International Sound Communication (frequently abbreviated as I.S.C.) was a series of compilation cassettes, compiled and distributed as a

mail art Mail art, also known as postal art and correspondence art, is an artistic movement centered on sending small-scale works through the mail, postal service. It developed out of what eventually became Ray Johnson's New York Correspondence School and ...

project by Andi Xport from

Peterborough Peterborough ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city in the City of Peterborough district in the Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county of Cambridgeshire, England. The city is north of London, on the River Nene. A ...

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

, in the mid-1980s. Fifteen volumes were issued.Andi Xport on MySpace
/ref> The series was intended to provide an outlet for any kind of music from any country in the world. Most artists who appeared were not signed to a record label, but had released their music privately on cassettes sold via mail, and these were often the source of the material that appeared on the compilations. All volumes came with a list of contact addresses, with the exception of artists from "

Iron Curtain The Iron Curtain was the political and physical boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas from the end of World War II in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1991. On the east side of the Iron Curtain were countries connected to the So ...

" or

Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

countries whose addresses were not published, to protect them from government persecution, as the "importation" of

Western culture Western culture, also known as Western civilization, European civilization, Occidental culture, Western society, or simply the West, refers to the Cultural heritage, internally diverse culture of the Western world. The term "Western" encompas ...

and influences, and communication with artists outside the Soviet Union, without government approval were generally illegal. In those cases, a contact address for an associate outside of the Soviet Union was provided. As stated on the inserts, "All bands and individuals featured on I.S.C. comps have more music available, so get in touch now!" A slogan, "Communicate to Create" often appeared. In addition to compiling the series, Andi Xport recorded under the name Man's Hate, which was also the name of his cassette label which distributed I.S.C. (plus 5 cassette albums by Man's Hate). Xport was also a member of APF Brigade, and The Peace & Freedom Band. Xport claims that more than 3,000 tapes were sent to him, and many had to be stored under his bed due to space limitations. Released on the same date as volume 13, an extra volume appeared as The Noise Collective which, although presented as an artist name, was actually another compilation project. All tracks were collaborations between two or more artists, most of whom had appeared previously on I.S.C. The collaborations were accomplished by having the artists send each other unfinished recordings through the mail. The tracks were edited to overlap and segue, forming a continuous suite on each side of the tape. Volumes 1 to 8 were C-60 (60-minute) tapes, with a cover price of £1.00. The remaining volumes, including The Noise Collective, were C-90 with a cover price of £1.50. Volumes 1 to 9 used a fold-out insert, while volume 10 had a cardboard insert separate from the track list and contacts sheet. Starting with volume 11 (and including The Noise Collective), the outer cover was a cardboard sleeve wrapped around the plastic jewel case.

Track listings

''I.S.C. No. 1'' (on front)
''International Sound Communication'' (on spine)
not dated, issued 1984 or 1985
60 minutes
Comment on cover: "Music from Belgium, England, Japan, Norway, Scotland, U.S.A. & Wales. All the hits of the 80s on one great cassette!" ''I.S.C. 2'' (on front)
''International Sound Communication 2'' (on spine)
16 March 1985
60 minutes
Comment on cover: "Ape shit maaan!" ''I.S.C. 3'' (on front)
''International Sound Communiqué 3'' (on spine)
22 April 1985
60 minutes ''I.S.C. 4''
Track list not available
List of artists (from advertisement):

The Klinik Klinik, (sometimes called The Klinik), is an industrial music band from Belgium, originally formed around 1982 by electro-synthpop practitioner Marc Verhaeghen, who is the only constant member. History Marc Verhaeghen originally formed Klinik ...

; Unknownmix; Bloody Hypocrites; F/i; The Dreg; Unovidual; Electro Hippies; D.V.A. Minuta Mrznje; Les Bouseaux Pychedeliques; The Affairs;

If, Bwana If, Bwana is the pseudonym of noise music artist Alan M. Margolis. History Al Margolis has been working under the musical pseudonym If, Bwana since New Year's Day 1984. The moniker is an acronym for "It's Funny, But We Are Not Amused." He has sin ...

; Anathema; Synthetic Productions; Miasma; Pseudo Code; The Submensa's; M.A.L.; Narzisse
List of countries: Belgium; England; France; Northern Ireland; Switzerland; USA; West Germany; Yugoslavia ''International Sound Communication 5'' (on front)
''I.S.C. 5'' (on spine)
27 July 1985
60 minutes ''I.S.C. 6''
10 October 1985
60 minutes ''I.S.C. 7''
Track list not available
List of artists (from advertisement): Alan Cornelius; Post War; Mystery Hearsay; Last Rites; Headcleaners; Famlende Forsok; Paranoid Visions; N.B.N.; Opera Multisteel; The Apostles; Face in the Crowd; Fever Heroes; Celestial Orgy; In ' 8; Compulsion Brothers; C'llaaps
List of countries: England; France; Ireland; Japan; Norway; Scotland; USA; Wales ''International Sound Communication Compilation Volume Number Eight''
1 January 1986
60 minutes ''International Sound Communication Volume Number Nine''
22 February 1986
90 minutes
Comment on cover: "It's like an electric chair in your living room!" ''I.S.C. 10''
6 April 1986
90 minutes
Comment on cover: "Stop pushing, there's enough copy's for everyone" ''International Sound Communication Eleven''
26 July 1986
90 minutes
Comment on cover: "What are YOU doing to protect yourself from: (Misinformation... Half-truths... Mind Rot...) MEDIA BURN, the Nation's leading mental crippler - Nothing? Then Turn On, Tune In, And Drop Out With I.S.C." ''International Sound Communication Twelve''
18 October 1986
90 minutes ''I S C Thirteen''
21 March 1987
90 minutes
Comment on cover: "Unlucky for some" The Noise Collective
''Hello! Hello! Can Anyone Hear Me?''
21 March 1987
90 minutes
Each track is a collaboration between two or more artists. ''International Sound Communication Compilation Volume Number Fourteen''
not dated, issued 1987
90 minutes
Comment on cover: "Load up with I.S.C., get a copy now!" ''I.S.C. 15''
Track list not available

References

{{reflist Music publications Sound 1980s compilation albums Experimental music compilation albums Compilation album series

Track listings

See also

References