Soul Jazz Records must be seething. Not content with delivering some of the finest independent music to the masses, Domino Recordings have now muscled in on the lucrative reissues racket. Following the re-release of some lost gems by bands as diverse as Young Marble Giants, Sebadoh, Orange Juice and The Triffids, Domino have now secured the rights to Liquid Liquid’s small but hugely influential back catalogue – no doubt a long-term target for Soul Jazz who included LL on the excellent New York Noise compilation some years back.
It’s more than ten years since Mo’ Wax and Grand Royal reissued Liquid Liquid’s only three Eps – Liquid Liquid, Successive Reflexes and Optimo, originally released between 1981 and ’83 – but in light of the renewed interest and resurgence in the post-punk and no-wave movements, LL currently find themselves more relevant and inspirational than ever before. Hailing from New York, school friends McGuire, Principato, Young and Harley favoured a conventional set-up of drums, bass, vocal and erm…marimba! Their groove-based songs were heavily influenced by Afrobeat and Jamaican music, with a unique vocal delivery courtesy of Principato (trust me, it’s better than it sounds).
Originally signed to Ed Bahlman’s legendary 99 Records – a Greenwich Village record store and label also responsible for ESG, Bush Tetras, Glenn Branca and Maximum Joy – Liquid Liquid’s defining moment ironically contributed to their demise, and the downfall of 99 Records. The bassline of Cavern – from the Optimo EP – was sampled by Grandmaster Flash on the hit single White Lines, but never received official clearance from 99 Records. The ensuing court case bankrupted 99 and LL never made another record. Now cited as a major influence by trend-setter labels such as DFA and artists like The Rapture, Liquid Liquid are finally receiving the widespread attention and praise that was long overdue. Together with the 3 original EPs – re-mastered and remixed – there are now several previously unreleased tracks and live recordings. An essential slice of music history.
