Resolution (LP)

Penetration were formed in Ferryhill, County Durham in 1976 at the very beginning of the punk rock phenomenon. An exciting live prospect, respected by peers and dedicated fans, the group signed to Virgin Records in 1977 and released their first single, the punk classic ‘Don't Dictate’, that autumn. Their debut album, ‘Moving Targets’, was released in 1978 to critical acclaim and commercial success (reaching no. 22 in the UK album chart) and showcased a confident outfit that had already expanded its musical and creative vision. Their second album, ‘Coming Up For Air’ which was produced by legendary Steve Lillywhite, had excellent songs such as ‘Come Into The Open’ (released as a single) and ‘Shout Above The Noise’ that ensured a healthy Top 40 chart placing for the record, before the band announced their split up. In 2002, Pauline Murray was persuaded to reform Penetration. Of its original members, only Murray, Blamire and drummer Gary Smallman remained, with guitarists Steve Wallace and Paul Harvey (who appeared on the ‘Storm Clouds’ album) augmenting the line-up. Following a successful Pledge crowdfunding campaign, the band recorded their new album “Resolution”. 2015 has also seen Morrissey utilising the band’s iconic performance of ‘Don’t Dictate’ from the Electric Circus in a montage of songs played during the interval on his tour dates, while Virgin Records are planning a retrospective box set release of the entire Penetration back catalogue in the autumn. Murray will also appear in a forthcoming BBC Four documentary about influential women in rock (broadcast date TBA) and also participated on a panel at the BBC 6 Music Festival held on Tyneside earlier in the year in which she discussed punk poetry with John Cooper Clarke and Jason Williamson from Sleaford Mods.