Three Peace Suite: 12" Vinyl EP

Punk pioneers Crass continue their vinyl reissue series, re-pressing their limited releases by adjacent artists through Crass Records, in association with One Little Independent. The series, including over twenty bands and solo artists recorded at the legendary Southern Studios and produced by Penny Rimbaud, continues with two more historic pieces from the Crass Records catalogue; The Snipers’ ‘ Three Peace Suite’ & The Mobs’ ‘No Doves Fly Here’.

The Snipers’ ‘Three Peace Suite’ is a Crass Records deep-cut and vital artifact; a minimalist, post-punk 3-track that channels paranoia, alienation, and the contradictions of peacekeeping through coercion and military force. Originally released in 1981, the collection blends jagged guitar work, rhythmic experimentation, and spoken word, that reflect the dissonant landscape of Thatcherite Britain. Formed in Oxford and active across squats, benefit gigs, and cassette compilations, The Snipers forged a sound that connected post-punk’s angular edges with the urgency of street-level resistance. 

Penny finally notes that “Our (Crass’) interest was never in personalities, profits or power, and neither did we have time for reformist liberals. Our position was solidly revolutionary; we took no prisoners. Ours wasn’t a show, it was a battle, not a living, but a lifestyle, a lifestyle with a difference – rather than looking only to ourselves, we sought to share our gains. I feel that this willingness added great strength to the form of anarchism that we practiced both on stage and out on the street.” 

In giving a platform to an impressive array of other bands, Crass Records broadened the front of what popularly became known as anarcho-punk. Not, it must be said, a moniker that Crass themselves much favoured. In this respect, Crass’ classic line, “There is no authority but yourself”, makes its point. Crass sought to empower others, and the output of Crass Records does much to confirm this, while ‘2 By 2 And Back Again’ seems to nail it – “get out of your own way, we’re all in this together”.