Billy Synth - Hartzdale Drive Destruction/Indigestion/4200 7" (1980)

I finally had some time to catch my breath and update this post.  I don't know what took me so long, I don't have that much information to share with you anyway.  Sorry for the delay.

Next up we have the Billy Synth 7" on the French experimental/industrial label Sordide Sentimental.  This is a fantastic collaboration between Jad and David Fair of Half Japanese, Bernie of (Billy Synth and) the Janitors and the somewhat legendary, outsider musician Billy Synth.  Three fantastic, noisy, blistering songs with Bernie spewing almost stream of conscience lyrics over a bizarre backdrop of drunken, sci-fi synth and early-Half Japanese guitar and drums calamity.  On the song Indigestion, Bernie even belches loudly over the music for appropriate effect.  From what I understand, all the music was completely improvised and recorded in a single take.

Released in 1980 in an edition of 1537 (mine is # 917), this record is packaged beautifully with a 3 panel fold-out booklet with writing by Sordide Sentimental co-founder Yves Von Bontee, pictures, lyrics with dates and writing credits and a separate insert with German and English translations all contained in a plastic bag emblazoned with a two color SS logo.   

This is strictly conjecture, but the cover art looks to be by underground/comic artist and frequent ESDS (Elles Sont De Sortie) contributor Bruno Richard.  There is some kind of signature on the back cover, but it's partially scratched out and hard to make out the letters.

For more information on Sordide Sentimental and its releases, please refer to the label's website and discogs listing.

Please also take the time to check out the Billy Synth post from the Cake and Polka Parade and to read the Legend Of The Punk Rock Janitors thread on :30 Under DC.  The latter sheds light on the insert photo of Bernie wearing tights.

Other than the general information about the label and a list of other Billy Synth projects, I don't really have any background information about how this specific record came to be.  I am very curious as to how two blue collar, garage-punk dudes from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania got matched up with the cerebral chaos of DC's Half Japanese.

If anyone has any further information on this record, Billy Synth, or a Billy Synth discography (which does not currently exist online), please share.  I look forward to your comments.

Now on to the music...

Zip includes 320kbs rip from the original vinyl and high quality scans of ALL the packaging.

Enjoy.