Customer Reviews

Let the Tribe Increase

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Though 1983's "Let the Tribe Increase" was and is a great album, the real reason to pick this up is the collection of bonus tracks culled from the Mob's earlier singles. This is less polished material than the "Tribe" songs, a little crustier, a little more garage-y, and a lot more energetic. Songs like "Witch Hunt," "Crying Again," "Youth," and "Shuffling Souls" are essential to any good punk collection.

The Mob had close ties to bands like Crass (who they recorded with), Flux of Pink Indians, Dirt, and the ever-underrated Zounds (who they lived with). Other than those bands, the Mob gets a lot of comparisons to Joy Division and Gang of Four. My long obsession with Go4's "Entertainment!" is what eventually turned me on to the Mob, as well as Zounds. Lyrically speaking, the Mob are a bit more bleak, playing a number of horrific post-apocolyptic anti-war songs. The Mob take some criticism for not writing particularly complex, focused, or mature songs. That, to me, always seemed unfair. The Mob kept specific political agendas out of their music (partly because their handle of anarchist politics wasn't especially strong), tending instead to rely on evocative lyrical imagery. As a result, their songs have a more timeless appeal now than some of the more didactic punk of other political punk bands of their time.

This is a great and impressively comprehensive CD - well worth your purchase dollars. And for your reading pleasure, Lance Hahn wrote a great article chronicling the history of the Mob, with lots of great interviews, in the July 2001 issue of Maximumrocknroll. Check it out.

After reading some of the reviews of this magnificent album, I feel that some of you must have missed the point completely. The Mob depressing, downbeat, morose? Whilst I agree that these are definate aspects of their music, they are ultimately positive aspects. From the soul searing beauty of 'Our Life Our World' to the quiet anger of 'Raised In A Prison' these are ultimately songs about hope. The Mob's lyrics displayed on this album are of a rare and unique intelligence that can best be described as darkly poetic, whilst the musicianship was and is world's apart from any other band of that genre and time. Indeed, I still marvel at the bass line that defines the entire mood of album track three 'Dance On You Fool.' I suggest anyone who hasn't bought the album to do so and those of you who found it 'downbeat' to listen again. This is a moving, lush and breathtaking album. In short - The Mob rule!

I first heard them on the local radio in my (very small) hometown somewhere in Belgium when I was 17: Never understood, The gates of hell and The witchhunt. The music was more intense even when not being so hard as most punkbands. Their songs had the same feeling as Joy Division would put in theirs. The way they made that bass sound, oh man...Spizz Energi was another band with the same rawness/beauty. After buying the cd (my first, being a vinyl freak) and hearing 'Our life our world' and 'The Mirror breaks', 'Youth'...it had it all. Before going out I still play 'The mirror breaks' a couple of times and everything feels bareable.
I often wonder what became of those guys.
Anyway...The Mob for me is what music is al about...play it as you feel it.

I have this album on record but it is so scratched, I still play it. Raised in prison is my favorite track, great music & lyrics. On the origanal record there are only 11 tracks so this cd is a bonus and contains another great song that was not on the origanal LP- No Doves Fly Here. Check it out one of the most alternative alternative bands I have heard.

This is in my opinion one of the best of the UK peace punk bands. The Mob creates such great atmosphere and covey their anarchist politics at the same time. This is an absolutely wonderful album in all aspects.

Nice discography cd of this not that well known anarcho pacifist band who started out under the wings of Crass records.Bass driven,slow to mid tempo music with a marked Joy Division influence,this band could be described as a cross between The Violators and Thatcher On Acid,only more elaborate than the former and less intricate than the latter,a healthy dose of punk anger with a melodic twist.Lyrics can be described as anarcho-nihilist.The cd,all lifted from old vinyl (not a major drawback,though),features the ¨Let The Tribe Increase ¨lp,very good sounding and polished,plus a string of rawer,faster 7¨singles and live tracks,clocking in at a generous 72'+.

Simply wonderful folky/punk/anarcho album that really stands the test of time. It sounds as fresh today as it did 25 years ago. One of the classic albums of the Crass-inspired 80's punk movement. Simply a must.

In short, The Mob were very gloomy and rather artsy. So if you like Joy Division and/or other similar post-punk/first wave goth bands, The Mob is for you.