Rarely Heard: Red Crayola - X

Red Krayola (formerly The Red Crayola) were founded in 1966 and still exist to this day centered to the only constant member Mayo Thompson. I became a fan through their 1979 album Soldier-Talk which pretty much blew my mind, similarly impressed as I was when I got Pere Ubu's first album The Modern Dance. In fact David Thomas participates on Soldier-Talk and Mayo Thompson later joined Pere Ubu for a while. I'm also proud to have seen Red Crayola (still written with a 'c') live that same year in Ampermoching near Munich, Gaststätte zur Post, a smalltown tavern (support were Die Haut!). Red Krayola have gone through several phases, from their early more psychedelic (but quite off-kilter) phase to a more intellectual and complicated approach in the 80s and later integrating Chicago post-rock influences (and musicians) in the 90s, but to this day their music has remained experimental and difficult, but always fascinating - and entertaining.