808

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I have in my paws four deluxe 2CD reissue packages of 808 State albums - namely 808:90, Ex:El, Gorgeous and Don Solaris.

This thread isn't really about the merits of 808 State though.* I just find it interesting that a band who were - after their initial emergence and big hit anyhow - fairly minor are getting this tombstone luxury reissue treatment.

Will there come a time when everyone who strung together a 3 or 4 album career in the 80s or 90s has these kind of monuments? And where's the cutoff - who were the first band to hit cult status with an audience who simply won't care about CD reissues?

*FWIW my at-the-time responses to these were (in order) bit chilly; great stuff; disappointing; never heard.

Comments

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

I might get these re-issues altho i suspect i'll have most of the tracks on them. probably have more and listen to them more than anyone else i know - and so it has ever and will be bah.

Maybe their qualification for this treatment is more to do with G Massey's own status. I expect this will happen with Orbital too soon - perhaps they are more 'deserving'. Probably not LFO tho (only 3 albums, too distant from each other).

90 and Ex:El are fantastic to me tho. I keep hearing bits of their tracks and wanting girly pop vocals over them e.g. GA over the Pan American Excursion remix of 'Cubik' or Ciara over the first minute or so of 'Empire' (which is bordering on Janet Jackson 'Rhythm Nation' production style anyway). I realise I am alone here and that sads me but I wish producers would sample them more like they do Daft Punk.

[damnspynovels.livejournal.com]

Of course 808 State have previous records to 90 - I picked up the Rephlex reissue of Quadrastate back in July - which you might argue wasn't originally an album, but packed to its gills with extras and oddities now definitely has a decent run time.

I wonder if they've remastered them. IIRC, 90 is a bit thin sounding compared to some of the better albums in this genre - LFO's Advance being one of them, obviously. 90 has it's highs (Pacific, Ancodia) - but you're right, Ex:El is the pivotal moment. I remember listening to it years later recalling that at the time, no dance record could ever possibly be heavier than Cubik.

I'd answer possibly Jesus Jones for the actual question though. 3 or 4 albums - each, or at least definitely the latter ones recorded specifically with the digital format in mind (so none of this mastered for vinyl originally, now remastered for cd business). What could they do to (sonically) improve what is one of the better examples of early 90s digital rock music? Or am I missing the point that it's not about the quality, it's about the packaging and bonus tracks?

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

They have been remastered!

[damnspynovels.livejournal.com]

after reading your post i looked them up. what's peculiar here is that anyone who had a slightly keen interest in them at the time, who therefore would presumably have picked up a smattering of singles, and maybe the US redux of 90 (utd state 90) would have the vast majority of the bonus tracks here. like those recent new order reissues, it will take something more for me to buy - even though I might be the target demographic. maybe what it takes is a joy division oven glove.