Electronic Sound Magazine Issue 54 Back Issue

This month, what with it being the 40th anniversary of the release ‘Unknown Pleasures’, we celebrate Factory Records by taking a closer look at the first 100 offerings that were ascribed a FAC catalogue number. In those early years, beyond being the cosy/dysfunctional home for Joy Division and an impressive supporting cast of diverse talents, Factory enabled two Great Things to happen.

The first was that their bands were able to play mainland Europe where they forged links with journalists Michel Duval and Annik Honoré who would found Les Disques Du Crépuscule and Factory Benelux. This was the post-punk echo of The Beatles playing Hamburg and meeting Klaus Voormann and Astrid Kirchherr.

The second Great Thing Factory enabled was the introduction to the UK of the sound of New York’s underground club scene. This one-off triangulation of Brussels, New York and a roster of furiously creative bands and artists charged the label with a special energy.

Factory was run by a coterie of bolshy misfits who did things largely because they thought it was a good idea, rather than because said idea would make any money. Often the idea wasn’t particularly well thought through, like The Haçienda, for example. But the overarching philosophy – something along the lines of “Fuck it, let’s do it” – often allied to a love of art, literature and great design, gave us some of the best music of the 20th century.

So join us as we go on our own Factory tour, and take a peek behind the scenes at one of the most impressive manufacturing processes independent underground music has ever mustered. Factory Records, we salute you!