven electro-funk period from, 83-87, including tracks from their Gasoline In Your Eye video, the soundtrack for the UK film Salvation, a BBC session, a 12" from Microphonies, and the very cool Eastern Track, which surfaced on the Conform To Deform compilation in 2002.
Trying not to give away the whole CV catalogue here (!), but this’ll be it from me, and there’s still lots of classic material on their albums that wasn’t posted here.
01 1974 1974-76 - The Dada Man
02 1979 Mix Up - Fourth Shot
03 1980 Live At The YMCA 27.10.79 - Untitled Track
04 1980 Live At The YMCA 27.10.79 - Expect Nothing
05 1980 The Voice Of America - This Is Entertainment
06 1981 Red Mecca - Red Mask
07 1982 2 x 45 EP - Breathe Deep
08 1982 Hai - Diskono
09 1983 Fools Game 12’’ (8 Crepuscule Tracks) - Gut Level
10 1983 Johnny YesNo (8 Crepuscule Tracks) - Invocation
01 1983 Live In Amsterdam - The Dream Ticket
02 1983 The Crackdown - Talking Time
03 1984 Unreleased (Conform To Deform, 2002) - Eastern Track
04 1984 James Brown 12’’ - Bad Self (Part 1)
05 1985 Gasoline In Your Eye - Automotivation
06 1985 The Covenant, The Sword, and The Arm Of The Lord - The Web
07 1986 The Drain Train - Shakedown (The Whole Thing)
08 1986 Live At The BBC (Radiation 1998) - We’ve Got Heart
09 1987 Salvation Soundtrack - Twanky Party
10 1987 Code - Hey Hey (Bonus Track, EMI German Import)
Cool stuff and good selections all around again, Tenoh. Time permitting this weekend, I’ll work up a selection of the best CV stuff from their “techno” era since I must be in the minority by having a complete collection of their later stuff. That’s probably a more managable effort than trying to whittle down 30+ years of RHK solo material for an overview.
Also, “Hey Hey” is a fantastic song and a true shame it didn’t appear on all versions of the album. And it makes for a nice transitional piece from CV’s dance-funk era to the outright house material on Groovy which is where I’ll pick up.