This came out in 2002 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
No, it’s not the typogrphically cute name of the latest teen-pop starlet.
This Shelley is Pete Shelley — old punks will remember him from the legendary Buzzcocks, while ’80s rockers may recall his electro-pop hit Homo Sapien. The Devoto is Howard Devoto, Shelley’s old Buzzcocks partner who went on to form the arty post-punk outfit Magazine. Now working together again for the first time in 25 years, the duo have achieved a sound that incorporates most if not all of their previous endeavours without reverting to cheap nostalgia. Their 14-track reunion album Buzzkunst is a progressive step forward, combining the grinding guitars of Shelley’s youth and the poppy synthesizers of his middle age with the artsy sonic sculptures and post-punk yelp of Devoto’s past. Granted, it doesn’t pack the same punch as Buzzcocks, and the new wavy vibe sounds a little dated at times. Still, it’s not nearly as dated as your average teen-pop starlet will be a year from now.
