VARIOUS - Jon Savage’s 1986-1990 Rollin’ Under The Melody VARIOUS

CD

As we’ve come to expect from Ace’s much-admired series of Jon Savage-curated two- CD collections, this new – and sadly final – volume is a multi-genre delight, taking the listener from house to baggy via post-punk, proto-grunge, minimalist avant-garde, the advent of sampling and more.

Among the many highlights are ‘Mystery Of Love’ by Mr Fingers, a track that turned Savage’s head during a trip to New York in early 1986; Hüsker Dü’s ‘Could You Be The One?’ from 1987, a perfect example of their melodic abilities; the action-packed ‘It Takes Two’ by Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock, which could be heard blasting out of boomboxes all over New York in spring 1988; Paul Oakenfold’s 1989 remix of Happy Mondays’ ‘Wrote For Luck’ into the early baggy classic ‘W.F.L.’; and the Holographic Goatee Mix of ‘What Is Love?’, the overlooked flip of Dee-Lite’s international hit ‘Groove Is In The Heart’ of 1990.

• The compilation – and the series – ends with a contrast: David Morales’ seven-minute hardcore trance reconstruction of the Pet Shop Boys’ ‘So Hard’ followed by the reflective, sinuous guitar chime of the High’s ‘Take My Time’.

• They represent the twin poles of Jon Savage’s musical choices at a time when dance culture was still expanding exponentially and rock music had rediscovered its swagger and joie-de-vivre.

• Ten years in the making, the series began with a set devoted to 1965 and ends with 1990, two great periods for music.