ISS - Facemask

  

  ISS are the North Carolina duo that have gone down extremely well whenever I've featured them on here or on the Just Some Punk Songs show. Right from their first blog appearance 3 years ago with the X Ray Spex sampling Part Time All The Time (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2017/10/iss-part-time-all-time.html) through to the latest show in which one of the listeners chose Too Punk For Heavy Metal (https://totalpunkrecords.bandcamp.com/album/too-punk-for-heavy-metal) as their favourite song of 2020. 

  Maybe it's not their favourite track of the year now, as the late release of an ep titled Spikes gives them another 5 great songs to challenge Too Punk... for that accolade. 

  The ep is on Sorry State Records and at the moment is only available on cassette. As is usually the case with this band, if there's sampling going on throughout the ep, I haven't got a clue what songs are being used even though I feel I should (so feel free to shout up in the comments if you recognise something familiar). The cassette has unique packaging containing real spikes! But the title also refers to the spikes in Covid cases and the deaths during the pandemic. The title track deals with this whilst the song you'll find at the bottom of this update is a real smack in the face which raucously demands the wearing of facemasks. It's an ep very much of it's time and proves (not that it needed proving) that punk can still be fresh, inventive and relevant 40+ years down the line. 

  You can get the cassette here : https://www.sorrystaterecords.com/blogs/news/record-of-the-week-iss-spikes

  This is Facemask... 

ISS - Armchair Aryan (Richard Spencer's Gifts)

  If the song in yesterday's update was a good example of old school punk rock, I think it's fair to say that today's offering can be described as being a case of dig the new breed. Both, in their own way, being equally wonderful.

  Regular visitors (and listeners to the Just Some Punk Songs show) will possibly know that in my opinion ISS' (Endless Pussyfooting) album was one of last years best releases. Packed full of 45 carefully chosen samples by the likes of Joy Division, The Cure, X Ray Spex, Blitz etc, it was the North Carolina duo's 3rd release following on from the 2015 self titled cassette and the 2016 Studs ep. You can (and should) snap up the s/t cassette and (Endless Pussyfooting) name your price on Bandcamp : https://iss2012.bandcamp.com/

  Whilst you're doing that, make sure to also grab hold of their new 4 track S/T ep. It's also name your price, also wonderful and it features the song I'm highlighting below. If you're looking for a copy on vinyl then it's available through Sorry State Records :  https://www.sorrystaterecords.com/collections/recommended/products/iss-s-t-7

  On the new ep, Rich Ivey and Edwin Jamal Schneider are helped out by Skemata guitarist Jef Leppard on opening track I Wanna Be Dated and by guitarist Colin Cleanse on C.H.U.D.F.R.E.A.K. Swap Meat. You're getting neither of those on here. This is the ep's 2nd track, with a nod to the Dead Kennedys' Nazi Punks Fuck Off, it's called Armchair Aryan (Richard Spencer's Gifts)...

ISS - Part Time All The Time

 

  OH BONDAGE! UP YOURS! Yeah I'm mentioning that today's song briefly samples the X Ray Spex classic right at the start of this intro in an attempt to attract the attention of those of you who prefer your punk music to be from the golden era of the late 70's and who might otherwise skip past this post with nary a second glance. Hopefully a few of you guys will find it worthwhile checking out the song at the bottom....

  ISS are a North Carolina duo featuring Edwin Jamal Schneider from Brain F# and Rich Ivey from Whatever Brains. They released their self titled debut tape in 2015 and followed it up earlier this year with (Endless Pussyfooting). Both are available digitally name your price : https://iss2012.bandcamp.com/

  I think it's fair to say that they're more experimental than your average punk band. Repeat listens throw up new delights, so if you're an old punker who prefers the good old days but have read thus far, open your mind and give them a fair crack of the whip.

  This is Part Time All The Time....