Apollo

It’s impressive enough that Mark Perry has kept Alternative TV going — even sporadically — since those halcyon punk days of 1977; but more impressive is that Perry is still capable of expressing his indignation and outrage with the same artful vigor that originally fueled him. The early Brit-punk pioneer carved a post-punk niche for himself through the years by dabbling in both experimental and pop music forms, and generally staying attuned to the cultural underground. Every now and again, Perry resurfaces with a batch of new songs, and Apollo stands as one of his strongest outings since ATV’s earliest work. From the avant-dub pastiche of “Oh S**t, We Fell from Grace” to the sublimely catchy see-saw punk of “A Love Song” and the lithe cha-cha of “Apollo,” the record surprises at every turn. There’s a roiling, post-punk edge on “Just a Memory,” a chill, downbeat vibe pulsing through the instrumental “Propaganda,” and the slinky screed, “Communication Failure,” captures youthful ideology without embarrassment. A treasure from the Perry vaults.