Occasionally, a town or city is integral to a style of music that the music takes it name from the area. In the 1960's Liverpool gave birth to the merseybeat sound and in the late 1980's Manchester released the Madchester phenomenon. The Madchester sound was sandwiched in between the second summer of love Acid house and grunge.
Manchester was home to the Buzzcocks, The Fall, John Cooper-Clarke and was seen by many as the second city of punk. Following the reincarnation of New Order and the rise of Factory Records, New Order introduced a strong dance orientation to there music following a visit to America. This change in scene provided the cornerstone of the 'baggy' movement with Stone Roses and Happy Mondays leading the charge.
The whole Madchester scene was about clubbing, music and being blissed out on MDMA(ecstacy) and baggy theme was influenced by the clothes being worn by the bands and the followers. Although the roses and Mondays had been going since the mid eighties the catalyst for the success was the Factory Records run Hacienda Club which became the temple for all everything Madchester. The club introduced a new groove based sound and embracing this was the Happy Mondays. The Mondays gave a blissed out feel almost psychedelic dance music. They embraced funky rhythms with hip hop beats topped with low energy lyrics. It was a unique style but worked well on songs such as Step on, Loose fit and Hallelujah. The Mondays sound was quintessentially Madchester for its chaotic mix.
In the early 1980's Manchester had produced one of the most important guitar bands The Smiths and another was to follow in the late 1980s. The Stone Roses were also influenced by 1960s guitar pop but they added a dance influence to there music and none more significant than on Fools Gold from there debut album Stone Roses.
Other bands soon started to get success on the Madchester bandwagon. James (Sit down) and Inspiral carpets (this is how it feels) enjoyed top 10 hits and were guitar based bands while on the house and techno style A guy called Gerald enjoyed huge commercial success with Voodoo Ray was quoted as Madchester unofficial anthem and 808 State (Cubik the big single) were making contributions on the dance scene. Also The Charlatans came on to the scene with the one and only and Mock Turtles (Steve Coogans brother was on lead) gave us the infectious Can you dig it. There were some pretenders with Liverpool The Farm and Colchester Blur nailing there Madchester flag to the mast. According to some this killed the Madchester credentials.
As with many phenomenons they go as quickly as they came. The popular press and Music mags were turning attention to the Seattle based grunge music and the Madchester faded, The roses and Mondays went into decline and only really the Charlatans, Inspiral Carpets and 808 state were making any further strides, but while it lasted it was one hell of a rave.
To listen to some of the sounds of Madchester, click on the artist name or song. Enjoy!
Stone Roses - Fools gold
Stone Roses - I wanna be adored
Happy Mondays - Step on
Happy Mondays - Hallelujah
Charlatans - The only one I know
Inspiral Carpets - This is how it feels
James - Sit down
A guy called Gerald - Voodoo Ray
808 state - Cubik
Recommended purchasing or listening, click on the either the artist or soundtrack for further details.
Stone Roses - Stone Roses
Happy Mondays - Bummed
808 state - Ninety
Madchester Anthems
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