After the tour diary-style shenanigans of Directions To The Outskirts Of Town, Welly the creative force behind Artcore,, has turned his focus to the most unsung of subgenres and perhaps one of the most underrated aspects of punk in general – the humble compilation record. A format that was largely obsolete by 1989, but left an indelible mark on those who remember it, the compilation record, for punks the world over, was one of the gateways to discovering a plethora of bands that might have otherwise gone under the radar.

In Nefarious Artists: The Evolution and Art of the Punk Rock, Post-Punk, New Wave, Hardcore Punk and Alternative Rock Compilation Record 1976 – 1989 Welly has gone deep to look at the history of this medium. His penchant for a wicked quip or opinion here and there, keeps the book light and entertaining, whilst the thorough research undertaken by the former Four Letter Word singer, is second to none. The book goes some length to explore all the various subgenres that find themselves under the punk umbrella and Welly has scoured the world uncovering a wealth of absolutely fascinating bands and stories, whilst offering a glimpse at the political, and social context of the time.

Essentially Mr Artcore has wrapped up the entire vinyl phenomenon in one hit. Backed up by reproductions of flyers, artwork, and photos, this is an encyclopedic overview of a well-loved part of punk history, put together by one of the people in the scene, best placed to do so. Chris Andrews