Easily the compilation album of the week… month and quite possibly the year. This terrific silver jubilee retrospective includes 50 tracks, 18 videos, six chart toppers and a further 20 top 40 hits, special remixes, unreleased rarities and a surprise appearance from Johnny Depp no less! Zang Tuum Tumb, founded in 1983 by producer Trevor Horn, journalist Paul Morley and manager Jill Sinclair, turned unknowns such as Frankie Goes To Hollywood and Seal into major stars, and made 808 State, Propaganda, and Art of Noise into the epitome of cool. With an eclectic roster and avant-garde reputation ZTT also released acclaimed singles by Kirsty MacColl, Shane MacGowan, Act and the Frames. Across three discs of audio and a further one of video Ð including Depp getting pissed with MacGowan on ‘That Woman’s Got Me Drinking’ – it’s pretty hard to single out specific tracks, but I’ll try. ‘Close (To The Edit)’, ‘Relax’, ‘Pacific’, ‘Duel’, ‘Two Tribes’, ‘Killer’ and ‘Moments In Love’ just a handful of timeless classics. In fact the one notable exception is Grace Jones whose brief liaison with Horn & Co resulted in her best-loved hit, ‘Slave To The Rhythm’. That aside I defy you to find a better retrospective collection this year.
Lewis Dene – 5 Dancin’ Men
This is a seriously big and collectable package from the label that, amongst other things, gave us 808 State. It’s when you put all their acts together that you realise just how far and wide founder Paul Morley was able to cast the net – with Kirsty MacColl, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Seal, Art of Noise and Sun Electric all represented. Points, too, for some excellent remixes included – Brian Eno’s reworking of 808 State’s ‘Lopez’ and the William Orbit remix of ‘Killer’ are well worth the price alone. That’s before you get to the videos, where more rewards await in the form of the Video Destructo version of ‘Two Tribes’, Nasty Rox Inc, Shane MacGowan and Shades of Rhythm. Who else could possibly offer such variety?
Ben Hogwood – 5 Dancin’ Men
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Lewis Dene & Ben Hogwood