Reviews
Alien Sex Fiend (2019)
Possessed
Offbeat goth rock on their thirteenth studio album and first in eight years from London-based duo Alien Sex Fiend
Bettye Lavette (2015)
Worthy
Fabulous new album , which includes tracks by Bob Dylan, James Brown, Paul McCartney and Jagger and Richards, from gritty-voiced soul legend, Bettye Lavette
Blancmange (2015)
Semi Detached
Enjoyable but experimental fifth album from electropop act Blancmange, the first to feature Neil Arthur without his co-founder Stephen Luscombe who has had to retire because of long-term illness
Bluebells (2014)
Exile on Twee Street
Fantastic collection of early, largely unreleased demos from Scottish indie guitar pop band the Bluebells, which were originally due to be released on Postcard Records
Dancing Did (2007)
And Did Those Feet
Welcome, augmented reissue of 80's post punk gorup the Dancing Did's only album
Dave Kilminster (2013)
Scarlet - The Director's Cut
Diverse and epic-sounding debut album from Roger Waters guitarist, Dave Kilminster
Eighth Wonder (2010)
Fearless
Multi-mixed reissue of forgettable 1988 only album of Eighth Wonder, the band of actress Patsy Kensit
Fall (2013)
Re-Mit
Incoherent but occasionally brilliant thirtieth album from the always unpredictable the Fall
Fall (2016)
Wise Ol’ Man
Fabulous new EP from Peel favourites The Fall, which is one of the highlights of their career
Fall (2011)
Ersatz GB
Predictable combination of both the brilliant and the awful on twenty ninth studio album from the Fall, which will keep their fanbase eager for the next instalment
Girls At Our Best! (2022)
Pleasure
Classic post punk/indie pop on new three-disc deluxe edition of Girls at Our Best!'s 1981 only album
Go Kart Mozart (2018)
Mozart's Mini Mart
Lo-fi and self-consciously amateurish indie pop on fourth album from Go-Kart Mozart, the latest project of Lawrence Hayward of Felt
Hollywood Brats (2016)
Sick On You
Extended re-release of the only album by the Hollywood Brats, the once-lost London glam-rock band that some argue was the UK’s first punk band and who have recently emerged from forty years of obscurity
House Of Love (2013)
She Paints Words in Red
Pleasant, but unadventurous second comeback album from the reformed House of Love
Howard Jones (2022)
The 12″ Album + 12″ers Vol. 2
Pleasurable and undemanding double album reissue of remixes from 80's synth act Howard Jones
Inspiral Carpets (2014)
Inspiral Carpets
Exuberant comeback album from the Inspiral Carpets, which finds the group reunited with their original vocalist Stephen Holt
Jah Wobble and Keith Levene (2013)
Yin and Yang
Challenging but increasingly compelling joint album from original Public Image Limited bassist and guitarist, Jah Wobble and Keith Levene
Jazzateers (2014)
Don't Let Your Son Grow Up to be a Cowboy (Unreleased Recordings 1981-1982)
Primitive but enjoyable collection of early demos from Glasgow indie pop act Jazzateers, which were originally to be released on the iconic Postcard Records
Jim Bob (2020)
Pop Up Jim Bob
Politically and socially-edged new solo album from former Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine frontman Jim Bob
Kitchens Of Distinction (2013)
Folly
Flawed first album in nineteen years from criminally overlooked in their day South London-based alternative rockers, Kitchens of Distinction
Luke Haines (2013)
Rock and Roll Animals
Potentially terrible but dryly witty and enjoyable concept record from ex-Auteurs and Black Box Recorder front man Luke Haines, which tells of three animals named after Sham 69's Jimmy Pursey, Nick Lowe and Gene Vincent
Lydia Lunch and Rowland S. Howard (2013)
Shotgun Wedding
Fantastic reissue with extra live tracks of joint album from punk poetess Lydia Lunch and late Birthday Party guitarist Rowland S. Howard
Marc Almond (2014)
Tasmanian Tiger EP
Sparklingly eclectic and energetic new five-song EP from Marc Almond
Marc Almond (2013)
Burning Bright/The Dancing Marquis
Excellent double A-sided vinyl single from former Soft Cell front man Marc Almond, which was produced by Bowie producer Tony Visconti
Mike Hurst (2021)
In My Time – Recordings, Productions and Songs 1962-1985
Excellent four CD box set from 60s, 70s and 80s musician, songwriter and producer Mike Hurst
Miscellaneous (2021)
The Sun Shines Here: The Roots Of Indie Pop 1980-1984
Essential and delightful five CD box set from Cherry Red which focuses on the roots of indie pop and should be in every pop fan’s record collection.
One Thousand Violins (2014)
Halcyon Days
Fabulous indie compilation from underrated Sheffield-based 80's indie band One Thousand Violins, which compiles together almost everything that the original line-up of the group recorded
Parlour Flames (2013)
Parlour Flames
Surprising but compelling debut album from Parlour Flames, the new band of Mancurian singer-songwriter Vinny Peculiar and former Oasis guitarist Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs
Paul Brett (2021)
Stone Survivor - Anthology
Extensive four CD compilation from session musician and experimental guitarist Paul Brett
Paul Haig (2008)
Chain
Impressive reissue with extra tracks of former Josef K frontman Paul Haig's dance and funk-influenced 1989 solo album
Paul Rutherford (2012)
Oh World
Fabulous reissue of Frankie Goes to Hollywood's backing vocalist and dancer Paul Rutherford's 1989 debut solo album
Primitives (2013)
Everything’s Shining Bright: The Lazy Recordings 1985-87
First-rate double compilation of early recordings from much loved Coventry-based indie pop/punk outfit, the Primitives
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry (2010)
The Very Best of Red Lorry Yellow Lorry
Enjoyable compilation from Leeds-based cult alternative band Red Lorry Yellow Lorry that is essential listening for Goths and other alternative music fans in particular
Sarah Cracknell (2015)
Red Kite
Dreamy soundscapes on first solo album in eighteen years from Saint Etienne front woman, Sarah Cracknell
Servants (2013)
Small Time/Hey Hey We're the Manques
Fabulous second album from underrated late 80’s and early 90’s indie band the Servants, which has finally been released twenty one years after it was recorded
Sonia (2021)
Everybody Knows - The SIngles Box Set
Pure pop perfection on six CD box set from Hit Factory starlet Sonia
Soup Dragons (2013)
20 Golden Greats
Repetitive retrospective from briefly popular late 80's/early 90's Scottish indie pop act, the Soup Dragons
Various (2017)
Silhouettes and Statues: A Gothic Revolution
Definitive five CD box set from Cherry Red which explores the history of Gothic music
Various (2015)
Rock! Wreck! And Rule
Fantastic double CD compilation which provides an informative history into the psychobilly genre
Various (2020)
Surrender to the Rhythm: The London Pub Rock Scene of the 70s
Excellent and exhaustive Cherry Red box set celebrates the under-rated era of ‘70s UK pub rock
Various (2020)
Martin Green Presents: Super Sonics - 40 Junkshop Britpop Greats
Excellently presented double CD from Cherry Red which compiles together some of the more obscure and less well known bands of the Britpop era
Various (2020)
Roots, Rock, Reggae
Superb late 1970's reggae compilation re-released on double CD by Cherry Red with extra tracks
Various (2020)
Musik Music Musique
Essential and insightful three CD box set focusing on the groundbreaking year in synth pop of 1980 from Cherry Red
Various (2016)
I’m A Freak Baby
Fantastic 3-CD Cherry Red Records’ box set which traces the history of the darker side of psychedelia from 1966-1972
Various (2021)
Shake the Foundations: Militant Funk and the Post-Punk Dancefloor 1978-1984
Impressive three CD box set from Cherry Red follows up the success of their previous post-punk box sets with this reflection into the more danceable part of the scene
Various (2020)
A Slight Disturbance In My Mind
Cherry Red’s new compilation of the UK experimental pop of 1966 that blossomed into psychedelia shows how diverse the style really was
Various (2022)
Heroes & Villains – The Sound Of Los Angeles 1965-1968,
Excellent three-disc retrospective, which fifty years after the original release of the iconic 'Nuggets' album, compiles together music from the LA scene of 1965-68, and the garage/psychedelic/pop sounds of California
Various (2022)
C91
Next instalment in Cherry Red’s successful C-series is ‘C91’, which shows that 1991 was a bad year for indie music, but the compilation itself is a joy to behold
Various (2022)
Revolt Into Style 1979
Enjoyable and eclectic three CD post punk and alternative music from 1979 from Cherry Red
Various (2022)
I Love To See You Strut – More ’60s Mod, RNB, Brit Soul and Freakbeat Nuggets,
Rollercoaster ride of pop melodies and blues rock on long-awaited follow-up to the esteemed RPM mod/freakscene compilations
Various (2021)
Straight to the Head: Jogibs Records Presents Knockout Sounds
Mixed bag of styles and quality in this compilation of early reggae from Joe Gibbs, who became one of the music’s pre-eminent producers.
Various (2023)
Cherry Stars Collide: Dream Pop, Shoegaze and Ethereal Rock 1986-1995
Follow-up of sorts to 2016’s ‘Still in a Dream’ shoegaze compilation, which goes on to compile songs from the dream pop, shoegaze and ethereal rock movements
Various (2022)
Music for New Romantics
Often surprising new three CD compilation which celebrates the legendary New Romantic scene in the best possible way
Various (2022)
Kids On The Street - UK Power Pop and New Wave 1977-1981
Eagerly-awaited follow-up to the much acclaimed ‘Harmony In My Head which packs three CDs full of smashing UK punk pop and new wave goodness
Various (2022)
The Hacienda 1982
2022 sees Manchester’s iconic club The Hacienda celebrate its 40th anniversary, and Cherry Red has compiled four CDs worth of tracks associated with the club’s first year.
Various (2023)
Musik, Music, Musique 3.0: 1982 – Synth Pop on the Air’
Impressive box set in which Cherry Red continues to explore the early days of synth pop in the third instalment of the ‘Musik, Music, Musique’ series
Vinny Peculiar (2014)
The Root Mull Affect
First-rate literate pop on new retrospective from Manchester-based singer-songwriter and cult artist, Vinny Peculiar
Related
Profiles
Dreams to Fill the Vacuum
The Sounds of Sheffield 1978-1988
Proud Sheffielder Fiona Hutchings checks out the latest curated collection from Cherry Red Records promising plenty of punk and post punk gems, including twelve previously unreleased tracks.