Continuing his long-running and highly respected series for Ace, spanning year by year since the germination of his 1966 volume for both Ace and Faber Books, Jon Savage serves us up another of his spectacular insights into popular culture, this time, its 1983-1985: Welcome To Techno City.

Born out of the ashes of post-punk, there were plenty of experimental singles during the early part of this period: Siouxsies Swimming Horses, Shriekbacks Lined Up, Soft Cells Heat, Echo & The Bunnymens Gods Will Be Gods, and the Smiths Girl Afraid a perfect kitchen sink scenario. Pete Shelley and Scritti Politti went the electronic route to great effect, while the Special AKA delivered the perfect riposte to Hard Times and having fun on the dole with the under-appreciated Bright Lights.