Compilation of all the recordings by this legendary punk band prior to their LPs: the sessions for their single ‘Mucha Policía’, taken for the first time in 27 years from the original tapes, which has unearthed two studio recordings unissued until now; plus rehearsals, demos and live recordings. Completely remastered.
It was a time when the walls were teeming with socio-political proclamations, where the hammer and sickle – alongside the illegal Ikurriña (the flag of the Basque Country) – were the most widely used symbols. A time of general strikes and protests on the streets that often ended in an ugly manner. A time also of smoky joints, where huge speakers played loud rock and there were dreams of strawberry fields.
In Santurtzi, on the left bank of the Nervión estuary, a unique band was born: ESKORBUTO. Iosu Expósito and Jualma Suarez lived in working class neighbourhoods that had grown fast. Both Kabiezes and Mamariga were, in the 50s, mainly rural areas of Santurtzi. In the 60s, industrialization and rampant development transformed them into urban areas without any investment in urbanism.
Some elements for the alchemy led to the explosion: intelligent young guys who were nevertheless incapable of adhering to school discipline, a country in full swing towards freedom after 40 years of dictatorship. It was a context very familiar with the turbulence of the “Basque conflict”, with neighbours seduced by the “armed fight” and the “liberation of Euskal Herria”, with the question of “identity” constantly present, traumatic episodes of killings, tortures and imprisonments …
One day at the end of the 70s they decided to start a band. The first period of Eskorbuto’s life, before the damage done by the needle became noticeable, was incredibly fruitful. They soon found a rehearsal space, thanks to their first drummer (“Gu”), and there the first songs were born: ‘Enterrado vivo’, ‘Busco en la basura’, ‘Éste es el porvenir’, ‘Mucha policía, poca diversión’… It was a period of line-up changes. Iñaki Laiseka played bass for them, and that role was also taken by “Seni” and “Garlopa”, two precursors of “left bank” punk that played some gigs with them.
Later on they found Paco Galán, who also came from a similar neighbourhood to theirs (Repélega, in Portugalete). Paco always was the necessary engine, the piece around which the rest revolved, which guaranteed continuity. His drumming also added an apparently chaotic element to the already unbridled guitar melodies and visionary texts, halfway between dirty realism and Edgar Allan Poe’s nightmares.
These recordings are taken from those early times of excitement and vertigo, of journeys to Madrid under a train’s seat and endless trips up and down the left bank looking for “someone that I’ve heard is selling an amp”. Now the Reina Sofía Museum exhibits their “Impuesto Revolucionario” LP and there’s no Spanish speaking country without legions of fans.
CD 1
Sesiones Primer Single
1. Maldito País
2. Mucha Policía, Poca Diversión
3. Enterrado Vivo
4. Mi Degeneración
5. ¡Oh No! (Policía En Acción)
Ensayos
6. Busco En La Basura
7. Eskizofrenia
8. No Kiero Kambiar
9. Os Engañan
10. Busco En La Basura (2)
11. El Exterminio De La Raza Del Mono
12. Tamara
13. De Bastardos Está Infectada La Prensa
14. Hipócritas
15. El Enterrador
16. Cualkier Lugar
17. ¿Dónde Está El Porvenir?
18. ¡Oh No! (Policía En Acción)
19. Tamara (2)
Primera Maqueta
20. Vomitar
21. Terroristas
22. Sociedad Korrupta
23. ¡Oh No! (Policía En Acción)
24. Enterrado Vivo
25. Escupe A La Bandera
CD 2
Primera Maqueta
1. Mierda Mierda Mierda
2. Maldito País
3. Iros A La Mierda
4. Os Engañan
5. La Increíble Vida De Un Ser Vulgar
6. Mucha Policía, Poca Diversión
7. El Exterminio De La Raza Del Mono
8. Mi Degeneración
9. Sociedad Insociable
10. Ratas Rabiosas
11. Terroristas (Censurada)
12. ¡Oh No! (Policía En Acción) (2)
Directo
13. A La Mierda El País Vasco
14. Maldito País
15. Mierda Mierda Mierda
16. Escupe A La Bandera
17. Dios Patria Rey
18. Ratas En Bizkaia
19. Enterrado Vivo
20. Criaturas Al Poder
21. ¡Oh No! (Policia En Acción)
22. Mucha Policía, Poca Diversión
23. Rogad A Dios Por Los Muertos
24. Soldados
