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#allsaints — Public Fediverse posts

Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #allsaints, aggregated by home.social.

  1. Hit That Perfect Beat: The London Records Story – an awesome compilation of pop and indie rock songs of the ’80s and ’90s

    I haven’t received a compilation CD to review in quite a while. The digital nature of music distribution today means most of my sampling of what’s new on the music scene – including the release of reissues and anniversary issues of classic albums – is pretty much all done online. So it was nice to receive a copy of the CD compilation Hit That Perfect Beat: The London Records Story – an engaging collection of songs that highlights the remarkable breadth of London Records during the 1980s and 1990s. Finally, a quality CD I can play in my car!

    Scanning the tracklisting of this double-disc set and you might be surprised by the sheer diversity of artists who were on the London Records label. From Bananarama to Bronski Beat, All Saints to New Order, every genre of the times – from pop to early EDM – makes an appearance.

    A lot of these songs I’ve heard before, of course, most of them actually, and it’s so good to hear them again, seemingly mastered so that I’m hearing subtle nuances that I didn’t pick up when they were first heard. Blancmange’s Living On The Ceiling kicks the proceedings off and the version of that song alone reveals beeps and buzzes I’d not picked up on previously. Bananarama’s Cruel Summer follows – a pop classic if ever there was one. And then everything Jimmy Somerville has touched appears to follow – LGBT-proud anthems by Bronski Beat, absolute grooves by the Communards, and even a Somerville solo single. You might suspect, actually, that Jimmy had shares in the production of this compilation, his vocals appear so regularly.

    Then there are the huge hits – like Fine Young Cannibals’ She Drives Me Crazy; Armand van Helden’s You Don’t Know Me (a massive one in the clubs that one was); Shakespears Sister’s You’re History, All Saints’ Never Ever, and Sugarbabes’ Overload.

    And if the songs themselves don’t seem like they’ve left a major mark on the pop and indie maps, the artists certainly do. New Order’s Regret kicks off CD two with that guitar riff, and while it wasn’t as big a hit as, say, Bizarre Love Triangle or the band’s legendary Blue Monday, it has all the hallmarks of a New Order classic and it’s a nice surprise to see on here (I had forgotten the band had links to London Records). Then there’s Happy Mondays’ rave favourite Stinkin’ Thinkin’; Echo And The Bunnymen’s dream pop gem Nothing Lasts Forever; Gay Dad’s alt-rock ode To Earth With Love; and Dannii Minogue’s classic club staple I Begin To Wonder. Even without Dead Or Alive’s You Spin Me Round Like A Record – which features on an alternative version of that latter song, it’s still a good, hooky number that sits nicely amid the broad artistry here.

    That sheer diversity of London Records artists also meant artists were free to move around, test the solo life, move into other fields. It’s because of the chilled vibe of the label that lead singer of Fine Young Cannibals, Roland Gift, was able to go do runway work for big designer labels; why Siobhan Faye of Bananarama was given the chance to move on from her bubblegum blonde roots and into darker, gothic-romantic territory as half of Shakespears Sister (their name taken from a Smiths song, the apostrophe and letter ‘e’ purposely missing); why the Mike Flower Pops were allowed to absolutely crucify Oasis’ sacred Wonderwall (that’s on here, too).

    The London Records Story moves confidently through synth-pop, nu-wave, indie rock, dance, electronica, ska, and other alternative sounds, demonstrating how the label consistently embraced artists who reflected bold and changing musical trends.

    Familiar hits sit comfortably alongside deeper cuts, making the collection appealing to both casual listeners and longtime fans.

    The sequencing keeps the energy flowing, with polished pop anthems giving way to club classics and guitar-driven tracks that capture the evolving tastes of two transformative decades. The mastering is generally strong, allowing songs from different years to coexist without sounding jarring. More importantly, the compilation illustrates how London Records balanced commercial success with artistic ambition, signing acts that often influenced the direction of popular music, not merely followed it.

    As a summary of the 1980s and 1990s, however, it is best viewed through the lens of one label rather than as a complete portrait of either era. What this compilation does well is capture many defining styles and moods but inevitably omitting major movements and artists released elsewhere (not much New Romantic on here, put it that way). Even so, it succeeds as a vivid snapshot of its catalogue and an enjoyable journey through two decades of memorable music.

    A great double-disc set that’s still regularly rotating on the car stereo.

    Antonino Tati

     

    ‘Hit That Perfect Beat: The London Records Story’ is available on CD and in digital format through London Records (naturally).

    The label also presents a beaut podcast which you can subscribe to here.

     

    Antonino Tati presents ‘Good Times’ | RTRFM 92.1

    Dua Lipa pushes for free speech in literature, opening a library fully dedicated to stocking banned and censored books

    Charli XCX set to cover a lot of ground on her new album, and with the Triple-A access she’s had to all the cool parties, we just know the cameos and references on this one are going to be masssssssive

    Everything Everywhere All at Once: Why Madonna’s Fitbit stats must be off the charts, and will the oversaturation for new album ‘Confessions II’ pay off?

     

    Curating the Ultimate Luxury Weekend Getaway in the Heart of Sydney

    Still loving this track.

    Hands in the air for a ‘Romy and Michele’ movie sequel is finally in production

    Pre-Owned vs New Rolex: What Buyers Need to Know

    THE CREAM WINTER ESSENTIALS GUIDE 2026

    ‘The Vinyl Factory: Reverb’ is a multi-sensory experience delving into vinyl culture across music, fashion, art and the social realms

     

    Rate this:

    #AllSaints #ANTONINOTATI #bananarama #BREATHE #breatheRedux #bronskiBeat #communards #compilationAlbums #compilationCds #CREAMMAGAZINE #DanniiMinogue #e #echoAndTheBunnymen #happyMondays #hitThatPerfectBeat #indiePop #indieRock #jimmySomerville #londonRecords #marcellaDetroit #MUSIC #musicReviews #newOrder #POPCULTURE #popMusic #popReviews #REVIEWS #shakespearsSister #siobhanFahey
  2. Hit That Perfect Beat: The London Records Story – an awesome compilation of pop and indie rock songs of the ’80s and ’90s

    I haven’t received a compilation CD to review in quite a while. The digital nature of music distribution today means most of my sampling of what’s new on the music scene – including the release of reissues and anniversary issues of classic albums – is pretty much all done online. So it was nice to receive a copy of the CD compilation Hit That Perfect Beat: The London Records Story – an engaging collection of songs that highlights the remarkable breadth of London Records during the 1980s and 1990s. Finally, a quality CD I can play in my car!

    Scanning the tracklisting of this double-disc set and you might be surprised by the sheer diversity of artists who were on the London Records label. From Bananarama to Bronski Beat, All Saints to New Order, every genre of the times – from pop to early EDM – makes an appearance.

    A lot of these songs I’ve heard before, of course, most of them actually, and it’s so good to hear them again, seemingly mastered so that I’m hearing subtle nuances that I didn’t pick up when they were first heard. Blancmange’s Living On The Ceiling kicks the proceedings off and the version of that song alone reveals beeps and buzzes I’d not picked up on previously. Bananarama’s Cruel Summer follows – a pop classic if ever there was one. And then everything Jimmy Somerville has touched appears to follow – LGBT-proud anthems by Bronski Beat, absolute grooves by the Communards, and even a Somerville solo single. You might suspect, actually, that Jimmy had shares in the production of this compilation, his vocals appear so regularly.

    Then there are the huge hits – like Fine Young Cannibals’ She Drives Me Crazy; Armand van Helden’s You Don’t Know Me (a massive one in the clubs that one was); Shakespears Sister’s You’re History, All Saints’ Never Ever, and Sugarbabes’ Overload.

    And if the songs themselves don’t seem like they’ve left a major mark on the pop and indie maps, the artists certainly do. New Order’s Regret kicks off CD two with that guitar riff, and while it wasn’t as big a hit as, say, Bizarre Love Triangle or the band’s legendary Blue Monday, it has all the hallmarks of a New Order classic and it’s a nice surprise to see on here (I had forgotten the band had links to London Records). Then there’s Happy Mondays’ rave favourite Stinkin’ Thinkin’; Echo And The Bunnymen’s dream pop gem Nothing Lasts Forever; Gay Dad’s alt-rock ode To Earth With Love; and Dannii Minogue’s classic club staple I Begin To Wonder. Even without Dead Or Alive’s You Spin Me Round Like A Record – which features on an alternative version of that latter song, it’s still a good, hooky number that sits nicely amid the broad artistry here.

    That sheer diversity of London Records artists also meant artists were free to move around, test the solo life, move into other fields. It’s because of the chilled vibe of the label that lead singer of Fine Young Cannibals, Roland Gift, was able to go do runway work for big designer labels; why Siobhan Faye of Bananarama was given the chance to move on from her bubblegum blonde roots and into darker, gothic-romantic territory as half of Shakespears Sister (their name taken from a Smiths song, the apostrophe and letter ‘e’ purposely missing); why the Mike Flower Pops were allowed to absolutely crucify Oasis’ sacred Wonderwall (that’s on here, too).

    The London Records Story moves confidently through synth-pop, nu-wave, indie rock, dance, electronica, ska, and other alternative sounds, demonstrating how the label consistently embraced artists who reflected bold and changing musical trends.

    Familiar hits sit comfortably alongside deeper cuts, making the collection appealing to both casual listeners and longtime fans.

    The sequencing keeps the energy flowing, with polished pop anthems giving way to club classics and guitar-driven tracks that capture the evolving tastes of two transformative decades. The mastering is generally strong, allowing songs from different years to coexist without sounding jarring. More importantly, the compilation illustrates how London Records balanced commercial success with artistic ambition, signing acts that often influenced the direction of popular music, not merely followed it.

    As a summary of the 1980s and 1990s, however, it is best viewed through the lens of one label rather than as a complete portrait of either era. What this compilation does well is capture many defining styles and moods but inevitably omitting major movements and artists released elsewhere (not much New Romantic on here, put it that way). Even so, it succeeds as a vivid snapshot of its catalogue and an enjoyable journey through two decades of memorable music.

    A great double-disc set that’s still regularly rotating on the car stereo.

    Antonino Tati

     

    ‘Hit That Perfect Beat: The London Records Story’ is available on CD and in digital format through London Records (naturally).

    The label also presents a beaut podcast which you can subscribe to here.

     

    Antonino Tati presents ‘Good Times’ | RTRFM 92.1

    Dua Lipa pushes for free speech in literature, opening a library fully dedicated to stocking banned and censored books

    Charli XCX set to cover a lot of ground on her new album, and with the Triple-A access she’s had to all the cool parties, we just know the cameos and references on this one are going to be masssssssive

    Everything Everywhere All at Once: Why Madonna’s Fitbit stats must be off the charts, and will the oversaturation for new album ‘Confessions II’ pay off?

     

    Curating the Ultimate Luxury Weekend Getaway in the Heart of Sydney

    Still loving this track.

    Hands in the air for a ‘Romy and Michele’ movie sequel is finally in production

    Pre-Owned vs New Rolex: What Buyers Need to Know

    THE CREAM WINTER ESSENTIALS GUIDE 2026

    ‘The Vinyl Factory: Reverb’ is a multi-sensory experience delving into vinyl culture across music, fashion, art and the social realms

     

    Rate this:

    #AllSaints #ANTONINOTATI #bananarama #BREATHE #breatheRedux #bronskiBeat #communards #compilationAlbums #compilationCds #CREAMMAGAZINE #DanniiMinogue #e #echoAndTheBunnymen #happyMondays #hitThatPerfectBeat #indiePop #indieRock #jimmySomerville #londonRecords #marcellaDetroit #MUSIC #musicReviews #newOrder #POPCULTURE #popMusic #popReviews #REVIEWS #shakespearsSister #siobhanFahey
  3. Hit That Perfect Beat: The London Records Story – an awesome compilation of pop and indie rock songs of the ’80s and ’90s

    I haven’t received a compilation CD to review in quite a while. The digital nature of music distribution today means most of my sampling of what’s new on the music scene – including the release of reissues and anniversary issues of classic albums – is pretty much all done online. So it was nice to receive a copy of the CD compilation Hit That Perfect Beat: The London Records Story – an engaging collection of songs that highlights the remarkable breadth of London Records during the 1980s and 1990s. Finally, a quality CD I can play in my car!

    Scanning the tracklisting of this double-disc set and you might be surprised by the sheer diversity of artists who were on the London Records label. From Bananarama to Bronski Beat, All Saints to New Order, every genre of the times – from pop to early EDM – makes an appearance.

    A lot of these songs I’ve heard before, of course, most of them actually, and it’s so good to hear them again, seemingly mastered so that I’m hearing subtle nuances that I didn’t pick up when they were first heard. Blancmange’s Living On The Ceiling kicks the proceedings off and the version of that song alone reveals beeps and buzzes I’d not picked up on previously. Bananarama’s Cruel Summer follows – a pop classic if ever there was one. And then everything Jimmy Somerville has touched appears to follow – LGBT-proud anthems by Bronski Beat, absolute grooves by the Communards, and even a Somerville solo single. You might suspect, actually, that Jimmy had shares in the production of this compilation, his vocals appear so regularly.

    Then there are the huge hits – like Fine Young Cannibals’ She Drives Me Crazy; Armand van Helden’s You Don’t Know Me (a massive one in the clubs that one was); Shakespears Sister’s You’re History, All Saints’ Never Ever, and Sugarbabes’ Overload.

    And if the songs themselves don’t seem like they’ve left a major mark on the pop and indie maps, the artists certainly do. New Order’s Regret kicks off CD two with that guitar riff, and while it wasn’t as big a hit as, say, Bizarre Love Triangle or the band’s legendary Blue Monday, it has all the hallmarks of a New Order classic and it’s a nice surprise to see on here (I had forgotten the band had links to London Records). Then there’s Happy Mondays’ rave favourite Stinkin’ Thinkin’; Echo And The Bunnymen’s dream pop gem Nothing Lasts Forever; Gay Dad’s alt-rock ode To Earth With Love; and Dannii Minogue’s classic club staple I Begin To Wonder. Even without Dead Or Alive’s You Spin Me Round Like A Record – which features on an alternative version of that latter song, it’s still a good, hooky number that sits nicely amid the broad artistry here.

    That sheer diversity of London Records artists also meant artists were free to move around, test the solo life, move into other fields. It’s because of the chilled vibe of the label that lead singer of Fine Young Cannibals, Roland Gift, was able to go do runway work for big designer labels; why Siobhan Faye of Bananarama was given the chance to move on from her bubblegum blonde roots and into darker, gothic-romantic territory as half of Shakespears Sister (their name taken from a Smiths song, the apostrophe and letter ‘e’ purposely missing); why the Mike Flower Pops were allowed to absolutely crucify Oasis’ sacred Wonderwall (that’s on here, too).

    The London Records Story moves confidently through synth-pop, nu-wave, indie rock, dance, electronica, ska, and other alternative sounds, demonstrating how the label consistently embraced artists who reflected bold and changing musical trends.

    Familiar hits sit comfortably alongside deeper cuts, making the collection appealing to both casual listeners and longtime fans.

    The sequencing keeps the energy flowing, with polished pop anthems giving way to club classics and guitar-driven tracks that capture the evolving tastes of two transformative decades. The mastering is generally strong, allowing songs from different years to coexist without sounding jarring. More importantly, the compilation illustrates how London Records balanced commercial success with artistic ambition, signing acts that often influenced the direction of popular music, not merely followed it.

    As a summary of the 1980s and 1990s, however, it is best viewed through the lens of one label rather than as a complete portrait of either era. What this compilation does well is capture many defining styles and moods but inevitably omitting major movements and artists released elsewhere (not much New Romantic on here, put it that way). Even so, it succeeds as a vivid snapshot of its catalogue and an enjoyable journey through two decades of memorable music.

    A great double-disc set that’s still regularly rotating on the car stereo.

    Antonino Tati

     

    ‘Hit That Perfect Beat: The London Records Story’ is available on CD and in digital format through London Records (naturally).

    The label also presents a beaut podcast which you can subscribe to here.

     

    Antonino Tati presents ‘Good Times’ | RTRFM 92.1

    Dua Lipa pushes for free speech in literature, opening a library fully dedicated to stocking banned and censored books

    Charli XCX set to cover a lot of ground on her new album, and with the Triple-A access she’s had to all the cool parties, we just know the cameos and references on this one are going to be masssssssive

    Everything Everywhere All at Once: Why Madonna’s Fitbit stats must be off the charts, and will the oversaturation for new album ‘Confessions II’ pay off?

     

    Curating the Ultimate Luxury Weekend Getaway in the Heart of Sydney

    Still loving this track.

    Hands in the air for a ‘Romy and Michele’ movie sequel is finally in production

    Pre-Owned vs New Rolex: What Buyers Need to Know

    THE CREAM WINTER ESSENTIALS GUIDE 2026

    ‘The Vinyl Factory: Reverb’ is a multi-sensory experience delving into vinyl culture across music, fashion, art and the social realms

     

    Rate this:

    #AllSaints #ANTONINOTATI #bananarama #BREATHE #breatheRedux #bronskiBeat #communards #compilationAlbums #compilationCds #CREAMMAGAZINE #DanniiMinogue #e #echoAndTheBunnymen #happyMondays #hitThatPerfectBeat #indiePop #indieRock #jimmySomerville #londonRecords #marcellaDetroit #MUSIC #musicReviews #newOrder #POPCULTURE #popMusic #popReviews #REVIEWS #shakespearsSister #siobhanFahey
  4. Hit That Perfect Beat: The London Records Story – an awesome compilation of pop and indie rock songs of the ’80s and ’90s

    I haven’t received a compilation CD to review in quite a while. The digital nature of music distribution today means most of my sampling of what’s new on the music scene – including the release of reissues and anniversary issues of classic albums – is pretty much all done online. So it was nice to receive a copy of the CD compilation Hit That Perfect Beat: The London Records Story – an engaging collection of songs that highlights the remarkable breadth of London Records during the 1980s and 1990s. Finally, a quality CD I can play in my car!

    Scanning the tracklisting of this double-disc set and you might be surprised by the sheer diversity of artists who were on the London Records label. From Bananarama to Bronski Beat, All Saints to New Order, every genre of the times – from pop to early EDM – makes an appearance.

    A lot of these songs I’ve heard before, of course, most of them actually, and it’s so good to hear them again, seemingly mastered so that I’m hearing subtle nuances that I didn’t pick up when they were first heard. Blancmange’s Living On The Ceiling kicks the proceedings off and the version of that song alone reveals beeps and buzzes I’d not picked up on previously. Bananarama’s Cruel Summer follows – a pop classic if ever there was one. And then everything Jimmy Somerville has touched appears to follow – LGBT-proud anthems by Bronski Beat, absolute grooves by the Communards, and even a Somerville solo single. You might suspect, actually, that Jimmy had shares in the production of this compilation, his vocals appear so regularly.

    Then there are the huge hits – like Fine Young Cannibals’ She Drives Me Crazy; Armand van Helden’s You Don’t Know Me (a massive one in the clubs that one was); Shakespears Sister’s You’re History, All Saints’ Never Ever, and Sugarbabes’ Overload.

    And if the songs themselves don’t seem like they’ve left a major mark on the pop and indie maps, the artists certainly do. New Order’s Regret kicks off CD two with that guitar riff, and while it wasn’t as big a hit as, say, Bizarre Love Triangle or the band’s legendary Blue Monday, it has all the hallmarks of a New Order classic and it’s a nice surprise to see on here (I had forgotten the band had links to London Records). Then there’s Happy Mondays’ rave favourite Stinkin’ Thinkin’; Echo And The Bunnymen’s dream pop gem Nothing Lasts Forever; Gay Dad’s alt-rock ode To Earth With Love; and Dannii Minogue’s classic club staple I Begin To Wonder. Even without Dead Or Alive’s You Spin Me Round Like A Record – which features on an alternative version of that latter song, it’s still a good, hooky number that sits nicely amid the broad artistry here.

    That sheer diversity of London Records artists also meant artists were free to move around, test the solo life, move into other fields. It’s because of the chilled vibe of the label that lead singer of Fine Young Cannibals, Roland Gift, was able to go do runway work for big designer labels; why Siobhan Faye of Bananarama was given the chance to move on from her bubblegum blonde roots and into darker, gothic-romantic territory as half of Shakespears Sister (their name taken from a Smiths song, the apostrophe and letter ‘e’ purposely missing); why the Mike Flower Pops were allowed to absolutely crucify Oasis’ sacred Wonderwall (that’s on here, too).

    The London Records Story moves confidently through synth-pop, nu-wave, indie rock, dance, electronica, ska, and other alternative sounds, demonstrating how the label consistently embraced artists who reflected bold and changing musical trends.

    Familiar hits sit comfortably alongside deeper cuts, making the collection appealing to both casual listeners and longtime fans.

    The sequencing keeps the energy flowing, with polished pop anthems giving way to club classics and guitar-driven tracks that capture the evolving tastes of two transformative decades. The mastering is generally strong, allowing songs from different years to coexist without sounding jarring. More importantly, the compilation illustrates how London Records balanced commercial success with artistic ambition, signing acts that often influenced the direction of popular music, not merely followed it.

    As a summary of the 1980s and 1990s, however, it is best viewed through the lens of one label rather than as a complete portrait of either era. What this compilation does well is capture many defining styles and moods but inevitably omitting major movements and artists released elsewhere (not much New Romantic on here, put it that way). Even so, it succeeds as a vivid snapshot of its catalogue and an enjoyable journey through two decades of memorable music.

    A great double-disc set that’s still regularly rotating on the car stereo.

    Antonino Tati

     

    ‘Hit That Perfect Beat: The London Records Story’ is available on CD and in digital format through London Records (naturally).

    The label also presents a beaut podcast which you can subscribe to here.

     

    Antonino Tati presents ‘Good Times’ | RTRFM 92.1

    Dua Lipa pushes for free speech in literature, opening a library fully dedicated to stocking banned and censored books

    Charli XCX set to cover a lot of ground on her new album, and with the Triple-A access she’s had to all the cool parties, we just know the cameos and references on this one are going to be masssssssive

    Everything Everywhere All at Once: Why Madonna’s Fitbit stats must be off the charts, and will the oversaturation for new album ‘Confessions II’ pay off?

     

    Curating the Ultimate Luxury Weekend Getaway in the Heart of Sydney

    Still loving this track.

    Hands in the air for a ‘Romy and Michele’ movie sequel is finally in production

    Pre-Owned vs New Rolex: What Buyers Need to Know

    THE CREAM WINTER ESSENTIALS GUIDE 2026

    ‘The Vinyl Factory: Reverb’ is a multi-sensory experience delving into vinyl culture across music, fashion, art and the social realms

     

    Rate this:

    #AllSaints #ANTONINOTATI #bananarama #BREATHE #breatheRedux #bronskiBeat #communards #compilationAlbums #compilationCds #CREAMMAGAZINE #DanniiMinogue #e #echoAndTheBunnymen #happyMondays #hitThatPerfectBeat #indiePop #indieRock #jimmySomerville #londonRecords #marcellaDetroit #MUSIC #musicReviews #newOrder #POPCULTURE #popMusic #popReviews #REVIEWS #shakespearsSister #siobhanFahey
  5. Hit That Perfect Beat: The London Records Story – an awesome compilation of pop and indie rock songs of the ’80s and ’90s

    I haven’t received a compilation CD to review in quite a while. The digital nature of music distribution today means most of my sampling of what’s new on the music scene – including the release of reissues and anniversary issues of classic albums – is pretty much all done online. So it was nice to receive a copy of the CD compilation Hit That Perfect Beat: The London Records Story – an engaging collection of songs that highlights the remarkable breadth of London Records during the 1980s and 1990s. Finally, a quality CD I can play in my car!

    Scanning the tracklisting of this double-disc set and you might be surprised by the sheer diversity of artists who were on the London Records label. From Bananarama to Bronski Beat, All Saints to New Order, every genre of the times – from pop to early EDM – makes an appearance.

    A lot of these songs I’ve heard before, of course, most of them actually, and it’s so good to hear them again, seemingly mastered so that I’m hearing subtle nuances that I didn’t pick up when they were first heard. Blancmange’s Living On The Ceiling kicks the proceedings off and the version of that song alone reveals beeps and buzzes I’d not picked up on previously. Bananarama’s Cruel Summer follows – a pop classic if ever there was one. And then everything Jimmy Somerville has touched appears to follow – LGBT-proud anthems by Bronski Beat, absolute grooves by the Communards, and even a Somerville solo single. You might suspect, actually, that Jimmy had shares in the production of this compilation, his vocals appear so regularly.

    Then there are the huge hits – like Fine Young Cannibals’ She Drives Me Crazy; Armand van Helden’s You Don’t Know Me (a massive one in the clubs that one was); Shakespears Sister’s You’re History, All Saints’ Never Ever, and Sugarbabes’ Overload.

    And if the songs themselves don’t seem like they’ve left a major mark on the pop and indie maps, the artists certainly do. New Order’s Regret kicks off CD two with that guitar riff, and while it wasn’t as big a hit as, say, Bizarre Love Triangle or the band’s legendary Blue Monday, it has all the hallmarks of a New Order classic and it’s a nice surprise to see on here (I had forgotten the band had links to London Records). Then there’s Happy Mondays’ rave favourite Stinkin’ Thinkin’; Echo And The Bunnymen’s dream pop gem Nothing Lasts Forever; Gay Dad’s alt-rock ode To Earth With Love; and Dannii Minogue’s classic club staple I Begin To Wonder. Even without Dead Or Alive’s You Spin Me Round Like A Record – which features on an alternative version of that latter song, it’s still a good, hooky number that sits nicely amid the broad artistry here.

    That sheer diversity of London Records artists also meant artists were free to move around, test the solo life, move into other fields. It’s because of the chilled vibe of the label that lead singer of Fine Young Cannibals, Roland Gift, was able to go do runway work for big designer labels; why Siobhan Faye of Bananarama was given the chance to move on from her bubblegum blonde roots and into darker, gothic-romantic territory as half of Shakespears Sister (their name taken from a Smiths song, the apostrophe and letter ‘e’ purposely missing); why the Mike Flower Pops were allowed to absolutely crucify Oasis’ sacred Wonderwall (that’s on here, too).

    The London Records Story moves confidently through synth-pop, nu-wave, indie rock, dance, electronica, ska, and other alternative sounds, demonstrating how the label consistently embraced artists who reflected bold and changing musical trends.

    Familiar hits sit comfortably alongside deeper cuts, making the collection appealing to both casual listeners and longtime fans.

    The sequencing keeps the energy flowing, with polished pop anthems giving way to club classics and guitar-driven tracks that capture the evolving tastes of two transformative decades. The mastering is generally strong, allowing songs from different years to coexist without sounding jarring. More importantly, the compilation illustrates how London Records balanced commercial success with artistic ambition, signing acts that often influenced the direction of popular music, not merely followed it.

    As a summary of the 1980s and 1990s, however, it is best viewed through the lens of one label rather than as a complete portrait of either era. What this compilation does well is capture many defining styles and moods but inevitably omitting major movements and artists released elsewhere (not much New Romantic on here, put it that way). Even so, it succeeds as a vivid snapshot of its catalogue and an enjoyable journey through two decades of memorable music.

    A great double-disc set that’s still regularly rotating on the car stereo.

    Antonino Tati

     

    ‘Hit That Perfect Beat: The London Records Story’ is available on CD and in digital format through London Records (naturally).

    The label also presents a beaut podcast which you can subscribe to here.

     

    Antonino Tati presents ‘Good Times’ | RTRFM 92.1

    Dua Lipa pushes for free speech in literature, opening a library fully dedicated to stocking banned and censored books

    Charli XCX set to cover a lot of ground on her new album, and with the Triple-A access she’s had to all the cool parties, we just know the cameos and references on this one are going to be masssssssive

    Everything Everywhere All at Once: Why Madonna’s Fitbit stats must be off the charts, and will the oversaturation for new album ‘Confessions II’ pay off?

     

    Curating the Ultimate Luxury Weekend Getaway in the Heart of Sydney

    Still loving this track.

    Hands in the air for a ‘Romy and Michele’ movie sequel is finally in production

    Pre-Owned vs New Rolex: What Buyers Need to Know

    THE CREAM WINTER ESSENTIALS GUIDE 2026

    ‘The Vinyl Factory: Reverb’ is a multi-sensory experience delving into vinyl culture across music, fashion, art and the social realms

     

    Rate this:

    #AllSaints #ANTONINOTATI #bananarama #BREATHE #breatheRedux #bronskiBeat #communards #compilationAlbums #compilationCds #CREAMMAGAZINE #DanniiMinogue #e #echoAndTheBunnymen #happyMondays #hitThatPerfectBeat #indiePop #indieRock #jimmySomerville #londonRecords #marcellaDetroit #MUSIC #musicReviews #newOrder #POPCULTURE #popMusic #popReviews #REVIEWS #shakespearsSister #siobhanFahey
  6. Winnipeg church celebrates 100 years of weddings with vow renewal ceremony

    A Winnipeg church is marking its 100th birthday with a celebration of love. More than a dozen married…
    #NewsBeep #News #Winnipeg #100thbirthday #AllSaints #AnglicanChurch #CA #Canada #JeffBrandt #JoyPeters #weddingceremony
    newsbeep.com/ca/751947/

  7. Winnipeg church celebrates 100 years of weddings with vow renewal ceremony

    A Winnipeg church is marking its 100th birthday with a celebration of love. More than a dozen married…
    #Canada #Winnipeg #100thbirthday #AllSaints #AnglicanChurch #JeffBrandt #JoyPeters #weddingceremony
    europesays.com/canada/97601/

  8. "I love the way you love me" - Boyzone

    Remember when Boyzone made uptempo songs you could move your feet to? Us neither; feels like they've always been grannies-in-waiting.

    "War of nerves" - All Saints

    Unlike certain other acts, All Saints kept pushing themselves to do different and experimental things. It is in the nature of experiments that not all will succeed.

    #TOTP #AllSaints #Boyzone

  9. "I love the way you love me" - Boyzone

    Remember when Boyzone made uptempo songs you could move your feet to? Us neither; feels like they've always been grannies-in-waiting.

    "War of nerves" - All Saints

    Unlike certain other acts, All Saints kept pushing themselves to do different and experimental things. It is in the nature of experiments that not all will succeed.

    #TOTP #AllSaints #Boyzone