Various – Bio Rhythm "Dance Music With Bleeps"

Such a great compilation. My highlights are Nexus 21 self hypnosis and MK's somebody new. The crazy unbelievable liner notes are gold:

the first question is obvious. what are biorhythms? there are no simple answers. biorhythms are anything you want them to be. they are the chemical groove that won't stop, a techno disinfectant that kills all known germs, from don pablo's animals to guru josh.

these are the 1990's and it's time for the poll tax. why should you care about these things? because this is the sound that salvador dali would have made had he bought an 808 drum machine instead of a paintbrush. this sequenced surrealism is a new music for an old age, the kind of sonic art created when human beings fall in love with machines and computers. this is special.

but there is another story. biorhythms is a phrase which came to our attention in late 1989 when plans for the launch of the label were almost finalised and the last key phrases in our oblique promotion strategy were being chosen.

biorhythms is the name of a revolutionary idea which remains unknown outside of the birmingham area. local rave promoter, an italian ex patriate called sueno de niro came up with the idea of turning his midlands chain of coin-op laundrettes shops into small scale legal raves. a loophole in the law means the authorities can't stop people dancing in public places where washing is also being done. de niro's biorhythms chain made the most of this. his shops were fitted with 5k sound systems. most of them were so small that bouncing castles couldn't be inflated inside. the city's ravers would queue up outside the shops with bags full of soiled naf naf sweatshirts. the local constabulary were outraged. they could do nothing to stop the dancers while the washing machines were spinning round.

the soundtrack at the infamous biorhythms raves of '89, an endless techno trance made up of aggresively ambient tracks like nexus 21's 'self hypnosis', was provided by upfront local djs like neil macey and kid persil who would crossfade the dancers into ecstasy - cutting and blending using the sound of machines on their final spin as part of their sets. the biorhythm rave djs originated the term 'spinback' meaning to fade the music to create a background for the sound of the machines revolving.

seminal tracks like mr fingers 'washing machine' were popular but early tape versions of tracks such as rhythmatic's 'take me back' and neal howard's 'indulge' would receive the most enthusiastic reception.

the authorities tried every way they could to stitch de niro up but they knew he was clean. after several months of non stop laundrette parties he was caught at home freebasing a well known washing powder.

biorhythms is the sound of outer london, a collection of mathematic modern dance music with bleeps. it also serves as our tribute to de niro (now serving 6 years) and the biorhythm raves.

'take me back', so obviously inspired by joshie jo armistead's northern classic 'i've got the vibes', ensures you know where we stand. those unable to make sense of this manic percussive symphony may as well leave the building now. 'take me back' is a subsonic network bass record. a warning that its ultra-low frequencies could damage speakers was ignored by many who purchased it and we've received several compensation claims.

symbols and instruments, 'mood', a computerised re-reading of life's 'tell me why' is another biorhythms classic. perhaps it doesn't sound quite the same without the washing machine accompaniment but its power isn't diminished for that. the inclusion of rhythim is rhythim's previously unreleased 'emanon' makes this album an essential purchase for lovers of derrick may's spaced out techno chamber music. this piece shows that derrick, once described as the lee perry of house due to eccentric behaviour matched only by the eccentricity of his music, remains light years ahead, a man alone on another planet. his madness has inspired and informed the network ethic. but it's sueno de niro this compilation is dedicated to - an originator with a plan that sent the dance world spinning.

network totally wired
network forever dance
network destination unknown

john mccready 1990

one of my all time fav compilations. fall into a trance is sublime but every track is special here <3

The first dance compilation I every bought and probably by far the best and what got me into dance music. A collection of what is now absolute classic’s from the more Detroit / Beeps & Bass orientation. From the deep bass of Rhymatic “Take Me Back”, though to the equally deep bass of Nexus 21’s “Self Hypnosis” with its catchy bleep and organ riff, followed by Symbols & Instruments chilled Detroit vibe of “Mood”, too MK’s “Somebody New”, with its great synth and organ riff and haunting vocal that make this an all-time classic. If that’s not enough that’s just the A side ! The B side starts with C & M Connection “Bio Rhythms” also known as “Another Night” (Techno Dreams) again with a catchy bleep riff, string chords, deep bass, lots of reverse kicks etc making this another real classic. Next up is Rhythm Is Rhythms “Emanon”, with a more tough techno feel with its more percussion driven loops and tougher bass sounds, next is Neil Howards “Indulge” with is an absolute classic and very under rated track which is crafted to perfection with its string, piano, percussion and bass loops and finally Critical Rhythms “Fall Into A Trance” with its trip inducing undertones. What an album a true gem full of brilliant ground breaking tracks that still sound great today. On the CD you get a two additional tracks Kate B “Free” and Paris Grey “Don’t Lead me” and two stunning tracks. All in all a fantastic compilation and if you don’t like the music its worth reading the sleeve about the Launderette Raves ? A true classic jam packed full of great tracks.

I've never forgotten the blurb on the back of this album. As the story goes: Sueno de Niro - the Italo Brummie, with his chain of Midlands launderettes, flaunts West Midlands by-laws by holding raves only when washing machines are spinning, later apprehended by police when Kid Persil grasses him up for embibing at 40 degrees.

Almost certainly meant as surrealist whimsy by its apparant inventor John McCready, but I was never absolutely sure...

As for the album? Pure class. Buy it.

This LP sums up an era of abstract techno and house music. If you were part of the scene then you will instantly recognise the tracks, even the earlier tracks which some were modelled on (ie Rhythmatic's Take Me Back samples Tranzistor - First Bass - which was produced in Detroit). If you were unfortunate enough to not have heard the underground music back then in 1988-1991 then this LP will still produce feelings of unity within, and will give an aural sense of the pinnacle of techno music excellence. Test me on this.

The packaging of the album is great as well. Neil Rushton's liner notes about dancing in a laundrymat beacuse of a loop-hole in a rave-ban law in England is as funny as anything.