Pulsallama was a short-lived, yet legendary, 12 piece all-girl percussion band who ruled Manhattan nightlife for a brief period in 1981 and 1982. Their sound has been described as “13 girls fighting over a cowbell.” The band often fought with each other verbally and physically in the studio and at shows. The groups rowdy behavior, theatrical stage antics, props and costumes and awkward time signatures were what the New York underground loved most about them.
In 1982 Pulsallama opened for The Clash, where an adoring audience of 6000 showered them with coins and cups of beer. Pulsallama’s single, ‘Devil Lives in My Husband’s Body’ was released on Y Records and was distributed by Rough Trade & became a minor college radio and cult hit.
Pulsallama’s record company ran out of funds during the last stages of recording their first full length and the band called it quits shortly thereafter. Jean Caffeine, one of the founding members went on to form a new group, Clambake.
The various 7 inces and singles that Pulsalamma did release are often on gemm. I got my ‘Devil Lives In My Husbands Body’ 7 inch from ebay a few years back and there actually is another copy on there right now going for $6.50.
They say that ‘If you don’t know where you came from, you’ll never get to where you’re going’. But if you don’t know where you’re going you’ll probably end up in the bad part of town & get your Italian leather boots stolen. What does it all mean?
I means it’s New Wave Tuesday. And I know, why New Wave Tuesday & not New Wave Tuesday or Thursday? There are no days that start with an ‘N’ so it doesn’t matter which day it’s on. Right? RIGHT.
Here’s some of my favorite gems from under the dance floor:
Ectomorph did a remix of the Tuxedomoon track on an a 12″ released by International Deejay Gigolo Records. Chicks on Speed did a cover of the B-52’s “Gimme back My Man’ & Tiga has covered a few new wave classics such as ‘Sunglasses at Night’ & ‘Burning Down The house’.
I think all of these tracks would be good for covers & or lend well to remixing. All you bedroom producers out there fire up your Ableton & get to work.
I want some Mp3s on my desk by Friday!
I got my Pulsallama 7″ for six dollars off ebizzle. Most of these other tracks can be found there or if not, hit up Gemm.
