Bristol post-punk innovators The Pop Group have reconvened for their first album in 35 years.

Citizen Zombie was recorded by original members Mark Stewart, Dan Catsis, Gareth Sager and Bruce Smith at various locations over the past two years and completed last summer at the studio of indie super producer Paul Epworth, a longtime fan of the band.

“I’ve loved his work and think he’s one of the world’s best producers,” said frontman Stewart on working with Epworth. “He gave us the freedom to create and, with his help, destiny rides again for The Pop Group.”

The Bristol band formed in 1977 and were one of the most experimental and politically charged groups to emerge from the ashes of punk, drawing on free jazz, dub, funk and the avant-garde. Their first album, Y, produced by reggae legend Dennis Bovell, placed them in the ranks of bands like Public Image Limited and Throbbing Gristle on its release in 1979, and was followed in 1980 by their second (and until now final) studio album, For How Much Longer Do We Tolerate Mass Murder?. The group reunited in 2010 and embarked on their first ever UK tour last year.

Citizen Zombie is out through Freaks R Us next Monday, February 23, but before then UK listeners can stream the record in full below. Check out the band’s forthcoming tour dates underneath.

FACT’s Arron Merrat included The Pop Group in his essential survey of British post-punk’s glory days.

Tour dates:

LIVE DATES

February 21 Newcastle UK – BBC 6Music Festival (SOLD OUT)
February 23 London UK – Rough Trade East (In-store)
March 01 Tokyo JP – Liquid Rooms (SOLD OUT)
March 05 Adelaide AUS – Adelaide Festival
March 06 Sydney AUS – The Factory Theatre
March 07 Melbourne AUS – The Corner Hotel
March 10 Los Angeles CA – Echoplex
March 11 San Francisco CA – Great American Music Hall
March 12 Seattle WA – Neumos Crystal Ball Reading Room
March 13 Chicago IL – Levitation Festival, Thalia Hall
March 14 Toronto ON – Lee’s Palace
March 16 Brooklyn NY – Rough Trade
March 17 New York NY – Bowery Ballroom
March 19 – 22 Austin TX – SXSW
May 05 – Brighton UK – The Haunt
May 06 – Norwich UK – Arts Centre
May 08 – London UK – The Dome, Tufnell Park
May 09 – Sheffield UK – Plug
May 10 – Glasgow UK – CCA Arts Centre
May 11 – Liverpool UK – The Kazimier
June 12 – Birmingham UK – Supersonic Festival

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