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The Pop Group - Y (Rhino/Warner U.K.)

4 August 2007

This hugely underrated 1979 post-punk debut LP from Bristol, England’s ironically named THE POP GROUP combined funk rhythms, harmolodic jazz principles and skronky sax, dub reggae production techniques (courtesy of DENNIS BOVELL), and radical politics. Notice that punk as a musical style isn’t in the ingredients, at least not on a sonic level (though, a year before the Minutemen even formed, some tracks here strongly anticipate their sound); that’s probably why Y is underrated by rock critics. Punk as an attitude, with its enthusiastic embrace of amateurism, though, is definitely important here. This music makes GANG OF FOUR sound mainstream by comparison; supposed neo-post-punk standard-bearers THE RAPTURE will never, ever have the balls to play music this deconstructed.

Appearing for the third time on CD, it has finally acquired a bonus track: “3:38,” the B-side to the lead track, “She Is Beyond Good and Evil,” is actually just the A-side’s instrumental track played backwards. I’m probably expected to rail against Rhino for not issuing it here, but three years ago Soul Jazz did a MARK STEWART compilation that included Pop Group tracks; it was the poorest-selling Soul Jazz comp in the history of Sound Fix. I’m just happy Y is available at all. Grab it while you have the chance.