Basement 5 1965-1980 / Basement 5 In Dub

Digitally remastered. In an unparalleled age of crate-digging and reissue programs, Basement 5 is one of the few remaining great untold stories of it's time. Arriving at a musical/creative highpoint in the immediate aftermath of punk, with a prevailing sense that the regular rules no longer applied, Basement 5 welded punk rage, dub-wise rhythms and scorching industrial riffs together with themes of alienation, inner-city life and the immigrant experience. Early line-ups of the band featured Don Letts on vocals but it was the Dennis Morris-fronted Basement 5 that found the critical spark and momentum to record the epochal 1965-1980 - the title a reference from Morris who arrived in the UK from Jamaica in 1965. After establishing himself as one of the most vital music photographers in London via his work with Bob Marley, Sex Pistols and Public Image Ltd, Dennis Morris accepted an offer from Island Records' Chris Blackwell to become Creative Director of Island Records - it was during this tenure that Morris was able to bring Basement 5 to the attention of Blackwell. Blackwell sanctioned Morris' signing of The Slits and Basement 5. Preceded by self-produced debut single 'Silicon Chip' (May 1980, Island Records), the band entered Basing St studios with Factory Records and Joy Division über producer Martin Hannett. Other than a long out of print cd issue in the mid-90's the music has remained in the vaults at Island Records, until now. The CD features both 1965-1980 and In Dub along with rare and unseen images.