After fronting the Sex Pistols, John Lydon formed Public Image Ltd in 1978. I was magnetically attracted to PIL - much more so than the Sex Pistols. The Pistols were great for what they were, but PIL was more thoughtful, much darker. With their uncompromising sound, this under-rated group produced some of the most diverse music of the 70's and 80's. The approach was abstract and characterised by Lydon's cryptic vocals, Jah Wobble's propulsive dub reggae-inspired bass, and the metallic jagged guitar playing of Keith Levene. And yet the combined contributions from each character feels completely natural. Levene in particular is incredible - not just the sound he produces, but what he chooses to play (or 'not' play). All in all, it's pretty avant-garde stuff, very experimental. And that is all in its favour. 'Metal Box' was apparently recorded in several sessions with a few different drummers, none of whom were credited. It transpires that two of my favourite tracks - 'Poptones' and 'Careering' - were recorded without a full-time drummer, with Levene playing drums on one and Wobble on the other.

The title refers to the album's original packaging which consists of a metal 16mm film canister embossed with the band's logo and containing three 12" 45rpm records. In true anarchic spirit, before the metal tin was finalised, there was discussion about whether the album should be released in a sandpaper packet which would effectively ruin any adjacent record's artwork in the rack! The album was reissued in 1980 as a double album entitled 'Second Edition'.

Specific choice:

'Careering' - mainly for the atmospheric menace, which is the feeling I always associate with the group. It also demonstrates their disdain for the normal, and the pursuit of experimentalism which was such a step forward from the more energetic but largely disposable Pistols sound.

A face is raining
Across the border
The pride of history
The same as murder
Is this living
He's been careering

The steady hand as planned
Behind the reasoning
No claim for property
Both sides of the river
There is bacteria
Is this living
He's been careering

Trigger machinery
Mangle the military
No one should be there
Is this living
Blown into breeze
Scatter concrete
The jagged metal bad life
Manufactured
He's been careering

Is this living
A face is raining
Across the border
The pride of history
The same as murder
Is this living careering

There must be meaning
Behind the moaning
Spreading tales
Like coffin nails
Is this living
He's been careering

It's raining
I need to hide
Trigger machinery
I've been careering

Across the border
Is this living
Both sides of the river
There is bacteria
Armoured machinery mangled