“Everything that needs to be said has already been said. But, since no one was listening, everything must be said again.” – Andre Gide
Cat #: 059TZM
2nd Apr 2021 – When I stayed at the Abbotsford Warehouse in Melbourne when organising things for China’s P.K.14 shows there I came across a box of this unreleased album and figured it wouldn’t hurt to ask Rhys and Marcus if they would like some help promoting and selling them and adding BBA to the tenzenmen catalogue. So, that’s how many copies of this album managed to avoid landfill.
Cat #: 066TZM
Originally self released by the band then tenzenmen distributed copies for free into the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia. Now some copies are being made available right here!
Cat #: 045TZM
Founded in 1996, SMZB was one of the first punk bands to form in China and the first to originate from Wuhan, one of cities at the heart of China’s burgeoning underground music scene. Drawing their own influences from Celtic-inspired bands like Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly, and transforming these influences in response to the massive and out of control social transformations taking place in their hometown and throughout China, SMZB is widely recognised as one of China’s most influential bands, whose fans include musicians from many of the most important punk and underground rock bands throughout China. Although they have produced five CDs to date, only the first one, released by Scream, was approved for sale in China, the rest were released only in Europe and North America.
Originally a trio when they first began playing smoky clubs and small performance spaces in their home town, SMZB has subsequently gone through several member changes and, by the end of 2002, had evolved into a quartet. During the early years the band kept up a rigorous schedule of shows and tours throughout China and eventually abroad. In 2004 SMZB toured across Southeast Asia and in 2005 they completed their first European tour with the help of Norway’s October Party Records. In 2006 the band changed their line-up yet again replacing their guitar and bass players and adding a flute & tin whistle to complete the current five member line-up. Through these changes SMZB has grown and developed, smashing together in their music a mélange of Chinese influences, Celtic noise, and straight punk fury which has resulted in a unique style that is instantly recognisable.
It is not just as musicians that SMZB has helped create the explosion in music that China is currently experiencing. Since the very beginnings of China’s underground rock scene founding members Wu Wei and Hu Juan have been active promoting shows, booking tours for foreign bands, and helping younger punk bands gain a foothold in the scene. Shortly after they were formed they founded the Wuhan Riot Group, a collective of Wuhan punk bands that was instrumental in forging the Wuhan underground music scene. SMZB continues to serve as role models for a whole generation of Chinese punk rockers and after ten years are considered one of the key bands in the explosive Chinese music scene.
tenzenmen is proud to present SMZB’s sixth CD release, Ten Years Rebellion, which was recorded in Wuhan and mixed in Norway and is only their second CD to be released by an independent label in China (Maybe Mars).
Cat #: 044TZM
Considered by many to be China’s greatest underground band, Joyside was formed by Xinzhiang refugee Bian Yuan in 2001, in a dark dank basement in the north of Beijing. After three years of playing small clubs in Beijing, literally for beer and cigarette money, they lazily released their debut album, Drunk is Beautiful, whose name comes as close to expressing Joyside’s ferociously decadent aesthetic as any three words can – they consider themselves to be bitches of rock ‘n’ roll, addicted to the music and the mad posturing of the pre-punk New York scene.
The band consists of Bian Yuan on lead vocals, Liu Hao on Bass, Guan Zheng on percussion, and on guitar an astonishing young guitarist, Hong Wei, who was featured in a 2007 Rolling Stone article as one of the four most important guitarists in China. Along with their work in Joyside, the band members are actively involved in other projects. Both Bian Yuan and Liu Hao are members of Johnny’s Teeth, and Liu Hao also plays for Dog 13. Guan Zheng performs regularly with Linga and Believers, while Hong Wei has performed in number of one-off and experimental shows throughout Beijing. Bian Yuan’s acoustic performances are a mainstay at the famous Wednesday night Punk on Wood series at Beijing’s D22 club.
It is hard to go to a Joyside show without ending up drenched in sweat – they rock ferociously and in the great tradition of outlaw rock they turn every audience into frenzy, especially as Hong Wei’s intelligent, subtle guitar playing suddenly breaks into a nasty, ugly crunch and twists around Bian Yuan’s singing. There are influenced by the full gamut of rock and roll history, completely at home with the early American rockers, the Mods, or the seventies punk scene, with particular influences being the Dead Boys, New York Dolls, Johnny Thunders, Sex Pistols, and the Stooges.
Cat #: 053 TZM
Sydney garage punk legends 1st album made available on CD.
Cat #: 035TZM
Recorded February 2010. Produced and mixed by Nathan Ashmore.
INTENTIONS: Daniel Madden, Jonathan Papert, Simon Unwin.
Photographs by Laura Hunt. Design by Ben Corio.
Cat #: 032TZM
Originally released in Australia in an addition of 50 with 2 different types of inserts. Long since sold out (as has the original self released version the band made).
I could only find mp3s of these tracks so have converted them back to wav’s hopefully helping replicate the feel of an old tape recording!
Cat #: 028TZM
The Fanzui Xiangfa / Daighila split 7″ came about after Fanzui Xiangfa’s 2009 SE Asia Tour. The two bands played together in Malaysia and Singapore discovering their common love for hardcore and devotion to the DIY scene. Fanzui Xiangfa’s side is a collection of newer songs in their typical oldschool style reminiscent of DS-13. While Daighila brings three raging screamo tracks that encompass elements from many different classic schools of hardcore. Taken together the split represents two of the most exciting bands from China and Malaysia.
Cat #: 040TZM
24 Hours are one of the most intelligent newcomers in China’s rock scene. Hailing from Xi’an, one of the four great ancient capitals of China, they create, in their own words, passionate rock and roll. Their music is often the reflection of the relationship among the three members: constantly-changing but always-intense.
After relocating to Beijing in early-2008 they quickly dove into the city’s challenging sonic environment, becoming one of the city’s most prolific bands by playing several gigs per weekend, developing both a devoted following and attracting local media in the process.
After two years together, the band released their debut album No Party People produced by Martin Atkins (PiL, Pigface, Nine Inch Nails) the famed Chicago-based producer who initially cut his teeth in Beijing producing Snapline’s debut LP, Party is Over, Pornstar. Using his unique style to capture both the rough and fresh feeling of their music, Atkins has succeeded in elevating their sound to an international level. The 8-song effort maintains the fury of their live sets while adding a dreamy sonic dimension awash in subtle nuances.
26th Feb 2021 – Another one of my dumb ideas – to release 4 new (to Australia) albums on the same date (see White, Snapline and AV Okubo). At least this time I just imported 100 copies of each from China, rather than pressing 500 of each in Australia.
Cat #: 034TZM
Around 2 years ago SCUL HAZZARDs made the big leap from Brisbane to London, playing over 100 shows, releasing 2 vinyl full length albums, working dead end jobs and generally impressing everyone that came across them. Now, finally, they’re back, straight into a tour in February ending up located in Melbourne. To coincide with the tour tenzenmen will release SCUL HAZZARDs second LP ‘Landlord’ for the first time on CD. For those fans seeking the first LP ‘Let Them Sink’, these tracks will also become available via the iTunes Store.
First quote on their return came from drummer Leigh Fischer simply stating ‘It’s fucking hot here’. Elaborating further the band have decided to return home simply to earn more money to take themselves back out on the road and return for more overseas jaunts and reminding Australian fans that they are still alive and kicking as much as ever. With two albums worth of mostly unheard (on these shores) material to draw from, their shows are sure to be incendiary and the ‘Landlord’ CD captures their dynamic noise rock sound perfectly. Think Jesus Lizard heaviness mixed with Shellac lightness all with an Aussie twist thrown in. They play hard – so listen loud.
“SCUL HAZZARDs have done nothing but show that they have the visceral edge to keep it fresh and inspiring in the present day…. for anyone that enjoys their rock with a bit of complexity and razor sharp squall…” states one reviewer of ‘Landlord’ but don’t just take their word for it, come and see it for real! Steven, Leigh and Tiffany are ready to rock your socks off. Tiffany commands the stage with real rock ‘n’ roll swagger literally trying to kill you with her presence and bass depth, whilst Steven, more demure in comparison, screams his vitriol and jags his guitar off to the side. Pay close attention to drummer Leigh and you’ll hear this is no ordinary dutiful rhythm section – it’s as if the bassist and drummer have switched instruments but are still playing them the same way.
1994ever 