When All Else Fails... (2005 16-17 album)

The two-CD collection, When All Else Fails...a.k.a. Early Recordings, gathers together three different recordings by Swiss trio 16-17: 1984's Hardkore & Buffbunker (disc one, tracks 8-12), 1987's 16-17 (disc one, tracks 1-7), and 1989's When All Else Fails (disc two). This live album by the industrial punk jazz band was released on May 20, 2005, by Savage Land.^[1]

When All Else Fails... (1983–1998)
Live album by 16-17
Released	May 20, 2005 (2005-05-20)
Recorded	1983–1989
Genre	Industrial, punk jazz
Length	86:51
Label	Savaage Land
Producer	16-17
16-17 chronology
Human Distortion (1998) When All Else Fails... (1983–1998) (2005) Gyatso (2008)

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]

AllMusic staff writer William York calls the formula simple: "maniacal drumming, noisy guitar, and paint-peeling saxophone steamrolling ahead for three to five minutes at a time".^[2] And the Dusted Magazine writer Doug Mosurock reviews: "By the time of 1989’s When All Else Fails LP, 16-17 had become, unbelievably, even more aggressive, this time as a result of Kneubühler adding new technologies and a whole palette of unconventional sound-generating devices to his setup. The approach here is positively industrial at times, as on “Pedestrian Dub,” where sax and guitar are infused with enveloped, processed barbs that make each bleat and downstroke sound like wavering sheet metal, and Remond’s shell tones all the more alien. The cyclic rhythms of their earlier work reappear on “Who Planned All This?” and “Clap Trap,” but the rictus of dance rhythms and the drive to innovate moved the band beyond earlier works..."^[3]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Alex Buess, Markus Kneubuehler, Knut Remond (16-17)

Disc One: 16-17 / Buffbunker & Hardkore

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Kat"	2:40
2.	"Speech"	1:22
3.	"Direkt B"	3:28
4.	"Davul"	4:15
5.	"Eva 4"	3:27
6.	"Bomba Bomba"	8:42
7.	"Watch!"	7:40
8.	"Hardkore I"	2:59
9.	"Hardkore II"	4:08
10.	"Buffbunker IV"	7:04
11.	"Hardkore III"	2:34
12.	"Hardkore IV"	2:08
Total length:		50:27

Disc Two: When All Else Fails...

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Sneak Preview"	4:30
2.	"Pedestrian Dub"	7:17
3.	"Browbeaten Beat"	6:59
4.	"Who Planned All This?"	6:29
5.	"Clap Trap"	5:06
6.	"Spit It Out"	6:03
Total length:		36:24 86:51 (Total)

Personnel

Adapted from the When All Else Fails... liner notes.

16-17

• Alex Buess – saxophones, electronics, vocals, oboe (track4), bass(tracks10 and 13)
• Knut Remond – drums, percussion, bass (track4), electronic shaker, Welson organ
• Markus Kneubühler – guitar, synths, electronics

Additional musicians and production

• Alison Gangler – shawm and oboe (track4)
• Weasel Walter – mastering
• 16-17 & RIV – Artwork
• Alex Buess – engineer

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Format	Catalog
Europe	2005	Savage Land	CD	SL 01 and 02