The Gordons crashed upon the do-it-yourself scene of early 1980s Christchurch with torrential force, self-releasing two foundational planks of the vibrant New Zealand underground. Future Shock, a three-song 7-inch released in 1980, is a wild-eyed rampage, as staggering as any feedback-addled punk then being recorded at Southern Studios. The Gordons LP, which followed in 1981, matches the abandon with motorik churn and livewire dissonance, evoking New Zealand antecedents as divergent as This Kind Of Punishment and the Dead C. Brought together on this release, they’re a noise-rock landmark anticipating fans such as Sonic Youth.
Flying Nun Records, the storied Christchurch label and symbol of the island nation’s rich independent music scene, re-released The Gordons and Future Shock together in 1988 following the formation of Gordons outgrowth Bailter Space, which frontman Alister Parker founded with Clean drummer Hamish Kilgour. Bailter Space, which would also come to include founding Gordons members Brent McLachlan and John Halvorsen, settled on a droning shoegaze sound, drawing comparisons to Dinosaur Jr. and the Pixies. The Gordons and Future Shock, however, represent the trio’s unreformed id, as startling today as upon release.
Spik And Span
Right On Time
Coalminers Song
Sometimes
I Just Can't Stop
Growing Up
Laughing Now
Future Shock
Machine Song
Adults And Children
GORDON 2, FNE 16, FN099 1981 and 1988
A1 Spik And Span A2 Right On Time A3 Coalminers Song
B1 Sometimes B2 I Just Can't Stop B3 Growing Up B4 Laughing Now
Recorded At – Harlequin Studios Distributed By – Flying Nun Records
Design [Cover Design] – John Halvorsen Drums – Brent McLaughlin* Engineer, Producer – Simon Alexander Guitar, Vocals – Alister Parker, John Halvorsen
"Recorded and mixed in 22 hrs at Harlequin Studios. Auck. N.Z. Oct. 81."
