This is post number 401 on goodbadmusic. When I was a kid, my teachers and parents kept complaining how lazy a boy I was.
Released in early 1984 on the classic italian Attack Punk Records, this was the one and only life-time record by U.B.R. (translated stands for “Rebels without a Cause”) from the city of Ljublijana, Yugoslavia (Slovenia today). This was probably the first Yugoslavian HC band I knew and I’ve loved this 7″ ever since. A totally desperate atmosphere all over – even if manic riffing breaks out, the songs never really lose the gloomy feeling. With one exception: The vitualistic, exploding, driving “Harmonija”, which is one of the all time catchy HC classics, in one leage with “Nada” by OHLO SECO or “Outo maa” by TERVEET KÄDET. A true hymn! Other highlights are “Podrazitev” and the beautiful “Od tod do vecnosti”.
Taking a closer look on the accompaning statement by the guys from ATTACK PUNK RECORDS, the label’s left radical sermon must sound weird to the guys in U.B.R. The “state machinery” of which left radicals all over the world think of a somehow autonomous, exterior clockwork that gets wind up by “senil old men”, did not destroy the world (or Italy, or Yugoslavia), but nationalism sure ripped Yuglosvia apart in a bloody sometimes genocidal war. I wonder whether the members of U.B.R. who were pacifists got involved in the wars or whether they maybe left the boiling country when there was still time. Anyway, records like this have become strange historic artifacts and the tension really seems to be conserved in the vinyl grooves, much like in the classic and absolutely essential “Hardcore Ljubljana” comp. LP. The wars in former Yugoslavia had started with Slovenias declaration of independence and the 10-days-war in 1991.
Would love to scan the complete booklet cover which is a lovely piece, but I’d first have to remove the staples and that’s something I don’t want to do.So you see the front and back only. I tell you I have spent hours in the past more than 20 years to find out what the front cover could mean, but I haven’t come to grips with the weird, almost primitivistic iconography.
This 7″ has been re-released on a discography CD, entitled “Harmonija 1983-1985″. Don’t know where you can get it, but I’m sure you’ll find out. Haven’t heard it, so I can’t say anything about the sound quality and the additional material, but in my opinion, U.B.R.’s best material was on this 7″, the “HC Lubljana” tracks were good too.
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Utrujenost.mp3
Od tod do vecnost.mp3
U.B.R.mp3
Harmonija.mp3
Corpus deliciti.mp3
Frustracja.mp3
Podrazitev.mp3
16 Comments
Classic.
It’s hard to see a band nowadays playing and recording with this simplicity, which for me stands for good quality.
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UBR is not from Italy but Yugoslavia!! Get it right, Erich!
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Eddie, you’re a really a funny bloke!
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Ha ha eddie the genius strikes again. Never enjoyed this record. Unlike the early Jugo punk bands like Pankriti and Pekinska Patka the yugo hc of the mid 80′s never caught my ear.
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I’m glad you posted this! I used to write to a lad named Gregor in Yugoslavia back in the early ’80′s. He sent me a copy of the “lubljama hardcore’ tape (very sticky from the labels being removed haha). Hope Gregor is still kicking around.
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it’s about time u recognized who i am, peter. i stopped by your place and you weren’t there. when r u going to be available for me, baby?
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i don’t download anything on this site. i just like to read what erich says about the records, because it’s interesting and i learn something. i’m serious too by the way.
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recognize who or what you are? i know you´re that little rascal analowl/mike rush. but it´s seems a little bit tiresome to remind you don´t you think.
you can´t visit the kbdrecords.com site since you´re banned but of course it doesn’t´t matter to you since all the stuff I post is pure crap(even though I thought you would like crap since you act like shit).
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that’s so sweet of u to think i’m somebody else!
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Eddie & Peter – leave it at that, please. Whoever Eddie is or is not, I don’t care.
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All you need is love.
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I meet these guys in Bologna (summer year 84) at Attack Punk Records house.
I think they were there to get copies of the 7″.I remeber them (UBR) being good drinkers, but what surprised me was the heavy metal interest from the guy and gal from Attack punk recs.They were asking us about spanish metal bands Baron Rojo, Obus,…They were into Venom, Motorhead,…It was a really good evening.
Returning to UBR, I heard that they try an european tour around 85 with lots of problems, alcohol, etc…
Salut !.
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Hi!
If you want to hear “Harmonija 1983-1985″ you can find it on my blog. It was my fifth post ever. And yes, I think this is their best stuff too. Cheers.
P.S. Luvez yr blog (and the band of course but I guess that you get that often)!
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hoi, i had a friend that was a punk in slovenia.. he told me one of the UBR guys was a DJ now… electronic music.
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This 7″ has just been re-released through Ne Records with original artwork, but transformed into a gatefold cover and printed insert.
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beautiful re issue with the best stick figure drawings ive seen in my life!
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