The Affectionate Punch  by The Associates

The Affectionate Punch was released on August 1, 1980, and is the legendary debut of the Scottish band Associates. The iconic cover shows the duo Mackenzie and Rankine - the band's main composers and members - posing ready to sprint on a running track.

The album was recorded at London's Morgan Studios, produced by Mike Hedges and Chris Parry. It features a highly distinctive and theatrical sound, balancing between dark post-punk and new wave. The album's atmosphere is defined by Alan Rankine's sharp guitars and, of course, the stunning, operatic vocals of the charismatic Billy Mackenzie. The title track, "The Affectionate Punch", and the enigmatic "A" stood out as singles. Robert Smith of The Cure contributes backing vocals to the dynamic track "Amused As Always".

Despite receiving massive acclaim from music critics at the time, the album initially failed to chart (only a later reissue reached No. 48 in New Zealand).