808 State - Quadrastate

Back to the future with the dance arm of Madchester

This year’s 20th anniversary of the acid house revolution has seen a steady stream of reissues, club nights and media attention turning the occasion into one long party. It’s only fitting, then, that Manchester trio 808 State are back in action plus the subject of a reissue programme by both ZTT and Rephlex, who have already released the Newbuild and Prebuild albums first released on Creed, and now complete the trilogy with Quadrastate.

The music here was created on basic technology but helped shape the panoramic spectrum of today’s electronic music while shaking up the city’s indie scene. Tracks such as Fire Cracker and Deepville use Detroit techno to build a distinctly British style of electronic dance music, although the Manchester lineage continued as they mixed their mates and house pioneers New Order. The album is notable for featuring Pacific State, their euphoric single which became a world-renowned club anthem and a true late 80s classic. Also here (with extra acid mix) is Let Yourself Go, the group’s first single from 1988 which cheekily samples its strings from Barry White’s Love’s Theme. The Second Summer Of Love was a recklessly magical time when all rules were broken. Here’s one of the cornerstones.

4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars

Rephlex | 808 CD

Reviewed by Kris Needs
<< Back to Issue 351

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