The Stranglers

“Autonomy” is a sensational addition to our Ace’s long-standing producer’s series. After cutting his teeth as a recording engineer for artists from T.Rex to Shirley Bassey, Martin Rushent broke through in 1977 producing the Stranglers. From that point, he helped give new wave bands a delicious pop edge helming seminal recordings by 999, Buzzcocks, XTC, Generation X and the Rezillos to name a few. As the 80s dawned he set up Genetic sound and armed with the latest technology his pioneering work with the Human League on “Dare” defined the sound of UK synthpop and brought him international recognition. After that, the hits and cutting edge production work continued.

One of the great Things about music is that it offers more than just a listening experience, it creates lifestyles, movements and fashions. When PUNK first started it left no middle ground, you wars in or you were out and your response was anything but passive whichever side of the barbed wire you sat on.

A punk compilation which truly reflects the label's ethos of 'Unheard' ('Whips And Furs' - The Vibrators), 'Unearthed' ('Ain't No Legend' - The Maniacs) and all of it 'Rediscovered'. Happening, Alive and Nasty pays thrilling testament to the brief period when the music business had no idea what it was dealing with, when the doors flung open to mavericks, weirdo's and inspired innovators. The real spirit of punk - the full glorious, ear-bashing mess - was much more exciting than anything that would be defined. The album features Generation X's debut 'Your Generation', Buzzcocks and Wire B-Sides, rarities from the Stranglers and the never issued second Vibrators single 'Bad Time'.

This double CD collection covers a good cross-section of the punk and even not quite so punk (it being a 'broad church') classics. The Clash, Sex Pistols, Ramones, Blondie, Iggy Pop and many others.