F.U.S.E. - DIMENSION INTRUSION - THE VINYL FACTORY / PLUS 8 - OUT NOW
Originally issued by Warp Records in 1993 as part of the label's dominant Artificial Intelligence album series, Dimension Intrusion arguably remains one of Richie Hawtin's most influential long-players. Comprising material recorded over a two-year period, DI was by turns inspired by soundtracks, acid-house and the classic Roland T303 machine - an album designed to be taken in one full dose. Now expanded into a seven-disc vinyl set (£300 but looks stunning) and a cheaper digital/streaming option, that dose has tripled in size...
The main album is itself extended into a triple-set with a few additional tracks crossing the musical divide between lush ambient beauty and intense, bangin' pharmaceutically-driven acid-house. You have the wistful A New Day and title-track sitting cheek by jowl with the relentless F.U. and Substance Abuse, interspersed with new additions Downbeat and Time Stop recorded at the time.
Train Trac has been removed from the album itself and assembled on the accompanying Train-Tracs EP which contains a further five variations on the same theme, all of them frenetic and off-the-rails, the exception being the somewhat more melodious The Day After.
The third and final collection within this sprawling compendium is the epic Computer Space. The title-track track would challenge The Orb or Banco de Gaia any day with its longevity and ambience, while Sanctuary sounds like a Tangerine Dream session minus the pomp and Last Day and Runner bring threat, menace and droning to the fore. No less essential than the main attraction, one can understand why it wasn't issued at the time.
Add in some terrific Matthew Hawtin artwork and this is a challenger for box-set of the year.
8/10
The main album is itself extended into a triple-set with a few additional tracks crossing the musical divide between lush ambient beauty and intense, bangin' pharmaceutically-driven acid-house. You have the wistful A New Day and title-track sitting cheek by jowl with the relentless F.U. and Substance Abuse, interspersed with new additions Downbeat and Time Stop recorded at the time.
The third and final collection within this sprawling compendium is the epic Computer Space. The title-track track would challenge The Orb or Banco de Gaia any day with its longevity and ambience, while Sanctuary sounds like a Tangerine Dream session minus the pomp and Last Day and Runner bring threat, menace and droning to the fore. No less essential than the main attraction, one can understand why it wasn't issued at the time.
Add in some terrific Matthew Hawtin artwork and this is a challenger for box-set of the year.
8/10
