Albums of My Youth

A good friend did the album cover for this (although this seems to be a bad reproduction) as well as some Higher Intelligence Agency albums so I got a copy for free. The start of my interest in ambient techno.

A good friend did the album cover for this (although this seems to be a bad reproduction) and Delta so I got a copy for free. The start of my interest in ambient techno.

A good friend did the album cover for this and Freefloater so I got a copy for free. The start of my interest in ambient techno.

I always thought of this a pure 80s album without the glamour. Pure synth and drum machine.

As good as Different Class. What's up with the cover art though? Looks weird compared to the original.

Some great mixes on this. I prefer most of them to the originals.

Music for the Masses on steroids.

Direct David Lynch influence.

Dark nights trying to find weekend parties in Oakenshaw. “She’s a lovely little number.”

Rush still gives me goose bumps.

My mate got himself into so much debt just so he could have the best sound system to listen to The Smiths in his room. Wisely I let him pay for everything and just go around for listening sessions.

The intro to this album blends everything I loved about Madchester.

I remember playing this on full volume, windows open, before school, then going into school and being praised by a teacher who had heard me playing it and said I had good taste in music.

Still mind-blowingly eerie.

My dad hated this album, "They lost it" he said. I loved it.

Their pinnacle?

Soul Kitchen!

So much going on on this album that it can feel overwhelming at times.

I was infatuated with Björk.

This film left me speechless the first time I saw it.

Sweet Harmony still makes me feel happy.

I'd never heard anything like this before.

The first 'super group'.

First time I'd heard that kind of guitar playing.

Foooooooooooools Gold and I Am the Resurrection classics.

High school year 2? I still have the 7' of Back to Life on my shelf a few feet away.

When I saw Orbital live at The Institute in Birmingham I thought I'd been beamed into the future.

We took this to our local social club (the only place we could buy a beer despite being under-age) full of middle-aged drunk working men and asked the DJ to play it. He had no idea what was coming.

This is probably in everyone's list of the same age.

Manchester had so much going for it back then.

Cold nights by the school gates walking home listening to this. Nostalgia, especially Crystal Clear.

I remember playing this in the car while my dad was driving. He was into all kinds of music but I was sure I'd crossed a line with the Beastie Boys. He never said a word - a sign of approval.

Enjoy the Silence gets the credit but World in My Eyes blew me away.

School lunch time classic dancing in the living room.

Mainly influenced by my dad but he had a good taste in music.

I could never stop listening to this.

This album made me want to travel.

Made me realise that you didn't need to be a musician to start a band (so there's still time?)

My desert island album. This was the album I used to lock myself in my room with, put on the headphones and listen in full, blocking out the horrible world of school and homework.