"The Elephant Table Album" 2xLP/CD

This is arguably (probably) the most comprehensive and complete survey of the classic 'Wild Planet' (i.e. classic industrial/electronic music) scene of the early 80's. Compiled by noted journalist Dave Henderson, this set encompasses nearly all the early UK-based 'industrial' and avante-garde artists of note from this era. These are the folks who were truly 'out there', from the proto-EBM Portion Control ('Chew You To Bits' is cheekily dated, but still kinda feral, and certainly a step above the usual synthpop) to one of Chris & Cosey's finer and darker early cuts ('Raining Tears Of Blood'). Coil contribute the rough 'S Is For Sleep' (certainly not at the level of their later work, but a nice and weird piece nonetheless), while Nurse With Wound's 'Nana, Or A Thing Of Uncertain Nonsense' is a classic slice of delirious audio-surrealism. Lustmord gets uncharacteristically funky on 'Bonening Of Men', while SPK contribute the brutal death-industrial dirge of 'Despair'. Still hard to believe that former SPK mainman Graeme Revell is now a top-shelf Hollywood score composer, coming from his horror-noise background! Anyhow, Nigel Ayers and his Nocturnal Emissions present the rather silly 'Suffering Stinks', which they would thankfully leave far behind with their amazing 'Spiritflesh' LP a few years later. Also represented on this amazing double-LP set: Konstruktivists, Muslimgauze, David Jackman (of Organum), Attrition, Legendary Pink Dots, Bourbonese Qualk, and others. Well worth a listen, and a definitive piece of history, here... (1983 Xtract Records UK)
Pick up this rare and out of print collection:
Part1
Part2

Flipper – Live Targetvideo77 1980-81" DVD

Flipper were an essential anomaly in the early American punk scene. Nihilistic and dirgey, their noise-damaged music anticipated the hardcore scene, predated grunge, and even could be seen as a starting point for (some) industrial rock. This classic video, finally reissued in digital format, presents Flipper in all their sloppy, drunken, and chaotic glory. Taken from a pair of shows, this rough (but more than watchable) document shows both a more spunky side (a headlining gig from Berkeley) as well as a more cathartic and intense side (their 1981 Frisco show opening for Throbbing Gristle). Vocalist/bassist Will Shatter mumbles and grunts his way through fan favorites like 'Sex Bomb' or (my favorite) 'Life', while his band tumbles headfirst into characteristically messy, nearly-tuneless abandon. Flipper took punk and turned it upside down, and in the process inspired too many bands to list. This is the real deal. (MVD Visual)