Anti-State, Various Artists
The concept of 'anarcho-punk' nowadays is, unfortunately, at best an anachronism and at worst an oxymoron. It's arguably slightly embarrassing for bands to start preaching about their political views when all the kids want to do is rawk, even though contextually we exist in a time as dangerous and prohibitive as anything encountered in the Seventies. But then again I was born in 1983 and most of the bands showcased on Anti-State had already come and gone by the time I'd finished crapping myself.
A main obstacle to a resurgence in anarcho (for the uninitiated – fast street punk with a basic, raw edge that virtually shunned any musical innovation in favour of powerful lyrical truth) is the preconceived idea that it's an exclusive club populated by grizzled old timers with more safety pins in their bodies than red blood cells. With this in mind it's nothing less than a welcome surprise to find that Anti-State is accompanied by some enlightening and informative sleeve notes that, rather than taking the path most trodden towards glorifying ye olde days of punke rocke, provide a helpful insight into where these bands were coming from, politically and socially. It's strange getting misty-eyed for an era that was booming while I was still residing in my Dad's scrotum as sperm, but even the most cursory glance through the excellent inlay makes you want to learn more – surely the biggest compliment that can be paid for a retrospective?
Musically, it's a very mixed bag, perhaps so that everyone will have their own take on this particular breed of punk. The real gems come from Decadent Few, Toxic Waste and Urban Decay, while The Subhumans are showcased with the underwhelming 'So Much Money' which doesn't show them to be the legends they've grown up to be. 'Stonehenge' by Disrupters strays strangely towards a hippy-ish vibe, and Chumbawumba's first ever release 'Revolution' proves to be the standout track on the collection. There is some utter pap too – The Mob and Blyth Power just come off sounding twee and trite compared to the sturm and drang of Amebix, just as Assassins also don't quite cut the mustard.
Anti-State comes highly recommended, not only as a historical document but also as a worthy introduction to a sub-genre that has dissolved into memory over the last two decades. If you're into old school punk rock or hardcore and want to step a touch further back in time then you could do far worse than giving this a whirl.
Ben
www.overgroundrecords.co.uk
