Family Fodder ‎– Monkey Banana Kitchen VG+/VG

Monkey Banana Kitchen

is the 1980 debut album by the British experimental rock band Family Fodder. A wildly eclectic mix of post-punk, avant-garde, and playful absurdity, the album showcases the band’s knack for blending unconventional song structures with surreal lyricism and a DIY ethos.

The record is a sonic collage, weaving together elements of dub, new wave, and art rock, with tracks shifting between English, French, and German lyrics. Songs like Savoir Faire and Monkey highlight the band’s ability to craft infectious yet off-kilter melodies, while Organ Grinder reimagines Schubert’s Der Leiermann in a way that feels both eerie and whimsical.

Critically, Monkey Banana Kitchen was celebrated for its adventurous spirit and was later included in The Wire‘s list of “100 Records That Set the World on Fire (While No One Was Listening)”. It remains a cult favorite, embodying the playful yet subversive energy of the early ’80s underground scene.