Compressed (The Factory Recordings 1984-87)

Manchester’s Biting Tongues had already been going for five years before signing to Factory, with new members joining to replace some departures; the resultant efforts collected on Compressed, covering two singles and the soundtrack to the Feverhouse video, capture them continuing to explore their slightly murky but still compelling art-funk approach. With Howard Walmsley’s sax and Tom Barnish’s trumpet most often being a signature feature, both galloping songs like “Troublehand” and moodier grooves like “Meat Mask Separatist” still hit hard.