The Modern Dance  by Pere Ubu

The debut of Pere Ubu, although released in 1978 amidst the whirlwind of punk-rock, went a step (or several steps) further with the musical experiments it contains. The Modern Dance, despite its musical style being rooted in art punk, would a few years later become one of the most influential albums for the American post-punk scene.

The album cover and the song Chinese Radiation draw inspiration from the "view" that there were more Maoists in Cleveland - the particular hometown of Pere Ubu - than outside China (!). Obviously, Pere Ubu intended to mock this view. The Modern Dance also features Street Waves, which was the band's first single ever released. This happened approximately two years before the debut album's release.

The Modern Dance was a commercial failure, yet its impact was decisive for other bands that would form in the near future. O.M.D. in 2023 in their song Bauhaus Staircase commemorate this album and Pere Ubu (!).