90

It's just noise. Sorry.

4/10 some interesting ideas but often a bit repetitive

A very, very, very early House record. Of course it sound incredibly rudimentary with all those tinny drum machine sounds. However it does have its charm. Key tracks: Pacific 202

Not good.

too electronica for me. interesting listen though

Couple of good songs, but EDM is not my favorite.

I dunno. I assume this has some historical significance, like it was the precursor to the rave culture in Britain. But every song sounds exactly the same to me & because of that every one bleeds into the other. Boring, boring, boring.

🤷

This kind of music isn’t for me, personally. But I appreciate the exposure to earlier EDM.

Upphafslagið, Pacific 202, er um margt ágætt. Hin lögin eiga spretti, suma allt í lagi, en heilt yfir rennur þetta saman í electróníkhrærigraut sem er mér lítt að skapi. Jújú, ég myndi pottþétt heyra núansa með fleiri rennslum, og mögulega toga plötuna í þrist, en ég bara nenni því ekki.

Sure

I'm not sure why? Did it make an impact? I don't know. It just made me day dream of something better like the Donkey Kong Country soundtrack.

As much as the 1001 albums to hear before I die can dish out some very unfavorable projects, I am glad that recently they have been giving me plenty of electronic releases to feast on as it has been exactly what I've been looking for during these cold mornings. 808 State may not be the most familiar name to most, but if you are a fan of any 90s House, Ambient, or Electronic music I am sure you are familiar. They may not have made any huge splashes but their work in shaping the Electronic scene in the UK back in the 90s is nothing short of important. Yes this project surely is dated, but what do you expect from an Acid House album from 1989?? It is an impressive feat that continued to help define Acid House for the 90s to pick up and really make it into its' own. 90 may not be super striking by today's standards but its' influence on the world of electronic music should always be appreciated whenever possible.

Not my thing but still really good for acid rock, Electronica!

Ihan ok konemusaa, tosin omaan makuun liian ei-kasaria. 2,5/5.

Not bad honestly. For me it had manageable levels of 80's

I bet 90s raves loved this album. The synth was a blast from the past. First song itself was a banger.

Sounds of the 80s not really anything that sticks out to me.

Best part about the album is it’s only 39 minutes.

I was marginally too young for this originally. And didn't get it at all anyway. Fully engrossed as I was in "GUITARS", my older brothers mysterious bright red hardhat with happy-face-acid emojis on the side was a total mystery to me. Now, of course, NOW..................... Oh to have had the chance to participate in this even slightly. A delicious landscape of bloops, bleeps taking you to another world. Take a pill, and let your troubles slide away because we're all mates aren't we?

Pre: 808 like the drum? Post: a little Edm for me but I like the 808s vs contemporary Edm drums

Quite a fun album, reminds me of some old school game soundtrack 3/5

Definitely weird but I thought it was pretty fun.

- Definitely ahead of its time, and I can see the influence on breaks/electro. - I only knew Pacific 202, and it’s such a banger, but I really love Donkey Doctor! The vocals on Magical Dream are pretty great - very pre-St Etienne. Ancodia doesn’t do it for me and I find Cobra Bora a bit chaotic, but the rest, I’m into. - I think my cat likes it, too.

Groupe inconnu. Musique terriblement répétitive et pas vraiment intéressante ... Pas désagréable (+1), mais ne me donne pas envie d'une seconde écoute. =>2/5

Techno

Love this wish I heard of it sooner.

While listening to this album, I got a call that my uncle had passed away. So that made this a weird listen.

That's not my taste in music - But ok

Some good songs but the rest too samey

Not bad just not my usual listen, ok for background music

Meh

Never heard of this artist. This first track is interesting. Dig the music, not sure if I like the vocals. Second track is cool. Album is 3-stars to me

Interesting to hear 808 instrumentals, the album is strictly vibes but I can hear what evolved from it.

I enjoyed this album, but I can tell it’s not for everyone.

Electronic House music, from 1989? It holds up really well. Decent listen.

This slapped hard

I'm not in the right state of mind to fully experience "90". "Anaconda" seems to be an ancestor of phonk, a genre popular among kids who think they're cool. I only like a few songs of said genre. Some of the songs on "90" are actually good, like "808080808". At least I listened to 808 State for the first time. 3 stars for "90".

Doesn’t age well

2.5

I’ll be real by saying I expected bad music when I started this challenge. This is the first and I’m pleasantly surprised that I liked this so much. It’s music, what I think music should be, but appealing to the masses, but making music feel and sound good. I can tell the band? The artist is a master of their craft. No lyrics, sometimes it’s weird, but in a way that you love it and wanna listen again. This was fun.

for some reason, works for me. Npce subtle sampling

Rad early electronic jams. Bad day for me to have a headache tho

Alright I guess got into it more as it went on and the 80 production kinda faded if that makes sense

Pacific State

Meh, on this. I do like 80s electronica but this was not very memorable for me. 2 stars

Kinky national is interesting and reminiscent of Nine Inch nail’s Pretty Hate Machine demos. It’s also cool’s to hear some of Frank Klepacki‘s influence for the C&C soundtracks, but I found this a slog to get through

Eh

This is cool.

Never been to a rave. Never done MDMA. I feel like you need to have experience with at least one of these two things to enjoy this.

Didn’t care for this all too much

Hadn't heard this band before. Always appreciate hearing new music, especially when they've been instrumental in the creation of a musical style.

This was a good one for me. Trancey, but not like current trance. Felt like what was going to be trance. Not a lot of vocals to get into, but 808 was always good for being light on vocals, and heavy on getting you into the dance vibe.

2/3

Quick listen. Good background music, pretty timeless for electronic music. Probably wouldn't listen again.

Metallic and pointy-sounding electronic music suitable as bedding tracks in documentaries about 90s raving and clubbing. Not objectionable but not something I would choose to listen to in my free time.

Not the worst electronica I've heard. Completely uninterested in the EDM portions of songs, but there were definitely some standout moments that I found much more akin to light dubstep, and much more enjoyable as a result. Top tracks: Pacific 202, Donkey Doctor

Roland really is responsible for every good electronic genre. These guys named themselves after the Roland TR-808 Drum Machine. Anyways, this album is great. I love the really distinct TB-303 synth sound in house music, makes it sound goofier. The music goes pretty hard, too. I especially like the more aggressive parts of the album like Cobra Bora and Donkey Doctor. They sound like music for an old Flash game that I would've randomly found on NotDoppler like 12 years ago.

Pacific is a certified 5 star classic that turns up on so many mixes. Rest of the album's a good bop.

90 Pacific, in its many remixes, is a superb track, probably the strongest one on here, although I enjoyed the overall late 80s synthy house and techno vibes. It’s a fun listen and you can hear a lot of what came after this, like the Chemical Brothers and the other mid 90s dance bands and acts. Magical Dream has a very Italia 90 highlight video feel, which is a good thing, there’s a bit of New Order to it and some fun squelches. Ancodia carries on the upbeat vibe, maybe taking some of Soul II Soul and adding a bit more house, as well as a nice synth hook. I like how Cobra Bora ups the tempo, although some of the orchestra synth hits sound a bit dated with modern ears. Pacific really is fantastic, the wailing sax pairs brilliantly with the propulsive bass and rhythm pattern. It slightly tails off in the 2nd half, although I like the riff in the middle of Donkey Doctor, and 808080808 has a nicely manic Mario Bros feel to it. Sunrise feels like an attempt at another Pacific without quite getting there and The Fat Shadow also feels like a bit of a retread of what’s come before. Still, it’s a fun album with some great rhythms and hooks, and it doesn’t outstay its welcome with its 39 minute run time, and it has clearly been influential on a lot of bands I like. Not sure it’s quite a 4, so a high 3 it is. 🌊🌊🌊 Playlist submission: Pacific 202

They do hit paydirt with 'Pacific 202', a jazz-inflected trance classic. The dreamy sax glides through an ambient rainforest of noises, and a pumping (but not dominant) drum-beat and synth-bass kick in, everything working in ambient balance (or 'ambalance' - actually scratch that, it sounds too much like ambulance). '808080808' has more grit, and is another tour de force - different synth elements dropping in and out to carry the beat and a marvelous (8-bit sounding) break just past the two-minute mark. It could be the soundtrack to any classic Amiga game. In between, the album has some nice moments but none that ever matches those two centrepiece tracks. For instance 'Sunrise' revisits the ambulance of 'Pacific 202' but not as engagingly, notwithstanding the call out to 'Do You Know the Way to San José'. It's a rather nice document of next level acid-house, with a couple of outstanding tracks.

Low-mid 2, this one started off alright but I just don't vibe with this style

Tedious.

I don't care for this.

This is the music that plays in the club John Wick is fighting through.

Pretty straightforward house music. It’s very good but most significantly, the album is from 1989. The album does not sound like it’s from the 80s, seems like lots of house music from the 90s and 2000s were derived from this album.

I liked it. So much so that when it was over, I searched out more of their music. I spent the morning listening and working to their music. Very nice.

Its really good fun, obviously not something you'd listen to every day, but its great to nod your head to, and this is also in my opinion when 'dance' music had quite a lot of substance and I guess in that way, this is very ahead of its time. The acid funky, bloopy basslines are really good and something which I think was lost in later more mainstream dance stuff, for the worse in my opinion. Also the angelic pads are quite something, and makes this especially ahead of its time, as in my opinion they are more characteristic of 90s stuff. I also quite like how messy parts are in the sense that it feels quite on the spot, notably on some of the lead parts. Also certain songs, like the donkey doctor one feel very Kraftwerk-esque and definitely like somewhat of a natural continuation from them, it also feels like sort of a continuation from 80s synth pop like New Order, just a bit heavier and more trippy. The sampling is also really great. Favourite songs: all. Overall around 8/10 (actually quite close to 9 surprisingly)

Garbage

"90" by 808 State is widely regarded as a landmark album that successfully translated the energy of the late-80s acid house scene into a cohesive and innovative long-player format. The review below synthesizes these critiques, focusing on your requested areas. ### 📀 Album Overview **90** is the second studio album by the British electronic group 808 State, released on December 4, 1989, through ZTT Records . It arrived on the crest of the UK's acid house wave, propelled by the success of the single **"Pacific State"** (appearing on the album as "Pacific 202"), which reached number 10 in the UK charts . The album was praised for proving that dance music could be more than a collection of 12-inch singles and hold its own as a full-length artistic statement . ### 🎵 Musical Style & Production The music on "90" is primarily instrumental, built on the deep, piston-like rhythms of house music . However, 808 State distinguished itself by topping these rhythms with a highly imaginative and eclectic sonic palette. * **Sound and Texture**: The album is described as a blend of **surgically manipulated samples and unassailable grooves** . Tracks are densely packed with fast, hypnotic percussion, multiple layers of synthesisers, and clever world-beat samples, creating a sound that is both **stylish and engulfing** . The synth sounds and samples are noted for their textural quality, possessing a **tonal warmth and sheen** that avoids a cold, industrial feel . * **Instrumentation and Influences**: The sound is an odd mixture of **disco, electronica, and jazz** . The band members drew inspiration from jazz fusion artists like Herbie Hancock, which is evident in the cool pop-jazz melodies and the iconic soprano saxophone solo on "Pacific 202" . The percussion, a hallmark of their sound, came courtesy of a Roland TR-909 drum machine . * **Production Techniques**: The album was a product of its time technologically. It was constructed using basic digital samplers like the Akai S900 and Casio FZ1, which were new and exciting tools that allowed the group to experiment with stored-up creative potential . The album was mastered to a 16-bit, 48kHz DAT tape, and while it may not be considered a premium audiophile recording, the complexity of its rhythms becomes clear on higher-quality systems . ### 🧠 Themes and Lyrics Thematic analysis of "90" focuses on its overall vibe rather than narrative content. * **Lyrics**: The album features almost **no traditional lyrics** . Vocals are used sparingly, such as the vocal snippets in "Ancodia" or the vocals from Vanessa Sherrington on "Magical Dream," and are employed more to create a mood or act as an additional instrument rather than to convey a story . * **Instrumental Themes**: As an instrumental work, the themes are conveyed through atmosphere and sound. The album captures the **euphoria and hedonism** of the age, coinciding with the end of the Cold War and a sense of optimism . Tracks like "Pacific 202" aim for a **tropical warmth** and an "alien other world," creating a sense of utopian escape that was central to the rave culture it soundtracked . ### 💡 Influence and Legacy "90" had a significant impact on the electronic music landscape. * **Album Format for Dance Music**: It is often cited as one of the **first valid full-length dance albums**, setting a benchmark for how acid house could be presented as a cohesive album experience rather than just a series of 12-inch singles . * **Critical Acclaim**: The album has been included in the book **1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die** . *Slant Magazine* listed it at number 54 on its "Best Albums of the 1980s," calling it a **"thrilling expansion of the possibilities for acid house and arguably the best LP ever produced in the style"** . * **Blueprint for Sound**: The album's complex drum programming and adventurous, idea-rich compositions served as a **blueprint for the big sound of early 90s electronic music**, influencing many artists who followed . ### ⚖️ Pros and Cons | Evaluation | Key Points | | :--- | :--- | | **Pros** | - **Groundbreaking Format**: Successfully proved dance music's viability as an album genre .<br>- **Inventive Sound**: A unique and influential blend of house, jazz, and ambient textures .<br>- **Cohesive Flow**: Tracks are structured to create a compelling listening journey with distinct peaks .<br>- **Historical Importance**: A definitive document of the UK's acid house and rave scene at its peak . | | **Cons** | - **Dated Sound**: Some production elements may sound of their time to modern listeners, a result of the technology available .<br>- **Less Immediate Tracks**: While containing anthems, some album tracks might be less engaging for those seeking the immediacy of singles .<br>- **Niche Appeal**: The instrumental, rhythm-focused nature may not resonate with listeners who prefer traditional song structures and lyrics . | ### 💎 Conclusion **90** by 808 State is an essential piece of electronic music history. Its strengths lie in its inventive production, cohesive album-length vision, and its capture of a specific cultural zeitgeist. While some aspects of its sound are unmistakably tied to the era of its creation, its creativity, influence, and energy remain potent. If you are interested in the foundations of acid house and appreciate instrumental, rhythm-driven music, this album is a highly rewarding listen.

Another album that should be 1001 albums that make me want to rip my ears off. Must be what Van Gogh listened to.

a barrage of dense, factory bashing soundscapes. actually says something in the way it sounds

Couldn't finish, feels flat and not my style

robot. synth. melody. cool.

Not a fan of electronica so this was a nice ride!

Not bad

Some interesting parts. Solid background music. Standout song Cobra Bora

Weird weird but still good, hard to believe it was an album in 1989, would be better without vocals

This was completely uncharted territory for me. Familiar with electronic music but of this nature, so not really sure how to approach it or what to get from it. It was ok. It didn’t completely change my world. Didn’t really do enough to show me why it would be on this list either.

fuuuuuuun. not my favourite electronic record but it was fun. it was rich and captivating. not much else to say

Very cool. Not something I'd normally listen to but I really enjoyed it

OK - alien beep bop to start us off - I see you. Gorgeous cover art. They're from Manchester? I wonder how many times I've heard their music in a set and didn't know. Pacific 202 is a vibe, jazzy space station (reading a book set in NASA/Space so feeling all very connected), almost sounds like bird recordings. Lastly released in 1989 - wild.

This album fucking ruled

The doors opened, and I stepped onto the elevator to see her there. Far cooler than I, simply in town for a convention, she was dressed like someone on their way to a steampunk rave. Except this wasn't a costume; it was clear this was truly the essence of this beautiful being. She held out her hand, as lovely as the rest of her, with her palm face up. On it rested a small pill, almost black and unmarked in any way. She stared expressionless except for the slightest hint of a smile only at the corners of her mouth. It was an invitation into her world, a world that was a far cry from the day of presentations on economic projections and people selling things they asserted were earth shattering game changers in the business world that would simply be another subscription - always a subscription - that wouldn't move the needed any further from the red. She maintained a small physical presence but filled the now closed elevator - were we even moving? - and looked at me. I grabbed the pill, locked eyes with her, and swallowed. Suddenly, I wasn't sure what type of bird I was, but I was definitely flying. And the colors in my wings and the open jungle I now occupied were incredibly vibrant. The woman had transformed into the air itself as the noises surrounding us grew intense and transfixing all at once. And then suddenly it was over, and I was alone as the elevator doors opened and found me right where I'd started. At least, I think that's what happened as I listened to this.

Very electronic music with some mumbling singing over it. Sounds like it was made on a Casio keyboard with a cassette recorder. Pass.

Did not like it .It was only a cluster of sounds

This level of energy becomes a little tiring after 40 minutes but the back to back of Pacific and Donkey Doctor is pretty strong.

*1989. English electronic. *Thought I would hate this at first, but it was actually okay background music for working. *Fairly melodic for being electronic. *Some light vocal sounds - not really singing. *Really not sure where this music belongs - it's not clubby enough for the club and not mellow enough to casually listen to... Maybe at a like a bad London house party? *Didn't hate it, but definitely not revisiting. RATING - 4.5/10

Not my vibe.

Patiko, gera muzika galvojimui.

Good sounds. Glad I was exposed to this album because I usually do not listen to this type of music.

A lot happening with each track. I’m not convinced it all flows smoothly enough for me to give it another full listen. Overall, very 90s house party. Never heard of 808 state before but I’m almost certain that somewhere/sometime, I’ve heard these tracks sampled in other songs.

Kinda dig this because it sounds like an old sega game. That being said though, electronics is not real music, it’s just pressing buttons.

I like electronica from 80s-90s. Sounds kinda spacey/futuristic for me

I don’t really hear techno music. I know music is playing, but I don’t notice anything about it. It goes uncha uncha uncha and does other things I suppose, but none of them register with me. The only thing I think when the songs are playing is “this is a techno song.” When the album finishes, all I think is “that was a techno album.” So, was this a good album? I have no idea. All I can tell you is that this was a techno album. I look forward to getting assigned an album with actual music on it.

Electronic

I only knew Pacific from this album and while that's the standout track, the rest of the record was an interesting listen. I got Fatboy Slim's debut a couple of days ago and found all of the tracks repetitive and predictable, in contrast these pieces don't necessary do what you would expect them to do, whether it's the samples, the vocals or the programmed drums.

Encapsulates the sound of electronic music, specifically acid house, at the time. Similar vibes to The Orb. The albums picks up with Cobra Bora and into Pacific 202. The latter reminded me of Todd Terje.

Acid-House / Dance / Techno / ElectroPop album that seems to be ElectroPop more than anything else. Quite boring.

Fine. Song 1, 3 and 5 are the best.

Fantastische vroege house-plaat. Bijzonder om een Moodymann-sampletje te horen in "Cobra Bora", wat sowieso een uitstekende track is die ook nu nog goed klinkt. "Pacific 202" is mogelijk de mooiste old-school houseplaat die ik ken.

8.5/10

Late 80s electronica. British acid house. Annoyingly repetitive.

Better than most of the house on this list at least

boring.

🙄

Tää oli aika raikas! Hyvä vanha meninikin myös konemusan puolella 4/5

Pari aika hyvää raitaa! Arvostan tätä kasarin konemusamenoa.

Fine! Not particularly memorable for me but a nice change of pace

Real “I’m hacking into the mainframe” music

I'm not a big fan of electronic music. We recently had a couple of electronic albums that really surprised me by how varied, catchy, or just plain good they were envisioned and executed. This one breaks the chain. It's just repetitive background noise to me.

Good dance/disco album, nothing else to say

Entertaining vibes, danceable

Just not my jam. Not bad, but...

Not really my thing but I enjoyed this nonetheless. 3.5

Had no idea what to expect and mildly enjoyed it. Probably won't remember the album exists past tomorrow..

Really competent album for what it aims for in the genre

(hears any house music) this shit kinda sonic cd

ok, aber genau einmal gehört.

Zu Techno Psychodelisch.

215/1089 - Strange and cool. I wonder if anyone at Sega or Namco listened to this, some tracks would work in Super Monkey Ball or Ridge Racer.

Classic

A head below Orbital 2, which has become one of my recent favorites, but still a great techno listen.

Una sorpresa que tardó en impactarme un poco. Un disco con un sonido enérgico y onírico a la vez, un sueño vaporwave y un vistazo al pasado muy interesante. No fue sino hasta Cobra Bora que caí en cuenta de que ya estaba enganchado.

Early techno music reminiscent of Miami Vice.

i did quite enjoy it, but it didn’t grab me as much as other electronic albums i’ve heard on the list so far. not sure how to rate it, it’s a high 3 but also a very low 4? pacific 202 was my favorite. absolutely love the mix of saxophone with all the other sounds.

As far as dated electronica goes, this was pretty good. Still not my bag. 2.5⭐️

August 19, 2025 Album #719: 90 by 808 State Genre: Acid House, Dance, Techno, Electropop Released around the time when Acid House was starting to enter the mainstream, I wasn’t totally sure of what to expect with *90*. Thankfully though, it still has nice electronic goodness to offer. It actually hasn’t aged too badly for what it is. The intro track, *Magical Dream* sets the mood immediately with drum sequencing and Vanessa Sherrington’s hypnotic vocal delivery, even if this is the only track with lyrics. The opener gives way to some of the longer and more house oriented songs on the album, *Ancodia* and *Cobra Bora*, which flow into each other seamlessly. It really shows how this album made me feel like I was transported back to a rave in the 90s. The way the album flows makes it feel like a live rave set. *Pacific 202* is a fun, more poppy track, with its saxophone sample and quiet synths. *Donkey Doctor* has more punchy drums and eclectic sounds, and it makes for a good jam. *808080808* is a more energetic track with its beat and keyboard sounds. The longest track, *Sunrise*, almost feels like an Ambient Techno track with its flute sounds. The short closing track, *The Fat Shadow*, is a bit jarring compared to the last track but feels like a closer to the rave this album emulates. This album has fun house songs, though sometimes the sound effects on this thing can be a bit much. They kind of take me out of it. There’s some weak moments on this album in the midst of good tracks, and it can bring songs down for me. However, *90* still makes for a fun dance album with its late 80s early 90s charm. It’s a good time for what it is. Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, Decent 7 Favorite Tracks: Magical Dream, Ancodia, Pacific 202, Donkey Doctor

No more of this please! Another monotonous club record.

Elevator music for a trendy hotel.

Not my style but still was cool

I had a fall of expectations when I saw the genre and the year. I thought it was gonna be another weird tech-house eletronic music from late 80's and 90's. But for my surprise, it wasn't a complete bullshit. I caught myself jamming with my head with the music (tho I think it was a start of a stroke), so it have some value. But after all, this kinda music just don't make any sense to me. This should be hidden in some old DJ's pen-drive for him to play to some stoned heads in rave parties. 2 stars

not really my cup of tea , but historically interesting

I like 90's drum and bass so this is pretty good! First song kinda a bit off though. I could definitely play unreal tournament to this...

Not really for me

I wasn't really a big fan of this album. The instrumentals were okay, but the lyrics kind of reduced the song qualities for me. They seemed a bit out of place to me. As for enjoyability, it was just okay. Nothing too special, probably better for background music. If I had to choose a favorite song, it would probably be "Cobra Bora."

Very futuristic electronic vibes. Could see this in a nightclub type setting in the late 80s or 90s. Not my exact cup of tea, but dance heavy and good all around feel to it.

Groovy electronic that screams 1989.

Listened to before: No Yes! This is what I came for. I knew the name 808 state but probably never would have checked them out, without this project. I don't do drugs, so I am still figuring out how to get the best effect from this album: By taking a run through the forest at dawn? By lying in the gras and starring blankly into the sky? While not being an ambient album, I still feel 90 has the ability of resonating with your surroundings. And even though I have not found the best way to listen, I still think this album is great. Might sound a little dated on the first listen, but for me this weared of after a few listens. The combination of electronics and more organic sounds works really well and the flow and pacing are just immaculate.

Late 80s disco fusion? Vocals are very nice

Day583 - sometimes you find unexpected treasures and sometimes you find a pile of dog poo. this is the latter.

Fun and groovy, this is music built for raving or hallucinating rather than sitting down and listening closely. Hypnotic beats and textures make it easy to imagine its impact on early rave culture, but it’s not an album I’d reach for outside of that context.

I quite like a bit of electronica, but this one feels a bit empty to me to be honest. It's not bad, there are some nice tracks in here, but even the best of them are never getting elevated beyond general 'quite nice to listen to' status. Maybe it's the production, it's just a bit weak. 2.5 rounded up.

Today is my 898th album to review, so this album appeared 90 days too late. I've never heard of 808 State before, but I'm guessing that this is an electronic album, and that 808 refers to the Roland 808, or whatever it's called. That will always remind me about that Aziz Ansari joke where he saw Kanye listening to 808's & Heartbreak. Remember that, when Kanye wasn't insane, and when everyone loved Aziz Ansari? Man, we didn't know how good we had it back then. Anyway, I'm really intrigued to see what this album is going to sound like, and I'm excited to fire it up! Overall, I thought 90 was a very good album, but it was a little bit short of five stars for me. Each song had a very unique sound and feeling to it, but everything was tied together nicely by the drum machines that were used throughout the album. I didn’t really enjoy the vocals and vocal samples on the first two songs (although I did like the initial ‘chiming’ melody on “Magical Dream”), but after that, I really got into this album. “Cobra Bora” was excellent. I thought the synthesizer and keyboard melodies were outstanding, and the drums are great too. It really made great use of stereo sound, pulling the listener right into the awesome synths and keyboard, and eventually going completely rapid fire with sound. “Pacific 202” was great too. The melodies and drums were once again really awesome. I really loved the wildlife sounds in the background, because they matched the overall tone of the song really well. I also loved how the tempo kicked up a bit before the outro. “Cora Bora” and “Pacific 202” were my favorite songs on the album, but everything after that was really good too. I could see myself listening to this again, and I’d be down to check out more albums from 808 State.

This is the type of album I'm always surprised to see popping up on this list. Perhaps I've just never met anyone who enjoys this type of vibe, but I'm half convinced that they don't exsist and we're all being collectively gaslit.

Struggling to think one thing I liked about this album. The first track sounded like an alarm but little did I know that it was just downhill from there. I appreciate how influential they were in the early electronic music scene but did not enjoy this at all.

It’s not bad techno, but idk if I need to hear it outside of a Blade movie or Mortal Kombat

It's party time

Nahhh

spiky music

Super frickin’ retro. Could not imagine something like this coming out of any other time period, and even though it’s dated as hell, still slaps for the most part. 6/10

I'm sure it was pretty cutting edge in it's day, but it doesn't feel fresh anymore.

I really didn't get this, I can respect that it's the original/first of its kinda back then but man it's so generic and if I wanted to listen to something like this there is much better newer stuff out there

i like it. I also love the first song. Makes me wanna get into more electronic music, I think I just need unique (although i'm assuming these guys are super influential since it came out in the 80s)

Out of all of the UK based electronic albums I've been given through this project, this is one of the ones that does the least for me, but this does still manage to be pretty cool. This is a very influential, relatively early form of Acid House, and it isn't a genre I'm super familiar with, but just from this I haven't decided how I feel about it in general. There are a lot of very chunky, stylized sounding synths, and the percussion is pretty minimalist in general. There's also more kind of electro-pop than I was expecting. Sometimes this comes together to create something I like well enough, but at others I think this album sounds kind of dated. Although if I'm listening for sort of background music I can get through this pretty happily. It also helps that, especially for an electronic album, this is pretty short. Overall, I enjoyed my time, but this isn't a huge standout to me.

Not for me. 1/5

Their second album. Electronic / Techno / Dance. Very much of it's time. I see the Hacienda, sweat, ecstasy, bucket hats and Adidas. Or loved up Summer of Love 88 raves in farmers fields. The album sounds like a cliche now but these were some of the pioneers of this sound. Cobra Bora is a good track. Just a good old school techno album. At the time it must have sounded like the future.

This was pretty bad...

Not a fan of this. Too much looping

The beats are really cool. Feels like I'm in an old techno club or disco.

I'd imagine a lot of wannabe cool dudes popped their collars and blared this in their DeLorean, but it's not for me.

This is a fine early electronic album. I can put it on the background and groove out. It sounds well produced but a bit-dated in terms of sound now. That's to be expected given the evolution of electronic music, so fair enough. I would not seek this out but it was a good listen.

Cool stuff

I enjoyed it. I'll have to check out more in this genre.

Not for me

Techno city

Someone really used every sound from a drum machine and synth lol. I think it's a good version of itself, though I don't enjoy this kind of music that much.

Not as bad as some of the other edm in here. And thankfully short.

808 state are probably my least favourite of the big early 90s dance acts. Pacific State is a classic, but nothing else of theirs really grabbed me, and listening to this doesn't change my opinion. Everything is fine, and probably sounded incredibly futuristic at the time, but now it's just quite pedestrian. Vitally important in the history of dance music, but very much superceded since. A very, VERY low 3.

ok

A bit weird, remember it dragging

Very strange album, didn’t care for it much. Especially that one that sounds like birds chirping the whole time, Pacific 202, that was awful

It’s OK dance music but I think you had to be there. There is some brilliant programming and some cool sounds but being electronica (a genre I don't really listen to) it lacks organic elements required when listening outside of the late 80s/early 90s context.

Bit hit and miss but early pioneers with an awesome sound

Reminds me of times that I can't properly remember, and the beginning of so many more great times and great music that it inspired. Sounds dated now (as do I), but +1 for the nostalgia.

Quite good electrónica. Crucially to getting a 4 star rating it wasn't bloody country music again.

Pacific 202 is still enjoyable, the rest sounds a bit dated, but appreciate the innovations made at the time!

Weird 80s vibes

Not to my taste.

Ok at the club maybe. On drugs

Слагам 2 само заради pacific 202 иначе си е наркоманска музика отвсякъде

it sound pretty good but i am never on acid 3/5

Nah man. There is nothing special about this.

Fine. Zingy electronica. Is it essential? Nah. But it’s worth a listen.

No cóż. Nadal nie lubię elektroniki, a tej to już szczególnie. Na początku zapowiadało się, że pociągną do tych trzech gwiazdek, ale potem było tylko gorzej. 4/10 i nie spotkamy się nigdy więcej (mam nadzieję).

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

Antar att detta är viktigt för mycket musik jag gillar men inte mer märkvärdigt än så tyvärr.

Detta ljudlandskap har jag hört förut i andra låtar så det är interssant man ser var det kommer ifrån

Stressigt!

track 1: it's an okay opening track 2: idk man, it's a good track ngl, but I can't find myself to vibe with it Track 3: Okay, an improvement here. I like the production for this track; it's not as close to the word "flawless" as it could be, but it's listenable. I vibe with this. Track 4: Just like Track 3, it's a good, listenable track. not too messy in terms of production track 5: WAITT!!! I KINDA LIKE THIS!!!! THIS IS WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR OMG track 6: Okayy I like this one too, production is clean track 7: I kinda lost with this one, the only thing I like about this track is the flutes and bird-noise thingy track 8: A short outro, nothing much to say about this track (6/10 might give it a 7)

Funky I like it,

My body was in my office but my ears were on an unsatisfying long weekend in Ibiza.

Interesting to get this the day after a Kraftwerk album. Hard not to see some parallels. There probably would not have been an 808 State without Kraftwerk. I enjoy seeing the DNA across some of these albums. As a fan of electronic music, I enjoyed this, but not as much as some other entries. It’s less strange to me, but still curious, that this list gives such priority to electronic music from several different generations than they do for Latin jazz (which, caveat, I really enjoy). Just interesting to see where the list’s priorities are when it comes to influential music.

Perfectly serviceable background music. Would probably work well in a video game level. "808080808" should have been called “5318008”.

This is cool considering it came out in 1989. It sounds pretty modern while still being able to tell it's older.

It took a couple listens to really dig into this one. The first pass was rough, probably just wasn’t mentally ready for the electronic onslaught. By the third listen, it started hitting better. There are a few fun tracks and I get that 808 State were pioneers of the ‘90s dance/electronic scene, but overall this lands a little flat with me.

2 - typical repetitive electronica

I felt like this was a solid EDM album that probably paved the way for the EDM music genre that we know today. I feel like I listened to this passively so I would need to listen again to get a better feel for this album. Overall, I had a good time listening to this album and I would recommend it to others who like this genre or folks who want to expand their music horizons.

This list made me hate electronica

Uninteresting muzak with only a few enjoyable moments. 2/5

Beep bop boop beep bop… this crap suuuuucked. 1001 album worthy: no - 99/183

Great for a rave, not my jam.

holds up

not for me. 80's edm

Just felt like move background music

Sounds a bit dated now and there are definitely better electronic groups out there

Fun vibes

This is the first album I can understand being here that I disliked. Electronica instrumental vibes is all well and good but I need something to sing along to. Probably 2 for that reason.

73% Best: Magical Dream; Ancodia Must-Hear? Nah

Såg dem live 1992 tror jag det var. Stilbildande inom sin genre. Plattan okej.

1.5

Techno-type of music isn't my fav to listen to. This is like video game music at times but I'm missing the visual aspect to enchance it. I could always get my controller, I guess. Probably influential to fit the list.

2.5

2.5

Honestly I think this album starts off pretty well between "Magical Dream" and "Cobra Bora" (which I noted "The Hustle" sample) overall, I find this being called 90 when it still feel definitely in the feel of late 80s house. Unfortunately, towards the some of the beats get a bit tiresome, most notably in "808080808" and "Sunrise", and "The Fat Shadow" straight up sucked (thank God it's only 59 seconds long) 7.65 ★★★½

Quite cool early electronica, but more influential than essential listening. 3.5 stars

This one's a no from me, dawg. 1.5 stars.

1.5

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.

You see an album with a song title like "Donkey Doctor" and you know it's either gonna be one of the best albums you've ever heard or the worst. This, blessedly, is the former. Bop city.

Naaah

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.

I guess the generator took my review from yesterday personally. This was okay but really forgettable. I am struggling to remember it and I only listened to it 16 hours ago.

Electronic music. Kinda fun and listenable but also kinda noisy. It was alright.

I feel like heard this before? It sounds like a groove armada record until the beat kicks in. I like this album but I don’t think I would seek it out. It’s definitely a good dance record.

I can't imagine what state of mind you have to be in to enjoy this.

Meh. Just completely meh. 2/5

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

Surprised to see this was rated so low when I checked the reviews after listening, I thought this was quite a fun and innovative electronic album. It’s got some really nice drum loops and a really cool “wet” sound to the synths, which sound like something out of the early 2000’s rather than 1989 (genuinely surprised me when I checked the date of this album like halfway through). There’s also plenty was also an interesting addition of bird chirps to pacific 202 which I thought was cool. It’s not something I’ll be rushing to listen to again but I certainly enjoyed it and wouldn’t mind hearing it again. Favourites: Ancodia, Pacific 202 and 808080808. Overall 6/10.

A lot of EDM that I'm certain I've heard on late night Cinemax before. It's all very standard stuff. Nothing too groundbreaking here. ~ 2.5 stars, but I'll bump it up to a 3 for the song "Donkey Doctor" alone. That's funny.

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"

Didn't think much of this on a first listen but I've come back to it a few times. I can see how people can revere this. It's not quite a 5 but it's gonna enter I guess irregular rotation for me. Highlight: Donkey Doctor

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.

Some classic tunes but definitely from an era. The 808 drum machine has no doubt been superseded many times but was a classic of its time. Not an album to just pop on but enjoyable nonetheless

There’s a time and place for everything and I’m not sure a work environment is the best setting to listen to this one. I’m not even sure I’d class it as an album, it seems more of a random collection of tracks you’d hear in a club. No particularly good tracks of note but then I’m not on drugs. I suspect if I’d taken some and was in a club at 2am I might take a different view. Not for me this one.

This felt very dated and on initial listen very repetitive! However, there were a few times that I really got into it especially on Cobra Bora

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.

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

That certainly was something else! 3/5

Interesting music

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.

alright

Un disco que no me sorprendió demasiado. No soy demasiado conocedor del estilo de la época como para decir si estuvo adelantado para el momento en que se hizo. Suena bien y tiene una búsqueda sonora interesante, pero sinceramente, no muy memorable para mi gusto.

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.

This list needs to stop trying to make electronica happen. Electronica is never going to happen!

This is NOT one of the 1001 albums you MUST hear before you die It wasn't one of the 1001 albums you needed to hear in 1989 Ill go as far as to say it probably wasn't one of the 1001 albums you needed to hear in the month it was released

Slightly more interesting than a lot of other music in this genre from this era. 2.5/5

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

7/10

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.

Definitely of it's time but has some aspects that feel a little shoegazey/plunderphonic like in a cool way. A little dreamy and trippy while being a little jungle and a little dated. Enjoyed it more than not.

I don't know exactly why but I couldn't get in to this album at all. It has some nice thing going on but the vibe just isn't there for me. After I listened I read about the album and my only conclusion is that acid house maybe isn't for me.

Not terrible, but just slightly annoying. This is uptempo bar/restaurant music in London.

This is one of those records that you play when you're working away or doing something else, but you don't want any silence. It was decent at best, but I don't think I was in the mood for this one. Maybe I'll give it another try in the future. I couldn't say I had any highlights on this record other than that all the tracks, except for the last one, were decent. I couldn't find any tracks that stood out in this record, nor were any tracks distinct from each other. This record just felt like a blend of one sound, and I couldn't tell where a track started or ended, which might be a highlight if you're looking for that sort of thing. I am also not a fan of 80s synths, but that's just me. Favourite Track(s): Ancodia Least Favourite Track(s): The Fat Shadow (Pointy Head Mix)

Its fine, but its dancing music, not album shit

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

Is this bad? No. Is this particularly interesting? No, not really. There's a ton of more interesting electronic and club music out there. I don't know why this is on the 1001. I suspect it's that same boring reason for many of the other head scratchers on the 1001 -- it's from the mid to late 1980s or early 1990s and features a UK band or an act that was unusually popular in the UK. The author clearly has a soft spot for material that was popular with his peer group, and it's unfortunate, in that there are dozens of selections in the 1001 that make no sense.

The loons on Pacific 202 were nice to hear. But the rest of it was quite forgettable.

Didn’t like the background noises or the whining.

Decent background music. Probably fun to dance to, as well.

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.

This one had me in the first half and I truly believed this would be the first 4 I gave to an album like this, but the magic ran dry, and it finished as a 3.

It was ok, but nothing too impressive and there’s much better electronic from this list.

I expected to like this more. It wasn't as dancy or as funky as I expected. I'm flip flopping between 2 and 3. Leaning to 3 because it wasn't bad, it just wasn't that good. It's a low, low 3.

Electronica still not my thing, but this wasn’t terrible.

80s disco electronica Favorite track: pacific 202 other picks: ancodia, state to state

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

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

Is this great electronic music? Maybe. I feel like I just binged geometry dash for the last few hours or something. But I like geometry dash so what is that a good thing ? Maybe. If the Mario Kart soundtrack would be a 5 I’ll give this a 3

I guess if you're high in a rave club this is a fine beat to dance to? Just doesn't do anything at all for me. And while we're probably rapidly approaching the point where GenAI can make good music indistinguishable from creative artists, I'm pretty sure computers could already make music this good 20 years ago.

It's like the beggining of trance music

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.

A few decent sounds

El único track disfrutable me pareció el primero, en el que hay voz. El resto es un álbum instrumental electrónico ochentero que me pareció súper genérico y repetitivo. No sé qué hace en esta lista.

Some other review: "This album has some of the most complex and beautiful drum programming" Narrator: "It doesn't." The drum programming, just like everything else, is incredibly repetitive and tiring and it's yet another semi-obscure and - at best - semi-relevant British album on this list that makes you wonder why you're bothering with this project.

Agree with others who say it'd be better if I was on Molly in an abandoned warehouse.

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

eh. another album that probably would've been super impressive in 1989 when it came out, but now just sounds like everything else from this era: all over the place and with some really tired, played-out instruments and loops. that said, it's still more interesting than a lot of the 90s british electronic albums on this list. starting around pacific 202, it all just sounds like background music made for Sonic CD levels but left on the cutting room floor, with donkey doctor perhaps being the best example. points for that i guess? favorites: magical dream, donkey doctor, 808080808

Did not like, too repetitive

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

This is good stuff! Good music to concentrate by or program to

Thanks 90 by 808 State. I have a headache now.

Bryan’s right… It’s crazy how many English electronic pop groups from the 80s are on this list. But this is actually pretty sick. Knocking it down to a three in solidarity with my mate, but I did enjoy it a bunch

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

some nice beats

Not as bad as late techno from 80s goes, but that's not an achievement in itself. Very tiring, super oldschool, forgettable.

I’m beginning to think the person who wrote the book is a sadist, why else would he imply that all should listen to this excrement if not to make people suffer. No further review, bargain bin trash like this does not deserve consideration.

Bad

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

Likte da egentlig litt, kan vurdera å beholda da i albumlisto for et par gjennomlyttinga til

Sometimes, I forget that there are entire genres of music--enjoyed by millions--that have touched me only obliquely. How do I rate albums like that? Objectively, I know many people love to lose themselves in the kinds of beeps and squeaks of electronica ably showcased here. Subjectively, I'm not typically one of those people.

Man this is a lot. As far as house music (is that what this is?) goes, this is pretty cool and fun. It would be great to go out dancing to this. I don’t really understand how to enjoy this stuff as purely a listening experience. There’s all this energy in the music and the drum loops that needs a physical outlet. Just for listening it’s grating on my nerves.

50/50.

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.

Love to waste most my Monday commute listening to someone cycle through a selection of samples. In isolation there were bits that could have been grown into half decent songs but nah, just play with some of the settings and throw a few annoying high pitch sounds on top every now and then, job done. Make sure to make the album last far longer than it has any right to as well.

+1 for the samples of the loon on Pacific 202. Sounds a lot like, Groove is in the Heart by Deee-Lite. It's not a great album really, too many different ideas, don't particularly like the evolution within songs. Not a lot of repetition, which is a positive. Really dated, but a bit of fun, to be honest.

As far as electronica goes, this wasn't bad. More on the chilled side which I prefer. Was a nice backdrop when running. Unlikely to ever choose to listen again though. Nothing really surprised me, but I bet at the time it was pretty innovative. Lots of electronic beeps, whirs, trills and quacks throughout! Why not. 2.5, as it's not really for me but I didn't mind it

This is naturally of its time, but some of the melodies are timeless. Pacific (et al) is a GOAT. High 3s