Artist: 808 State Album: Newbuild

Year: 1988
Duration: 41:49

Newbuild: A of 808 State's First Album

808 State is a British electronic music group formed in Manchester during the acid house scene of the late 80s. Their debut album, Newbuild, was released in 1988 and was considered a groundbreaking achievement in the electronic music genre. In this post, we will go through the history of the group and take a closer look at Newbuild, analyzing its sound, style, and critique its most innovative parts.
808 State's music style is a blend of techno, acid house, and ambient music. They were pioneers of the Manchester scene that helped shape the sound of the British dance music of the late 80s and early 90s. The group was formed in 1987 by Graham Massey, Martin Price, and Gerald Simpson, who left the group in 1989 to pursue his solo career. The group has released ten studio albums and collaborated with artists such as Bjork, Elbow, and James Dean Bradfield.
Newbuild is a masterpiece that combines the various elements of electronic music that 808 State is known for. It's an eclectic mix of techno, synth-pop, and ambient music. The album consists of ten tracks, each with its unique sound and texture. The album's opening track, Magical Dream, sets the stage for the rest of the album with its pulsing beats and catchy melody.
One of the most innovative parts of the album is the use of found sounds from field recordings, including street noise, trains, and ambient sounds. The group uses these sounds as samples and loops to create a unique texture and atmosphere that adds to the music's overall vibe.
The album's best songs include Flow Coma, which is a fusion of acid house and techno, the ambient Cobra Bora, and Let Yourself Go, which utilizes samples from the Soul Sonic Force's classic hip hop track Planet Rock. The album's closing track, 808080808, is a tour de force of bleeps, blips, and beats that showcases the group's technical prowess.
For all its innovative and groundbreaking qualities, Newbuild is not without its flaws. Some of the tracks sound repetitive and lack the ingenuity and excitement of the rest of the album. However, Newbuild is a classic album that paved the way for electronic music and influenced many artists that followed.
808 State's Newbuild is a groundbreaking album that helped shape the sound of electronic music in the late 80s and early 90s. The album is a fusion of techno, acid house, and ambient music. The most innovative parts of the album are the group's use of found sounds as samples and loops, creating a unique texture and atmosphere. The album's best songs include Flow Coma, Cobra Bora, and Let Yourself Go, which showcases the group's technical prowess. While the album is not without its flaws, Newbuild is a classic album that stands the test of time and remains an essential listen for any electronic music fan.