Various Artists

Happy Land (A Compendium Of Electronic Music From The British Isles 1992-1996 Volume 2)

Above Board Projects

HLLP2

Various Artists

Happy Land (A Compendium Of Electronic Music From The British Isles 1992-1996 Volume 2)

Above Board Projects

HLLP2

HLLP2 Digital
ARTIST
Various Artists
TITLE
Happy Land (A Compendium Of Electronic Music From The British Isles 1992-1996 Volume 2)
LABEL
Above Board Projects
CAT NO.
HLLP2
FORMAT
2 x 12"
RELEASE DATE
  • 14/04/2023 [INITIAL RELEASE]
TERRITORY
Worldwide
BARCODE
5060944578695
GENRE
Ambient Electro Electronica House Techno
FEATURING
Various Artists

TRACK LISTING

play all

  1. A1. Strider. B. - Linmiri ≠ Bradley Stryder  ▾
  2. A2. Radioactive Lamb - Bellevedere  ▾
  3. B1. Max - Pull Thy Boots  ▾
  4. B2. Fretless Azm - Dreamland  ▾
  5. C1. Sandoz - Armed Response  ▾
  6. C2. The Black Dog - Cost II  ▾
  7. D1. Zone Smut - Sub Dub Rub (Holyfield Vs. Tyson Remix Totally Killed By Sub Dub)  ▾
  8. D2. Slow Rotor - Space Disco (Dub Edit)  ▾

SALES NOTES

Future Jazzers, notorious experimentalists and outfield eccentrics stumble onto the dancefloor. In the 90s. In the UK.

From an electronic music perspective, the period 1992 to 1996 in the UK that this compilation celebrates, was one of dizzying sonic diversification.

It was also a particularly turbulent time in the UK, not only politically and economically, but also culturally too. Economic catastrophe in ‘92 was followed by widespread poverty, a cost of living crisis and countless political scandals. Meanwhile, John Major’s Tory government pandered to its political base via unpleasant, authoritarian legislation that seemingly sought to crush rave culture, alternative lifestyles, and traveller communities. The UK was not so much a ‘Happy Land’ – to quote the name of this compilation – as an angry and divided one. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

Throughout, the music created by producers based across these Isles remained uniquely British, speeding up a process begun in the late 1980s through the emergence of street soul, bleep & bass and breakbeat hardcore – musical styles whose roots in multicultural inner-city communities made them distinctly different from the Black American sounds that had inspired their creators. It was here, rather than in the indie pubs of Camden, that real musical revolutions were taking place.

This deep diving selection brings together some truly adventurous and original electronic music from this period, much of it very hard to find. Major label outings connect with white label oddities with ease. Perhaps it could even be argued that many of these unearthed gems fit more easily into DJ sets in 2023 than they ever did at the time. The off-kilter swing of Richard D James’ obscure and highly sought after Strider B outing, ‘Bradley’s Robot’ is joined by further rare cuts from Cabaret Voltaire and the Black Dog, and artists as diverse as Ultramarine, Herbert, Fretless AZM, and Radioactive Lamb, amongst others.

This collection has been lovingly selected, compiled and mastered for maximum sonic playback. This very special release boasts sublime pastoral themed artwork, as well as informative and passionate liner notes by celebrated music scribe Matt Anniss (‘Join The Future’).

Published: 21st February 2023

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