The Mekons are synonymous with the “post-punk” moniker. Alongside bands like Public Image Limited, The Fall, and Gang Of Four, The Mekons forged a new path for noise and avant-garde themes in music in the immediate wake of the punk explosion of the late 1970s. Among the difficult to find and pricey classics are the first two Mekons’ singles. Superior Viaduct has reissued these two singles for your post-punk convenience. “Never Been in a Riot” is a cloppity-clop punk rocker with a mechanical chug that feels as if it’s about to fall apart at any moment. The bass ascends and descends as the guitars and angry vocals blurt out at even intervals. The second single begins with “Where Were You?” The song starts with a mechanical guitar strum and a rising snare roll. The guitars kick in with natural distortion through overdriven clean channels. The flat, matter-of-fact vocal delivery over mechanically angry, factory-sounding music became the standard for bands diverging from the 4/4 rock resurgence punk was utilizing. The Mekons put out several albums, changing their sound from time to time. The first two singles are essential, wrench-turning thought-rock. They’re a must for post-punk and ‘77 fans. –Billups Allen (Superior Viaduct)