Striking out from the heart of London’s trendy Dalston, agit-pop punkers Public Speech offer up
their debut album Publicity on their own label.

Fronted by singer and guitarist Joe Pollution, who’s joined by drummer Bill Austin and bassist
Kevin Byrne, the band recorded the album at the end of 2010 at Reservoir Studios in North
London. And while many of the songs on Publicity are new, a number of them have had a
lengthy gestation period. Raised on punk, like many an East End teenager, Joe served his
time in the fabled Hackney hip-hop wars, under the banner of 3rd Rok, eventually resulting in
2007 in Small Whisper-Ins, an album of short, sharp observations on global dumbing-down and
economic crisis.

Fast forward to now, and these same influences and impulses are brought to bear in Public
Speech as the Hackney native goes back to his roots. A refreshing, cathartic mix of ’77 punk
energy, fused with whipsmart funk, pop hooks, hip-hop techniques and searing rock licks, the
band’s sound provides the perfect base for Joe’s quickfire delivery, a witty and confrontational
social commentary, equal parts Strummer, Dury and Ice Cube.

Roadtested in the unfashionable divebars of Dalston and Camden, and on a brief expeditionary
foray to the Netherlands, Publicity follows April’s download single ‘Queen’s Speech’, the band’s
toast to the Royal Couple on the event of their nuptials. The video for the single has already
brought them unwanted attention from London’s finest on duty outside Buck House. Having
already gained considerable press and airplay, the band now look forward to annoying many
more with their debut album. You have been warned.

“We don’t like your negative and offensive attitude.”

The Sun