The demo tape, titled lliteracy Will Prevail, from grunge legend Kurt Cobain's first band, Fecal Matter, emerged earlier this week. Currently available for the first time online, the latest addition to many previously unheard leaks from Cobain's discography, the tracks feature the Nirvana front man on guitar and vocals with Greg Hokanson on drums and Dale Crover of The Melvins on bass. Although the origin of the tape's leak is unknown, "the demo has never been heard in its entirety before and was crucial to the formation of NIrvana," according to The Independent.
A little under an hour in duration, the demo showcases the then adolescent Cobain's angst filled vocals and punk infused riffs. Described as "short lived" by NME, Fecal Matter's early recordings still remain vital in charting the evolution of the act that would later become Nirvana and revisit "Spank Thru." The demo also features an early version of what would later become one of Bleach's most visceral anthems, "Downer."
The release's resurfacing coincides with re-release of the documentary, Montage of Heck, which also features lesser-known recordings by the late rock icon. Whether intentional or simply coincidental, the recent leaks of Cobain's lesser-known back catalog and b-sides has, in a way, fostered a revival of the already widely-celebrated king of grunge.
Listen to Illiteracy Will Prevail below:
View the complete track list below:
01. Sound of Dentage
02. Bambi Slaughter
03. Laminated Effect
04. Blathers Log
05. Class of '86
06. Boatakk
07. Love My Family
08. Accusations
09. Spank Thru
10. Insurance
11. Buffy's Pregnant
12. Vaseline
13. Downer
14. Instrumental version of Boatakk
15. Riffs & "Turnaround" by Devo
