"Autonomy: The Productions of Martin Rushent" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Tracks from 1977 to 1985 featuring The Stranglers, Buzzcocks, Generation X, 999, The Rezillos, Rachel Sweet, Raybeats, Human League, The Members, The Associates, Then Jericho, Hard Corps, Altered Images and more (July 2023 UK Ace Records CD Compilation – Nick Robbins Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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Rating: ****

 

"...Get A Grip On Yourself..."

 

A strange mix of late Seventies UK Punk and New Wave morphing into early to mid Eighties British Electronica, Synth-Pop and just plain Popsters.

 

The Audio is genuinely top notch though - NICK ROBBINS Remasters that seem to somehow better the Remasters from major labels that went before – and the presentation is typical of an Ace Records of the UK quality release – a 20-page booklet with new liner notes from GARY CROWLEY that also smartly involves the artists (or those around them) for every single song.

 

But frankly that's where the good news ends – because after the initial flurry of heady British New Wave and Punk songs that still sound so unbelievably relevant to this day (2023) – the listen descends into ordinary Pop and tunes that have not weathered at all well. Everything about this CD should smack of winner and yet in truth I can listen to only seven or eight of these 19 choices and say they're any good - let alone brilliant. First the details...

 

UK released Friday, 28 July 2023 - "Autonomy: The Productions Of Martin Rushent" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDTOP 1636 (Barcode 029667108720) is a 19-Track CD compilation of Songs Produced by MARTIN RUSHENT that stretches from 1977 to 1985. It plays out as follows (78:38 minutes):

 

1. (Get A) Grip (On Yourself) – THE STRANGLERS (1977)

2. Autonomy – BUZZCOCKS (1978)

3. Kiss Me Deadly – GENERATION X (1978)

4. Homicide - 999 (1978)

5. Destination Venus – THE REZILLOS (1978)

6. Are You Receiving Me? - XTC (1978)

7. Hold On – IAN GOMM (1978)

8. Tonight – RACHEL SWEET (1980)

9. Guitar Beat – RAYBEATS (1981)

10. Hard Times – HUMAN LEAGUE (1981)

11. I Could Be Happy (Martin Rushent Remix) – ALTERED IMAGES (1981)

12. A Way You'll Never Be (12" Version) – LEISURE PROCESS (1982)

13. Working Girl - THE MEMBERS (1983)

14. Steamhammer Sam – INTERFERON (1983)

15. Beneath The Blue Sky – GO-GO's (1985)

16. Don't Touch Me – HAZEL O'CONNOR (1984)

17. Breakfast - THE ASSOCIATES (1985)

18. Je Suis Passée (7" Version) – HARD CORPS (1985)

19. The Big Sweep (Club Mix) – THEN JERICHO (1985)

 

Rushent passed in 2011 (aged 63) and the 20-page booklet does his Production chops and memory a proper solid – GARY CROWLEY setting the scene with a 2-page essay on his achievements and techniques. But the real meat comes from people like Jean Jacques-Burnel (The Stranglers), Steve Diggie (Buzzcocks), Alan Winstanley (999), Andy Partridge (XTC) and more – all giving personal recollections and enlightening details.

 

And as I said earlier, there is really great Audio courtesy of the mucho experienced Ace Audio regular NICK ROBBINS. But even with a ten-out-ten for effort, most music lovers will have all the songs on the first half of the CD and probably not want the second. I just wish "Autonomy: The Productions Of Martin Rushent" had all been in the service of better songs, because by the time I was half way through (past The Human League), I was losing the will to live no matter how nice it looks or sounds.

 

Fans will have to own "Autonomy: The Productions Of Martin Rushent" - but for anyone else, I'd advise a listen first...