OH’DEV
According to bandmembers the name comes from a populistic 50ties Hollywood movie. The female ‘sexbomb’ drops the line “oh’ dev”.
Oh’Dev basic line up was Ruud – drums, Andre (Meer Staal) – guitar and Dirk – Bas. It could be that Dirk was not always in the band, but he played on the Limbabwe recordings. Vocalist could change. In the downloads below two different vocalists are mentioned: Harry (also guitar) and Hans.
The music is a kind of ‘noise-rock’ strongly influenced by Sonic Youth, Scratch Acid and such. Mostly I like bands in the style a-la Oh’Dev, but somehow I never seem to be able listening through a full release of them. After two songs it starts to bore me and I loose interest. Andre’s guitar playing is based on no skills (he cannot play for real). Although creative in Meer Staal with percussion and vocals, on guitar he seems to be limited and the noise becomes an assembled repeating structure that loses attention after 5 minutes. Funny anecdote to this is that Andre called himself after the guitar he played: ‘King Zolo’. A cheap piece of crap dumped by Sonic Youth.
Both vocalists didn’t manage to capture the listeners either.
Oh’Dev tried to ‘make’ it. They took every gig offered. Manage to do a few shows abroad and released more records on other, lesser underground than Limbabwe, indie labels. Despite what members try to make us believe nowadays, they never achieved a status in fame and creativity like some other Limbabwe bands (Meer Staal, Pandemonium,….). Non of their releases sold for real. The band float(s) well on smooth bizznix talk from the drummer.
OH’DEV – RAVING BONKERS (Limbabwe vinyl 4) 1985
Both Oh’Dev Limbabwe releases came in the same year 1985. A vinyl and cassette tape. Don’t remember what came first. I think it was the vinyl.
The record was a 12” 45rpm with 6 songs. Blue/red/black cover. The label only showed the letters A and B with a star.
The combination of colors blue, red and black creates an overall purple shine.
Hans was the vocalist on these recordings.
Recorded and mastered by Henk. Produced by Oh’Dev
Tracklist:
1) The Gutter
2) Cock
3) Raving Bonkers
4) Past
5) Fear
6) On your Knees
Download the bonkers here:
https://www.limbabwe.com/music/Oh_Dev_Raving_Bonkers.zip
OH’DEV – 84/85 MANIA (Limbabwe 20) 1985
Compilation tape of unreleased recordings done in 1984 and 1985.
Vocals (and also guitar) by Harry
Recorded by Henk, Gerard and Matski. Produced by Oh’Dev
Tracklist:
1 Bev-A’Dilly
2 Keep A Treasure
3 Cock
4 Don’t Push
5 The Target
6 Lick my Ass
7 Honeymoon Prince
8 My Girl
Download the maniacs here:
https://www.limbabwe.com/music/Oh_Dev_84-85_Mania.zip
OH’DEV – COMPLETE
If you want to have both plus ‘Untitled’ from ‘Money Makes Justice’ compilation click here:
https://www.limbabwe.com/music/Oh_Dev_Complete.zip
Its now months later and found two more songs from Oh’ Dev: ‘Hey Joe’ and ‘Black Baby’. These two tracks are not unknown to me. I remember these recordings, but was never released on Limbabwe. Don’t know if appeared somewhere else. Anyway, found them in the middle of an old sticky reel that snapped just after ‘Hey Joe’ finished, saved just in time. The zip is called ‘Oh Dev Extra’ and isn’t included with ‘Oh Dev Complete’.
Download here: https://www.limbabwe.com/music/Oh_Dev_Extra.zip
Problems with downloads or broken links? Please report.