"No sequence to follow, no fear of tomorrow."
When mentioning the movers and shakers of the early days of Post-Punk, bands such as Gang of Four, Wire, and Siouxsie and The Banshees (for whom the term "Post-Punk" was coined) are usually the first mentioned; however, there were a number of other bands who were just as instrumental in the rise of this innovative and exceedingly influential movement though they ended up with much smaller, and consequently lesser known, discographies. The Pop Group, an ironically-named outfit of Agit-Funk-Punk provocateurs from Bristol, were just such a band. Much like Gang of Four, The Pop Group were interested in ideology critique from a decidedly radical leftist perspective; however, unlike their Leeds-based cousins, theirs is a much more fractured and varied approach, often pushing the discord and abrasiveness to aesthetic extremes while integrating Funk, Dub, Jazz, and Punk influences. On their striking debut, Y, The Pop Group find a perfect balance between political didacticism and sonic adventurousness. For example, on the brilliant "She Is Beyond Good and Evil," lead singer Mark Stewart sounds something like Ian McCulloch channeling Birthday Party-era Nick Cave while fronting The Clash. Drenched in Dub-style reverb that lends the song an increasing sense of claustrophobia, it is one of the most memorable and creepy songs of the early Post-Punk milieu. The remainder of the album is full of unforeseen twists and turns; from the Aladdin Sane-style lounge piano turned upside down and inside out on "Snowgirl" to the cannibalistic Funk of "Don't Call Me Pain," Y makes a strong case for being one of the most demanding and fascinating albums of its era. While The Pop Group's follow-up LP For How Much Longer Do We Tolerate Mass Murder? maintains the Funk-inspired approach of the debut, it is far less experimental in nature; as a result, the lyrics, and thus the political rants, are pushed to the foreground, which actually works to the detriment of the band's purpose. Nevertheless, there are some worthy moments, including "Feed the Hungry," a straight-up Funk song with some deliciously abrasive guitar work. While not as accomplished as some of their more famous contemporaries, The Pop Group were masters of a Punk and Dub influenced brand of Agit-Rock that still retains its chaotic and unconventional qualities to this day.
Y (2006 Remastered Edition)
1. She Is Beyond Good and Evil (3:23)
2. Thief of Fire (4:35)
3. Snowgirl (3:21)
4. Blood Money (2:57)
5. We Are Time (6:29)
6. Savage Sea (3:02)
7. Words Disobey Me (3:26)
8. Don't Call Me Pain (5:35)
9. The Boys from Brazil (4:16)
10. Don't Sell Your Dreams (6:42)
-Bonus Track-
11. 3:38 (3:41)
How Much Longer Do We Tolerate Mass Murder?
1. Forces of Oppression (2:34)
2. Feed the Hungry (4:16)
3. One Out of Many (1:53)
4. Blind Faith (4:03)
5. How Much Longer (4:58)
6. Justice (3:06)
7. There Are No Spectators (4:13)
8. Communicate (4:40)
9. Rob a Bank (2:18)
1. Forces of Oppression (2:34)
2. Feed the Hungry (4:16)
3. One Out of Many (1:53)
4. Blind Faith (4:03)
5. How Much Longer (4:58)
6. Justice (3:06)
7. There Are No Spectators (4:13)
8. Communicate (4:40)
9. Rob a Bank (2:18)
I have this in MP3,FLAC will be welcome.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting albums.
sunday, personally, I like "Y" a lot more than the second album. "Y" might be one of my favorite early Post-Punk albums
ReplyDeleteTruly great post, grabbing "Y" because I haven't listened to the bonus track.
ReplyDeleteDo you think you could post the We Are Time compilation? I haven't listened to it yet and I'd love to.
Thanks for this anyway, I really like Y, it's one of the most unique and uncompromising albums ever.
Wow Gang of Four and Aladdin Sane plus channeling Nick Cave's Birthday Party through The Clash all in one cd review! I have to hear this band and right now!
ReplyDeletesummer freeze, "Y" is amazing. The more I listen to it, the higher it moves up on my list of essentials. Unfortunately, I don't have the comp, sorry
ReplyDeleteScurfie, this one is a wild ride for sure. The first album is amazing; the second not quite as much, but still very good
ReplyDeleteI like both these records, though it is true "Y" is the superior one, despite the latter's awesome title. Think I'll have to DL "Y" for the bonus track. I'll bump it to the front of the listening cue! Thanks, V.
ReplyDeletereindeer man, my pleasure. "Y" is remastered and sounds pretty good
ReplyDeleteTwo amazing albums. Cannot underestimate the influence of producer Dennis Bovell on Y. Bovell also was the musical genius behind the classic albums by Linton Kwesi Johnson (Forces Of Victory, Bass Culture and LKJ In Dub). So anyone who digs Y should look up the first three albums by Mark Stewart and the Maffia, on which On-U Sound mastermind Adrian Sherwood would take a role similar to Bovell. Also you might argue that the reggae and industrial funk line-ups of the Maffia feature substantially better players than the Pop Group. Where the Pop Group were influenced by Reggae and Funk, the Maffia were the real thing.
ReplyDeleteAnon. strange you should mention Mark Stewart and the Maffia, I plan to post their first album quite soon. Thank you for the recommendations!
ReplyDelete