The mid-to-late 1970s were a period of economic recession and unemployment in Britain.

Pop music reflected these conditions with tougher, more outspoken styles in reaction the intensity of prog rock and the frivolity of glam.

Punk luridly dramatised Britain’s social divisions, while the grassroots Rock Against Racism movement helped to popularise reggae and brought a return to political involvement. As a back-to-basics movement, punk also inspired many new styles, including the ska revival of 2 Tone.

In the early 1980s, the impact of Margaret Thatcher’s premiership became apparent, and music began to reflect – and protest against - the emergent social and political events. There was a move back to glamour and fashion with the brief, but influential, ‘New Romantic’ style and the increased popularity of black-derived electro and jazz funk dance music.