"Dancing at the disco bumper to bumper, wait a minute where's me jumper?" Twenty plus years on and it would appear little has changed at the Indie disco. The songs maybe slightly less humorous but white boys with guitars, joined very occasionally by the odd cool girl, or a stirring synth hook, still fill the floor. As the coolest, sweatiest, cutting edge clubs of the country have been washed down following their nightly marinade of beer and....(I think we'll leave it there) the entrenched DNA of the preceding years music still hangs heavy. From the Sex Pistols and the Clash, through Theatre Of Hate, Killing Joke, The Smiths, New Order, Blur and Nirvana the Indie disco crowd forever changes whilst essentially remaining the same.
How much Ian Curtis, provider of the labels moniker, would appreciate this latest compilation is open to debate. The music is true, often evocative, occasionally challenging but not that distinctive or memorable. As a collection it works well, has a decent flow and represents some very promising, largely new or relatively unheard of, bands and artists all on the Dance To The Radio roster either since its inception 5 years ago or as a new signing. This celebratory album of 13 tracks is surprising in that some of the labels big hitters are not present. If you were expecting Pigeon Detectives or The Grammatics then prepare for disappointment. The Leeds based label, about to showcase some of their burgeoning talent on the Introducing stage at the Leeds festival have plumped for some less obvious choices.
Continue reading: Dance To The Radio, Still Occupied Though You Forgot Album Review
