features in: Album Chart of 1978 ● Album Chart of the Decade: 1970s |
With two non-album singles and a Peel session behind them, the artful County Durham group of pop-rockers / new wavers / punkers released their debut long player in October, 1978. The five-piece lined up: Pauline Murray (vocals), Fred Purser (lead guitar), Neale Floyd (guitar), Robert Blamire (bass) and Gary Smallman (drums, percussion). Guitarist Gary Chaplin (who co-wrote many of these songs) had recently departed, and was replaced by Neale Floyd. This was perceived as a blow by the punkier element of their fanbase. That said, it's Floyd's “Future Daze” which opens the set in fine style, galloping along like a champion, as the group's greatest asset, Pauline Murray, comes over as cool as Debbie Harry, with a wide range of expressions and a whole lot of energy. This excitement is maintained on “Life's A Gamble”, the album's lead (and only) single, revealing the group's new love of the power pop style. It's good, but it's clear that they're willing to take a gamble with their Punk fans loyalty. From thereon the album is fairly consistent in being decent without ever being truly thrilling. The set closes interestingly with two covers “Nostalgia” (Buzzcocks, 1978) - it wasn't a classic then and it isn't one here - and “Freemoney” (Patti Smith, 1975) which they had been playing live from their beginning; it's well done and makes perfect sense as an album closer, touching the very essence of their formula.
The Jukebox Rebel
12–Aug–2016
Tracklist |
A1 | [03:05] Penetration - Future Daze (Neale Floyd, Pauline Murray) New Wave |
A2 | [02:50] Penetration - Life’s A Gamble (Gary Chaplin, Pauline Murray) New Wave |
A3 | [03:50] Penetration - Lovers Of Outrage (Gary Chaplin, Pauline Murray) New Wave |
A4 | [03:34] Penetration - Vision (Robert Blamire, Pauline Murray) New Wave |
A5 | [03:30] Penetration - Silent Community (Gary Chaplin, Pauline Murray) Punk |
A6 | [03:14] Penetration - Stone Heroes (Neale Floyd, Robert Blamire, Pauline Murray) Punk |
B1 | [03:20] Penetration - Movement (Robert Blamire, Pauline Murray) New Wave |
B2 | [03:43] Penetration - Too Many Friends (Robert Blamire, Pauline Murray, Fred Purser) Dubbeat |
B3 | [03:52] Penetration - Reunion (Neale Floyd, Pauline Murray) Moodcore |
B4 | [03:47] Penetration - Nostalgia (Pete Shelley) Punk |
B5 | [04:20] Penetration - Freemoney (Patti Smith, Lenny Kaye) Punk |