Mark Stewart – "As The Veneer Of Democracy Starts To Fade" (Mute – STUMM 24) 1985

Them Sugar Hill Gang bangers got everywhere in the 80's didn't they? Here replacing Grandmaster Flash with erstwhile lead screecher from The Pop Group, Mark Stewart. No subtlety here from absent lovers rock producer Dennis Bovell, who dubbed up The Pop Group's debut LP "Y" six years earlier, not with Adrian Sherwood at the controls there ain't. It's all there,distorted max feedback tape echo, Keith LeBlanc's thudding and crashing electro-industrial style drum samples, William S. Burroughs croaking his control data parables, and Mark himself spouting his six-form Politics of paranoia. An alternative left-field classic spouting some forgivable soap-boxing, and various things of the Pissed-Off variety.There was even a time that I would even suggest that this was my favourite album!?...but tech fatigue, and a strong miners strike allergy, forced me to look elsewhere for my mashed up dance rhythms.....but... HEY!....don't let that put you off. Nowadays this stands out like a shiny beacon…