Rocktrospectiva: The Stronger Electronic Masterpiece "Ex:el" Turns 35

 

Released on 4 March 1991, "Ex:el" was the 3er., studio album by 808 State. In contrast to the band's previous work, the album features more catchy melodies and heavier acid techno beats and percussion, "embracing earlier flirtations with hip-hop and industrial music". The Album spawned six singles "Cubik", "Olympic", "In Yer Face", "Ooops", "Lift" & "Open Your Mind". 

The album also featured the guest vocals of Bernard Sumner of Joy Division and New Order, who sings on "Spanish Heart". In addition, Björk sings on "Qmart" and "Ooops", and is credited with co-writing both; this album marked the start of a long-running working relationship between Björk and Graham Massey.

The album captured 808 State at their absolute best, none of their subsequent albums quite matched Ex:El's perfect blend of art, mass appeal, and zeitgeist one of the most common vocal samples in techno, Willy Wonka's "We are the music makers," made its first major appearance here. A major change here from past releases is the increasing variety and power of the State's percussion: beats are heavier and more staggered, embracing earlier flirtations with hip-hop and industrial music with even greater success, as heard on heavy duty groovers like "Leo, Leo." 

A sign of how influential Ex:El ended up being can be seen in how one of the commonest clichés of U.K. techno albums, the guest appearance of a noted indie/alternative rocker on a track or two, got its start from the cameo vocals here. Fellow Mancunian dance pioneer Bernard Sumner of New Order sings one of his patented gentle ruminations over "Spanish Heart," a nice piano-led number with a solid backbeat. Meanwhile, even more notably, the Sugarcubes' Björk lends her swooping singing to the lower-key but still active "Qmart" and the dramatic, flamenco-tinged "Ooops," establishing a partnership with the State's Graham Massey that would result in his working on many of her solo projects. 

Added to all this two of the best techno singles from the early '90s "In Yer Face," a subtly politicized anti-US slammer, and the almighty "Cubik". A true masterpiece.

It was regarded as the first electronic album to feature guest vocals by important alternative rock artists on selected tracks, which became commonplace too on later pop-oriented electronic albums, a vanguardist record full of fun, althought the album was the last to feature founding member Martin Price, who left the group in October 1991 to perform solo production work, eventually forming his own label, Sun Text.

 

Ex:el Track List: 

 

1. San Francisco

2. Spanish Heart (Featuring Bernard Sumner)

3. Leo Leo

4. Qmart (featuring Björk)

5. Nephatiti

6. Lift

7. Ooops

8. Empire

9. In Yer Face

10. Cubik

11. Lambrusco Cowboy

12. Techno Bell

12. Olympic