When All Else Fails... (16-17 album)

When All Else Fails... (1983–1998)
Live album by
ReleasedMay 20, 2005 (2005-05-20)
Recorded1983–1989
GenreIndustrial, punk jazz
Length86:51
LabelSavaage Land
Producer16-17
16-17 chronology
Human Distortion
(1998)
When All Else Fails... (1983–1998)
(2005)
Gyatso
(2008)

The two-CD collection, When All Else Fails...a.k.a. Early Recordings, gathers together three different recordings by Swiss trio 16-17: 1984's Hardkore & Buffbunker (disc one, tracks 8-12), 1987's 16-17 (disc one, tracks 1-7), and 1989's When All Else Fails (disc two). This live album by the industrial punk jazz band was released on May 20, 2005, by Savage Land.[1]

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]

AllMusic staff writer William York calls the formula simple: "maniacal drumming, noisy guitar, and paint-peeling saxophone steamrolling ahead for three to five minutes at a time".[2] And the Dusted Magazine writer Doug Mosurock reviews: "By the time of 1989’s When All Else Fails LP, 16-17 had become, unbelievably, even more aggressive, this time as a result of Kneubühler adding new technologies and a whole palette of unconventional sound-generating devices to his setup. The approach here is positively industrial at times, as on “Pedestrian Dub,” where sax and guitar are infused with enveloped, processed barbs that make each bleat and downstroke sound like wavering sheet metal, and Remond’s shell tones all the more alien. The cyclic rhythms of their earlier work reappear on “Who Planned All This?” and “Clap Trap,” but the rictus of dance rhythms and the drive to innovate moved the band beyond earlier works..."[3]

Track listing

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All tracks composed by Alex Buess, Markus Kneubuehler, Knut Remond (16-17)

Disc One: 16-17 / Buffbunker & Hardkore
No.TitleLength
1."Kat"2:40
2."Speech"1:22
3."Direkt B"3:28
4."Davul"4:15
5."Eva 4"3:27
6."Bomba Bomba"8:42
7."Watch!"7:40
8."Hardkore I"2:59
9."Hardkore II"4:08
10."Buffbunker IV"7:04
11."Hardkore III"2:34
12."Hardkore IV"2:08
Total length:50:27
Disc Two: When All Else Fails...
No.TitleLength
1."Sneak Preview"4:30
2."Pedestrian Dub"7:17
3."Browbeaten Beat"6:59
4."Who Planned All This?"6:29
5."Clap Trap"5:06
6."Spit It Out"6:03
Total length:36:24
86:51 (Total)

Personnel

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Adapted from the When All Else Fails... liner notes.

16-17
  • Alex Buess – saxophones, electronics, vocals, oboe (track4), bass(tracks10 and 13)
  • Knut Remond – drums, percussion, bass (track4), electronic shaker, Welson organ
  • Markus Kneubühler – guitar, synths, electronics
Additional musicians and production

Release history

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Region Date Label Format Catalog
Europe 2005 Savage Land CD SL 01 and 02

References

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  1. ^ "Savageland Records Homepage". Savagelandrecords.com. Retrieved 2016-11-23.
  2. ^ a b York, William. 16-17: When All Else Fails... > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  3. ^ "Dusted Reviews: 16-17 + Hardkore & Buffbunker / When All Else Fails..." www.dustedmagazine.com.
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