Konk
The Story of Konk (2004) - Konk [Amazon US] [FR] [DE] [UK]
Liner Notes
KONK were first featured on Soul Jazz Records’ earlier New York Noise alongside Arthur Russell, ESG and Liquid Liquid.KONK were formed in New York in 1980. They played an important part in the link between New York’s Disco scene (Paradise Garage/Loft/Gallery etc) and the New York No Wave/Post-Punk scene (Liquid Liquid, ESG, James White etc).
KONK’s pioneering interest in electronic and musical technology also put them at the forefront of the burgeoning worlds of Electro/Hip-Hop and House. Their use of DJ mixers (breaking down a track to it’s individual elements) predated the arrival of samplers and enabled DJs such as Larry Levan to extend their mixes to up to 25 minutes! At the same time KONK would just as likely find themselves on a Bronx mix-tape alongside Bambaata’s "Planet Rock" and Mantronix "Put the Needle to the Groove" with Break-dancing and Body-popping being a regular feature at their live gigs (check out the live version of "Baby Dee").
This compilation brings together the classic KONK recordings in the 1980s from their releases on labels as diverse as Rough Trade, Sleeping Bag, 99 Records, Les Disques Du Crepuscle and Celluloid. As well as being a key group in New York’s Post-Punk dance scene where they regularly played alongside groups such as Liquid Liquid, Bush Tetras, ESG, The Peech Boys and The Lounge Lizards, KONK found favour with DJs such as David Mancuso and the legendary Larry Levan and were one of a select few bands to play at both the Paradise Garage and the Loft.
KONK featured in it’s line up members of Jean Michel Basquiat’s band Gray, Sonic Youth and members of Glenn Branca’s ensemble. Founding member Dana Vlcek later went on to work with Francois Kervorkian. The wide range of it’s members is reflected in the music which fuses Disco/Post-Punk/Electro/Latin and proto-House together.
This new compilation makes available KONK’s left-field Disco classics (many for the first time in twenty years!). The album also comes with extensive sleeve notes, interviews and photographs.
The Story of Konk (2004) - Konk [Amazon US] [FR] [DE] [UK]
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