With all the talk surrounding twenty years of Acid House, it only seems right to invite 808 State to the reunion party. Not that this is new material, but its remastering and inclusions of previously unreleased versions and outtakes make it almost as good. It’s still hard to better ‘Pacific State’, one of the emblems of acid house in its blend of ambience and upbeat rhythms. ‘Disco State’ is an uptempo cracker too, but Graham Massey and co also show their ability to wind down the beats and chill through thick synthesizer chords. Throughout there is a spirit of discovery as the exciting analogue sounds meet digital head-on, and the end product is a big shot of adrenalin, just like it was back then. 808 State are touring again this summer – just to prove the longevity of this music.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Ben Hogwood