VA - Autonomy (The Productions Of Martin Rushent) (2023)

Autonomy is a sensational addition to Ace’s long-standing Producer Series. After cutting his teeth as a recording engineer for artists from T.Rex to Shirley Bassey, Martin Rushent broke through in 1977, producing the Stranglers. From that point, he helped give new wave bands a delicious pop edge, helming seminal recordings by 999, Buzzcocks, XTC, Generation X and the Rezillos to name just a few. As the 80s dawned he set up Genetic Sound and, armed with the latest technology, his pioneering work with the Human League on Dare defined the sound of UK synthpop and brought him international recognition. After that, the hits and cutting production work continued.

Curated by DJ Gary Crowley, Autonomy takes a welcome look at Rushent’s production career. Kicking off with the Stranglers’ ‘(Get A) Grip (On Yourself)’ it powers through some of his finest post punk work including Buzzcocks’ ‘Autonomy’, 999’s ‘Homicide’ and XTC’s ‘Are You Receiving Me?’. Ian Gomm’s US hit ‘Hold On’ rubs shoulders with the Human League’s ‘Hard Times’, Altered Images’ ‘I Could Be Happy’ and the Members’ ‘Working Girl’. There are hidden gems as well, such as the Go-Go’s ‘Beneath The Blue Sky’, the Associates’ ‘Breakfast’ and the electronic perfection of Hard Corps’ ‘Je Suis Passée’. All told, these 19 tracks give a perfect overview of Martin Rushent’s finest years.