90

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.

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

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

very weird it is actually pretty entertaining

like Tubular Bells on speed

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.

The thing about, Revolver (for example) is it doesn’t matter what year it is or what drugs you’re on, there’s just good music on there. Yeah, they were on acid, yeah it was ground breaking for the time but I can listen to it today and simply enjoy the songs. I feel like without the context of the year and the drugs, 90 by 808 State isn’t very engaging to me.

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

I’m at a very happy 5. My brain is obviously already predisposed to video game music, so the second I saw this was “acid house”, I got a little bit of hope for something around that general soundscape. The year though, 1989, gave me pause – acid house, this early, even for December 1989, still feels a few years behind when house as an entire genre really found and hit its commercial stride. The optimism was there, but much shakier. This could’ve been really, really bad. Thank goodness that this is really, really good. This is CRAZY for 1989 – what’s here is so deeply entrenched in the Roland MIDI soundscapes that would define some of the prime Redbook CD audio quality of early 90s gaming, and most of it could easily pass as video game music. Pacific 202 is just a Sonic CD cut, and you can’t convince me otherwise. These are full compositions, mixed really well in the ear to give a lot of the instruments their shine & room to breathe (save, oddly, for the first track). There’s not a dull moment anywhere on this album, at least for my ears (save, oddly, for the last track, but that barely counts). The fact that it's a full setlist with transitions helps a lot to keep the flow of the album going too. If you’re not into video game music (or house as a genre), this probably won’t click at all, and I find that a little disappointing. Obviously, taste is subjective, but to deny this from being in one’s musical diet is like refusing to watch game shows because they’re too happy-go-lucky. This is a fantastic example of acid house, house music in general, and a great showcase of the Roland soundscape (and presumably MIDI by extension) for 1989. This feels far ahead of its time, and I have to imagine this really did act as a point of inspiration for other artists in the genre moving forward. It’s perfectly attuned to my tastes, and genuinely one of the best discoveries I’ve had throughout this album experience. Super easy 5.

as far as dated dance music goes this was pretty good

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.

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

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

You threw enough British electronic albums at me, I was bound to like one of them eventually.

When I put it on the dog left the room.

although highly unlikely, it is possible for someone to get - in one week - the albums 21, 25, 90, 1984, 1989, 1999 and 2112. and i think that would be a really funny thing to happen to someone. anyways shoutout to the fish on the album cover

Simply just some damn good techno that still sounds fresh despite its' release date. Solid 5 Stars. (Also, it's kinda wild my group got this kind of album after getting Dead Kennedys yesterday, no?)

Oh snap haven’t heard this in ages. Had a cd single off this one. I am transported back in time from the first few beats. Wow this is a trip. It’s still so good. It’s the Hacienda, the Limelight. It’s old Broadway, the subway, the street hustle, the art, the rent parties. It’s the world before the internet. Before electronic and club music went mainstream. I can smell the steam from the smoke machine on the dance floor at the Palladium. When the rest of the world was listening to New Kids on the Block, this was happening in the club. It’s still so good.

Got aware of Graham Massey and his electronic band 808 State through Björk, since the man co-wrote the music of "Army Of Me" and "The Modern Things" on *Post*. *90* was released six years before that, and listening to it, it's not hard to understand how groundbreaking this record was for the whole acid-house genre. Lush textures and adventurous forays abound, and 808 State rarely dig the same groove twice. Which, in this particular genre based on *repetition* is rather commendable. So just like what LFO (another act harbouring a Björk collaborator) did to darker, more minimalistic strands of "house music" when they released their debut *Frequencies*, Graham Massey and co. accomplished something extremely valuable in the field of electronic music. They made it sound vital AND digestible in an album format at the same time. And that's quite a feat when you're playinng those styles. The highlights on 808 State's subsequent albums (*ex:el*, *Gorgeous* and the criminally underrated *Don Solaris*) are even *more* impressive, by the way. Unfortunately, the tracklisting on those later records is also admittedly bumpy--always with a few outlier cuts that are far from matching said highlights. In comparison, *90* is a much more cohesive and *tight* listen. Each track perfectly flows into the next, even if *all of them* explore very different moods--you're never quite sure of what you can expect, and yet the left turns still make a lot of sense. So yeah, why shouldn't we select this one? I still think that compared to *90*, the first half of *Don Solaris* is near-perfect, though. Give it a listen if you're interested in electronic music in the broadest sense of the term. For that last LP 808 State released during the nineties (not counting B-Sides and remixes compilations), the band went far beyond acid-house--they also successfully tampered with abstract hip-hop, pop-rock, drum'n'bass, big beat, steel drums and steel guitar samples, among many other things. The second half of that 1996 album loses the stellar momentum built up in the first, hence why you can't call this other LP *cohesive*. Yet the sounds on it aged a little better than the ones on *90*, I think. *90* still had one foot in the eighties, you see (it's sort of implied in the title, right?--this record references the decade to come, yet it was still released in *1989*, mind you). It's nice that 808 State pointed the way forward, yet they couldn't *fully* get rid of a few "clichés" here and there. At least, the album sounds less "dated" than New Order's *Technique* or Johnny Marr and Bernard Sumner's *Electronic* project. When referencing that particular British "genre" (and the years said genre thrived), anthology lists always quote those two albums. *90* is rarely quoted, though, and honestly, it is clearly a notch above both of those records. Which is why I'm glad Björk made me know this album and the band that released it. You can always count on her and her insatiable quench for interesting collaborators to discover other great artists. 3.5/5 for the purposes of this list of essential album, rounded up to 4. Which translates to a 8.5/10 grade for more general purposes (5 + 3.5). Number of albums left to review: 287 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 315 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 175 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine (many other records are more important to me): 231

Except for the parts that sounded like the alarm on my phone, I very much enjoyed this. Fun dance grooves with tiny melodic surprises.

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.

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.

Overall I really like it. There are some groovy beats and the drum machine work is exceptional. I’ll say that the music gets a bit ambitious and not all of the concepts land. As a whole this is very genre defining for the time and holds up today as a period piece of electronic house/trance.

This might be one of my favourite work focusing albums. Has a lot of great sounds and beats.

A fun album! I think overall, it makes good passive/background music, but not something I'd reach for to sit down and listen to. That said, I really enjoyed it for what it is. 'Pacific 202' was my fave.

This is the reason why I signed up for this project - to discover albums like this.

great discovery. It was engaging from beginning to end and feed curiosity for more in the same style

groovy electronic instrumental

I loved this! Good stuff. I'm listening to it again for the third time.

Techno classic

I think that because these guys fall into a hole somewhere between pop, new wave, dance, and electronic, that they’re often overlooked. It’s so,e of the liveliest, most fun music I know! Perfect for partying or chilling. I’m a huge fan in general, and I think this is their masterpiece.

6/18/24. Great discovery today! Not sure why, this gives me a Daft Punk feel where a certain electronic album resonates with me, and a lot of time I cannot explain why. The grooves are infectious!

This was sick. Easy listening during the work day. Would prob put it at 4.5 but fuck it I'm going 5!

9/10 - Absolute banger of an album. I enjoyed almost every song on this. This is exactly the pre-edm electronic music that I love. Every song had something new and it changed as the songs went on which was so cool. I loved the way that the songs evolved. Overall a great album that I will listen to more.

I absolutely love this album. It's a nostalgic trip back to a time when electronic music was truly unique, with each artist having their own distinctive sound. Unlike today's EDM scene where many tracks sound alike, the artists of this era, including 808 State, maximized the potential of their equipment, often limited by what they could afford. This album showcases the creativity and ingenuity of that time. While I understand why some may give these old-school electronic albums low ratings, to truly appreciate them, you had to have been part of that era and understand the cultural context of the time, as well as what was happening in the music scene.

Banging electronic music

Almost worth it for Pacific 202 on its own, but there are other great tracks here. I like.

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.

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.

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

I’ve been thinking about why the 90’s electronic records on this list don’t really resonate with me. It’s not because I think the music is bad or uninteresting, necessarily. It’s because most of them have not been very dynamic. I get it, it’s dance music designed for a night of dancing and drugs and fun. No problem with that. It’s that there’s no real ebb and flow in the songs. They kind of start, keep the same tempo, the different parts of the instrumentation always repeat at the same volume and are played at the same velocity. It feels mechanical, but not a good way. I don’t know… This ended up being a lot of words just for me to say, “this album is alright.”

I have a soft spot for a lot of these sounds. People like Aphex Twin would take this and iterate on it. So I see this album as important, but not necessary amazing. Probably very cool if you were into this when it came out tho

Nr. 45/1001 Magical Dream 3/5 Ancodia 2/5 Cobra Bora 2/5 Pacific 202 3/5 Donkey Doctor 2/5 808080808 2/5 Sunrise 2/5 The Fat Shadow NR Average: 2,29 Not my Kind of music

> leftism shit

Definitely not. Would not include this on a top 5000 album.

That was nothing more, or less, than I expected. Boring enough to be a lullaby, but just too irritating to let you sleep..... except I did go to sleep.

one of the albums of all time

Throw that REM Document album from 2 or 3 weeks ago into the bin because this is the only actual document you need… of late 80s acid house! First track gets off to an almighty blissed, dizzying, utopian start - “it’s a fantasy taking over your mind so let it roll let it roll with ease it will take control of the rest of your soul and explode in a magical dream” - and outside of that there are some choice squiggly acid-drenched dance workouts like Cobra Bora and 808080808. Pick of the pops however is Pacific 202 which is basically exotic pop perfection with the most iconic synth pads and loon bird calls and sees band member Graham Massey plucking a soprano sax for the first time and pulling all the best notes from high heaven. Album is only a 4.5 because Sunrise is too much of a cool down and last track Fat Shadow even if a minute long does legitimately suck.

Has there ever been so compelling an eruption of musical talents as Manchester in the 80s? 808 State – just about squeezing into the decade in November 1989; this album’s lead single was charting in the U.K. the day I was born – here give the blueprint for an entire generation (at least) of bedroom musicians and big room aspirants alike to follow. Bass out, break in, vocals hover, beat syncopates, all stop, bass splash back in solo, and then all back in together on the beat. (If they ever lost an ostinsto, you’d suspect it’s because it was already making its way to the Balearics.) As to the quality of the songs, I just find this record so intractably cool that it hardly matters. I’m confident they’re good songs, maybe ever great … but when, for example, the glassy synths in “Ancodia” meet that sampled, swirled guitar lick and then combine with the house beat I’m totally disarmed of any critical faculty (anything capable of more sophisticated phrasings than “fuck that’s cool”, anyway). Luckily, this is a record full of “fuck that’s cool.” The crunchy, video game drawl and rhythmic contortions of “Cobra Bora”; “Pacific 202” and its era-presaging call to arms; the multilayered textures of “Donkey Doctor” working the beat up and down simultaneously; “Magical Dream” – a truly transportive piece of sound design – being exactly as lush and oneiric as its title promises. Whether it’s the futurism of the synths or the fact I’m personally anchored in time by virtue of this record’s release date, I’m put in mind of Mark Fisher’s reading of “hauntology”. Fisher’s spooky sounding concept describes a feeling that we’re being haunted by the ghosts of futures that never came to pass. The ghosts in the drum machines here still feel ready to pounce though; and while the party might have been over for a while … you wouldn’t bet against the repressed returning one day. Fuck, that’d be cool.

Pioneering UK techno, still sounds good nowadays due to the idiosyncratic nature of 808’s sound. Very melodic and full of quirks. It also has one of THE acid house anthems ‘Pacific’, though my personal favourite track is ‘Donkey Doctor’. I’d be happy if it had more tracks on it, the last track is just a soundscape so it is only about 38 minutes long but so are lots of 5 star older albums. So 5 stars it is

This is the 137th album I’m rating. I only know them because Björk made some music with them. I've never listened to a song though. Adding to my Playlist - Magical Dream, Ancodia, Cobra Bora, Pacific 202, Donkey Doctor, 808080808, Sunrise, and The Fat Shadow (Pointy Head Mix). Not Adding to my Playlist - Nothing. Magical Dream - Björk has some good taste. This shit is really really good. All in all I liked 8/8 songs. In 1989 music started to get good again and I'm not talking about Taylor Swift because this shit is amazing. This and The Stones Roses and everything else was a great way to end one of the worst decades in music history.

Didn’t expect to like this as much as I did. It’s a record that I want played in every sci-fi action movie and every classic video game boss. Never dull and always energetic. 9/10

I can see how this influenced a lot of electronic music in the 90s.... bringing a light nature into things while still having a dance beat.

ACIDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!

Awesome. High quality electronic dance music. 1st time listening to 808 State and really enjoying it. Definitely better than the low ratings suggest.

This music fucks

Fantastic

still holds up really well today

Very cool, amazing for working

naama täysin jäykkänä.. aivvan kivenkova naama tärisee värisee niinmaan VITUSTI!!! lazer ääniä = 5... vittu jähmettynyt kroppa heiluu m-mitä vitttataua on tämä===??? hirveä naama hirvittävä naamavärkki kauhuinen ilme .. kaikki jäykkää paitsi kädet.. kädet riivattu... riivatut kädet... levottomat kädet levottomat kädet ota kiri ota kiri loppukiri harakiri kiri kiri kiri kiri.... tarvitsee manaajan lempeät otteet.... persaukko niin pieni kun vittu MAHDOLLISTA... world record puckered asshole...... paska ei voi edes HARKITA ulostuloa.... pysytään visusti anusaukon lämpimämmällä puolella eikö vaan... cozy vibes... chill vibes (for piece of shit) cobra bora

Conditional 5: be in a french laundromat on a rainy day. This album hit the spot in a really cool and weird way

great

4.5/5

Dritfett! aldri hørt om

Instant tech house banger 5/5

Right up my street - excellent album

Classic beats.

Really great and clearly very influential

This era of electronic music is still refreshing in 2023. In fact, it's amazing what 808 State could do with much less technology. This album is a classic of the state of the art in 1990.

Awesome, the influence on a lot of electronic albums in the 90s is obvious.

Now THIS I can really jam to. 808080808 goes hard af, "Sunrise" is pure bliss, and "Cobra Bora" sounds like a 90's Sonic stage. That's good stuff right there.

I just always thought of 808 State as the Pacific 202 band, and little more. But this is a great album, and Pacific 202 actually proves to be one of the weaker tracks.

This album is basically the musical equivalent of the frutiger aero aesthetic. It feels way ahead of its time. If someone told me this came out in 2004, I would not have been surprised. An album wayyyy ahead of its time with some profound influence on techno, edm, and even hip hop. On top of everything, the music in Neon White completely copies everything good from this album. Best Songs: Magical Dream, Cobra Bora, Pacific 202, 808080808 Worst Songs: Donkey Doctor

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

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

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

tum tum

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

Give me all the bleep blorp you got. Hell yeah.

Fun vibes

At first I thought this was very similar to a bunch of other electronic music albums but then it went places. Like! 3.8

This was a fun listen. I'm not familiar enough with the genre to speak intelligently on it, but, considering this was electronic dance music in 1989, I can see how this may have been a trailblazing album. It's a solid album. I'm convinced now, though, that this list shouldn't have been titled "1001 albums to hear before you die", but rather "1001 albums deserving to be put on a list for some positive reason"

The more I listen to this the more enjoyable it has been. It's a very nice change of pace after all the albums I have had in the last few weeks.

I’ve always found Acid House and rave type stuff fairly stark and cold compared to the 90s house and techno it spawned. However, after a slow start (and once you got over the fact it does sound dated), track 3 onwards were really great. Nicely varied and a lot going on, with a lot of subtle sounds that later groups would expand on massively. It’s also nicely paced, nothing too extreme and keeps you engaged. Just very infectious. It had me going back on repeat today. Great fun, tick. Influential, tick. Will be back, tick.

Interesting music

As one half of the global pioneers of electronic music, Houmous & Chutney, I am sick to death of people ripping off our style without any credit! Still, can’t help but love those bangers! 3.7 5/8 Donkey Doctor

Solid, high energy, electronic music. Nothing over stays it's welcome. A good time listing to this.

A good album, I liked Cobra Bora and Donkey Doctor the most.

Favorites: Magical Dream, Pacific 202, 808080808 I’ve never really explored acid house, but I absolutely adored the sounds here. Every sound was complex and alluring, and it came together in one entrancing and immersive record. This is exactly the type of recommendation I was hoping to get from this project.

It was perfect to listen to while working. Very surprised how much I enjoyed the entire thing, the flow of it was fantastic. It was a rollercoaster ride that had the drops and rises at the perfect time. Also doesn't overstay its welcome under 40 minutes unlike the vast majority of electronic albums Rating: 4.4

This is pretty minimal but classicly turn-of-the-decade 80s/90s electronica. Felt pretty nostalgic. Good for atmospheric background, but the songs are otherwise a little forgettable.

Not really in the mood for this today, but I do really like it. Feels like SMT. Charli xcx. 1989 is crazy early for it's time wow. It's some good stuff. I guess I like acid house. Deserves 4 stars

It's like the beggining of trance music

i thought this was cool! perfect music for doing boring work. i was droning the fuck outtttt

Pleasantly surprised, I had never heard of these guys. Quite enjoyed this. Particularly loved "808080808".

I get the hate. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea. For me though, there are a few songs on here that absolutely slap (Pacific 202 and 808080808 especially). It teleported me back in time to an abandoned warehouse in the early 90s where my only problem was deciding what color glowsticks I’m about to crack. Does it sound like every other techno/acid house/euro step album of the 90s? Sure. But it’s the first techno/acid house/euro step of the 90s, and to me that counts for something. 7.5/10

very good sonic cd

Going heavy on the electronic albums this week, that’s cool. Also cool to hear such an early record in the genre be so vibrant and fun. I’d call this a must-listen for the influence. #136

From start to finish you can clearly hear how big of an influence this album was on everything from acid house, to the beginnings of trip hop in the early 90s and then continuing into modern electronic and even phonk. While some sounds seemed a bit dated the album as a whole is danceble from start to finish.

Great! I really enjoyed this one.