Various Artists - [FAST Product]

Fast Product was a seminal independent record label founded in Edinburgh in late 1977 by Bob Last and Hilary Morrison, serving as a vital catalyst for the UK post-punk movement. Defined by a "difficult fun" manifesto and a DIY, left-field political ethos, the label is famously responsible for launching the careers of influential acts like Gang of Four, The Human League, and The Mekons. Its output challenged mainstream music conventions through inventive marketing—such as its "Earcom" compilation series and "Mutant Pop" branding—and distinctive visual design, often blending highbrow theory with populist instincts. Although the label only operated until 1979 before being succeeded by Pop Aural, its experimental approach and willingness to bypass major-label distribution provided a blueprint for later legendary indies like Factory Records and Rough Trade.

Fast Product stands as a pivotal architect of the UK’s post-punk landscape, operating from an Edinburgh flat between 1977 and 1979. Founded by Bob Last and Hilary Morrison, the label functioned less as a traditional music company and more as a provocative brand that merged Situationist-inspired theory with a DIY ethos. By rejecting major-label conventions in favour of a "difficult fun" manifesto, it provided a radical blueprint for future legendary independents like Factory Records and Rough Trade.

The label’s legacy is anchored by an extraordinary track record of discovery, having launched the careers of The Human League, Gang of Four, and The Mekons. Releases like The Human League's "Being Boiled" and Gang of Four's "Damaged Goods" EP are now considered landmark recordings that pushed punk’s raw energy into more intellectual, experimental, and electronic territories. Even more established acts like Joy Division and Dead Kennedys found a home on the label's innovative Earcom compilation series and early UK distribution slots.

Visually and conceptually, Fast Product was ahead of its time, employing a "mutant pop" aesthetic characterized by caustic, postmodern artwork and satirical takes on consumerism. The packaging often featured bold DayGlo colours and highbrow theoretical nods, framing the music as a product to be interrogated rather than just consumed. This approach extended to their "Earcom" releases—described as "aural magazines"—which bundled disparate acts together to create a curated snapshot of the burgeoning scene.

Ultimately, Fast Product’s brief but brilliant run proved that a small, independent outfit could outmanoeuvre the music industry's gatekeepers through sheer creative will and strategic branding. While it eventually transitioned into the Pop Aural label in 1980, its initial output remains a "perfect back catalogue" of maverick independence. For collectors and historians, the label represents the moment when the "socialist" DIY spirit of punk successfully mutated into the sophisticated, art-driven world of post-punk.

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Various Artists - [FAST Product] Earcom#1

Various Artists - [FAST Product] Earcom#2

Various Artists - [FAST Product] Earcom#3 2x7''

Various Artists - [FAST Product] Mutant Pop 78~79

Various Artists - [FAST Product] Rigour Discipline And Disgust