C90 is a comprehensive three-CD compilation album released in February 2020 to document the UK indie music scene of 1990. Serving as a chronological sequel to the influential C86 lineage, this 63-track box set captures a pivotal transitional year in British music. The collection highlights the creative explosion that occurred as traditional indie-pop merged with electronic dance rhythms, giving rise to iconic subgenres. Listeners can explore the peak of the baggy and Madchester movements, alongside the atmospheric, feedback-heavy origins of early shoegaze and dream pop.
The tracklist balances mainstream breakthrough acts with obscure underground cult bands to provide a vivid time capsule of the era. It features foundational tracks from celebrated guitar groups like The Charlatans, The La's, and The Sundays, alongside early, raw releases from future giants like the Manic Street Preachers. By pairing commercial chart-toppers with rare, long-lost singles, the compilation offers an exhaustive look at the sonic landscape that ultimately laid the groundwork for the mid-90s Britpop boom.
