Bone Orchard - Stuffed To The Gills 12''EP

Stuffed To The Gills is the debut 6-track 12" EP by British post-punk band Bone Orchard, released in November 1983 via Jungle Records (JUNG 8). Formed in Brighton, the group paired Chrissy McGee’s raw, intense vocals with dark, blues-infused gothic rock, earning frequent comparisons to The Birthday Party and Siouxsie and the Banshees. The highly collectible vinyl release features notable tracks like "Fats Terminal" and "Knuckle The Butcher", complete with eccentric messages etched into the runout grooves. While long out of print in its original format, the entire EP was officially compiled onto CD and digital formats in 2011 as part of the expanded anthology Stuffed To The Gills & Other Fishy Tales.

Bone Orchard – Jack

Bone Orchard were a post-punk/gothic rock band from Brighton, England. The band was formed in early 1983 by Chrissie McGee (vocals), Mark Horse (guitar), Troy Tyro (guitar), Paul Henrickson (bass) and Mick Finch (drums). They played their first gig in April that year in London, and recorded a session for John Peel's BBC Radio 1 programme in June 1983, subsequently signing to Jungle Records for their debut EP “Stuffed to the Gills” in November that year. The band drew comparisons with The Birthday Party, with McGee compared to Siouxsie Sioux. The artwork on this Brighton quintet’s debut LP employs the same scratchy/violent style as Batcave bands like Specimen and Alien Sex Fiend; the music on Jack is similarly gloomy and intense, but generally less clichéd and more engaging. All credit to singer Chrissy McGee (an original, intelligent lyricist; check the story-like “Five Days in the Neighbourhood” for details), whose deep, deadpan voice sounds a little like Siouxsie and the use of additional guest musicians augmenting the guitar-based line up with piano, strings and sax. Bone Orchard’s other strength is a sense of dynamics; they can thunder oppressively or drop back for contrast. Jack may not be an overly pleasant disc, but it is a well-crafted one with several nice touches.