Honeymoon On Mars
If ever there was a band with a misleading name it is the Pop Group. Formed in Bristol in 1977, PG made hard, uncompromising music that combined the energy of punk with, dub, funk and avant-noise. Sales didn’t match the critically acclaim, band split in 1981 and the members went on to work with the Slits, Rip Rig + Panic, Head and Pigbag.
Honeymoon on Mars is the second album of new material to be recorded since the band reformed in 2010. This is a stunner, coming on like a near-perfect hybrid Public Image Ltd, Massive Attack and Leftfield. With PiL including Pop Group drummer Bruce Smith in the current line-up and Massive Attack having publicly acknowledged a debt, this may not be too surprising.
Like the earlier material, Honeymoon on Mars is not an easy listen. Throughout, the music is inventive and original. In places, it may be a hard listen but it is an album that rewards repeated listening. The unsung Smith is one of rock’s great drummers. Mark Stewart has a strident, engaging voice and writes intelligent, thought- provoking and sometimes witty lyrics.
9.5/10
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