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Artist
Sometime in 1982 or 1983 in Manchester’s Hulme district the Inca Babies were formed. Hulme, a concrete, deck access ‘streets in the sky’ projects, was at that time a demi-bohemia over run with artists, musicians, students, addicts and ‘ne’er do wells’. Previous tenants, mainly families, put there to benefit from this ‘magical new living space’, realising a slum was a slum regardless of how high off the ground you put it, had long gone. At the time Manchester music was gripped by a schizophrenic Jazz funk scene which was emulated by the ‘indie’ scene’s own approximation with its ‘jangly, dancy’ pop. In this climate the Inca Babies had no choice but to come up with their own sound. What resulted was a Raunchy Death Ray twang from a punk-trash, Americana perspective. Link Wray, The Cramps, The Gun Club and The Birthday Party were the spirit guidance, and a big influence. But, because the Incas were an obscenely English band impertinently playing out of their continent, people didn’t get it at first. However musicologist C.P Lee in his book on the Manchester music scene must have spotted something when he called them the ‘Hulme Cramps’. So indeed, must Radio 1 DJ John Peel and his producer John Walters. They took one listen to the first single The Interior and offered them a session on the spot. It was to be the first of four they did for Radio 1 between 1984-87. After this there was a frenzy of bookings for their rowdy live shows. No Cub Scout hut was too small or warehouse