Published
Mon, Mar 20, 2023, 09:00
- Happy Land: A Compendium Of Alternative Electronic Music From The British Isles 1992-1996 Vol. 1 is out now, with Vol. 2 hitting the shelves on April 14th.
Above Board is putting out two compilations of rare and hard-to-find UK electronic music from the early-to-mid-'90s.
Happy Land: A Compendium Of Alternative Electronic Music From The British Isles 1992-1996 Vol. 1 was released on vinyl last Friday, March 17th. Volume two arrives on April 14th, along with the digital versions of both LPs.
The compilations feature tracks from Cabaret Voltaire, The Black Dog, Matthew Herbert and Slow Rotor (an early alias of Andrew Odia), among others. Volume two opens with "Linmiri ≠ Bradley Stryder," a 1993 track by Richard D. James (AKA Aphex Twin) under his alias Strider B.
According to Above Board, the compilations celebrate the dizzying sonic diversification that took place in the UK at this time against a backdrop of political turbulence and authoritarian legislation, which sought to crush rave culture, alternative lifestyles and traveller communities.
The project takes its name from the Ultramarine track "Happy Land," released on their 1993 album United Kingdoms. The LP was a sardonic response to restrictions on civil liberties that were enacted in the '90s, most notably the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act.
Listen to Strider B's "Linmiri ≠ Bradley Stryder."
Tracklist
Happy Land: A Compendium Of Electronic Music From The British Isles 1992-1996 Vol. 1
01. Cabaret Voltaire – Soul Vine (70 Billion People)
02. Ultramarine – Happy Land (ft. Robert Wyatt)
03. Thunderhead The Word By Eden – True Romance
04. Xeper – Carceres Ex Novum
05. Herbert – Housewife
06. Liquid Son – Big Decision
07. Syzygy – Meditation
Happy Land: A Compendium Of Electronic Music From The British Isles 1992-1996 Vol. 2
01. Strider. B. – Linmiri ≠ Bradley Stryder
02. Radioactive Lamb – Bellevedere
03. Max – Pull Thy Boots
04. Fretless Azm – Dreamland
05. Sandoz – Armed Response
06. The Black Dog – Cost II
07. Zone Smut – Sub Dub Rub (Holyfield Vs. Tyson Remix Totally Killed By Sub Dub)
08. Slow Rotor – Space Disco (Dub Edit)
Happy Land: A Compendium Of Alternative Electronic Music From The British Isles 1992-1996 Vol. 1 is out now on Above Board. The label will release Vol. 2 on April 14th, 2023.
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Tracklist Happy Land: A Compendium Of Electronic Music From The British Isles 1992-1996 Vol. 1 01. Cabaret Voltaire – Soul Vine (70 Billion People) 02. Ultramarine – Happy Land (ft. Robert Wyatt) 03. Thunderhead The Word By Eden – True Romance 04. Xeper – Carceres Ex Novum 05. Herbert – Housewife 06. Liquid Son – Big Decision 07. Syzygy – Meditation Happy Land: A Compendium Of Electronic Music From The British Isles 1992-1996 Vol. 2 01. Strider. B. – Linmiri ≠ Bradley Stryder 02. Radioactive Lamb – Bellevedere 03. Max – Pull Thy Boots 04. Fretless Azm – Dreamland 05. Sandoz – Armed Response 06. The Black Dog – Cost II 07. Zone Smut – Sub Dub Rub (Holyfield Vs. Tyson Remix Totally Killed By Sub Dub) 08. Slow Rotor – Space Disco (Dub Edit) Happy Land: A Compendium Of Alternative Electronic Music From The British Isles 1992-1996 Vol. 1 is out now on Above Board. The label will release Vol. 2 on April 14th, 2023.