Fast Product: Mutant Pop 78–79 is a monumentally influential archival compilation that chronicles the radical fragmentation of rock music following the initial 1977 punk explosion. Released as an LP in 1980, the record acts as the definitive historical anthology for Bob Last’s short-lived but fiercely visionary independent label, Fast Product, based out of Edinburgh, Scotland. Rather than chasing the standard guitar-driven formulas of first-wave punk, the compilation tracks a loose collective of art-school subversives and synth enthusiasts across northern Britain who were actively dismantling pop music and rebuilding it with a cynical, highly intellectual edge.
The historical weight of this specific release rests on its track list, which boasts the literal first official studio recordings of artists who would redefine alternative music across the globe. By packaging the early, independent output of Leeds Marxist-funk outfits like Gang of Four, Sheffield electronic pioneers The Human League, and local Scottish punk poets like Scars on a single piece of vinyl, the album became a blueprint for the nascent post-punk genre. Serving as a critical bridge to North American markets via PVC Records, Mutant Pop successfully contextualized a scattered underground movement into a coherent, revolutionary musical philosophy.
To listen to Fast Product: Mutant Pop 78–79 is to hear the sound of the modern musical template being violently rewritten in real-time. Coming on the heels of punk’s commercial dilution, this compilation captures a brilliant moment where everything felt entirely up for grabs. The record feels remarkably confrontational, not because it relies on breakneck tempos or standard teenage angst, but because every band featured is actively trying to provoke the listener into thinking. It trades the straightforward pub-rock structures of traditional punk for a cold, sharp, and minimalist production style that still feels ahead of its time.
The album's opening suite by The Mekons sets a brilliantly cynical tone, weaponising anti-rock-star indifference on tracks like "Never Been in a Riot"—a direct, brilliant parody of The Clash's "White Riot". However, the compilation’s true sonic shockwaves come from its brilliant dual centerpieces. The inclusion of The Human League’s original 1978 recordings of "Being Boiled" and "Circus of Death" sounds utterly alien compared to the guitar rock surrounding them. Utilizing stark, monophonic synthesizers and cold drum machines, these tracks laid the entire foundational groundwork for darkwave, industrial, and synth-pop music.
Flip the LP over to Side Two, and the musical tension shifts from cold synthesizers to the jagged, razor-sharp funk of Gang of Four. The inclusion of their iconic trio of tracks—"Love Like Anthrax," "Armalite Rifle," and the original independent version of "Damaged Goods"—is worth the price of admission alone. Andy Gill’s scratching, anti-melodic guitar work and Hugo Burnham’s danceable, metronomic drum loops create a tense, political funk that has been endlessly copied by decades of indie-rock bands but never truly bettered. Even lesser-known cuts from acts like 2-3 and The Flowers hold their weight, offering a fascinating look at the incredible depth of talent operating in the shadows of the late-70s UK scene.
Ultimately, Mutant Pop 78–79 transcends the typical limitations of a label sampler to stand as one of the most vital post-punk documents ever assembled. It avoids dating itself precisely because the music inside was designed to actively reject the trends of its own era. For anyone trying to trace the exact intersection where punk, electronic music, and avant-garde art permanently fused together, this collection remains an absolutely essential listen.
Ripped to MP3
Side One:
1. The Mekons – "Never Been in a Riot"
2. The Mekons – "32 Weeks"
3. The Mekons – "Where Were You?"
4. Scars – "Adult/ery"
5. Scars – "Horrorshow"
6. The Human League – "Being Boiled"
7. The Human League – "Circus of Death"
Side Two:
1. 2-3 – "All Time Low"
2. 2-3 – "Where to Now?"
3. The Flowers – "After Dark"
4. The Flowers – "Confessions"
5. Gang of Four – "Love Like Anthrax"
6. Gang of Four – "Armalite Rifle"
7. Gang of Four – "Damaged Goods"
Thank you! SPx
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