Of course The Durutti Column did as they pleased on their own album. You cannot be a Manchester post-punk band and aim for conventionality. However, they were genuinely different. Who else would do a Brubeck reimagining? Who else would call their debut their return? Who else would copy the Situationist joke of sandpaper covers?
It is wonderful then that this is so listenable. Factory producer Martin Hannett was at his sharpest in this era and The Durutti Column gave him a lot to work with. This is immersive, scene-setting, endlessly interesting music and benefits greatly from expansion and remastering.
Top Five Records 