Batang Frisco

A moment of pure DIY genius on this self-titled privately-released one off LP from San Francisco group Batang Frisco, recorded between 85-86 but subsequently left sat in the artist’s apartment and only trickling out to those in the know, or who could be bothered to ask over the next three decades. The eight track collection captures the creative underground before the tech boom irreversibly altered the city’s landscape, grounded in raw minimal-synth / sequencer tracks but mixed-up with dreamier melancholic moments that break up the stripped-back drum-machine cuts. Racier rhythm tracks ‘Power’ and ‘6th And Mission’ combine true ear-worm lyrics and infectious drum programming, whilst ‘Sewing Machine’ is a more sulking, stripped-bare deadly drum-machine + bass guitar duo that has every right to be played in clubs at 4am (s/o to Nosedrip!). Elsewhere, the group show a genuine talent for songwriting, showcasing a more tender and intimate side on ‘Julie’ or the melancholic, gazing-out-to-sea closer ‘Myth’. Front to back, one of my own all time favourites and a potent reminder of the seemingly inexhaustible amount of incredible music that never saw a proper release.