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.

Earcom #2: Contradiction

Not long now until Christmas is upon us with all the present giving and receiving, so in keeping with the spirit of  the season I'm going to carry on regardless of weather conditions, alcohol consumption and festive eating by getting back to basic posting. Below is the last in the series of compilations (did I hear a sigh?) for this year with a view to returning to them later in 2019. The volume of views to the posts shows that there is indeed an interest in all of them (some more than others) from you all.
Thanks to you all for your support this year, now lets us see what December has in store for us.

This is the second 12” [Fast Product] Earcom compilation of up and coming "bigger than the sum of its parts" exploration into twitchy pop music, even though we are talking about some pretty tasty adventures here. The Thursdays (whose recorded output seems to solely consist of the two songs contributed here) opener “Perfection” took me straight to the Big Boys (something better than good in my book), while their take on Otis Redding's 1968 posthumous "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" hit is a good curve ball to throw in there, specially without the whistling part and the slowed down dynamics. The songs were recorded onto 8 track and mixed at Barclay Towers in Edinburgh, June 1979. Basczax ("bass+sax”), is probably the most enjoyable stuff on here, "Karleearn Photography" (what's with the spelling?) being the perfect crown jewel it is, if synths and jerky, rhythmic formation flying are your thing. These songs were recorded onto 16 track at Cargo in Rochdale. Joy Division are certainly beyond introductions, so let's just say that these two tracks were part of the Martin Hannett produced Unknown Pleasures sessions undertaken at Strawberry Studios in Stockport. They ended up being officially released on Substance and the Heart and Soul box set.

A (more micro than macro) optimus prime historic piece of a snapshot.

Earcom #1

When releasing this (12" EP) first issue of the Earcom compilations, Bob Last might seem to have thought that giving an opportunity to fresh happening talent, in fact at times so fresh, that some of these young padawans would not venture far beyond this very point.

Now I wouldn’t want to suggest that you skip the Prats offerings because I find them completely awful, even giving them the benefit of the doubt because they were still at High School when they committed themselves to recording directly onto a portable cassette tape, learning to play their instruments as they pressed the REC button. Horrible! However, both of the (I wouldn't be seen dead with them!) Blank Students (from Preston Lancs) contributions are awesome. "Background Music" is on the more Wire side of things, which as a reference point/influence is not bad at all for 1979. Graph delivers a screechy mid-tempo dirge, with some nasty "Fear of Drowning" vocal barks thrown in at the end. Drowning could be a touch too long, but overall still an interesting listen. We have already been introduced to future Pop Aural artists The Flowers who managed to get both tracks from their Confessions / After Dark 7" single on the Mutant Pop 78/79 comp (featured last month) as well.

Oh, and finally there's The Guest Item version of "(My Baby Does) Good Sculptures" (that would be track B5), credited to Simon Bloomfield/Tim Pearce and written by Jo Callis of The Rezillos. Again, not really worth waiting for, but mildly interesting if you’re a fan of hammering nails into your eyes. Definitely worth a download as five outta the nine tracks are enjoyable enough.

[Fast Product] Earcom #3

Established in Edinburgh by Bob Last and his partner, Hilary Morrison, in December 1977 the label issued the first records by a number of early and influential post-punk bands from Northern England, including the original Human League, the Gang of Four and the Mekons. Fast Product also released the first singles by the Scottish punk bands Scars and The Flowers. Compilations of various new bands called 'ear comics' or Earcom releases were also produced by Bob Last with Morrison producing photographs and visuals for the record sleeves. Fast Product's releases challenged pop music conventions (hence the label's early monikers: "difficult fun" and "mutant pop"), and through its releases and marketing invoked a DIY punk spirit and generally socialist political outlook. Often packaging records with a caustic yet subtle sideswipe at consumerism (for example, the image of a wall of gold discs on the cover of the Mekons' second single), Fast Product attempted to show that all aspects of the record business, from musicianship to design to distribution, could be taken out of the hands of the major labels.

Mutant Pop 78-79

Designed for the American market, this 1980 release, Fast Product sampler album has become legendary. No Filler, All Killer is rare in a single label comp, but I’m pretty confident that this album manages to buck that trend and in some style. Fast Product was the first born child of Bob Last who’s two record labels (Pop:Aural being the other) released some of the most amazing post punk singles of the era. The three instant classic singles presented here are from Human League, Gang Of Four and the Mekons, although my personal favourites are the two offerings from Edinburgh’s Scars, Adultery and Horror Show.