To celebrate the four decade legacy of Factory Records, Rhino / Warner Music Group have released two lavish boxed sets. ‘Use Hearing Protection: Factory Records 1978-1979’ gathers facsimile editions of the first 10 Factory items issued with a catalogue number. The second boxed set 'Factory Records: Communications 1978-92' is a reissue of the 4CD collection originally released in 2009. Label historian / biographer James Nice took time out to chat about all things Factory… Continue Reading ›

Stephen Morris is best known as the drummer of JOY DIVISION and NEW ORDER. Together with Ian Curtis, Peter Hook and Bernard Sumner, JOY DIVISION had released just one album ‘Unknown Pleasures’ in June 1979 before the untimely death of Curtis in May 1980. ‘Record Play Pause: Confessions of a Post-Punk Percussionist Volume 1’ is part memoir, part aural history. It naturally also gives a first-hand account on the myth and haunting legacy of JOY DIVISION Continue Reading ›

Like PET SHOP BOYS, NEW ORDER collaborated with other artists from quite an early stage in their career, as well as later working on their own various projects during the band’s recurring hiatuses. Bernard Sumner in particular relished the opportunity to further his craft by recording with other artists. So here are 20 tracks which encapsulate the spirit of NEW ORDER through the medium of collaboration and joint working, restricted to one track per project and presented in chronological order. Continue Reading ›

Despite their success, NEW ORDER still got their hands dirty in helping to produce a number of acts for Factory Records and other associated labels. ‘NEW ORDER Presents Be Music’ gathers a selection of these varied recordings. This is a lavishly boxed 36 track 3CD affair that documents variations on the NEW ORDER theme before solo projects like ELECTRONIC, REVENGE, THE OTHER TWO and MONACO took over. Continue Reading ›

James Nice is a music publisher and writer whose acclaimed 2010 book ‘Shadowplayers: The Rise and Fall of Factory Records’ provided a detailed and objective account of the legendary label. He also worked for the prestigious Belgian label Les Disques du Crépuscule  between 1987-91, which he has recently resurrected. Set to open TEC004 on SATURDAY 5TH NOVEMBER with a DJ set of classic tunes from the Crépuscule era, James Nice kindly chatted about his various endeavours. Continue Reading ›