VA - Digging Your Scene, New Pop And All That Jazz 1982-1987 (4 x CDs) | Butterboy

 Digging Your Scene, New Pop And All That Jazz 1982-1987 

JAZZ POP

"Digging Your Scene captures a moment when British pop stepped away from post‑punk austerity and embraced sophistication, rhythm and emotional colour. Between 1982 and 1987, a new kind of pop emerged — stylish, literate, jazz‑inflected, and shaped by musicians who wanted melody without blandness, groove without formula, and elegance without losing edge. This compilation gathers that world in motion, revealing how diverse the movement truly was.

The set opens in smoky, late‑night territory: Everything But The Girl, Robert Wyatt, Scritti Politti, Joe Jackson, Blue Rondo À La Turk. These tracks blend jazz phrasing with pop clarity, creating music that feels both urbane and intimate. Furniture, Weekend, Carmel and Mari Wilson add theatrical flair, turning everyday stories into small dramas carried by brass, brushed drums and cool‑blue harmonies.

As the mood widens, the compilation shows how New Pop absorbed influences from Latin rhythm, soul, art‑rock and dance culture. Working Week, The Special AKA, Malcolm McLaren and Jah Wobble bring global textures; David Sylvian, China Crisis and Virna Lindt add atmospheric depth; Alison Moyet and Fine Young Cannibals push toward emotional intensity. The sound becomes a blend of groove, intelligence and experimentation, pop that moves with confidence but thinks deeply.

Later selections highlight the era’s polished charm. Swing Out Sister, Heaven 17, ABC, Basia, The James Taylor Quartet and Mondo Kané deliver bright arrangements shaped by horns, synths and crisp rhythm sections. These tracks show how New Pop evolved into a mature, radio‑friendly style without losing its sense of craft.

What makes Digging Your Scene compelling is its sweep. It doesn’t treat New Pop as a narrow genre; it reveals a cultural moment when British musicians embraced sophistication and curiosity, creating songs that felt modern, stylish and emotionally resonant. For collectors, it’s a beautifully curated map of an era often overshadowed by louder movements. For listeners, it’s a reminder that the early‑to‑mid eighties produced some of the most inventive, elegant pop of its time, music built for night streets, quiet rooms and the thrill of discovery." (Butterboy)

This looks great fun and allowing my comments about Matt Bianco being left out earlier in a survey of the Eighties Matt and the band (incl. singer Basia) and everyone from The Higson’s to Soft Cell to the Communards and The Style Council feature here amongst an eclectic range of bands see track list by hitting the header title