Josef K
Josef K is a tormented character in Franz Kafka’s novel The Trial. Josef K were also a dark, spiky and angular Glaswegian band from the post-punk era.
Forming in 1978 as TV Art and renaming themselves Josef K in 1979, this four piece only recorded two albums, 1980’s “Sorry For Laughing” - which was rejected by the Postcard label’s boss Alan Horne for being "too well produced" - and “The Only Fun In Town” in 1981, which included re-recorded versions of several tracks from “Sorry For Laughing”. Following a handful of singles, for both Postcard and Brussels-based Les Disques Du Crepescule, and with the declaration that they had already done what they set out to do, the band split in 1981.
Infamous for their disdain for the press, promoters and even their own careerist notions, they were the cutting edge of the Postcard label which also included Orange Juice, Aztec Camera and The Go-Betweens. Sadly, while composing this blog I have just become aware that Edwyn Collins of Orange Juice has recently suffered a brain haemorrhage and I'm sure we all wish him a full and speedy recovery.
In the years immediately following their split, apart from each member's involvement in numerous other bands, Josef K would spawn a legion of imitators, playing a major role in the development of the C-86 scene. For more information on the C-86 scene, check out Indie MP3 who have just completed a restrospective on Postcard bands. Josef K have also been an obvious influence on many of the recent new-new wave/no wave/post-punk revival bands, particularly fellow-Glaswegian’s Franz Ferdinand.
“It’s Kinda Funny” is a more down tempo track and this version is available on “Young And Stupid” which compiles all of the band’s singles, although a different version of “It’s Kinda Funny” is available on “The Only Fun In Town”. Both of these album releases are available from LTM/Boutique.
Josef K - Its Kinda Funny
Forming in 1978 as TV Art and renaming themselves Josef K in 1979, this four piece only recorded two albums, 1980’s “Sorry For Laughing” - which was rejected by the Postcard label’s boss Alan Horne for being "too well produced" - and “The Only Fun In Town” in 1981, which included re-recorded versions of several tracks from “Sorry For Laughing”. Following a handful of singles, for both Postcard and Brussels-based Les Disques Du Crepescule, and with the declaration that they had already done what they set out to do, the band split in 1981.
Infamous for their disdain for the press, promoters and even their own careerist notions, they were the cutting edge of the Postcard label which also included Orange Juice, Aztec Camera and The Go-Betweens. Sadly, while composing this blog I have just become aware that Edwyn Collins of Orange Juice has recently suffered a brain haemorrhage and I'm sure we all wish him a full and speedy recovery.
In the years immediately following their split, apart from each member's involvement in numerous other bands, Josef K would spawn a legion of imitators, playing a major role in the development of the C-86 scene. For more information on the C-86 scene, check out Indie MP3 who have just completed a restrospective on Postcard bands. Josef K have also been an obvious influence on many of the recent new-new wave/no wave/post-punk revival bands, particularly fellow-Glaswegian’s Franz Ferdinand.
“It’s Kinda Funny” is a more down tempo track and this version is available on “Young And Stupid” which compiles all of the band’s singles, although a different version of “It’s Kinda Funny” is available on “The Only Fun In Town”. Both of these album releases are available from LTM/Boutique.
posted by Michael at 3:27:00 pm
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