Pete Shelley - XL-1

Reissues of Pete Shelley’s first two solo albums, Homosapien and XL-1 - the first time both albums have been reissued individually as standalone releases since they were included as part of a box set by Genetic Records in 2018.

Both albums come housed in gatefold sleeves featuring the original  fully restored artwork, include an extra disc featuring B-sides, dubs & extended mixes and contain inserts featuring new photos & imagery and extensive sleeve notes from the acclaimed writer Clinton Heylin. Both will also be available on CD for the first time since 2006. Recorded in close collaboration with renowned producer Martin Rushent, both albums saw Shelley embrace a wider musical palate post-Buzzcocks and work with electronic instrumentation and synthesisers – Homosapien in particular is seen as a massively influential and pioneering record and widely regarded as a musical signpost for the work Rushent did with The Human League on Dare a few months later. Banned for homophobic reasons at the time by BBC radio, ‘Homosapien’ would become a gay club anthem and the queer element a hugely important part of both Pete’s personal and musical life, as showcased in both these albums.