CAPTURED TRACKS
Another obscure 1980s post-punk band that you should’ve heard of? Well, yes, frankly. OXZ were a Japanese all-girl three-piece who existed during a time when there weren’t many of those in Japan, let alone anywhere else. While Yellow Magic Orchestra were manufacturing streamlined electro-pop and Yumi Matsutoya soaked up the massive MOR audience, Hikko, Mika and Emiko were making engagingly amateurish punk pop: a spiky ESG with clattering drums, chanting choruses and rinky-dink guitars. Never releasing a complete album, the band put out several EPs, all of which, plus unreleased demos, are on this limited lavender release. Highlights include bass-led chant monsters Vivian and Angel, as well as the peculiar cut-and-shut Along Ago. Fans of the Au Pairs, Raincoats and, er UK Subs: get your skates on!