A Factory Sample

There were the only two songs that I was familiar with when I first listened to the 2x7”singles that represent Factory Records first release. Joy Division’s Digital is tense, punky, but with a really catchy bass line. Ian works himself into a frenzy by the end of it, one of the first true times he did this. Glass has never been one of my favourite songs, but it's more indicative of where Joy Division were going. Durutti Column’s offerings are actually pretty good. They're basically just a Post-Punk band at this point (instead of the Dream Pop/Post-Rock/Ambient Pop/whatever the fuck they were doing afterwards). Vini doesn't play as large a role, obviously, but his guitar sound is still there, effects and all. No Communication has a sort of Dub feel with atmospheric guitars and deadpan spoken-word delivery. Thin Ice follows the same formula with more spoken word delivery. I don't know much about John Dowie outside that he is/was a comedian. Its Punk Rock instrumentals with comedic lyrics overtop of them in the timeless Punk delivery. Mildly humorous. And finally, Cabaret Voltaire, who were just beginning their career on Rough Trade around this time (not sure if their '78 EP came out before this or not...). Two songs very much in their early Minimal Wave / Industrial style with primitive drum machines, discordant electronics and echo-y vocals. Baader Meinhof is more of a soundscape, while Sex In Secret is a little more traditional. Overall, it's a diverse compilation but still a pretty good one.

Probably ripped by Herr Blogmiester at Everything Starts With An (ESWA) and presented here in MP3 @ 320kbps

Tracklist and usual gubbins here