ZE records etc: My topic: ZE records, and the New York Underground in the late 70s and early 80s

ZE records was a label started by Michel Esteban and Michael Zilkha in 1978. Both were foreigners, who moved to New York City. They founded their label the year after punk "broke", although most of the artists on ZE would not have necessarily identified themselves as part of that movement. These artists include Lizzy Mercier Descloux, Kid Creole and the Coconuts, Was (Not Was), Cristina, Lydia Lunch, Mars, James Chance, and many others. The music recorded varied in form; at times you got postmodern takes on Disco music, and at other times you got guitar heavy, distortion drenched music that was arguably more punk rock itself. Even if it didn't fit into these two categories, the music usually took on a very compelling form. Many of the musicians were also very involved in the contemporary art scene at the time. Jean Michel-Basquiat and Vincent Gallo were in a band together (Grayling), that played shows with many of the bands under the ZE records umbrella.

I'm interested in this particular subculture and era because it combined the anti-establishment mentality of punk rock, with the excessive exuberance and multi-cultural inclusiveness of disco. In fact, I'd say that traces of punk, disco, and hip-hop were all present in this subculture to varying degrees. What was happening in New York's underground at that time is in my opinion similar to a lot of trends we see in music these days, although on a more underground scale.

In any event, here are some videos so you can get a flavor.

Kid Creole and the Coconuts