The Height Of Fashion

Fashion were aptly named. They had the consummate image but backed up with substance and style. Looking back it’s hard to understand why they weren’t massive, as they pioneered high quality cross-genre soulful funk with a rock mentality that some labelled future-funk. Many much more successful groups have cited them as a major influence. They were defiantly innovators. Today, with ever present, bland, homogenised ‘RnB’ permeating popular music it’s hard to remember just how defined, diverse and yet very delineated music genres were. Back in the day it was all tribes. You were a casual or soul boy if you liked D-Train, Change or Sharon Redd, and definitely were not supposed to like Visage, Fad Gadget or Cabaret Voltaire. These genres even had different record charts. Only a few clubs like Steve Strange and Rusty Egan’s avant-garde Camden Palace would merge these traditionally disparate styles. Fashion WERE this style. Their image was resolutely 'alternative' whilst their music, with that potent slap bass and strong synths put most ‘black’ Boogie outfits to shame.Their three best know tracks are here plus much more besides. This album is a revelation, as all the other tracks are high quality. Even today, it's actually difficult music to define. It’s glossy but not bland. Eighties yet still fresh. And I like the fact that they never became massive. Underground even now. Still cool. There’s rumours of an expanded release from the guys themselves but for now this will do. You won’t be disappointed.

Anyone growing up in Birmingham in the 80s would probably have been aware of Fashion, waiting for them to break through and be the next big thing, but they never did quite manage it - and I’ll never understand why not, nor why you never hear them mentioned or played on the radio these days.I’d describe this CD as an expanded reissue of their album ‘Fabrique’, much played, admired and desired amongst my school mates, as I remember, and still fresh sounding today.

A band that's all but disappeared form the Radar; I always liked "Love shadow" which I had on a 80s compilation CD, acquired "Move On" on another which I loved, heard "White Stuff" somewhere and thought was really good also. I bought the album and haven't been disappointed; My favourite is "Move On", such a good groove. If you like 80s pop, you'll like this, but Fashion do have a bit more of their own sound than many of the synth duos etc. from the time. You can always listen to the snippets on the MP3 store and make your mind up...

Excellent album, I have fabrique on vinyl in the loft somewhere, condition unknown. To get this on cd in my car is great. Why they were never bigger I’ll never know! All songs are off the Fabrique album from what I can remember, plus some extras. So good to hear them again as Spotify only has the one song off the album. Turn this up! It still sounds great and aged very very well.

Early 1982 and I saw Fashion on Chris Tarrants late nite Show OTT and thought hello!! synths funky guitar great bass lines this is different. Heard no more for a couple of months- June 82 moved to Sydney -1 am on a friday night watching Rage on tv after a nite in The Cock n Bull and up pops the video for Street Player Mechanik" WHOAH!!! next morning and its off down the record shop to pick up Fabrique on cassette with the extended mixes. Played it to death that summer every track a rewind and PLAY IT AGAIN.Over the years it stretched and crinkled until it went to the great cassette graveyard. Now Ive got it on cd and the summer of 82 comes blazing back-This band should have been huge- lack of label promotion? too polished for radio 1? a couple years too early?Check the vids on you tube buy the album spread the wordQuestion? Can I wear out a CD !!!!!

I owned this album many years ago and played it constantly. However, it went with the rest of my vinyl collection and for years I've regretted getting rid of it.So, I was overjoyed to find it in CD form. Still sounds brilliant. Only downside is feeling very old!

Computer rock? Well it is one way of giving a description, I have this on LP and will get the CD. why? because like all the other reviews, it is a eighties classic, take a new pop synth rock group and replace the singer and bingo all parts in place for world domination. clever recording techniques, brilliant production, crisp, smooth, soft,dreamy, funky,catchy ( Its all here ) cover photo taken by the legend Mr David Bailey. TV work to promote this included The Tube. but as every body else points out, this group were too ahead of their time and only a select few of us got into the unbroken circle..now this could make some noise if it was pushed again.

Cherry Red FINALLY re-released this CD in 2014! Thank goodness. After years of being tempted to pay $100 for a USED CD, I am so grateful to buy a BRAND NEW CD for $20. I used to have the vinyl record 'Fabrique' years ago. My fave song is 'Love Shadow.' Both song and video are tops. Yes, Fashion are from Liverpool (home of Pete Burns/DOA). I think Pete Burns (who never compliments anyone) said wonderful things about Zeus B Held (who is connected somehow to Fashion). Good job, Cherry Red UK! -Bri