Various Artists - C89

C89 is a 3CD indie-pop compilation box set released in July 2018. Serving as a chronological sequel to the iconic C86 tape legacy, this 58-track collection documents the vibrant UK underground independent music scene of 1989. The release captures a pivotal transitional period in British guitar music, showcasing a diverse mix of jangle pop, early shoegaze, twee, and nascent Madchester sounds. The physical edition is packaged in a deluxe clamshell box, complete with a comprehensive booklet containing 8,000 words of detailed, band-by-band biographies written by original C86 co-compiler Neil Taylor.

The compilation is uniquely structured across three themed discs to provide a thorough overview of the era. Disc one focuses on emerging artists making their debut in the "C" series, featuring tracks from bands like The La's, The Telescopes, and The Family Cat. Disc two collects subsequent singles and deeper cuts from established acts previously highlighted in the C86, C87, or C88 box sets, including The Stone Roses, The Mock Turtles, and The Pooh Sticks. The final disc highlights cult favorites and rarer selections from definitive independent labels of the time, such as Sarah Records and Creation, cementing the box set as an essential historical archive for fans of alternative music.

Released in 2018, C89 stands as a definitive and meticulously curated three-disc time capsule of the UK independent music scene during a year of profound sonic evolution. Serving as a direct continuation of the legendary C86 tape lineage, this 58-track compilation captures a genre in flux. By 1989, the frantic, amateurish charm of the mid-80s jangle and twee scenes was giving way to more ambitious sounds. This box set brilliantly charts that transition, serving up a potent mix of melodic guitar pop, early shoegaze noise, and the dance-inflected rhythms of the emerging Madchester movement.

The compilation’s clever structural division across three discs provides a satisfyingly multi-layered listening experience. Disc one introduces fresh talent that arrived late to the decade, showcasing the immense songwriting prowess of acts like The La's with "Come In Come Out" and the abrasive guitar textures of The Telescopes. Disc two offers a fascinating look at the maturation of the scene's veterans, featuring essential cuts from household names like The Stone Roses alongside cult favorites like The Pooh Sticks. Disc three digs deep into the underground archives, shining a much-deserved spotlight on rarer gems from legendary labels like Sarah Records and Creation.

What elevates C89 from a mere nostalgia trip to an essential historical document is the sheer quality of its curation and packaging. Curated with the help of original C86 co-compiler Neil Taylor, the physical box set boasts an immersive, 8,000-word booklet that brings the era vividly to life. The tracklist wisely avoids the trap of predictable greatest-hits recycling, opting instead for lesser-known singles, B-sides, and obscure tracks that even seasoned record collectors might have missed. It successfully argues that the underground scene in 1989 was just as vibrant and experimental as the one that preceded it a few years earlier.

Ultimately, C89 is a triumphant celebration of British independent music at a historic crossroads. It bridges the gap between the lo-fi indie ethos of the 1980s and the massive, stadium-sized alternative rock explosion that defined the early 1990s. While some of the more obscure tracks inevitably show their age, the collection's overall consistency, infectious energy, and historical depth make it a mandatory listen. For both dedicated crate-diggers and casual fans looking to understand the roots of modern alternative rock, this box set is an absolute treasure trove.

Ripped to MP3

The compilation is uniquely structured across three distinct audio discs:

Disc 1: Focuses on artists who made their first major impact in 1988 and 1989, entirely new to Cherry Red's "C" series. It includes acts like The La's, The Family Cat, and The Telescopes.

Disc 2: Collects subsequent singles or B-sides from bands previously highlighted in the C86, C87, or C88 box sets, such as The Stone Roses, The Mock Turtles, and The Pooh Sticks.

Disc 3: Features deep-cut selections from independent cult labels of the era like Sarah Records and Creation, highlighting bands such as The Claim, A Riot Of Colour, and The Cherry Orchard.

Track Highlights

The La's: "Come In Come Out"

The Stone Roses: "Going Down"

Milltown Brothers: "Which Way Should I Jump?"

The Telescopes: "Nothing"

The Family Cat: "Tom Verlaine"

Another Sunny Day: "You Should All Be Murdered"