Hard Stuff - Boex Dementia

Genre - Hard Rock / Classic Rock / Re-issue
Label - Angel Air Records

Track listing -

01. Roll A Rocket
02. Libel
03. Ragman
04. Spiders Web
05. Get Lost 0
06. Sick ‘N’ Tired
07. Mermany 0
08. Jumpin’ Thumpin’ (Ain’t That Somethin’)
09. Dazzle Dizzy
10. Bolex Dementia

BONUS TRACKS
11. Inside Your Life
12. (It’s) How You Do It

"HARD STUFF was a rock band formed by JOHN DU CANN and Paul Hammond from ATOMIC ROOSTER with JOHN GUSTAFSON from QUATERMASS. The band released it’s first album 'Bulletproof' to intense critical acclaim in 1972 and was working on it’s follow up when whilst touring Europe when they had a bad car accident returning from a gig at the Zoom Club, Frankfurt culminating in Du Cann and Hammond spending many weeks in hospital in Belgium.

Their second album 'Bolex Dementia' was eventually released in 1973 which was a delay of almost a year before the crucial follow up album could be heard. Then the LP cover (which was considered one of the most horrific of 1973) was deemed in some territories as unacceptable and in the USA for example a fresh cover had to be created featuring a girl?! before the album could hit the racks.
The band broke up shortly after the release of the second and final album with Du Cann and Hammond reforming Atomic Rooster (Du Cann wrote and sang lead vocal on their Hits 'Tomorrow Night' and 'Devils Answer') and Gustafson joining Roxy Music.
A classic album remastered with bonus tracks."

Another classic and lost / forgotten gem to get the Angel Air re-issues treatment. This album saw the band’s sound soften slightly, with them developing a funkier guitar sound as opposed to the heavy riffs that led their debut album. Still the standard of the song writing and musicianship was top notch giving us a great album. Unfortunately, this was to be the last release by the band, which is a pity as I feel that they still had a lot to offer judging by the quality of the songs on display here.

Again, this re-issue serves as a great reminder to those that were lucky enough to be there and witness these guys back in the early seventies, and as a great introduction to another lost classic band. Once again this re-issue comes with extensive sleeve notes written by Jeff Perkins detailing the story of this album and Hard Stuff!


Thank God for Angel Air! 


Rating - 9/10

Hardstuff - Bulletproof

Genre - Hard Rock / Classic Rock / Reissue Label - AngelAir Records

Track listing -

01. Jay Time
02. Sinister Minister

03. No Witch At All
04. Taken Alive
05. Time Gambler
06. Millionaire
07. Monster In Paradise
08. Hobo
09. Mr Longevity-RIP
10. The Provider-Part One
BONUS TRACKS
11. Jay Time (single version)
12. The Orchestrator

"HARD STUFF was a hard rock band formed by JOHN DU CANN and Paul Hammond from ATOMIC ROOSTER with JOHN GUSTAFSON from QUATERMASS. Signed to Purple records in 1971 initially as BULLET (they had to change their name in early 1972 to HARD STUFF as there was then already in existence an American group called Bullet) Hence the name of their very first album "Bulletproof" released in June 1972

The band toured heavily across Europe (particularly Germany), often as support to DEEP PURPLE and URIAH HEEP. Their career though was curtailed by a bad car accident returning from a gig at The Zoom Club, Frankfurt in which Du Cann and Hammond were badly injured and they spent weeks in hospital in Belgium torpedoing their plans to record the much anticipated second album.
'Bulletproof' is a classic album now much sought after-remastered with bonus tracks on Angel Air."

Another reissue of an otherwise lost classic album courtesy of Angel Air. Hard Stuff had a sound reminiscent of the like of Deep Purple, Elf, Led Zepplin and the like, with solid riffs and well-crafted songs with at times a little pop sensibility. A great mix and this reissue shows just why they were causing the stir that they were back in 1972. The songs have aged considerably well and display just what the band had to offer, before their career was prematurely cut short.


A great reminder for those that were lucky enough to be there in the seventies to witness this band first hand, a great introduction a great band for those who were not, like me. Once again this re-issue comes with extensive sleeve notes written by Jeff Perkins detailing the story of this album and Hard Stuff!


Well worth checking out!

Rating - 9/10











MUSICIANS
JOHN DU CANN,
JOHN GUSTAFSON,
PAUL HAMMOND