#altmark creative

Released August 25th we're very excited to annouce this monster of a box set!

From Buzzcocks to Britpop, Manchester North Of England is the ultimate tribute to the independent output of that most important and iconic of musical cities, with 143 tracks across seven CDs in a deluxe box set. With exhaustive sleeve-notes by the city’s leading music journalist of the era, Mick Middles, and a foreword by Mark Radcliffe, Manchester North Of England includes many of the key bands from the late 70s to the early 90s – Joy Division, The Fall, New Order, James, Happy Mondays, Stone Roses, Morrissey, John Cooper Clarke, 808 State, A Certain Ratio, Durutti Column, The Charlatans and last but not least, Oasis.

Inspired by Bop Cassette / City Life 1988 compilation (name, cover image), the box set is being presented in conjunction with MDMA (Manchester District Music Archive).  Many of the tracks appear on CD for the first time, from the Punk explosion through Factory Records, post-punk, the jangly C86 period, Madchester, Indie-Dance and the early 90s transition into what would become Britpop whilst also doffing its cap to reggae, soul, singer-songwriters, hip-hop, avant garde, techno/industrial and dance music.

“What this treasure trove displays is the extraordinary amount of creative outpouring that oozed from these sullen streets. Manchester music manages to combine euphoria and melancholy. It is both uplifting and mournful at the same time.” Mark Radcliffe.