The Radio 1 Sessions
Liberation Hall, 2024
9/10
Listen to The Radio 1 Sessions
The legendary Scottish punk outfit APB see the reissue treatment with this 2006 release that collects 19 tracks captured between 1981 and 1984.
“My Love” starts the record with a crisp and raw delivery, where soulful singing is met with lively bass lines, and it isn’t long until “Danceability” comes with some funk flavor and certainly a dance floor energy.
Deeper into the listen, “Out Of Town” benefits from intricate guitar and backing vocals that touch on New Wave nods, while “Play It” makes great use of animated percussive ideas and no lack of grooves.
Residing closer to the end, “Take Me To A Good Place” is an exciting and festive album highlight that sounds just as great today as it did in the early ‘80s, and “So Many Broken Hearts” exits with strong melodies and no lack of punk rock spirit that has made the band a seminal outfit.
The tunes here are collected from sessions with John Peel, David Jensen and Peter Powell, where the trio (Iain Slater, Glenn Roberts and George Cheyne) make music that might remind you of Gang of Four, Au Pairs or Delta 5 via their post-punk meets dance-rock that sure has aged well.
Travels well with: APB- Cure For The Blues; The Kingsnakes- Live At The Old Waldorf