Penetration

Penetration’s path through the English punk scene registers overall as a notable letdown. In 1977 the group issued the defiant single “Don’t Dictate,” a blazing anti-authoritarian statement whose impassioned lead vocals by Pauline Murray—bearing a passing resemblance to Poly Styrene of X-Ray Spex—delivered loud, snotty, and unapologetic energy. That track remained the sole piece for which the band stayed widely remembered, at least among those who recall Penetration at all. The musicians soon exchanged their raw yet spirited thrashing for a supposedly more mature new-wave sound with only faint punk traces, and the resulting debut album Moving Targets, despite occasional highlights, fell short of the single’s promise. Murray herself nevertheless stood out as a commanding presence and ranked among the strongest vocalists to emerge from English punk; her delivery sustained interest in the group even on weaker material hampered by uneven songwriting and heavy-handed production. Unsurprisingly, she formed a fresh project in 1980 with the Invisible Girls, an outfit that quickly took the name Pauline Murray and the Invisible Girls in recognition of her central role. Major commercial breakthrough still failed to materialize, prompting Murray to shift toward more polished mainstream pop and rock while continuing to rank among England’s finest underrecognized vocalists.