Excellent survey of early experimental electronica compiled by Cherry Red for RSD2017. Inspired by krautrock, the electronic musings of mid-career Pink Floyd and the DIY ethos of punk, a group of young UK musicians bored with guitars and drums turned to the cheap synthesizers and drum machines that were then widely available (and initially disregarded as soulless by traditional musicians) and stumbled on something fresh and new. This collection of proto-techno and minimal UK electronica has been whittled down to the 28 tracks best suited for vinyl listening (from the original 60 found on the 4xCD boxset) by Cherry Red. Many of these tracks are culled from small runs of hand-traded cassettes (often fetching upwards of $300 on the second-hand market) and appear on vinyl here for the first time. Highlights include Final Program’s chic coldwave joint “Protect And Survive”, 100% Manmade Fibre’s “Green For Go” and O Yuki Conjugate’s detuned jazz-funk stepper “Disco Song” (all of which could have easily been on the excellent Fac. Dance comps). Some of these acts will be familiar to anyone with a passing interest in European minimal synth (Muslimgauze, Portion Control, The Legendary Pink Dots), others are extremely obscure, oftentimes dissolving after a single recording session (British Standard Unit, 100% Manmade Fibre). If you gripped recent reissues of Marc Barreca and Led Er Est, Close To The Noise Floor is a must. Recommended.

• double vinyl pressing
• gatefold sleeve
• music label: Cherry Red 2017