B12 - Last Days Of Silence

UK electronic pioneers acknowledge their cult status

After the Day-Glo kerfuffle of acid house died down in the early 90s the UK saw those inspired by the electronic innovations from Detroit unleash their own individual creations, The Black Dog and B12 spearheading Warp’s condescendingly-named “Intelligent Techno” movement of electronic music for the mind and body. B12’s Mike Golding and Steve Rutter had already released mysterious 12” singles on their self-titled label which showed a pristine grasp of Motor City space symphonies and tickling stick electro-flapping. They released two acclaimed albums, 1990’s Electro Soma acknowledged as a UK electronic landmark, but mysteriously disappeared from the radar in 1996 when the Time Tourist album got to test pressing stage.

The duo returned in 1995 with a sell-out London show and have reactivated their label to remaster old records and present new material. This set, which comes with a bonus CD of unreleased live recordings, includes tracks previously only available on limited edition vinyl and recent excursions into their world of pristine synthesised soundscapes, including floor-burning comeback single 32 Lineup, along with the rectum-propelling electro-glide of Slope, the highlight of a pleasant set of cinematic bleeps and sweeps. Techno old-timers will masturbate furiously.

3 stars 3 stars 3 stars

B12 | B1219 (2-CD)

Reviewed by Kris Needs
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