'808:88:98'
808 State

England's 808 State has been making electronic pop for 11 years. beginning long before the coining of the term "electronics." But if any group summed up the best of what the genre could be, it's this one, so it's fitting that now there's a greatest-hits set of sorts, "808:88:98."

Unlike so many electronic acts, which may make great singles and dance mixes but stumble when making albums, 808 State could expand on its vision. The albums - equal parts Kraftwerk boom, film-score cool, arty smarts and cheesy-pop fun - hung together, and "88:98" stitches some of its best moments into an engrossing whole.

This 16-track set features different mixes of some of 808's best-known songs, including two mixes each for "Pacific State" (the band's breakthrough) and "Cubik." Highlights include the sparkling "Oops," the band's collaboration with the ethereal Bjork, the remix of UB40's "One in Ten," and the soaring instrumentals "Lift" and the beat-heavy "Plan 9."

[Reviewer: News-Press Gulf Coasting]

808 State
"808:88:98", Universal
****

England's 808 State has been making electronic pop for 11 years, beginning long before the coining of the term "electronica." But if any group summed up the best of what the genre could be, it's this one, so it's fitting that now there's a greatest-hits set of sorts, "808:88:98." Unlike so many electronic acts, which may make great singles and dance mixes but stumble when making albums, 808 State could expand on its vision. The albums - equal parts Kraftwerk boom, film-score cool, arty smarts and cheesy-pop fun - hung together, and "808:88:98" stitches some of its best moments into an engrossing whole.

This 16-track set features different mixes of some of 808's best-known songs, including two mixes each for "Pacific State" (the band's breakthrough) and "Cubik." Highlights include the sparkling "Oops," the band's collaboration with the ethereal Bjork, the remix of UB40's "One in Ten," and the soaring instrumentals "Lift" ( which lives up to its title) and the beat-heavy "Plan 9." This set is a must for fans of electronic dance mimic. You might enjoy if you like:
Kraftwerk, Cirrus, LFO.

[Reviewer: CD]

808 STATE
"808:88:98," ZTT Records.
****

Four years after Detroit e-mailed techno music to the world, 808 State intercepted the message in 1988. importing the beats to England and naming itself after the Roland computerized rhythm machine (you can program complete songs and leave for your other job). Ten years later, the band's first single. Pacific 707, is still a great pacifier for long car drives; traffic purrs as it moves through a peaceful bird sanctuary. Ooops begins as a sophisticated ballroom dance until Bjork's skirts refract rhythms like light. 808 cleverly mixed the introversions of rap against the openness of Aaron Copland-like horizons in The Only Rhyme That Bites.

When founder Marlin Price left the foursome in 1991, the computers turned evil, darkening 808's state of mind. Singer Louise Rhodes (one of the disc's six vocals) has a rough time rising above damp. kettledrum whackings in Azura. And the mechanical jungle sounds of Bombadin are contrived. But it's that broad 10-year personality change that makes this compilation so attractive. For novices, it's a primer. By the way, the tossed-together liner notes are abysmal; a complete discography can be found at www.808state.com

[Reviewer: Scott L. Miley]

808 STATE
808:88:98
ZTT

****

A decade of robotic romanticism from Manc techno pioneers

THE recent adoption of "big beat" dance music by beery rock fans has tended to obscure Britain's illustrious history of homegrown electronic experimentation. Manchester's 808 State were making unique noises both before and after acid house and this 10-year retrospective is rammed with lost gems.

Tucked way among the processed tropical rhythms, jazzy instrumentation and punk attitude is Björk's ear-opening first flirtation with beats, "Ooops", James Manic getting all moody and windswept in "Bond", plus a dozen more timeless blasts of Utopian techno futurism.

Stupendous.

[Reviewer: Stephen Dalton]

808 State
808:88:98 (ZTT)

****

Ahead of the game and in the charts for most of their 10-year existence, as this compilation shows. 808 State also invented Bjork's solo career and that breathy indie-electro stuff, and took up drum'n'bass before anyone else noticed. So congratulations, but isn't their old stuff creaking and wheezing like a rusty gate by now? Funnily enough it still sounds fresh, angular and modern. There's an occasional drift towards Muzak, but most of 88:98 is top class. I'm going to put Pacific 707 on again now because it makes me happy. Rainforest noises and all. (DB)

[Reviewer: David Bennum]