Crawling Chaos - The Gas Chair (LP + Sex Machine/Berlin 7")

The Gas Chair by Crawling Chaos remains one of the most baffling albums ever made. Originally released on Factory Benelux in 1982, it followed their legendary Factory debut single Sex Machine (FAC 17) from 1980, often cited as that label's most bizarre release. Both album and single are featured on this digitally remastered CD, that features the original album artwork as well as sleevenotes.Next to nothing is known about Crawling Chaos, who went on to record another two albums. According to Factory's January 1980 newsletter, the band promised to "open up a new genre of heavy modern. Three short-haired awkward types from Tyneside who are a cross between Status Quo and Orchestral Manoeuvres." Hmm. Their most memorable review followed an appearance at Factory's London showcase season at the Moonlight Club in April 1980. In the NME Adam Sweeting wrote: "They played so badly for so long that a phone call to McWhirter and his Book of Records would surely have been received favourably. Ineffectual doodlings on guitar and keyboards became ends in themselves. A guest singer stood at the microphone and coughed for several minutes. Nobody danced or even twitched a leg. The bloke at the mixing desk read the Evening Standard and someone next to me asked the time before falling asleep. Anyone who needs this garbage is probably already dead."

Another post punk classic!