Punk 45 Vol 2 UK - There Is No Such Thing As Society (Soul Jazz)

Various Artists:
Punk 45 Vol 2 UK:
Soul Jazz Records:
Out Now:

★★★★★★★★★☆

Following on from Soul Jazz's trip across the ocean to the U.S. new-wave scene for volume 1, the second instalment of Punk 45 draws its extensive resources from closer to home.

24 tracks of varying gob-worthy degrees from across the UK, There Is No Such Thing As Society snarls, spits and yelps like its spiky-haired contributors originally did some thirty-plus years ago. Refreshingly, as with the inaugural release in 2013, volume 2 doesn't rely on major-label big boys to prove the point - we're talking lo-fi DIY ethics from labels already 'over' the Sex Pistols and feverishly planning for that key interim period before the '80s turned poodle and synth-pop ('77-'81).

Bigger names such as Television Personalities (the arch Part-Time Punks), Eric Random (23 Skidoo, as completely hat-stand an electro classic as you could wish to meet), Swell Maps (the superior Real Shocks), The Mekons (32 Weeks - superb) and Postcard's bright young things Josef K (Radio Drill Time) rub shoulders with regional pogo-ers from Cambridge (The Users), York (The Jermz), Peterborough (The Now) and the charming Leamington Spa upstarts that were The Shapes.

Again, as with Punk 45 volume 1, there isn't a duff track and the accompanying booklet fills in the blanks, info-wise.

Like the imprint's celebrated Studio One series, this is a superlative Soul Jazz series that could run and run.