Alternative TV - Direct Action (Special edition) CD

Since its formation in 1977 Mark Perry's group Alternative TV has moved far away from its direct punk rock beginnings into all manner of other areas of music that have sometimes themselves drawn from improvisation, free jazz, industrial and electronic music. On the CD reissue of 2023's 'Direct Action', Alternative TV's first studio album since 'Opposing Forces' in 2015, we are presented with seven instrumental tracks which steadily rip apart all expectations. 'Direct Action' marries guttural electronics to sounds most artists would consign to the bin and through Perry's long perfected mastery of pulling together disparate strands to create something entirely alchemical and invigorating delivers a unique stamp to the ATV story. With the help of longtime collaborator Dave Morgan alongside the input of Gareth Matthews, Ruth Tidmarsh and Cos Chapman, abstract patterns of dishevelled sound rub alongside occasional percussion, disembodied plasma guitar strums and even what seems like an oboe groaning in a murky corner.