Those who know of Crass will be aware of the fierce reputation that they held for aggressive "anarcho-punk" a reputation well deserved. Eve's machine-gun delivery of uncomprimising feminist lyrics was central to the bands political stance. Crass' third album Penis Envy, featuring Eve throughout, remains a classic of the genre and at the time was seminal to the development of the radical feminist dialogue within the punk movement.
Towards the end of Crass' ten year career, Eve recorded Acts of Love, a collection of mystical poems set to a heady mix of jazz, classical and avant-garde sounds. The album was an attempt to set the records straight, to show the other side of the coin, to demonstrate that anger without love is negative and destructive. Acts was the act of love that served that purpose.
"Subtitled Fifty Songs To My Other Self, it would be easy to review
this album of words and music of Penny Rimbaud by numbers. Easier still
would be a review composed entirely of comparisons to other works and
other avant-garde artists, but that is not to be. Despite the fact that
at times other reference points come to mind, Acts of Love is such and
original and varied peice, particularly in the area of Eve Libertine's
pointed vocalisms, that in the end any references made would be
superfluous. What we do have is an album of 50 poems set to almost
Cagean music, both written by the man from Crass over a period of five
years from 1968-73. It is accompanied by a profusely illustrated and
well produced booklet annotating all those poems. Perhaps Rimbaud's
introduction to the booklet is the best description of the album: "The
poems describe the profound sense of unity, peace and love that exists
within the other self, but in declaring that love I am also declaring
battle against those who would pervert and destroy it." This,
juxtaposed against the tenderer pieces are more jagged and disturbing
songs. Acts of Love is not an "easy" album. Such an item from the
Crass vaults should never be expected. But it is an album that provides
rich and rewarding listening, and can be either enjoyed at full length
or dipped into at your leisure. Congratulations are due to Rimbaud and
Libertine for a thoughtful and successful experiment."
- Andy Dunkley Rockpool 22 November 1985