SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VARIOUS ARTISTS – MOVING AWAY FROM THE PULSEBEAT: POST-PUNK BRITAIN 1977-1981

VARIOUS ARTISTS
MOVING AWAY FROM THE PULSEBEAT: POST-PUNK BRITAIN 1977-1981
CHERRY RED RECORDS

When ‘punk rock’ exploded on the scene in 1976, the bands (and fans) had to know that there would be a ‘best before’ date on that music. It either morphed into the North American genre of punk or it had to morph into other forms and styles of music. In the U.K. the bands such as Sex Pistols, The Jam, The Clash, The Buzzcocks, and The Damned went from punk to new wave, pop, and straight-ahead rock. But there had to be a transition period, which this album sums up very nicely. The years 1977 to 1981 saw the punk movement change and evolve into other forms, and has come to be known as ‘post-punk’. This elaborate and pretty thorough box set provides a snapshot into a period of time when exploration in music was not only welcomed, it was encouraged.

The title of this album comes from a Buzzcocks track, “Moving Away From The Pulsebeat” (which is included in the five CDs box set) which is a good example of a band that grew and over the years produced some of the most interesting music released in the UK. Over the years, they and other bands grew and explored and recorded albums that, to this day, are exciting and full of interesting and exciting music. No, it isn’t punk, but it does embody the spirit of the original punk movement. These bands include John Lydon (known as Johnny Rotten who formed Public Image Limited (P.I.L.) after he left Sex Pistols. Lydon incorporated dub, reggae, rock, and a lot of other forms of music to create the incredible catalogue of P.I.L.  They are included in this collection with the landmark and influential song “Poptones”.

Other bands who were influenced by the punk movement are also included, such as Magazine, Tubeway Army (featuring Gary Numan), Joy Division, The The, and The Birthday Party (with Nick Cave) to name just a few, are also represented here with classic album tracks and a few singles. As usual, Cherry Red doesn’t add the well-known tracks or hits, but rather includes more deep cuts. XTC’s “Crowded Room” is a gem that is on their second album Go 2. The Human League’s “The Path Of Least Resistance” from their album Reproduction, shows just how experimental and exciting they were in their early days.

This box set is indispensable in presenting a strong argument that this period of music was not only as creative but as exciting as the original punk explosion. These bands had (and have) the talent to produce music that has stood the test of time and still sounds as good today as it did 40 plus years ago. Throbbing Gristle, The Fall, and Furniture all produced singles and albums that were full of unusual sounds and lyrics that attracted and influenced another generation of musicians and artists. Their music found in this collection was as influential as any other band or movement. Some artists are included that one may think they know, but the songs here demonstrate a totally different sensibility in the early days of their career. Dead Or Alive, Adam Ant, Scriti Politti, and Echo And The Bunnymen are here with songs that do not sound anything like the bands who charted the tops in the 1980s.

Even though the collection is five CDs and well thought out, there are still some baffling omissions. Wire should be included as well as Duruti Column, Thompson Twins, and Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark. But this is a small problem as the rest of the collection makes up for these gaps. It is so great seeing other obscure bands such as Swell Maps, The Ruts, and In Camera included to give them some exposure they so richly deserve.

Moving Away From The Pulsebeat: Post Punk Britain 1977 – 1981 is another fantastic collection from Cherry Red. It is an extensive collection full of brilliant lost songs that were produced during a very exciting time period of music. All of these bands continued to surprise and enlighten their fans with new sounds, productions, lyrics, and art. It would not have happened without the UK ‘punk’ scene and new wave and synth pop would not have been possible without this bridge time period. This is an important album because it provides a chance for a great deal of music to be discovered (or in some cases rediscovered) and one hopes that those who purchase the collection dip into the music of each of the artists.

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