The name Josef K evokes an image of the proverbial nebbish, transformed -- or better stated, to cross literary references, having undergone a metamorphosis, into an insect. Mr. K is (perhaps arguably) the alter-ego of Austrian Jewish self-doubter Franz Kafka from The Trial, a man whose life is nothing if not an internalized riddle. To most, the name isn't synonymous with cutting edge new wave and post punk rock.
In the late 1970's and early 80's, the name Josef K had another meaning among the underground denizens of New York, and across the pond on the Sceptered Isle. A foursome of Scotts, later mingling skills with Aztec Camera and Nick Currie -- or better, Momus, the band channeled the dark zeitgeist of Joy Division, Television and Pere Ubu, clanging spare, earnest song craft with haunting vocals. And like their similar sounding precedents, they were tragically short lived, gone before the wealth of their work could be released, let along explored.
Josef K is most notable for their posthumous work, deriving fans more than two decades late. Only releasing one true album (a number of unrecorded works and EP's linger) during their life span, they are rife for a thorough re-release revision. Best among the repackaging is the 2002 Re-issue of Young and Stupid a third attempt at perfecting the album that began as twelve songs, swelling to 21 over time. Compiling more solid songs from the duration of brief fertile period is Entomology another 22 tracks from places as divergent as an aborted album, Sorry For Laughing and a 1981 Peel Session. It is a hodgepodge for sure, and not a cohesive sounding record, but it showcases an underappreciated talent. Josef K careened around the scene for a short time, but there was something there extraordinary. If the glimpse is only to be had in nostalgia exercises like Entomology, then so be it. It's better to know a little of this bug than none at all. |