Exhibit A – Distance [7''] (1980, Irrelevant Wombat Records)

 

"Distance" is one of those tracks that feels like it slipped through the cracks of music history. Released in 1980 by Exhibit A, it sits right in that fascinating moment when punk was mutating into something colder, moodier, and more experimental. You can hear that shift clearly in the song -it trades raw aggression for atmosphere, leaning into tension, space, and a kind of emotional detachment that defined a lot of early post-punk.

 
The track itself is pretty minimal on the surface, but that’s part of its charm. The guitars are sharp and a bit jagged, the rhythm feels steady but slightly hypnotic, and the vocals come off distant, almost deliberately disconnected. It’s not trying to be catchy in a traditional sense -it’s more about creating a feeling, a kind of sonic mood that lingers rather than grabs you immediately. There’s a quiet intensity to it that rewards repeat listens, especially if you’re into that darker, stripped-back sound. 

As for Exhibit A, they’re one of those bands that never quite broke through but still managed to leave a small imprint on the underground scene. Like many groups operating in the late ’70s and early ’80s, they were part of a wave of artists experimenting beyond punk’s limitations, pulling in influences from art rock, dub, and early electronic music. They didn’t have a long or particularly high-profile career, and documentation about them is pretty scarce, which only adds to their mystique.

 
What makes Exhibit A interesting is how representative they are of that era’s DIY ethos. Bands like them often released singles on small labels, played local circuits, and disappeared before getting any real mainstream attention. But that doesn’t mean the music wasn’t compelling -if anything, it’s often more raw and exploratory than what was happening in the charts at the time. “Distance” is a perfect example of that: understated, a little eerie, and very much a product of its moment. 

Over the years, tracks like this have found a second life among collectors and fans digging deep into post-punk’s lesser-known corners. It might not be a classic in the traditional sense, but it captures a specific mood and time so well that it feels like a hidden gem waiting to be rediscovered.

 

 

Label: Irrelevant Wombat Records – DAMP 2 

Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, EP 

Country: UK 

Released: 1980 

Style: Punk, New Wave, Minimal Wave, Post-Punk 

 

Tracklist: 

A Distance 

B1 Platform 6 

B2 Bollards 

 

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