Fantastic Mess Records

30/11/2024

Available to PRE-ORDER now and Shipping MID DEC is this killer 2 track 7" from this explosive Melbourne 4 piece Favoured State. "It's a Mess" b/w: "That's Life" - these 2 red hot cuts feature manic guitars, bullet proof drumming, pounding bass and intense vocals. Chemistry and conviction in spades and issued in a LIMITED EDITION OF 200 HAND NUMBERED COPIES (100 on Translucent Red, 100 on Fluoro Pink) with Lyric Insert, photo, flyer repro and sticker. Mastered by Mikey Young. FMR 031.
www.fantasticmessrecords.com

27/11/2024

FMR is now stocking the killer Geelong based fanzine BAD BATCH, and Issue #5 is out now and ready to roll. 46 pages of great interviews, artwork, photos, reviews and more! Bad Batch Zine

How's about: ED KUEPPER /IVOR HAY, HOODOO GURUS, THE MIFFS, THE PRIZE, GLENNO SMITH, DERN RUTLIDGE, CHIMERS, TEENS, MARK ZOMBO, ROCKET SCIENCE (Japanese Tour Diary), DESERT HIGHWAYS, HOT MACHINE, and so much more.

Available on the FMR site now for $10 and WOW... Knockout!
www.fantasticmessrecords.com

24/11/2024

Here is a fantastic video reel of the Little Bands LP Launch... filmed and edited by Mark Bakaitis

01/11/2024

Well.. this IS special...

A film by Jacqui Ward with Sandie Wadelton, shot on Super 8 in Melbourne 1980 in and around the Little Bands scene.

The untitled film was revived and post-produced in 2024 by Simon Grounds along with Jacqui Ward, with thanks to Tony McMahon, in response to a major Little Bands retrospective release by Fantastic Mess Records centred around live recordings by core Little Bands figure Alan Bamford.

The soundtrack is derived from a Little Band performance at the Paradise Lounge by the The Incredibly Strange Creatures who Stopped Living and Became Mixed Up Zombies.

A film by Jacqui Ward with Sandie Wadelton, shot on Super 8 in Melbourne 1980 in and around the Little Bands scene.The Little Bands was a unique post-punk in...

31/10/2024

Thanks to Michael Mulholland for the opportunity to be interviewed about The Little Bands LP on his Junkyard program on PBS FM...

Artist features with Michael Mulholland

28/10/2024

This Thursday at 7pm, Simon Grounds and Melynda von Wayward are being interviewed by Michael Mulholland on his awesome show Junkyard... to talk about the Little Bands LP... Tune in...

Artist features with Michael Mulholland

16/10/2024

Thanks to every single person who has shown keen interest in the LITTLE BANDS Melbourne 1979-1980 Compilation LP.

The BLACK copies on the FMR site are getting low and due to demand there will be a further 50 copies on Black via MAGNETIC SOUTH Distribution in November, which means that any store around Oz can stock it if they so wish. USA distro will be a thing around that time also.

The LP will be launched on SAT NOV 23rd at BAR 303 in Northcote.

The label site has been updated a few mins ago with a handful of UNEARTHED, long deleted earlier FMR releases, inc: BORED! LP's and 7"s on specific Colours, the ZORROS, TAXI GIRLS, HELLMENN and more if you missed them 1st time around. Lots of great releases on the cooker and updates on these (Archival and new) will be posted here as they creep closer to being a playable, viewable, coolable thing of goodness in the world.

Thanks, Scotti FMR
http://www.fantasticmessrecords.com/

02/10/2024

Little Bands LP update: The bulk of the Pre-Orders are now in transit so watch for them to your door very soon. The remainder will go out by Monday Oct 8th.

Melb folk will also see it pop up in a few stores around town. Black Vinyl with big size 8pg booklet and interview zine repro still available from the FMR site.

25/09/2024

After wowing a full room last Sunday at the Merri Creek Tavern, Tassie Acid Folk ledge HOWARD EYNON is set to play a few more uplifting and very fine acoustic shows, TOMORROW he will perform at 5.30/6pm for a freebie INSTORE at Footscray Records in Leeds Street, with another date to be announced soon..

It's 50 years this year since his great LP 'So What If I'm Standing in Apricot Jam' was released and come along if you wanna hear some great songs and some life tales from the man himself. Footscray Records

Also playing at the Tramway Hotel, Monday the 7th October...

25/09/2024

A big thank you to all of you who have locked in a copy of the upcoming V/A: LITTLE BANDS LP. The Black and White smash edition of 100 is now SOLD OUT, with Black vinyl copies still available from the FMR website and Bandcamp.

It features a cool 8-page big size booklet and a interview repro mini-zine to check out. The Black copies are Hand Numbered out of #150. Records will ship within the next 10 days so watch for them soon.

http://www.fantasticmessrecords.com/
https://fantasticmessrecords.bandcamp.com/

21/09/2024

After wowing the crowd in the shed at JERKFEST 9 in Geelong back in March, 70's Acid Folk ledge HOWARD EYNON returns to Victoria to play the MERRI CREEK TAVERN in Westgarth TOMORROW - Sun Sept 22nd at 5pm. Hear some of his great tunes from the cult classic '74 LP ' So What if I'm Standing in Apricot Jam' and no doubt some newies on the mini 'How Would I know' tour. Tickets available at www.howardeynon.com/gigs
The Merri Creek Tavern

11/09/2024

PRE-SALE ANNOUNCEMENT!
V/A: Little Bands Melbourne 1979-1980 LP
Released by Fantastic Mess Records

Unique to Melbourne, the ‘Little Bands’ was a sub scene of the punk/post-punk underground world that came together for a brief period of time across a small number of supportive venues. This 20 track compilation captures a selection of Little Bands that were recorded live in 1980 by 3RRR champ Alan Bamford on a Sony Reel to Reel machine. Included is a detailed 8-page booklet with info/photos/interviews etc...along with a repro of a 4-page fanzine/interview, ’The North Fitzroy Beat’, created by Alan Bamford.

The Little Bands scene was helmed by experimental, electronic pioneers, Primitive Calculators & Whirlywirld in 1979.

With band names like Too Fat to Fit Thru the Door, Bags of Personality, Clang, Hoy Family Swingers, Morpions, Simplex, The Delicatessens, The Saxophone Caper and World of Sport, over 50 bands became a part of this Avant Garde and experimental musical scene from 1979 - 1980.

As well as this vinyl album, there is also a link to an expanded digital offering via Bandcamp with over 2 additional hours of tracks to enjoy and explore. https://fantasticmessrecords.bandcamp.com

Two initial colour editions are available (black and black/white smash), along with a unique audio offering that has been a long time in the making. Mastered by Simon Grounds.

The LP is $50 and can be ordered from Fantastic Mess Records - www.fantasticmessrecords.com

Shipping Late October. (FMR 040)

The LP will be officially LAUNCHED on Saturday the 23rd of November at BAR 303 in Northcote from 3-7pm, with tons of Little Band performances in the band room, as well as tracks from the LP+ playing in the front bar.
Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door. CASH ONLY!

14/08/2024

Across August myself and two other close pals held an art exhibition in St Kilda. Mine were a left field tribute to the 7” 45rpm record featuring 85 - 8x10” wooden boxes with glass windows showcasing picture sleeves of bands /people that only exist IN MY MIND! Each one has a non-playable repurposed record sticking out of it and comes with a laminated ‘history’ of said record.

All pieces are hand-numbered and the handful that remain are available to view and purchase on the FMR website as of tonite. They are ready to hang and have a flat mail rate anywhere in OZ. They range from cut and paste, spray paint, stencil, paint pens and more, with the outer boxes also spray painted in various colours. Have a look at the website gallery and see if any may be up your alley!

See some examples below...

*More ‘Real’ records coming soon on FMR across both the 7” and LP format so stay tuned fer that. Thanks, Scotti
www.fantasticmessrecords.com

06/08/2024

For those of you who could not make our opening - we are having a closing gathering on Saturday the 10th of August from 1-3pm at Brightspace gallery in St Kilda... The exhibition officially closes on Sunday. This is a good chance to see the awesome affordable art and purchase something unique to adorn your walls with...

03/08/2024

Thanks so much to everyone who came to our exhibition last night. It was a huge success...lots of art was sold and for those of you who could not attend last night - we are having a small gathering on Saturday the 10th August from 1-3pm before the exhibition closes... Photos by Mark Bakaitis Marina Perkovich Deb Nankervis

27/07/2024

New Releases on FMR… Limited Copies remain of the initial Red Vinyl edition (of 100) of the 2nd single from NYC band the TAXI GIRLS. Killer Garage stomp sonics from a host of amazing players… GRASSHOPPER (Mercury Rev), FRED SMITH (Television), RON WARD (Speedball Baby), JON SPENCER (JS & the HITmakers) & CHRIS TURCO (Rider/Horse). Same with the micro repress of THE MEANIES ‘Bad Bad Barrel of Monkeys’ on a Peachy colour vinyl with Inserts, just a handful of the 100 Numbered copies remain. And not to forget the wild RED/YELLOW smash repress (200 hand numbered copies) of the incredible BORED! LP ‘Feed The Dog’. Such a RED HOT album of brill Aussie R’n’R action, which is loaded with Inserts. Watch this space for news soon about a forthcoming archive LP Compilation. Keep Toasty, Scotti FMR
www.fantasticmessrecords.com