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LP
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EMV 003LP
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$35.50
PREORDER
RELEASE DATE: 5/15/2026
Never heard of Canberra's Samuel D. Rich, who rocked our nation's capital for approximately a mere 18 months circa 1973-74? No? That's OK. Up until about a year ago, nor had Eminent Vinyl. They -- they were a band -- played with a host of luminaries of the day -- everyone from The Aztecs, Stevie Wright, Buffalo, Hush, and Bakery to Mackenzie Theory and beyond, recorded this album then split up. Through a rather bizarre chain of events, these unreleased recordings landed in Eminient Vinyl's lap from band member Geoff Rosenberg, and now there is this incredible LP, Theme of Discontent. The group's sound was caught somewhere between the Oz-Prog of Spectrum, Mackenzie Theory, and Kahvas Jute, mixed with the acid-rock guitar flash of Santana and the psychedelic funk groove of early Chicago (minus the brass, and substitute it with a whole lotta flute, thanks). The band had some serious chops and an abundance of terrific original material, so they went into a studio in early 1974 and laid down an hour of tracks. By later in the year, they were no more, though the music was kept on a Betamax(!) tape and transferred to CD a couple of decades ago. Had they stuck around, they would have slotted into the Mushroom or Infinity stables nicely. Eminent Vinyl has taken the best 45 minutes of songs, had them remastered by Mikey Young and housed the release in an incredible package, complete with an informative four-page booklet designed by Luke Fraser. Fun fact: Canberra resident and law student, Peter Garrett, was such a big fan of the band that he tried out as their singer (he didn't get the job, but subsequently did pretty well in other pursuits). Theme of Discontent is a remarkable discovery for lovers of Australian rock of yore: completely unknown '70s music from the nation's capital ripe for listening in 2026.
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LP
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EMV 001LP
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The first ever official release by this legendary Melbourne post-punk band who only ever existed for a number of months in 1978, but who cast an important and influential light in Australian (and global!) music, influencing the likes of the Boys Next Door/Birthday Party and The Models, the group's membership and its diaspora reading like a who's-who of crucial Australian music of the past 50 years. In the band was a young Rowland S. Howard, who would soon go onto join the BND/Birthday Party; Ollie Olsen (Whirlywirld, No, Max Q, Dogs In Space soundtrack and so much more); Janine Hall (Saints; Weddings, Parties, Anything) and Jeffrey Wegener (drummer extraordinaire for the Laughing Clowns and the Saints, among others). The Young Charlatans recorded a demo with Ron Rude, and also surviving is a live recording from the Tiger Lounge in Richmond. With help from band manager Bruce Milne, Eminent Vinyl have sourced these two recordings to make up this LP, mixing the best of the both to document 45 minutes of inspired music as young players were still grappling with the fallout of punk rock, and wishing to push the music further into more experimental and adventurous directions. Contained here are 13 original songs composed by Rowland and/or Ollie -- including an early version of Howard's defining track, "Shivers" -- remastered by Mikey Young and featuring extensive liner notes by author and friend/fan of the band, Clinton Walker. With photos, articles and ephemera provided by Bruce Milne and Phil Morland, it is housed in stunning artwork and design by Luke Fraser, including a four-page booklet.
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