Back catalogue: Indie/Alternative

Review: With Buzzcocks reforming in 1989 after a near-decade of inactivity, they would get to work on new material with their fourteen year gap follow up to 1979's A Different Kind Of Tension with 1993's Trade Test Transmissions, while touring in abundance to make up for lost time. The peak of this resurgent reformation era is highlighted as such in their cult status live album French; captured at L'Arapho Club in Paris on April 12th 1995. Boasting a 20-song set made up of classic fan favourites such as 'I Don't Mind' and 'Get On Your Own', as well as latter-day bangers including 'Isolation' and 'Energy', the collection notably omits the ten tracks from the band's three subsequent encores of the night, released separately in 1999 as originally the fan club-only available Encore Du Pain. While the two have been previously paired together on the French et Encore Du Pain double live CD compilation, this single LP reissue is of the initial French setlist, while the same label has repressed Encore Du Pain in tandem for completionists to hoard the entire epic two part set on wax.

Review: Following the Buzzcocks 1989 reformation, the band would make up for nearly a decade of inactivity with extensive touring as well as finally delivering a follow up to 1979's A Different Kind Of Tension 14 years after the fact with 1993's Trade Test Transmissions. The pinnacle of their initial resurgence era is no better illustrated than on their cult classic French live LP; recorded at Paris' L'Arapho Club on April 12, 1995, that sees the band offering up a hefty 20-track set packed to the brim with iconic fan favourites such as 'I Don't Mind' and 'Get On Your Own', whilst also making room for later bangers including 'Isolation' and 'Energy'. While the collection notably eschews the ten final songs from the evening's three subsequent encores, these would eventually be released separately as 1999's (originally fan club-only available) Encore Du Pain. Although the two have been previously combined to make up the French et Encore Du Pain double CD compilation, this singular LP is a reissue of the initial French setlist, while the beautiful people at Reissued Sounds have also repressed Encore Du Pain in tandem, making both sets available on wax for completionists.