At its 1978 inception the Rough Trade label was an early champion of post-punk before becoming synonymous with jangling indie in the 80s. Since being reborn in 2001 it has been even more pivotal, providing a home to the Libertines, the Strokes and Arcade Fire. This three-CD set earns kudos for not just showcasing each act’s most obvious track (the Smiths’ song is London; The Modern Age for the Strokes), but at times it’s a little too sprawling for its own good. John Peel might have championed the Prats back in 1980, but history hasn’t been kind to the shambolic mumbling of their Disco Pope. Still, no label is perfect and this is an impressive overview of one of Britain’s most venerated imprints.
