90

This album has some of the most complex and beautiful drum programming you are likely to ever hear. Makes you wonder what happened to not just these guys but to the scene as a whole. After a masterpiece like this which is truly blueprint for that big sound that everybody attempted to immitate. Check out 'Cobra Bora'. Just when you think it has done it's thing, it takes off to another level. Pure techno jazz of the very highest order. An absolute masterpiece from start to finish. This is more apparent now than ever before and although to the untrained ear (or novice) this may sound dated, its only because of those big stadium sounds (as used on ie. Cubik) that will make people think this. Unaware to them, It was these guys and more to the point, this LP that came above all, first in line with that sound. Think again. This is a classic of monumental proportion and defines that year not just by title alone but to hear it, is to go back to the finest techno music of that that year, 90

If a crappy C-movie was made music. First one I can't finish.

very weird it is actually pretty entertaining

Pacific 202 and 808080808 are just banging, but the rest just get a head nod here and there. Solid, but nothing outstanding or timeless.

I listened to this album for 39 minutes and now I'm clinically insane. I worry for the people who seek this out voluntarily. Best track: Magical Dream

5.0 - When it comes to enjoying electronic dance records, I generally have a spotty history. I'm not sure what constitutes excellence within this genre but for me it has a lot to do with balance between a handful of variables. First is tone: is there a balance between light and dark, heavy and floating elements? Second, is there the right amount of surprise, familiar and unfamiliar? Third involves the beat: how well does it come together? Does the beat sound canned and cheap? Does it sound cool and tasteful? I realize as I'm writing this that there's a certain alchemy to dance music that I can't presently articulate. And I can't pinpoint exactly why this particular album puts me in a joyful trance where other electronic dance albums I've listened to have failed, sometimes miserably (see "Fat of the Land", "You've Come A Long Way Baby", "Darkdancer", "Exit Planet Dust"). But I do know that I'm fully engrossed and my brain is happy.

A seminal album that I haven't listened to until now. Absolutely ahead of its time and has so much soul for a record that is completely electronic.

I remember listening to Pacific 202 and Cubik in the mix on Dave’s Dance music (CKLN) while we were unpacking & hanging pictures after moving to Toronto in 89. Compared to the so-called techno and acid-house that was all the rage (in the UK anyway) at that time, 808 State was more melodic. More songs verses tracks. The album gets off to a great start, but fades a bit at the end. The song Cubik was included on the North American release of this LP so I'll add 1 point for that banger.

Quirky, catchy, and solid beats, especially for the time.

This album is a great lesson on the importance of song selection and sequencing. I was linked to the US version Utd. State 90, which is significantly different than the UK version. The US version is missing one forgettable track (The Fat Shadow) and it includes 5 additional tracks. The UK version starts off with two of the weakest tracks (Magical Dream and Acodia) while the US version opens with one of the strongest (Pacific 202). All 5 additional tracks on the US version (Boneyween, Kinky National, Cübik, Revenge of the Girlie Men, and State to State) elevate this album. I’m rating the US version, which is at least a 1 star boost from the UK version.

Exhaustively polished dance music, especially for a record that came out pre-1990. There are hints of electronic music to come everywhere, and the sound design still blows a lot of modern projects out of the water.

> leftism shit

like Tubular Bells on speed

This would be perfectly adequate if I were on ecstasy in an abandoned warehouse or condemned townhouse and wanting to dance while some dude who brought his dog, who is very chill, keeps trying to talk to me about like, deep stuff.

2/18 Can't wait till I get a car. Standout Tracks: Cobra Obra, Pacific 202, Donkey Doctor, 808080808

tum tum

God so much of this is cliche now but they invented it

Never heard of this group or album before and really loved it.

Not as good as Underworld but not far off. Early 90's Manchester Techno? Yes please

Takes me back to listening to the House music radio station with Hans on GTA san andreas

Classic slice of Mancunian techno.... ticks all the boxes including nostalgia!

Funky and cool. Good work music.

-really good fam

Surprisingly good

i like

nice beats. best electric/house one so far. dancey dance :)

3.8 perhaps good ambient tunes

Liked every song . Great music and techno beats. Shocked how old it is. Good to workout 🏋️‍♀️ with and have never heard of them before

I like this. Start to end it is good.

I

Enjoyed that - ambient music great to work to and recognised a few of the tunes. 3.7 for me

I like the atmospheric, even vaguely jazzy beats , such as Sunrise, mixed with more conventional elaborations of the old funk-soul sound. (7/10) Favourite Songs: Pacific 202

I get around this energy. Pretty wild for pre 90s

It was a very vibey album. I enjoyed it a lot, even if it had no real "substance" other than interesting instruments, sounds, and samples. Every song is something that I would put on in the background, but I wouldn't really actively listen to any, save for me favorite. Favorite track: Pacific 202

Liked this, great to work to. Would have been fun clubbing in 90s to this

Imagine this was really fun to rave to in the 90s. Would love to get ham and party to this at a festival.

This shit is so acid

Better than I expected, doesn't fall into the massive hit and filler trap as the whole album is definitely a piece of work as opposed to some mashed up half ideas. I'd almost go as far as to say it's worth a listen even if you took Pacific state off it.

-"Ancodia" is pretty catchy with the upbeat backbeat and "L-O-V-E Love" line -Nice driving groove in "Pacific 202" -Lots of good grooves and stuff for an electronic album

Excellent, that's the good stuff.

1989 - Techno, Acid house, Electronica, Synth-pop, New wave, Intelligent dance music

Its 808's best album which means it must be very good.

Hated acid house at the time, mainly because all the big kids dressed in weird ghastly coloured shell suits knocking off tabs whilst gurning and dancing crazy style in fields and warehouses. In retrospect, quite an album.

Whoa this was fun. Do I like house now?

Seminal bangers.

Yes yes yes. So retro future. Remembered some of it from my parents playing it back on the day.

Sometimes this kind of music is good and I like it. Often it is boring and repetitive and not all that enjoyable for home listening. This album is not boring, definitely of its time, but quite delightful start to finish. Favorite: Pacific 202

Je m'attendais à rien mais je suis agréablement surpris Prefs: Ancodia, Cobra Bora, Pacific 202, 808080808 Moins pref: Donkey Doctor

Great but I think americans did it better

A genuine rave classic.

La música techno de los 90s seguramente puede encontrar muchas de sus raíces en este disco. La música de los videojuegos seguramente tomó muchos elementos de este género porque a ratos pareciera el soundtrack de algún juego de NES o SNES. Pacific 202, 808080808, y Sunrise lo mejor del disco. 3.5 que voy a subir a 4, porque de lo poco que he escuchado de electrónica, es de lo que más me ha gustado.

I generally like this as it stirs up a fair amount nostalgia for this aesthetic. The fact that this came out in 1989 simply blows my mind. I can't think of any electronic music from that year that is as sonically dense as this, balancing samples, synths, and drum sequencers so fluidly. I have newfound respect for their place in the evolution of electronic music. Kinda prefer the Utd. State 90 version that starts off with Pacific 202.

Good stuff! Not all was ground breaking but I definitely found a hit

good electronica sound. I liked it. Ahead of its time.

Late 80s electronic album from the UK. Pacific 202 still sounds as great now as it did in the 80s. The other tracks are very good: 8/10 overall

Like the music at the end of an epic boss fight.

Hmmm....not as good as I expected

What the hell is this

So 90s! Nice collection of tracks.

Alright, very 80s, lots of synth, loon calls for a bit?

I've never heard of this group or record previously. It was a fun listen! This era of electronic music is a gap for me. I've got Kraftwerk, and then nothing prior to the mid 90s with Moby etc.

I had no idea what to expect with this, but the genre label "acid house" is much funnier to me than it should be. This is pretty cool though, some really interesting electro-grooves. Nothing too special to me, but an enjoyable listening experience. "Ancodia" sounds indebted to Herbie Hancock's "Rockit." Favorite tracks: Ancodia, Cobra Bora, Donkey Doctor. Album art: Very minimal, but I do like the outline font choice, and the two little inset photos are nice if you can see them. 3.5/5

Sounds cool but nothing really special on this.

This was a very cool album. The songs felt a tad long and repetitive but it made for great background music. The album cover is both bland and baffling in a good way, I'm not sure the significance of the numbers either.

Demasiado esotérico para mi gusto

Pretty good, but not really my type

It's ok, need to remember how influential it was as its pretty dated now

some cool stuff on here but a lot was kinda boring.

Loved parts, hated parts.

good background music

Good electro album. Not great but good 3.5 stars but gotta go 3

Electronic music but too old. Maybe it was something great new for their time, but now it sounds too noisy. Although some effects sound very complicated even for our time.

I'm kind of liking this ... at first. Then I realize that I should hate this. But, I don't. OK, maybe not that bad, is that birds in Pacific 202? Would listen to again as background music while doing something. Maybe the first electronic music I kindof like?

You can tell it must have been very influential given it came out in 1989, but it's a pretty boring listen nowadays

Very techno. If geometry dash came out in the late 1980's. It was pretty cool I guess.

Sounds like something my dad might like. I'd give it a 2.5, but uh, can't do that. Entertained me more than devious garbage so it stands out

Quirky elate 80’s electronica. Bonus: “In Yer Face” was a good listen.

Highly influential album due to their innovative use of the 808 drum machine but it didn’t age well and most of it is a noisy unholy mess. The best track is Pacific 202.

I listened to today’s 1001 offering while sweeping up the backyard. I was thinking it wasn’t the best music choice when working in the yard and my neighbours quickly indicated they concur. I must say my sweeping pace was much faster than usual. I doubt that yard cleaners was the target audience for this LP but it works. I like what I'm hearing. Cobra Bora and Pac 202 and 80808080 are hot songs. I didn't realize this type of music was going on in 1989. A strange thought: someone around 40 years old might label this "Old fart's music" or "Shit my parents would listen to". Doesn't sound right does it? Perhaps it's a little dated now but I can only imagine how fresh and leading edge this would have been on release.

Background music

Not bad, bit of fun.

I liked this, it must’ve been cutting edge at the time

pacific state is a classic but bit dissapointed with some of it - aged i guess. 3

I had never heard of this band or their music before. I heard some elements that reminded me of the Pet Shop Boys. I heard some scratching that reminded me of early Run DMC records. I think I heard a swamp rave / dance party too. I labelled "808080808" as 'good' during my review. This album might just sneak in above "I did not hate it".

Thought this was cool

It's ok, but just not my favorite type of music. Some of it works pretty well as background/productivity type music. 2.5 stars, rounding to 3.

Some pretty solid complex drums. It's a cool album.

Beginnt leider mit zwei - aus heutiger Sicht - schwachen Nummern, die sich anhören wie Musik von paar Jazzstudenten die im Sommer 88 irre euphorisch aus der Hacienda gelaufen kommen und sowas jetzt auch mal ausprobieren wollen. We all know: die Jungs hier haben DEN Hacienda-Sound und Madchester ja ganz maßgeblich mit erfunden und groß gemacht - und dürfen deshalb alles - auch mal heute dated klingenden Quatsch hinterlassen. Weil zu den anschließenden Cobra Bora und natürlich Pacific 202 muss nichts mehr gesagt werden - Meilensteine für immer, genauso wie auch noch Cübik, das auf dem Release hier aber gar nicht drauf ist. 3 Punkte gibts insgesamt für's Album.

Proto-Techno zum woken Voguen. Irgendwie geil; lief es doch etliche Male durch, ohne dass jedoch großartig was an Spannungsbögen vernehmbar war. Saugutes Cover 2.7

A fun, energetic listen, and a Manchester/acid house classic. 808 deserves credit for bringing strong melodies into this genre while retaining the groove. It's a real bridge between electronic music of the 80s and all the electronic genres that would blow up in the next decade. I recall this sounding incredibly fresh and ahead of its time in '90, like we hadn't really heard anything like it. "Pacific 202" and "Sunrise" are the "prettiest" songs on the album, but "Donkey Doctor" "Cobra Bora" are just wonderfully layered and built for the dance floor. The only track I absolutely did not like was "Magical Dream," not because of the music but because of the terrible vocals. Fave Songs: Donkey Doctor, Cobra Bora, Pacific 202, Sunrise

Interesante disco. Me parece que ha influido en los inicios de gente como Massive Attack, Moby o The Chemical Brothers.

Classic funk, an old favourite

80808080 I like 👍

Lacks the energy of early 808 State.

Beetje achterhaald, maar best leuk zo tussendoor.

Hm, acid house...great example of the genre, but it's a dated album.

Fun electronic album, good for running or exercising

Sounds ahead of its time

Electrónica.

Fun but got to the end and realized I hadn't really listened to it. A little too background-y.

Rating: 5/10 Bests songs:

I did not find anything super exciting about this album. It was fine.

Good fun - a bit dated sound wise but otherwise a solid electronic album

Nice polyrythms, and a good listening experience overall. Aged well! Highlight: Pacific 202.

3/5

The second summer of love in Manchester. Known for raves and its advancements in neo-psychedelia with the whole Madchester movement. It's an excellent example of acid house. On the stranger end, it's filled with a variety of samples that reminisce of 80s hip hop or later artists like DJ Shadow. Fortunately, this follows IDM's principles and offers a compromise between the lengthiness for dancing like crazy and the lack of repetition suited for casual listening. There's a strong momentum, and the tracks are creative and memorable, with a fair amount of replayability. However, most of the tracks are standalone weak, with a few standouts including the acid house standard "Pacific." Favorites: Magical Dream, Cobra Bora, Pacific, 808080808

Dece, no standout moments but pleasant background music

Six minutes of the same beat looping doesn't seem so long if you're on the dance floor. Because as some poets or whatever said, time slows down when one is dancing. But what about when someone is listening to it while crunching numbers in his laptop? Well, it made me realize how long 3 minutes can be. Time is such a thick dimension. Still, the beats are nice. No wonder it set the country on fire.

I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. Had a good combo of interesting sounds mixed with good rhythm. Still prefer marshmello

Interesting embryonic techno. A bit too banging in parts for me, but it had some good moments.

as far as dated dance music goes this was pretty good

Ok.

Easy listening electronica. Didn’t grab me

‘Pacific 202’ and ‘Sunrise’ are my two standout picks for best tracks on this album, as they are both timeless and still sound current today. They are weapons that can still get a dancefloor going. The rest of the album hasn’t aged as well unfortunately, which is a shame as I was hoping for more.

Electric house music from 1989. Reminiscent of 1990s video game music to the extent that I wonder if 'Donkey Doctor' is a deliberate nod to Donkey Kong. Rating: 3/5 Playlist track: Donkey Doctor Date listened: 30/08/22

This is interesting, very densely packed with synths, drum machines and vocals. Dance music from this era pretty much always sounds extremely dated, due to the fast nature of change in the genre and this is no exception. Second track Ancodia is prophetic of the way the genre would shift once mainstream in the 90s. Laid back rhythms with sexy pads and squelchy bass. Notable is the complete lack of detuned, circuit bending, glitchy stuff that would appear in the genre 10 years later.

Fun old school dance music.

I get it, but I did not enjoy it

I just don’t get this type of music.

Varmaankin aikoinaan ollut ihan edelläkävijä soundeissaan, mutta 2021 ei koveta.

2.5. Very 90s electronica that reminds you of that sound of the 90s. Computerized beats, synthesizers, and airy vocals

Greet at the time I'm sure! Not aged very well thoigh

Not a fan of late 80s and early 90s electronica.

I like the font? “Donkey Doctor” is a funny image? I don’t know, that’s all I got.

I'm lacking the enviroment to enjoy this. Did not age well

4

A couple of bangers but pretty dated

Found myself wishing it was done waaay before it was. 202 Pacific was okay

An ok album. Was somehow expecting more energy and vibrancy. Pacific 202 stood out. I’m sure the tracks have more impact played loud in a club and lose their potency being heard via earpiece headphones but left feeling uninspired in any case.

Interesting stuff

Really wanted to like this, but it sounded all the same. Tried too hard with th sythn, a little more guitar would have been better. 2 stars

Techno is not my thing but I can appreciate the creativity that went into making this.

No genre of music has improved more than this edm garbo, thing has 808 in the title wtf (still innovative i guess)

bad

Kinda kitch, but this was revolutionnary at the time. My ears man.

Overall I find this genre of music too chaotic to latch onto anything in particular. However, the opening track is a sceeching fill in the first few seconds that grabbed me. Overall, the sounds are just a little harsh (in terms of timbre) and pointed in terms of pitch and melody for my ears.

While it's not necessarily a genre I explore often, I've heard plenty of electronic music in the past that I've enjoyed - everything from techno, house, and dubstep to more obscure genres like drill n' bass. With all that said, I can't stand this album. I'm not sure what warranted its inclusion on this list - perhaps it was more of a trailblazer upon its release - but these songs range from boring at best to grating at worst.

The gimmick of this album is kind of lost on me as we live in a time that the 808 is seen all the time in popular music. While I understand that this is a very influential-type album for the 808, this is kind of boring contextually.

1989: Pacific 202

Get me some party powder immediately. 🍭🤪🙆‍♂️

A bit like standing and playing pinball games.

Not bad. First listen. Not really my choice of music, but it is enjoyable. 2/5

The album has a neat tensity running throughout, but doesn’t do much for me. Time & place

I don’t know a ton about electronic music but this was somehow both strange AND boring.

Since listening, I've discovered that there are two versions of this album, with different track orders and even some added songs. That's annoying. Did they at least wait a while? Kanye West released "Donda" earlier this fall, clocking in at almost 2 hours long, then released a "deluxe" edition with five additional songs and topping the 2 hour mark. Calm down, Kanye, you've gotta space this out and spend years milking this with special and deluxe and international and live and remastered and anniversary and whatever else editions. Oh, and the "Kanye's Version" re-recording. Anyway, I only listened to one version of "90." Maybe the worse one? Definitely some decent songs, but also some that made me glad the genre developed past these guys."

Goofy, really didn't see the point to this. So many cheesy riffs and weird vocal choices.

Def not a must listen for me...

Oh Dear, another Dance Album! I missed the whole Ibizian experience as we were heavily parenting at the time. I am sorry but I suppose "you had to be there" to experience the real feeling of this music. Acid House obviously has it's merits and Musically this album is at the top end for me but..... just don't "get" the love of the repetitive beats etc. But I suppose you had to be there and popping some "e's" "Pacific 202" The stand out track but not a record in my collection I'm afraid.

By the numbers, somewhat appropriately.

More like a drum machine demo reel than a coherent album. Background music for video games.

Samey all the way through, Pacific 202 is probably the best song, but all the rest are nearly as "good", or "half decent" to be more accurate

Wel aan te horen maar ik vond er niet veel aan.

The team behind the decision of choosing 1001 Records should have the bar set higher, imho

80s, early 90s house techno. More British stuff pushed. It was fine, that's all.

late 80s techno

2.5/ 5 at best. It's definitely nothing special. I think a couple of the songs are better than the rest, but overall, it isn't for me. I'm glad there are folks that enjoy it.

Good for what it is: ambient/background dance music. I definitely wouldn't mind having it on while I studied or worked or something. Relative to the albums on this list it's a 2/5. It reminds me of the music that played when I worked a laser tag arena at a in 2018 I've learned to appreciate that the 1001 list isn't necessarily the same as the 1001 best albums of all time. (Most "best albums of all time" lists are lousy anyway). This 1001 list is meant to be a survey of important/influential music, as well as include some greatest albums of all time. That's why I like it. I can appreciate that this is probably an album that inspired a lot of modern electronica music.

Not a big electro guy. I need a melody, something to listen for.

This album has all of the 80s sounds, essentially no lyrics, techno. I suppose it could be considered a precursor to EDM. I did not dance. Nothing is really memorable about the album. I have no need to listen to it again.

Yeah this album wasn’t for me, a bit dated now and maybe not helped I’m listening to this at 8am.

I think I need more vocals on my electronica.

Si me muero mañana no pasaría nada si no lo hubiera escuchado

I honestly can't find it in myself to care about this album at all.

Meh, couldn’t get into it

This felt little a demo reel (no surprise given the name) and made 40min seem like 2 hours. Fuck off. 2/5.

Wild early electronic styles. Not my thing, but it is intriguing to hear it.

Not really my thing so hard to judge tbh. But 2 stars for being forgettable

Ok electronica

90 is the second album by British EDM group 808 State. The music can be classified as something in between acid house and techno. This album showcases an early form of EDM - a genre that would explode in popularity throughout the upcoming 90's and after the turn of the century. I liked the nostalgia given off by this older style of EDM, but I love the newer, more popular genres of EDM of today.

I love 808s and dance music but idk about this one. I usually like House-style music but something about the songs here were a little harsh for my taste. Not bad music by any means just not for me.

Mærkeligt elektronisk musik, tempofyldt

not really a fan, its like a mix between early techno and house

Lite cyber/arkad aktig Electrolux musik...nooo. knarkhits 1990

have a thing against birdsong in music x

Electronica at its most electric! Not something that I listen to a lot. Or ever.

Música que molesta mucho escuchar.

Horrendo, insoportable. Me cuesta creer que este disco triunfase tan a finales de los 80.

This is the first album where I was irritated less than one track in. Maybe it's really influential or something...but I strongly dislike this style of music. I appreciate the random birdsongs in the background I guess.

1 1/2

No. Just… no. Annoying techno dreck. Not my cuppa.

Dawano nie wylosowalo tak ciezkiego odsluchu, zdarzaly sie juz elektroniczne picki, ale takiej techniawy jeszcze nie bylo, moze nie jest to jeszcze poziom pompownika, ale jednak poziom 150 BPM, to troche za duzo na moje biedne uszaki, plyta z 89 wydana przez wyspiarki zespol 808 state, to chyba nienajlepiej, ze slucham sobie inteligentnej muzyki tanecznej lezac w lozku, moze wlasnie to tworzy te bariere poznawcza, ktora nie pozwala mi przeniknac zlozonosc kompozycji tej plyty, bo jak tak ze sluchac inteligentnej muzyki tanecznej bez porszania konczynami, przeciez musi byc w niej cos zawarte, poza rytmicznymi uderzeniamu basiora, gibereszowymi samplami i wykorzystaniem mocno synthowych klawiszy, moze kryje sie za tym glebszy koncept, na co moga wskazywac plynne przejscia miedzy kolejnymi trakami, ktorych jest tutaj 8 rozciagnietych na 40 minut czasu materialu, niestety nie udalo mi sie zrozumiec fenomenu tego krazka, pewnie za malo go wytanczylem, pamiatkowo zostawie kawalek, ktory jako jedyny z calego setu mnie zainteresowal, czyli pacific 202, ktory o dziwo jest trzecim najpopularniejszym kawalkiem tej brytyjskiej bandy, utwor ten nie jest tak jednolity jak inne kawalki, ma wyraznie wyznaczone sekcje, tutaj klawiszowanko, tutaj jakis drumik, tam saksa daje popisy mozliwosci, a to wszystko okraszone dosc orginalnymi sampelkami, ktore jak dla mnie brzmia dosc ptasio, ogolny klimat nasuwa mi skojarzenia z hot lajnem majami i latami 90, dlatego wlasnie bedzie to dla mnie hajlajt sluchowiska

no me gustó :/

Load of noise

Late 80's electronica. Not for me.

Wtf

Hmm, njae. Det finns ju i teorin en gräns som går att passera med all typ av musik. En gräns som passeras efter en viss tid av lyssnade i sträck. En gräns som när den passeras, gör lyssnaren galen. För mig är gränsen för den här genren väldigt kort. Techno kan med andra ord inte bära mig särskilt långt. Om vi tänker rent hypotetiskt kan jag se en användning av sådan här musik i ett smutsigt och övergivet varuhus där alla åhörare står obrydda och gungar i takt med blickar som är så svävande att man skulle kunna möta deras blick utan att de skulle kunna se en. Spontant känns det som ganska långt ifrån en plats jag skulle önska att befinna mig på. Men jag vet inte. Jag har ännu inte testat.

Hier heb ik niets mee.

Fucking sucked

Really awful

Didn’t really find this anything exciting. Pretty boring electronic album that I doubt I’ll ever hear again. 2.4/10

meh

Electronic music. Not my style.

I just don't get how people can listen to this at all, let alone rate it one of the greatest albums of all time! This is coming from someone who listens to some unlistenable music

Couldn't find it