Zounds first came onto the scene with the wonderful “Can’t Cheat Karma” 45 released on the Crass label in 1981. But later in the year they issued an absolute classic with the “Demystification” 45 on Rough Trade.
Zounds had a very interesting sound combining the best elements of group’s like Wire, The Pop Group, The Fall and Joy Division, in fact to me they sound like Joy Division with Mark Perry of Alternative TV on vocals!
“Demystification” is a tense haunting record that could be described a modern psychedelia, it features wonderful ringing guitar ala Will Seargant, a chugging bass riff and some real strong hooks, this is the sound of 1981 in a nutshell.
The flipside “Great White Hunter” is so slouch either, this one is more uptempo and punkish with a wicked guitar riff and a crushing backbeat. Zounds are still quite obscure but you can get a superb anthology CD on the USA label Broken Rekids that features all their 45’s the entire “Curse Of The Zounds” album plus some live tracks. The time has come for Zounds to finally get the attention they deserve and this CD is as good a place as any to get to know the group. The “Demystification” 45 however was Zounds absolute pinnacle.