Zero: A Martin Hannett Story 1977-1991

This compilation replaces the previous MH-compilation 'And Here is the Young Man' (1998, Denutante Records)- which featured 18 tracks (we get 21 here)- many of the band names remain the same, though the tracks differ...so both compilations warrant purchase. This one comes with much more bumph from the label - though can it really be said that Hannett's mix of 'Oh Lucinda' is that hard to find? - it's on two Only Ones compilations, both cheap and easy to find! & what's with mentioning the Stone Roses???? - it's not like they're on the compilation or that Hannett produced any of their key work!

This compilation opens with an all-time great 'Boredom' by Buzzcocks, the key track from the key punk e.p. 'Spiral Scratch' released on New Hormones (& reissued by Mute's Grey Area a few years ago)According to the excellent new book by John Robb ('Punk Rock:An Oral History')it was recorded in a corridor in a rapid session - you could say Hannett's key work was 'Spiral Scratch' and his work with Joy Division. Hannett's other punk themed work is present - the dire Slaughter & the Dogs and the fine eponymous single by Jilted John (whose influence is apparent these days in the work of Graham Coxon). It seems odd that we get U2 before Joy Division - though it's a fine U2 track - I think the JD selection is pretty standard, something like 'Atmosphere' or 'I Remember Nothing' where Hannett really went to town post-punk Spectorise would have been a better choice.

There's not a dud here - the classic early single by Orchestral Maneouveres in the Dark 'Electricity' was as key as JD in terms of influence - Vince Clarke would form Depeche Mode as a result, while the multiple allusions to it in the book 'Awaydays' shows that it was part of the future before the future alongside such tracks as 'Nag Nag Nag', 'Hot on the Heels of Love', 'Dream Baby Dream', 'My Sex', 'Warm Leatherette' & 'Being Boiled.' I think the Magazine selection is questionable - I always preferred the version produced by John Leckie on Mag's debut 'Real Life' to this take a few years later ('And Here is the Young Man' wisely plumped for 'Song from Under the Floorboards'). The New Order selection, alternately, is spot on - one of the last songs penned by Curtis it has a life as Joy Order/New Division - the remains of what was left behind with a song of portent. Hannett was part of that and with 'In a Lonely Place' advanced on the sound he'd developed on 'Closer's 'The Eternal'/'Decades' and the classic 'Atmosphere' - this sounds immense and has Curtis brief, poetic lyrics delivered by Bernard Sumner sounding permanently gutted.It sounds bigger than everything and predicts the sound of The Cure's 'Disintegration' LP by nine years. An ideal selection, whereas something from 'Movement' (an album I can't listen to - whether it's too depressing, or rubbish, or both...)would have been wrong.

There are some lesser known names here - Pauline Murray & the Invisble Girls, Section 25, The Names, Wasted Youth, Kitchens of Distinction & World of Twist - all of which add to the richness of the compilation. Former Penetration member Murray appears to me utterly neglected, while admirers of Interpol might note that the New Yorkers sound rather similar to Kitchens of Distinction (as well as The Chameleons!). World of Twist's excellent cover of the Stone's 'She's a Rainbow' is welcome stuff - maybe their sole album will be reissued/rediscovered? - like King of the Slums and New Fast Autmatic Daffodils, they made some decent records...

Nico's spell of life in Manchester's Whalley Range district has been recorded in books and docus (she also made some records with the Blue Orchids)- so it seems apt that her version of 'All Tomorrows Parties' is included here - Hannett's timeless work with JD stemming from the Velvets original (I do hope the rumours that John Cale is producing New Order are correct). The smattering of obvious joys - Happy Mondays' 'Wrote for Luck', Psychedelic Furs' 'Pretty in Pink' & The Only Ones' 'Oh Lucinda' make 'Zero' an extremely rounded compilation that documents the work of the great man well. & with the John Cooper Clarke track you can note a major precursor, alongside Mark E Smith, of the Brit-poetry those Artic Monkeys are practicing at present!

'24 Hour Party People' wasn't that flattering regarding Hannett - the guy obviously had faults and problems...but I think the work speaks for itself and 'Zero' reminds you how important he was. Like the Peter Hook compiled 'Hacienda Classics', Tony Wilson's '24 Hour'-tie-in-tome, Deborah Curtis' 'Touching from a Distance', 'Neworderstory', and Winterbottom's movie, 'Zero' belongs to a certain part of Manchester's rich cultural history. It also ranks alongside the array of post-punk compilations these days - a relative of the 'Rip It Up & Start Again' themed compilation. This needs to be owned. Obviously...