Strictly Ltd Edition (500) Vinyl Full-Colour Deluxe Package. With one-off digital download card & Poster (Poster with Initial Sales)
All new original artwork by highly regarded Sardinian collagist/artist Andrea Floris.
Sometimes it happens and no one can tell you why. A great—nay—an excellent band comes around and releases some stellar music, only to be forgotten in the overly-huge Bible of Rock History. (Pop Matters 2007)
Following the highly acclaimed recent release on CTR 'Perfect Motion'-Jon Savage's Secret History of Second-Wave Psychedelia 1988-93 (A Lauren Laverne BBC 6Music Compilation Album of the Week) comes a limited vinyl version of another previously very well received compilation on CTR. However, this album is cut from a different musical cloth, rooted firmly in the Manchester Post-Punk scene.
The Tokyo Times wrote of the original CD release in 2007:
'Manicured Noise possessed the kind of arty, angular sound (and asymmetrical haircuts) that so many bands of the current moment strive for. '
Manicured Noise were Manchester's prime Art/Post-Punk-Funk act. They're woven deeply into the legendary Factory/Russell Club scene of the late seventies. Their friends and peers included the celebrated artist Linder Mulvey and the godhead Joy Division (with whom they shared a rehearsal space)
This restructured &, restyled release features all-new artwork from Sardinian, Cagliari based, collagist and artist Andrea Floris. The album gathers together, the first time on vinyl for most of the tracks, almost all of their recordings including their two singles for Pre/Charisma Records, a BBC session and other archive material.
This enigmatic act formed in Manchester in 1978, the very early days of the band remain a mystery. Given their name by the aforemementioned prime Manc scenester and friend of Morrissey, Linder, the group peddled a form of spiky and angular Jazz Punk. Jeff Noon, acclaimed sci-fi writer (Vurt) was an early member of the group, adding to the particular retro-futurist edge they displayed, forged in the early 80's musical melting pot that was the Hulme estate.
Inspired by New York, Television, Ornette Coleman, Talking Heads, August Darnells' Machine, French Soundtracks and Disco Chic-along with a nod to Northern Soul and Moroder, the band cut a singular groove. Early hours inspiration from 70's cop and Kung-Fu soundtracks were incorporated, a good 10 years or more before Massive Attack and Portishead did the same. In doing so, Manicured Noise created a sound that's still difficult to pin down.
'Factory have expressed an interest in the Distractions, the Negatives and current musicians' favourites, Manicured Noise. (Ask Vic Goddard, the Banshees; Wire what they think of M Noise. Politely of course'. (Paul Morley NME Dec 1978)
Guitarist and later MN frontman Steven Walsh was an ex member of the Flowers of Romance, a legendary pre-Pistols vehicle for a certain Sid Vicious, and also various members of the Slits and Banshees.
A stringer for the NME and post-punk zine Zig-Zag, Steven bought an experimental and funky ethos to the band.
'Primitive funk learned by copying Chic singles played at 33 rpm' (Simon Reynolds-On manicured Noise in 'Rip it Up')
Faith, one of two highly acclaimed 1980 Pre singles boasts a tough Northern backbeat acknowledging the Manchester debt. A BBC session followed.
Julian Cope,the Arch Drood himself, suggested recently that Manicured Noise were fit for a residency at the fictitious Opposite Club which features in his latest novel 'One Three One '. They'd be playing 'Faith' no doubt, alongside Uri Gallagher and Spackhouse Tutti.
Almost written out of the Manchester story, this compilation will hopefully redress the balance, telling the tale of a band that were on the fringes of the Factory Records elite, (they generally shunned the Manchester scene inhabiting their own niche) but always creating their own script for the future.
