Back catalogue: Indie/Alternative

Review: The extensive box set Collected Works Vol 1' offers a comprehensive exploration of Cranes' groundbreaking output on the Dedicated label from 1989 to 1997. Spanning albums, B-sides, remixes, rarities and live recordings, this curated collection provides a thorough retrospective of the band's evolution over their initial ten-year incarnation. Led by siblings Alison and Jim Shaw, Cranes established themselves as one of the most distinctive bands of the late 1980s and 1990s, transcending categorization with their ever-mutating sound. From the raw intensity of their 1989 mini album Self-Non-Self to the sophisticated grandeur of 1997's Population Four, Cranes showcased a sonic diversity that defied genre conventions. Curated by singer Alison Shaw and adorned with artwork by 4AD graphic design legend Chris Bigg, Collected Works Vol 1 serves as a poignant reminder of Cranes' magnificence. Their journey from stark, noisy soundscapes to bolder, more intricate arrangements reflects their unparalleled ability to traverse ethereal rock, dream pop, shoegaze, industrial, and neo-classical realms. For fans, this box set is a treasure trove, offering a deep dive into Cranes' musical legacy. For the curious, it provides an immersive experience that encapsulates the essence of one of the finest bands of the 1990s.

Review: In 1993, The Infotainment Scan, The Fall's 15th studio album, delivers an unpredictable mix of post-punk, glam rock and electronic experimentation. Mark E Smith's distinctive vocals and cryptic lyrics were paired with tracks like 'Ladybird (Green Grass)' featuring Steve Hanley's rumbling bass and the infectious glam stomp of 'Glam-Racket'. A standout cover of Sister Sledge's 'Lost in Music' provided an unexpected yet dazzling disco twist. The album also featured the chaotic energy of 'A Past Gone Mad' and the menacing dirge of 'The League of Bald-Headed Men'. Though initially intimidating, the album rewards perseverance. Tracks like 'Why Are People Grudgeful?' stand out as quirky pop gems in an otherwise abrasive, genre-blurring collection. It's an essential entry in The Fall's vast, ever-evolving discography, showing off Smith's unique ability to fuse disparate influences into a cohesive, challenging listen. Reaching number nine on the UK charts, The Infotainment Scan continues to fascinate and confound today. This set of CD's combine the original album, the BBC sessions, 2 live concerts where they performed many of this albums songs plus a CD of bonus tracks. This is a fantastic look into the Fall's overall music around the release of Infotainment Scan.

Review: While there have been plenty of retrospectives of individual artists' work during the period, we can't think of many compilations that specifically celebrate the interlinked sounds of dream pop, shoegaze and 'ethereal pop'. 'Cherry Stars Collide' may or may not be a first, but it's certainly a superb celebration - a four-disc deep dive that not only showcases work from well-regarded artists (A.R Kane, Cocteau Twins, Talk Talk, This Mortal Coil, Lush, Spiritualized, Mojave 3, St Etienne etc), but also those whose careers were all-too short. It's basically a densely layered, jangling, laidback, hazy and overtly emotive musical journey through some of the finest indie-rock and indiepop of the late 80s and early 90s.

Review: In the latter half of the 1990s, the lines between indie-rock, Britpop and dance music became increasingly blurred, indie club DJs being blessed with all manner of heady, high-octane treats to enjoy - including notable big beat, trip-hop and techno reworks. This four-disc set from Cherry Red does an excellent job in celebrating this fertile musical period via a mix of chart-bothering faves (Norman Cook remixing Pierre Henry and Cornershop), heavy club revisions (the Chemical Brothers taking on Bomb The Bass and the Charlatans), bona-fide dance classics (Leftfield, Orbital, Basement Jaxx), quirky rock-rave (Black Grape, the Prodigy), big beat workouts (Indian Ropeman, Death In Vegas, Bentley Rhythm Ace, Lo Fidelity Allstars), and eccentricities (the All Seeing I, Jimi Tenor, Future Sound of London).