Usually a record label is not
thought of when one thinks of an act, but sometimes the artist and label go hand
in hand. If you were to think of The Supremes and Marvin Gaye, you would think
Motown. If someone says ZTT the chances are that Art of
Noise, Frankie Goes To Hollywood and 808 State spring to
mind.
Instead of being
conventional by
taking one track from each artist, Ian Peel has compiled a box set that
captures
the spirit, the sound, the look and the importance of ZTT over the last
25
years. Included are numerous tracks by Seal, Propaganda, The
Frames, David Jordan, Act, Art of Noise, Frankie Goes To Hollywood,
Shane
MacGowan and 808 State (including MC Tunes versus 808 State). Almost all
the
tracks by each of the aforementioned artists are grouped together for
the
enjoyment and convenience of the listener, instead of having to skip
through or
change discs to listen to the next track by a paticular artist. Anne
Pigalle,
David's Daughters, Novecento, Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic
Force, Time
Unlimited, Shades Of Rhythm, General Max, Sun Electric, Nast Rox Inc.,
Andrew
Poppy, Lee Griffiths, Lomax, das Psych-oh! Rangers, Tara, Heights of
Abraham and
the late Kirsty MacColl act as interludes between the multiple tracks of
the
other artists. By doing so, the listener is given the chance to hear
(perhaps
for the first time) some of the label's best overlooked acts by
presenting some
long forgotten gems that are as equally important to ZTT's history as
the more
well known acts associated with the label. Some of tracks appear for the
first
time on CD, along with some rarities and hidden tracks that will make
any
collector of ZTT happy. In addition to that there is an
eighteen track DVD featuring fourteen of the artists that appear upon
the CDs
with four other acts, Adamski's Thing, Dove, Leilani and Raging
Speedhorn, who
didn't make it onto the audio set of this unique collection. Many of the
videos
are available for the first time on DVD and showcase not only the acts
but the
talents of the innovative directors involved during the past 25 years.
If you are also into books, then you are going to be beside
yourself with joy as there is a 72-page book by the compiler of the box
set with
some words from one of the label's co-founders and former Art of Noise
member
Paul Morley, plus rare publicity shots of the artists, record sleeves
and press
advertisements used since 1983.
This
set includes some of the best and well produced tracks from past quarter of a
century. Founded by Trevor Horn, Jill Sinclair & Paul
Morley, ZTT changed the way that music was marketed by introducing the record
buying public to multi-mix formats to increase the sale of singles and albums,
this new way of marketing has been copied by almost every other record label
since. ZTT was also different to other labels as they weren't afraid to sign
artists who looked and sounded completely different from each other as well as
signing acts like the biggest selling act of 1984, Frankie Goes To Hollywood,
who had previously been turned down by every other record label. After
listening to the CDs in this set and watching the DVD you will see what a
diverse stable of talent has appeared on this small, but mighty label over the
years!
