Ed Kuepper - Honey Steel's Gold

    Ed Kuepper ‎– Honey Steel’s Gold

    04 Mar

    By

    Label: Hot Records – HOT 1036
    Format: CD, Album
    Country: Australia
    Released: 1991
    Genre: Rock
    Style: Art Rock, Indie Rock

    Ed Kuepper – Pure Gold!

    Saint Ed has been evangelising his message in the fabled land of “Oi Oi Oi” (a sunburnt southern land) since 1973. The denizens thereof quickly saw the light and converted to his cause. Adherents are recognized by an all black “roadie” uniform and an intimate knowledge of the Espy’s (The Esplanade Hotel in St.Kilda, Melbourne) hidden rooms and stairwells.

    As local rock legends go Ed Kuepper is certainly a revered elder statesman nowadays and has never lost his appeal.

    A prolific artist his solo album Honey Steel’s Gold released in 1991 still stands today as a classic. The Way I Made You Feel is a highlight but certainly doesn’t eclipse the other tracks.

    Edmund “Ed” Kuepper (born 20 December 1955) is a German-born Australian (Brisbane originally) guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. He co-founded the punk band The Saints (1973–78), the experimental post-punk group Laughing Clowns (1979–85) and the grunge-like The Aints! (1991–94, 2017–present). Perhaps Ed Kuepper is the real Krautrock?

    He has also recorded over a dozen albums as a solo artist using a variety of backing bands. His highest charting solo album, Honey Steel’s Gold, appeared in November 1991 and reached No. 28 on the ARIA Albums Chart. His other top 50 albums are Black Ticket Day (August 1992), Serene Machine (March 1993) and Character Assassination (August 1994). At the ARIA Music Awards of 1993 he won Best Independent Release for Black Ticket Day and won the same category in 1994 for Serene Machine.

    He’s works are respected globally and yet he’s under recognised. Serious music heads get him.

    In fact it’s almost like a secret handshake “oh, you know Ed Kuepper and the Saints” or “Laughing Clowns, love their stuff”, and suddenly the introduction opens the door to an inner sanctum of other “Oi Oi Oi” musicians – Midnight Oil, V. Spy V. Spy, Models, The Birthday Party, Divinyls, Hunters and Collectors, The Scientists – Kim Salmon (and a bunch more) who all contributed to a local scene that never lost its authenticity and became pompous.

    There’s a driving groove in his work almost like Neil Young’s Crazy Horse. There’s a bluesy delta feel to his stuff. He never tried to morph into electro-synth. He’s stayed true to his oeuvre. Ed Kuepper can easily put you in a transcendent mood.

    In the immortal words of one Molly Meldrum “Do yourself a favour” and get Honey Steel’s Gold. (I’ve always wanted to say that 😉

    Track listing

    “King of Vice” – 9:53
    “Everything I’ve Got Belongs to You” – 4:15
    “Friday’s Blue Cheer/Libertines of Oxley” – 8:03
    “Honey Steel’s Gold” – 5:23
    “The Way I Made You Feel” – 5:20
    “Not Too Soon” – 3:12
    “Closer” – 4:16
    “Summerfield” – 3:41

    Recorded at Electric Avenue, Sydney, Australia in Winter 1991.

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