Hüsker Dü
Statues / Amusement

A couple of weeks ago I told you about the end of Husker Du; about that concert in December 1987 when they turned off the amplifiers in the middle of a song, putting a tombstone on an enormous music history.

Now it's time to talk about their discographic debut that happened on January 13, 1981, the release date of their very first 7-inch.

They've already traveled far and wide across their homeland for over a year, opening for bands such as Dead Kennedys and offering their furious Hardcore-Punk played at lethal speed. With rare exceptions, the audience present consists of only a few dozen people, a fact that dramatically increases the aggression of Bob, Grant, and Greg during their brief live performances. Norton himself clarifies this grotesque and comical situation: "Often we found ourselves playing in front of a dozen people; and then it seemed logical to try to completely clear the room where we were performing, playing louder and faster until the few attendees, unaccustomed to our uncontrollable sonic violence, left." Courage to spare!!

With the little money gathered from their early tours, they manage to promote, self-producing, the single "Statues/Amusement." At this point, everyone expects something unprecedented in terms of sound; two deadly tracks capable of making a difference and giving no respite to the listener. Instead, the three boys from Minneapolis surprise everyone with two songs, first and foremost, of substantial length; both indeed exceed four minutes in duration. But the biggest surprise comes from the sound of the single, very far from the style of Husker Du of that era: we are faced with sound atmospheres that look to the post-punk of English origin. The reference model is the P.I.L. of John Lydon, one of the favorite bands of guitarist-singer Bob Mould, who is also the author of both pieces.

"Statues" is a Raga-Rock that leverages the repetitiveness of a bass that bites at your ankles and a declamatory singing style very similar to the already mentioned P.I.L.; "Amusement," recorded live in October 1980, is even darker in its long journey, though penalized by quite poor sound quality. Bass and guitar smell of Joy Division; incredible but true.

With this first discographic release, Husker Du immediately makes one thing clear: they want to play and produce what they think is appropriate, without considering trends and fashions; at the forefront with heads held high. They are already looking far ahead, beyond the Hardcore wall; and we are only at the beginning of their very brief career.

They will still write many monumental pages...DO YOU REMEMBER?...

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