Top tracks — play these first
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Horizontal Hold Start here — The track features complex rhythms and tape loops, exemplifying This Heat's ability to merge traditional song structures with avant-garde experimentation. Its layered instrumentation creates an immersive listening experience that captures the essence of their innovative sound.
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Not Waving — With its haunting vocals and minimalist arrangement, this song showcases the band’s knack for creating tension through repetition and subtle variations. It serves as a prime example of how This Heat blends punk ethos with an avant-garde sensibility.
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Music Like Escaping Gas — This track stands out for its juxtaposition of chaotic sound textures against a backdrop of rhythmic precision, highlighting the band's ability to convey emotion through unorthodox methods. It reflects their commitment to challenging listeners' perceptions of music.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
This Heat showcases innovative structures and sound experimentation, marking it as a distinct entry in the post-punk genre.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a track that features a collage of sounds, including radio static and rhythmic percussion, setting an experimental tone.
- Several tracks employ unconventional song structures, often eschewing traditional verse-chorus formats in favor of repetitive motifs and abrupt transitions.
- The use of tape loops and found sounds is prominent, particularly in '24 Track Loop', which creates a dense auditory landscape.
- The final track mirrors the opening track, creating a cyclical effect that reinforces the album's experimental nature.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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8/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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9/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic emotional journeys
- gradual builds and payoffs
- immersive listening experiences
- wave-like pacing exploration
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — Debut album that established This Heat's unique identity in the post-punk landscape.
- Themes
- political soundscapes· post-punk experimentation· everyday chaos
- Career context
- This Heat was the debut album from the British post-punk band This Heat, released in January 1979. At this point, the band had just formed and began to explore their unique sound, blending elements of punk rock with experimental music. Their work here laid the foundation for their influence on the post-punk movement and subsequent experimental music scenes.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The Pop Group· Wire· Can
Tracklist
- 1 Testcard 0:47
- 2 Horizontal Hold Start here 6:56
- 3 Not Waving 7:26
- 4 Water 3:10
- 5 Twilight Furniture 5:06
- 6 24 Track Loop 5:57
- 7 Diet of Worms 3:09
- 8 Music Like Escaping Gas 3:40
- 9 Rainforest 2:55
- 10 The Fall of Saigon 5:10
- 11 Testcard 3:11
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Y
The Pop Group
Shares the same chaotic energy and political themes, blending punk with avant-garde experimentation.
Pink Flag
Wire
Combines minimalist punk energy with experimental structures, echoing This Heat's rhythmic innovation.
The Second Annual Report
Throbbing Gristle
Explores similar avant-garde noise and sound collage, reflecting the chaos of everyday life.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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