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The I.S.C. Tape Compilation Series (Cassette)
Andy Xport - Anarcho-Punk Gtrrr Maestro Still Turning 'Em On

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Andy Xport's Man's Hate Productions produced probably the definitive underground and alternative tape compilation series of the 1980s - the International Sound Communication (I.S.C.) series, and featured the weird and wonderful from all over the world.

I.S.C. 1

The first and the best (of the first ten anyway!). Highlights are Slaughter Tradition with a humdinger of a pop song 'Passion Revolt', Unovidual's superbly dreamy 'Gregoria Opstatica'. The latter songs are on Side 1, whilst the second side contains five fab tracks in succession; Absolute Body Control with the sing-a-long 'Waving Hands'. Tender Loving Care create a perky pop sing in 'Wasted Years' and F/i's 'Is It Worth It' takes time to get going, but gets there, Political Asylum with 'Cat's Eyes', ditto. Man's Hate 'Flash Of Flesh' is an arabesque punk number of some quality and originality.

- Paul Rance, Peace & Freedom, No. 4, Summer/Autumn 1986


I.S.C. 2

Class sounds in the shape of Technicolour Dream with 'The Great Arcade' and 'Closing Walls Of Karma' - acoustic guitar and voice only. Dennis Carleton's 'Fill In The Blank', jumpy pop, Western Front's 'Who's Girl Now' - nice tune, dodgy lyrics, and Partners In Crime strong and perceptive 'Falklands Factor' complete the major works.

- Paul Rance, Peace & Freedom, No. 4, Summer/Autumn 1986


I.S.C. 3

Best tracks on this compo comes from Savage Circle with 'Bleeding Throat'. Drags at first, then really takes off. Fine playing, hypnotic song. Fremskrittet produce a couple of simple, touching songs and Master/Slave Relationship's 'I Feel Sick' is pleasant, despite the title. Political Asylum's 'Fresh Hate (Live)' is done well, if hardly on an original theme, war. But if the subject's an emotive one, repetition doesn't matter.

- Paul Rance, Peace & Freedom, No. 4, Summer/Autumn 1986


I.S.C. 4

Belgium steal the honours on this one with Unovidual's 'Third Move To The Left' - a haunter, and another goodie, 'Opus 4', by Narzisse, rhythmic but melodic.

- Paul Rance, Peace & Freedom, No. 4, Summer/Autumn 1986


I.S.C. 5

Complete with vivid orange cover, the trax to look out for, pop pickers, are Ray Pearson's cut-ups, 'The Media Are Free', Zone Verte's neoclassical 'Pas De Panik', Barry Weinberg And The Blues Chargers unserious 'Somebody Get Me A Beer', and George Dumeco's enchanting/disturbing 'It Could've Been Me (2nd Excerpt)'.

- Paul Rance, Peace & Freedom, No. 4, Summer/Autumn 1986


I.S.C. 6

Another fine compo. Now how many major companies would put out a tape that contains music from Britain, U.S., France, Belgium and Holland? Not many, I suspect. In fact, this tape is almost colloquial compared to some of Andy's company, Man's Hate Productions compos. Anyway, away with the geography lesson, on with the music. Beautiful track to start with by Sombrero Galaxy - "Existance". Also, especially liked "Oh My God" by JD3 - nice music, strange vocals. Side 2 favourites were "A Statement" by Rat. A good punk number, very well played by a competent outfit, ditto "Message From Nowhere" from Foreign Legion - daft lyrics, deliberate? Interesting stuff from B.E. Pilchar and friends. French outfit No Unauthorized's "Plus Personne" is the best track of all. Lilting synth and angelic singing by the female vocalist. As Andy says D.I.Y., not E.M.I. 19 tracks in all, all by different combos.

- Paul Rance, Peace & Freedom, No. 3, January 1986


I.S.C. 7

Alan Cornelius's hard-hitting poetry and prose starts off this compo, followed by Post War with 'Badger Baiters Are Masturbators' - thrash punk with reggae middle! Weirdness from Headcleaners, which my cat purred to. Pleasant synth from Fever Heroes with 'Luxurious Time' and Celestial Orgy's 'Fools Masquerade' is a stylish song. In 8's 'Fraud' is the best of all; superb production and atmosphere.

- Paul Rance, Peace & Freedom, No. 4, Summer/Autumn 1986


I.S.C. 8

Featuring the legendary Jim Morrison (with his new voice), ISC 8's bright spots are 'Rap' by Chumbawamba, though a bit over-long; Bill Pritchard can do no wrong and 'Black Souls Under White Skies' is another fine song from the 80s Elton John. Low Class and Dissolutio Humani Generis deliver a couple of classy pop ditties.

- Paul Rance, Peace & Freedom, No. 4, Summer/Autumn 1986


I.S.C. 9

The first C90 by Man's Hate Productions and more contrasting than ever before, especially on Side 2, where a gentle piano-laden song, 'Junk' - Ark & The Ologists, is followed by ultra-high energy punk from the impressive Disturbed with 'Warfare'. The Hive put together an impressively constructed and performed song, entitled 'Bleed' and 'Eante 23' by West German combo Jive Kappelle is a brassy-swinging number of some note.

- Paul Rance, Peace & Freedom, No. 4, Summer/Autumn 1986


I.S.C. 10

Side 1 includes a lot of industrial noise. Some notable, some grating. Photodrama's 'Dan Dare - Where Are You Now' takes the honours on the first side - beautiful. Die Schlaffen Affen's 'Back To Rock 'N' Roll' is a light hearted romp. L.O.S.P.'s 'Life On The Floor' hits the ceiling, as do those Bohemians, Mystery Plane, with 'Find Somebody'. Superstar Len Liggins (single of the week in 'Sounds') delivers two diverse ditties, 'Leningrad' and 'All The Dead Men', and Terry Gray's 'Faith' is a good tune, while Stress sock it to 'ee with 'Fist Comes Down'.

- Paul Rance, Peace & Freedom, No. 4, Summer/Autumn 1986


I.S.C. 11

One of the best compos to date. Class, subtlety, melody...from Schaum Der Tage, The Reverend Mark C. & The Z Funk And Inpull Caco.

- Paul Rance, Peace & Freedom, Vol. 5, No. 1, Summer 1987


I.S.C. 12

High rollers include V-Sor, X, Sismoid and Tara Cross, and Klimpere...and Al Densen. Even Iceland is represented on this one.

- Paul Rance, Peace & Freedom, Vol. 5, No. 1, Summer 1987


I.S.C. 13

Good stuff virtually all the way through from Chia, Hysteria Ward, Apple, L.S.D., et al. Family listening from Yellow Flip.

- Paul Rance, Peace & Freedom, Vol. 5, No. 1, Summer 1987


I.S.C. 14

Includes the hilarious "Godstar" from Jazz Bacon Slicer and good stuff from the likes of Eli Talgam, En Manque and The Spinoza Sisters. A lot of weirdies on this one.

- Paul Rance, Peace & Freedom, Vol. 5, No. 1, Summer 1987


I.S.C. 15

The first double tape album from ISC, and the best release. 50 tracks for £2.25 is ridiculous, especially where quality is in abundance, and it is here with professional muzak from Donald Campau - a helluza tune, singing and playing - with "Paralyzed By the Very Thought", The Other Man haunt, Tadpoles & Beethoven munch, J.C. drinks, Andy B flies; Boys dream; PLX 15 pray. Great stuff from Lord Litter; Pat/Mike James; Third State; Nostalgie Eternelle; Frithjof Mitll, Tito and Big City Orchestra.

- Paul Rance, Peace & Freedom, Vol. 5, No. 3, Spring/Summer 1988


MAN'S HATE are a group as well as a compilation tape concern. Here, Andy, the man behind the two, explains all. Interviewed by Paul Rance for Peace & Freedom, No. 4, Summer/Autumn 1986.

After the death of the underground band A.P.F. Brigade (Animal - Peace & Freedom!) of which I was half, I decided to carry on what I had been doing before, except that I would try to improve the sounds I made as A.P.F. was often very spontaneous and erratic. I brought out the first Man's Hate tape, "Suffer In Silence", which got good reviews, etc. and had sold well worldwide. It also seemed to appeal to a wider range of people and getting distribution from obscure Industrialist tape labels in America helped.

A short while after the release of "Suffer In Silence", a friend of mine, Sandy Nys - of Magisch Theatre Productions, who put out the "International Audio Communication Project" - decided he was not going to continue releasing the highly successful series of tapes and stopped doing them at No. 7. I thought it would be a good idea to do my own series on similar lines and so continue the Communication Network that had started up.

The original thing about these compos is that they are open to all kinds of people making all kinds of music. Of course, the cassettes are based on communication and every band, etc. contributing sounds have to give a fairly permanent contact address. So buyers of I.S.C. can hear the sounds and write to the bands, etc. to enquire about their other releases.

There is no use being on I.S.C. if you're not open-minded, as you may receive people's tapes in exchange for your own. But on the other hand, I.S.C. is a good way to reach a much wider range of people.

The way I make contact is by putting out small leaflets about I.S.C. and hope people will pass them on for me. Usually, if I get a good contact, i.e: Italy, then I "break" into the country because that contact will know others in their country who'd find my productions of interest.

The hardest countries to break into are Eastern bloc ones, but also Spain, New Zealand, etc. I feel there must be something going on, but it's a matter of "breaking in" to their own private network.

At this present time I plan to do more I.S.C. compos as the interest seems strong. The only drawback is the quite considerable amount of money I spend on mailing, keeping in contact with groups (about 150 so far), etc. They seem to forget I'm not just mailing tapes to them, but to many people. I also plan to release another "Man's Hate" tape LP, but I'm awaiting drum tracks - as my drummer lives in the USA.

Andy went on to add that he has another project with Luca Mit - experimentalist - planned... "We're hoping to get together a tape on the basis of Greenpeace, including movements on all subjects that effect this planet and its peaceful course through to the future, i.e: pollution, man, animals, etc., etc." He then concluded that:- "This tape'll be nothing like M/H and will be more to do with natural noises and poetry - and possibly a lot of noise in the industrial vein!"

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