Saturday, October 11, 2025

Mahatma Propagandhi - Additional Material


Liner notes from the 2025 restored EP of the band's 1991-1992 recordings.

1. Wave of the future
The sample loops in this track were originally used by Pete Strong in the first band he formed in Australia, called Sound Anti System.

You hear 60s psychedelic guitar and drum loops from The Spencer Davis Group – I’m a Man (1967). They are played on an old Akai X7000 sampler and looped with breakbeats. Also sampled is the vocal intro from Dream Frequency – The Wave of the Future (1990/91, UK rave act).

Zippy dropped some raps about Paul Keating and the ‘US fleet thing’ at the time. These riddles were formed at a Mahatma Propagandhi jam at John’s studio at Zero Agar St Marrickville. The lyrics reference the 1992 controversy over US naval visits to Australia. At the time, Paul Keating’s Labor government was facing criticism for allowing the American 7th Fleet carrying nuclear weapons into Australian ports. Peace and anti-nuclear activists drew parallels to New Zealand’s ban on nuclear ships, accusing Canberra of bowing to Washington instead of asserting an independent, anti-nuclear stance.

2. No Justice
Written and performed by Tony Collins, Carmel Young, Heather-Grace Jones. Grant (Zippy) Focas, Deb Shaw (also played bass) Guitar and DJ scratching Paul McKercher. Samples John Jacobs.

This protest track documents the 1987 Brewarrina riot triggered by a black death in custody and the racially biased trial that followed it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brewarrina_riot

The only MP track released on vinyl. From “Blunt (12 Solid Gold Inner-City *Hits!!*)  https://www.discogs.com/release/6146998This was a compilation LP put out by the legendary punk fanzine raconteur Bob Blunt in 1991. Read more of his opinions and exploits in his book - Blunt: A Biased History of Australian Rock https://www.facebook.com/p/Blunt-A-Biased-History-of-Australian-Rock-100063562178081/


3. Last train to Fascism
Lyrics by Willie and Zippy. The rhythm was a recording of clattering train tracks.

“The lyrics were meant to be a hyperbolic warning. But everything we sang about an imaginary future fascist oligarchy has already happened! Everything owned collectively by the people has been privatised.” - Willie, 2025

4. Dub Hammer
In the pre-doof era in Sydney, when Jellyheads was operating in Chippendale, “Anarcho Punk, Dub and Hip Hop and early Rave and Jungle were the influences swimming around in my head”, says Pete Strong. This track samples Sheriff Lindo’s Ten dubs that shook the world, mixing it into sampled breakbeats and basslines.

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