Career retrospective from Leeds, England's Gang of Four. A Brief History of the Twentieth Century was originally released in 1990 and compiled tracks from one of post-punk's greatest bands. The band mixed punk rock and radical political theory, merging Marxist ideals with the fury of rock & roll. Their debut album, Entertainment!, half of which appears here, features some of the band's best moments. The sound is all funky rhythms, angular guitars and dryly stated vocals. Ultimately, the band would fall to the fate of the recording industry machine. The jagged edges of "At Home He's A Tourist" would be traded in for the synthesizers and heavy handed production of "Is It Love." Twenty tracks in all. Released by Warner Bros. Records on limited edition clear vinyl housed in a gatefold sleeve.

• Back To The '80s Exclusive
• clear vinyl pressing
• gatefold sleeve
• music label: Warner Bros. Records 2018

reviewed by ninetwofour 08/2018