Vertical Records and the ghettotech/turntablists Squirmbo are interrelated:
In its initial incarnation between 1989 and 1994, Squirmbo was the caffeine-addled fabrication of Hornraiser (ATPJR), Jason the Unpopular (Jim S), Guttersnipe (Phil S) and Stygian (Mark S). The western Massachusetts collagists endured a deep esteem for the hypnotic pastels and unholy mersh of Steinski, Prince Paul, Nur
se with Wound, Ghédalia Tazartès, RRRecords, Christian Marclay, Sentridoh, Gum and William Burroughs cut ups. They also spent 1001 sleepless nights ingesting the stuzzadelik detritus of the previous 80 years, including and especially Fletcher Henderson and Tav Falco’s Panther Burns. Along with Bushwick V (Mark V), the five chums simultaneously established and maintained Vertical Records between 1989 and 1994 (which is poorly represented in the digital realm at present and should not be confused with the multitude of other Vertical Records, then or now). Vert issued seismic crunk from...
Cop Shoot Cop
Sebadoh
Royal Trux
Suckdog
Merzbow
Jason Loewenstein’s Sparkalepsy (or Heather’s Overbite, opinions vary) Caroliner...
and eventually Squirmbo and related deformities The F**k Orchestra, Doña Velasquez & The Gag Reflex and BLBAF. Approbation for Squirmbo from the fanzine masses of the time - including a centerpiece in Bananafish - bewildered the group, who were nevertheless delighted and showed it to their parents. Tragically, our brother Mark S returned to dust in a final selfless gesture in 1994, thereby ending Squirmbo and Vertical Records and drawing the so called “classic era” to a close. The remaining three Squirmbo members, again with Mark V, burrowed deep underground, only to emerge years later cloaked as professional normals who enthusiastically pay their taxes and quote Seinfeld episodes to the satisfaction of their urbane colleagues. Despite the band’s obscurity and present lack of digital representation, analogue Squirmbo and associated Vertical artifacts remain available at Forced Exposure enterprises at original retail prices.
