Released in January 1979 by Manchester's burgeoning indie imprint, A Factory Sample (FAC 2) is widely regarded as one of the most culturally significant artifacts of the post-punk era. Funded by a small inheritance left to label co-founder Tony Wilson, this double 7-inch EP served as the definitive musical manifesto for Factory Records, a label that would go on to shape the alternative music landscape for decades. Limited to a pressing of just 5,000 copies, the compilation defied traditional music industry standards—notably opting for a slower 33 ⅓ RPM play speed on 7-inch vinyl to accommodate longer tracks—and arrived in an iconic, Peter Saville-designed gatefold sleeve.
The tracks on this release map out the industrial, clinical, and fiercely experimental subculture of late-1970s North West England. By eschewing conventional "Side A" through "Side D" labels in favour of the thematic headers Aside, Beside, Seaside, and Decide, Factory treated the tracklist as a holistic artistic statement. The four chosen artists—Joy Division, The Durutti Column, John Dowie, and Cabaret Voltaire—represent drastically different creative corners, yet they collectively capture a shared disillusionment with standard rock templates. This collection remains highly coveted on the Discogs Marketplace as the blueprint for the legendary "Manchester Sound."
As an entry point into the bleak genius of post-punk, Aside ("Tears In Their Eyes") delivers arguably the most historic opening sequence in independent music. It captures the inaugural collaboration between Joy Division and producer Martin Hannett. "Digital" hits with Peter Hook's fiercely driving, distorted bass line and Stephen Morris's mechanistic drum pattern, underlying Ian Curtis’s urgent, claustrophobic vocal delivery. This is immediately backed by "Glass," a less ubiquitous but equally haunting track that relies on angular guitars and cold sonic spaces. Together, these tracks represent the moment Joy Division stepped away from basic punk aggression and found their legendary, spacious architectural signature.
The mood shifts into abstract, melancholic territory on Beside ("Occasional Labour In Culture"), introducing the earliest iteration of The Durutti Column. Produced by Hannett alongside Laurie Latham, "No Communication" and "Thin Ice (Detail)" feature the intricate, shimmering guitar work of Vini Reilly. Instead of standard verses and choruses, these compositions rely on brittle, ambient textures and fragile melodies. It provides a stunning counterweight to Joy Division’s rhythmic driving force, proving that early Factory was as interested in quiet, introspective avant-garde classical structures as it was in dark dance floors.
The second disc opens with a sharp curveball on Seaside ("A Piece Of The Cake, 3 Songs That Spell FAG"), handed over to musical comedian and performer John Dowie. Produced by C.P. Lee, this three-track suite consisting of "Acne," "Idiot," and "Hitler's Liver" introduces a biting, satirical spoken-word element to the sampler. While jarring to contemporary listeners expecting pure gloom, Dowie's surreal wit reflects Tony Wilson’s devotion to the Situationist International movement and Dadaist art. It acts as a reminder that the early Manchester underground was deeply tied to theatrical, counter-cultural performance art rather than strict genre rules.
The compilation closes in terrifyingly brilliant fashion on Decide ("Lips Of Sulphur") with Sheffield electronic pioneers Cabaret Voltaire. Stripping away human guitars and organic drum kits, "Baader Meinhof" and "Sex In Secret" delve straight into cold, industrial tape loops and distorted synthesizers. The paranoiac, political undertones of "Baader Meinhof" act as a perfect terminal point for the compilation, casting a grim shadow across the late-70s British political landscape. In total, A Factory Sample stands as an essential listen; it is a masterfully curated time capsule that captures the precise moment British guitar music fractured into the beautiful, erratic future.
Ripped to MP3
Format: Double 7" vinyl compilation EP playing at 33 ⅓ RPM.
Catalogue Number: FAC 2.
Side Names: Aside, Beside, Seaside, Decide.
Disc 1
Aside ("Tears In Their Eyes")
Joy Division — "Digital" (2:50)
Joy Division — "Glass" (3:51)
Beside ("Occasional Labour In Culture")
The Durutti Column — "No Communication" (4:57)
The Durutti Column — "Thin Ice (Detail)" (3:16)
Disc 2
Seaside ("A Piece Of The Cake, 3 Songs That Spell FAG")
John Dowie — "Acne" (1:43)
John Dowie — "Idiot" (1:53)
John Dowie — "Hitler's Liver" (2:27)
Decide ("Lips Of Sulphur")
Cabaret Voltaire — "Baader Meinhof" (3:15)
Cabaret Voltaire — "Sex In Secret" (3:28)
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