ALBUM REVIEWS
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ALBUM REVIEWS |
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Various artists
BUSTIN’ OUT: NEW WAVE TO NEW BEAT: 1982 YEAR ZERO 7.6.10 @www.vanguard-online.co.uk
When I reviewed the first instalment of this series (“New Wave to New Beat: The Post-Punk era 1979-1981”) back in February, I struggled to decide how relevant the music it featured was to a modern audience, but finally settled on the concept of the album being a time capsule for a niche genre. And so we look upon volume two, which solely concerns itself with 1982, seemingly the heyday of the movement. So what’s different about these tracks, apart from having the prefix of “Post-punk” removed? Well, to begin with, the tracks are becoming more recognisably mainstream (although not totally I hasten to add), with beats and hooks that remind me of the recent artists they have inspired. Take album opener, “Goldfinger” by Die Krupps for example: their sound is solid 80s electro pop in the vein of Kraftwerk, but vocally it’s clear where Franz Ferdinand got some of their ideas from. “Pounding System” by Dub Syndicate, on the other hand, is full-on reggae – a notable change in pace mid-album, and a sign that experimentation was very much present. How does it compare to the first volume? Favourably I’d say. You’re unlikely to find anybody buying this who didn’t go out in search of the first album, but the tracks feel more complete. There’s also a greater feeling of musical progression as we move through the album; I would imagine this to be deliberate on the behalf of compilier Mike Maguire to show the genre growing up. I look forward to the third installation to see where we’re going to go next. www.futurenoisemusic.com More Bustin’ Out on Vanguard Online: Album Review – March 10 |
