Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on March 2010

Courtesy of Year Zero

Why has the post-punk era provided the touchstone for much of the popular music of the last decade? With its impressive trawl through the experimentations that took place over a few short years in the wake of punk, Bustin’ Out is an educational primer on the continued appeal of the genre. The compiler, veteran DJ Mike Maguire, shows how, in the hands of artists like Killing Joke, Bush Tetras, Material and Dead Can Dance, punk’s febrile energy was channeled through a futuristic musical palette provided by the new synthesizers and sequencers. Releasing their material through the DIY labels engendered by punk’s anti-establishment ethos, the post-punkers created a wiry, lean, urban sound that was as suitable for the dancefloor as the mosh pit. Whatever your favorite track turns out to be (mine is Lizzy Mercier Descloux’s irresistible “Fire”), Bustin’ Out, with its loving packaging and informative booklet, also provides proof that the CD remains a relevant format.