C86

The C86 tape was conceived by NME journalists Roy Carr and Neil Taylor, who sought to capture the vibrant but fragmented UK indie scene. They solicited tracks from bands that had been featured in the magazine's pages, many of whom were part of a network of small labels and DIY scenes. The tape was released in May 1986, and its title was a nod to the common cassette format, but it also became a shorthand for the movement itself. The compilation was not a chart success but became a cultural touchstone, with its influence felt in the subsequent indie pop and shoegaze movements.

The music on C86 is characterized by jangly guitars, melodic pop hooks, and a lo-fi production aesthetic, often with a sense of amateurish charm. Bands like Primal Scream, The Pastels, and The Wedding Present exemplified this sound, which was a reaction against the polished synth-pop of the era. The compilation is often credited with helping to define the indie pop genre, and its influence can be heard in later movements such as shoegaze and Britpop. The term "C86" has since been used to describe a specific aesthetic, and the tape has been reissued and celebrated in various retrospectives.

While initially seen as a snapshot of a moment, C86 has been reappraised as a foundational document of British indie music. It has been cited by musicians and critics as an inspiration, and its tracks have been compiled on various reissues. The tape's legacy is also tied to the rise of independent labels and the DIY ethic that defined the post-punk era. In 2014, the NME released a follow-up, C86: The Lost Tapes, which included unreleased tracks from the original sessions, further cementing the compilation's historical significance.

Beyond the well-known tracks, C86 included several bands that remained obscure, such as The Mighty Lemon Drops and The Soup Dragons, who later found success. The tape also featured a young Primal Scream, before they evolved into the rock band they became. Notably, the compilation was not a commercial success at the time, and many of the bands did not achieve mainstream fame. The tape's cover art, a simple design with a cassette graphic, was created by NME's art director, and the tape itself was recorded on a standard C90 cassette, with some tracks edited to fit. The term "C86" has also been used to describe a genre of music, and the tape has been the subject of academic study as a cultural artifact.

Indie pop

A genre of alternative rock that emerged in the 1980s, characterized by melodic, guitar-driven music and a DIY ethic.

Jangle pop

A subgenre of indie pop and rock that features jangly, ringing guitars, often with a 1960s influence.

DIY ethic

The principle of self-sufficiency and independence in music production and distribution, often associated with punk and indie scenes.