Various Artists - 'Produced By Trevor Horn' (ZTT) Released 22/11/04

Trevor Horn has been in the music industry for 25 years, and this compilation covers his entire catalogue of work from 1979 to the present day.  You might not know who he is by name, but everyone will know material he’s produced, which varies from soul classics to major records of the New Romantics period – there’s something here for everyone.

Horn’s first track was the Buggles’ ‘Video Killed The Radio Star’, while also present is the band’s ska-flavoured ‘Living In The Plastic Age’.  Yes’s ‘Owner Of A Lonely Heart’ croons like any good New Romantics track should, while ABC appear twice, and Spandau Ballet appear with ‘Instinction’.  The highlights of this compilation come from the legendary Frankie Goes To Hollywood – ‘Relax’, ‘Two Tribes’ and ‘The Power Of Love’ – awesome songs that owe to the production ability of Trevor Horn.

His decision not to limit the music he works with is what makes this an interesting album.  Pet Shop Boys’ ‘Left To My Own Devices’ has a funky disco sound, while Leanne Rimes has the same edge on the pop effort ‘Can’t Fight The Moonlight’.  TaTu (yes the lesbians-who-are-actually-straight school girls) had a global hit with ‘All The Things She Said’, which features some crunching guitars, while Seal’s ‘Crazy’ is smooth and soothing.  Lisa Stansfield represents Horn’s most recent work here on the acoustic track ‘Say It To Me Now’, which is carried by her vocal talent.  It completes a compilation full of hits of various styles from the last quarter of a century.