This has been one monumental series, seeing the entire catalogue of seminal London techno label B12 from between 1990-2007 and much more reissued over the last six months over seven double CDs. Mainly featuring Mike Golding and Steve Rutter in either their B12 or Redcell guises, the sets have made available highly-sought 12-inch EPs, limited releases and previously unreleased material with many highlights, particularly Volume 5’s Redcell twelves from 1993 and releases on the label from Steve Picton trading as Stasis, or Volume 6 boasting the contents of the legendary B12 cassette, originally released as 400 copies packaged in a cardboard box. Volume 7 rounds off the series in fine style, roping together B12’s final EP of the 90s. Under the Redcell name, it was their 15th and never got a proper release before the duo disappeared for a decade. The rest of the set consists of tracks which appeared on labels including Warp, A.R.T., Buzz and New Electronica. B12 started life obviously in thrall to the Detroit originals but stood against the face of rave to develop electronic music of often astounding intricacy and other-worldly atmosphere. Anyone getting into proper techno this decade should check it out, as well as old-timers lamenting lost 12s or needing to plug holes in the collection.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Kris Needs
