Back in the early 1980s, Philadelphia was buzzing with all kinds of bands whose names evoke a certain nostalgiac reverence, and even enough lingering buzz that they can mount reunion shows. Bunnydrums leaps to mind.

But there were also really amazing bands on the same scene whose reputations were more like footnotes even though their music was fiercely individual and wholly original.

Narthex was a duo of guitarist/vocalist Michael Ace and drummer Dean Sabatino. The latter went onto fame as a Dead Milkman.

The live mp3s posted on the ookworld.com website led former Philadelphian and jazz punk Skip Heller to ask if there any studio recordings. Luckily, there were, and legendary (re: awfully good) engineer and guitarist Chris Unrath was brought in to make these tapes sing with the verve of their era. And they STOMP.

For those of you who remember when Mission of Burma was a ten dollar show, when the East Side Club ladies room was best entered with a rolled-up dollar bill, when magazines like Terminal and Savage Pink documented a scene every bit as diverse and exciting as any music scene anytime anywhere, this record -- limited edition -- throws it back in your face and into your mind.

By the way -- Skyeways will be doing more punk archival CDR issues like this.