By: Mike Madavi
Artist: Future Sound of London
Title: The Archives – Sampler 1
Label: Jumpin’ & Pumpin’
Genre: Dance : Electronic
Release Date: 8/3/09
UPC: 5013993905394
Territory: World
As one of the most prolific, influential, and groundbreaking electronic groups ever, Future Sound of London’s unreleased material from past releases is definitely something to be excited for. The Archives are a series of releases FSOL turned out in 2007, providing their fans with access to previously unheard material from different parts of their long-spanning career. Today, we present The Archives – Sampler 1, the first part of the series, chronicling, for the most part, their 90′s period. For those somehow unfamiliar with FSOL, their first breakthrough success was with their now-anthemic house track, “Papua New Guinea” which featured a looping Lisa Gerrard vocal sample and a bassline from Meat Beat Manifesto’s “Radio Babylon.” The Track has made several (British) “…best songs ever” polls and track specific accolades. Their first album, Accelerator, was released in 1991 and could generally be described as experimental in atmosphere, but club friendly, and thus a standout dance record amongst the increasingly self-stereotyping 90’s house scene. As this first Archives release covers their early material as well as FSOL’s beginnings in sound mutation and manipulation, expect to find house and trance tracks that approach the whole genre from another angle. FSOL would reinvent their sound many times over as the years went by, never quite returning to a previous style so as not to pigeonhole their creativity. The Archives series will allow those who are new to FSOL or anyone who missed the evolution while it was happening to listen and learn how these sound wizards secured a place in history as one of the top electronic acts ever.
The duo (Garry Cobain and Brian Dougans) has often been labeled as ambient, but their constantly changing experimental sound could hardly be corralled into such a generally timid genre. While there’s plenty of ethereal, dreamy soundscapes on the record to bounce and float through, the true uniqueness of FSOL’s sound comes through in their experimentation. There are samples far and wide, strange and distinct, natural and forged, all produced in the highest quality and masterfully utilized. From the chirping of crickets slowly altering into a hi-hat substitute, to tribal instruments, to intense phasing and panning from sources so far manipulated that they become unrecognizable, one can clearly see why FSOL are considered to be such pioneers for electronic music in general. What’s particularly unique to the FSOL sound is their ability to take percussion-based tracks such as drum samples that would easily fit into house bangers or techno anthems and apply them to more down tempo based instrumentation and ambient rooted synth work. The secret lies once again in their unique samples and outstanding ear for sound manipulation. There’s one point in the album where I couldn’t tell if the sample was a doctored synth line or actually just recorded running water. Very cool.
This release is essential for the library of any true electronic music fan. Where else could you get a primary source for the evolution of the genre’s sound at such a pivotal point in its growth? Pick up this awesome record and listen as they singlehandedly redefine what recorded sound is.
Here’s the Papua New Guinea video for you to trip out too you crazy kids:
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Tags: Future Sound of London
