Bunch Of Fives: Charts and Graphs

Newcastle trio Charts and Graphs return with new single, Isolation, a raw and infectious piece of post‑punk talking about themes of alienation – driven by stabbing guitars, vibrant rhythms and impassioned vocals, all brought together by the band’s trademark Talking Heads‑meets‑Gang of Four energy.

Here, the band discuss their favourite post-punk tracks with a bunch of fives…

Talking Heads – Crosseyed and Painless
One of their most exhilarating tunes, Crosseyed and Painless fuses layers of Afrobeat inspired rhythms with jagged guitars. The bassline anchors the song, holding it together while a web of percussion and Brian Eno’s experimentations dance around it. David Byrne’s vocal is a stream of anxious, fragmented observations that mirror the songs’ theme of confusion and information overload. It’s one of the bands boldest recordings, capturing the fearless creativity that made Remain in Light such a landmark album.

Television – Marquee Moon
One of Post-Punks most extraordinary achievements, Marquee Moon is a captivating 10 minute journey of invention and restraint. The guitars weave intricate and conversational patterns that constantly evolve without every losing their melodic focus, creating a sense of momentum that is both hypnotic and electrifying. The lean rhythm section grounds the song with unwavering precision. A timeless masterpiece. 

Magazine – The Great Beautician in the Sky
This song perfectly captures Magazine’s ability to fuse post-punk urgency with complex musicianship, balancing sharp-edged guitars, swirling keyboards and an ever-shifting rhythm into something both unsettling and strangely elegant. There’s an intensity to Howard Devoto’s distinctive vocal that, together with his sardonic lyrics, only deepens the sense of intrigue. The song builds and releases tension through inventive arrangements making it feel unpredictable yet somehow cohesive. 

Public Image Ltd – The Order of Death
One of PiL’s most emotionally powerful recordings, unfolding with a slow burning fervour. Built around a stark, spacious arrangement, the song allows every instrument to resonate with purpose. The track embraces atmosphere and repetition that, together with Lydon’s confrontational vocal, draws the listener into its dark, reflective world. A remarkably bold and uncompromising piece of music. 

The Cure – A Forest
A song full of mystery and unease. It creeps up on you, with its understated dark beginnings, before that unforgettable bassline and relentless rhythm pulls you into a haunting, dreamlike existence where the tension is built every passing minute. Robert Smith delivers one of his most restrained, evocative vocals. A song that demonstrates how mood, space and emotion can be just as powerful as conventional hooks.