(4 / 5)
Electro pioneers Eat Static was formed in Somerset in 1989 by Merv Pepler and Joie Hinton. Joie left the group in February 2008 after 18 years.
The pair met as drummer and keyboard player for Ozric Tentacles, the cult psychedelic rock band from Somerset.}
Ozric Tentacles incorporated electronic music, but Pepler and Hinton were influenced by rave-oriented dance music.
In 1988, they collaborated under the name of Wooden Baby – early rave and acid house with other genres. That project became Eat Static by 1990. In 1994, the par left Ozric Tentacles to focus on Eat Static, joined by third member Steve Everitt. .
Their debut album, “Abduction” began a theme of UFos and such – their name taken from a sample (as found on the track “Eat Static”) from “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.”
After Hinton quit due to the travelling and being away from family, Pepler decided to stated carry on under the Eat Static name as a solo project.
Planet Dog Records now bring out both “Implant” and “Abduction” in triple-disc sets – vinyl on the way.
Implant:
Expanded three-CD edition (20 tracks) of this classic atmospheric Trance album from the Megadog-related imprint, Planet Dog Records.
Enhanced with two bonus discs featuring tracks and remixes from the band’s “Epsylon” and “Bony Incus” mini-albums, as well as tracks previously only available on long-since deleted label compilations.
Re-mastered from original sources, compiled by label founder Michael Dog. The booklet features previously unseen artwork and photos of the band, as well as new sleeve notes by Kris Needs. Two-LP/12” version will follow in January 2022.
NME said: “A hyper-kinetic amalgam of acid ’n’ ambience – by far their most cogent slab of dance pulses yet”. Melody Maker said: “A fine grasp of nuance and texture to lull you into a pleasantly hypnotic state before throwing you a wicked curve”.
“Implant” (eight tracks) was the band’s second album, released a year after their hugely successful debut album “Abduction”.
“Implant” debuted at # 13 in Music Week’s album chart for June 25th 1994, beating new releases by Lush and Everything But The Girl.
Abduction:
Expanded three-CD edition (24 tracks) of this Trance album from Planet Dog Records.
Enhanced with two bonus discs featuring tracks from the band’s “Lost In Time” mini- album, two long-lost remixes by DJ superstar Sasha, tracks previously only available on long-since deleted label compilations and three tracks from the band’s 1993 John Peel session.
Re-mastered from original sources, compiled by label founder Michael Dog. The booklet features previously unseen artwork and photos of the band, as well as new sleeve notes by Kris Needs. Two-LP/12”version to follow in January.
Back in 1993, NME wrote: “Optimistic, easy access, out-of-body Techno
– this is one flying saucer that cannot be wheel-clamped”.
DJ magazine said: “They have a knack for uniting opposing moods: dance delirium and tripped-out tranquillity for instance. Try it on the sofa, try it on the sound-system”. Melody Maker: “Boundaries are being dissolved by records like this”.
By Andy Faith
(1 / 5) ‘Dull Zone’
(2 / 5) ‘OK Zone’
(3 / 5) ‘Decent Zone’ (4 / 5) ‘Super Zone’
(5 / 5) ‘Awesome Zone’
