808 STATE - NEWBUILD

808 STATE
Newbuild

What Detroit techno sounds like after Manchester roughs it up.

Talk abounds of the early 808 State, when A Guy Called Gerald was in the group, Bjork was still singing with the Sugarcubes, and everyone was broke. Now it's time to glance back on what those days actually sounded like with the re-release of 808 State's first-ever transmission to this blighted planet. And boy, is it ever scary. Tracks like "Dr. Lowfruit (4 A.M. Mix)" strip away the soul of Detroit techno and replace it with a cold and rhythmic paranoia. Beats slap in and out of time, and acid synth lines slide in and out of the mix like poisonous snakes. Nary an attempt is made to insert a ray of natural light into this artificial dystopia, which is what lends these recordings their power. Much like the mutant machines of Survival Research Laboratories, these recordings demon-strate how technology can express the agony of life. Dance, but only if you dare. (Rephlex; dist. by Caroline)

4/5

Justin Hampton