Advance | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 29 January 1996 | |||
Genre | Electronic music | |||
Length | 57:42 | |||
Label | Warp | |||
Producer | Mark Bell | |||
LFO chronology | ||||
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Advance is the second studio album by British electronic music duo LFO, released 29 January 1996 by Warp. The album peaked at number 44 on the UK Albums charts and was the final album to feature Gez Varley before he left the group shortly after its release. Advance was followed up with Sheath in 2003 with only contributions from Bell.
After the release of their album Frequencies (1991), rumors of LFO's follow-up was discussed from time to time without any new material being released. [1] AllMusic described the album as "Nearly legendary as the album-that-almost-never-happened, Advance was a full five years in the making, with hardly a peep of new material in between." [2] The album was produced by Mark Bell. [3] When asked about the gap between the release dates between Advance and Sheath, he responded that "It's easy doing your first album as you have all the first part of your life to express. The second one is harder unless you’re going to repeat yourself... and repetition bores me a bit, it's a complete wasted opportunity to be creative." [4] Tracks 1, 4, 7, 10 and 11 were recorded at LFO Studios while the other tracks were recorded at FON Studios. [5]
Before the release of Björk's album Post (1995), Mark Bell gave her a cassette of LFO demo material allowing her to use what she wanted for a future release. [6] Björk chose a track that would later become her song "I Go Humble". [6] The song would show up again in instrumental form on Advance as "Shove Piggy Shove". [6]
Advance was released on 29 January 1996. [7] The album was released on vinyl, cassette, compact disc and subsequently as an internet download by Warp Records. [7] Advance charted for one week in the United Kingdom, peaking at 44. [8] Shane Danielsen of The Sydney Morning Herald noted the lack of notability the album had on its release in their review, stating that LFO "rarely attract headlines; who, like contemporaries Reload, have looked on as other peers (Aphex, Leftfield) grabbed the press by the throat and held on until it spluttered praise" while LFO "languished in comparative obscurity." [9] Mark Bell and Gez Varley separated as a group shortly after the release of Advance. [1] Varley focused on a solo career, while Bell focused on production with musicians Björk and Depeche Mode. [1] A third LFO album was released in 2003 that was without any contributions from Varley. [1]
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [10] |
The Edge | [11] |
Muzik | [12] |
The Sydney Morning Herald | [9] |
From contemporary reviews, Danielsen stated that Advance was "more accessible than previous releases would allow" and that there was "enough of that mountainous speaker-juddering bass to alienate the timid" and that the group had "learnt to write songs, almost." [9] AllMusic gave the album a favorable review of four and a half stars out of five, stating that the "result isn't as essential as their debut, but growth and maturity are evident, particularly in the focus and depth of composition." [2]
All music is composed by Mark Bell except where noted [5]
No. | Title | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Advance" | 5:30 | |
2. | "Shut Down" | Mark Bell, Gez Varley | 4:51 |
3. | "Loch Ness" | 4:48 | |
4. | "Goodnight Vienna" | 3:51 | |
5. | "Tied Up" | 5:22 | |
6. | "Them" | 4:10 | |
7. | "Ultra Schall" | 4:15 | |
8. | "Shove Piggy Shove" | 4:20 | |
9. | "Psychodelik" | 5:21 | |
10. | "Jason Voorhees" | 4:34 | |
11. | "Forever" | 5:29 | |
12. | "Kombat Drinking" | Bell, Varley | 5:11 |
Credits adapted from Advance liner notes. [5]
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)Warp Records is a British independent record label founded in Sheffield in 1989 by record store employees Steve Beckett and Rob Mitchell and record producer Robert Gordon. It is currently based in London.
Debut is the international debut studio album by Icelandic recording artist Björk, released in July 1993 by One Little Indian and Elektra Entertainment. It was produced by Björk and Nellee Hooper. It was Björk's first recording following the dissolution of her previous band, the Sugarcubes. The album departed from the rock style of her previous work and drew from an eclectic variety of styles, including electronic pop, house music, jazz and trip hop.
LFO was a British electronic music act formed in 1988 consisting of Mark Bell and Gez Varley. They released their acclaimed debut LP Frequencies in 1991 on Sheffield label Warp. After Varley left the group in 1996, Bell continued solo to release Advance (1996) and Sheath (2003). Bell died in October 2014, effectively ending the project.
Life's Too Good is the debut studio album by Icelandic alternative rock group the Sugarcubes. It was released April 25, 1988 by One Little Indian in the UK and Europe and in May 1988 by Elektra Records in the US. The album was an unexpected success and brought international attention for the band, especially to lead singer Björk, who would launch a successful solo career in 1993.
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Mark Bell was a British DJ, record producer, and member of the pioneering techno group LFO. He recorded on Warp Records, and also collaborated with artists such as Björk and Depeche Mode.
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Gerrard Varley is a British electronic musician and DJ, who was member of LFO during the 1990s and later released his solo works under the moniker G-Man.
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