Name: ex:el by 808 State
Brand: 808 State
SKU: 602567501152
Price: 9.9 USD
Availability: OnlineOnly
Rating: 4 (91 reviews)

ALBUM

Capturing 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. Add to all this two of the best techno singles from the early '90s -- "In Yer Face," a subtly politicized anti-American slammer, and the almighty "Cubik" (in America replaced by an astonishing remix of the same song, the original having appeared on Utd. State 90) -- and Ex:El stands out all the more strongly. A true masterpiece.
© Ned Raggett /TiVo

1. San Francisco

by 808 State

Primary Artist: 808 State; Main Performer
Performer: Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Performer
Composer: Graham Massey
Martin Price
Darren Partington
Andrew Barker; Composer
Producer: 808 State
Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Production
Artist: Graham Massey
Martin Price
Darren Partington
Andrew Barker; Production
Composer Lyricist: Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Other

2. Spanish Heart

by 808 State

Featured Artist: Bernard Sumner; Main Performer
Primary Artist: 808 State; Main Performer
Performer: Bernard Sumner
Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Performer
Vocals: Bernard Sumner; Performer
Composer: Martin Price
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Andrew Barker
Bernard Sumner; Composer
Producer: 808 State
Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Production
Artist: Bernard Sumner
Graham Massey
Martin Price
Darren Partington
Andrew Barker; Production
Composer Lyricist: Bernard Sumner
Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Other

3. Leo Leo

by 808 State

Primary Artist: 808 State; Main Performer
Performer: Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Performer
Composer: Graham Massey
Martin Price
Darren Partington
Andrew Barker
808 State; Composer
Producer: 808 State
Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Production
Artist: Graham Massey
Martin Price
Darren Partington
Andrew Barker; Production
Composer Lyricist: Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Other

4. Qmart

by 808 State

Featured Artist: Björk
Bjork; Main Performer
Primary Artist: 808 State; Main Performer
Performer: Bjork
Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Performer
Vocals: Bjork; Performer
Composer: Graham Massey
Martin Price
Darren Partington
Andrew Barker
Bjork Gudmundsdottir; Composer
Producer: 808 State
Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Production
Artist: Björk
Graham Massey
Martin Price
Darren Partington
Andrew Barker; Production
Composer Lyricist: Björk Gudmundsdottir
Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Other

5. Nephatiti

by 808 State

Primary Artist: 808 State; Main Performer
Performer: Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Performer
Composer: Graham Massey
Martin Price
Darren Partington
Andrew Barker; Composer
Producer: 808 State
Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Production
Artist: Graham Massey
Martin Price
Darren Partington
Andrew Barker; Production
Composer Lyricist: Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Other
Unknown Contributor Role: 808 State; Other

6. Lift

by 808 State

Primary Artist: 808 State; Main Performer
Performer: Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Performer
Composer: Graham Massey
Martin Price
Darren Partington
Andrew Barker; Composer
Producer: 808 State
Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Production
Artist: Graham Massey
Martin Price
Darren Partington
Andrew Barker; Production
Composer Lyricist: Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Other

7. Ooops

by 808 State

Featured Artist: Björk
Bjork; Main Performer
Primary Artist: 808 State; Main Performer
Performer: Bjork
808 State
Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Performer
Vocals: Bjork; Performer
Composer: Graham Massey
Martin Price
Darren Partington
Andrew Barker
Bjork Gudmundsdottir
Björk Guðmundsdóttir; Composer
Producer: 808 State
Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Production
Artist: 808 State
Björk
Graham Massey
Martin Price
Darren Partington
Andrew Barker; Production
Composer Lyricist: Björk Gudmundsdottir
Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Other

8. Empire

by 808 State

Primary Artist: 808 State; Main Performer
Performer: Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Performer
Composer: Graham Massey
Martin Price
Darren Partington
Andrew Barker; Composer
Producer: 808 State
Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Production
Artist: Graham Massey
Martin Price
Darren Partington
Andrew Barker; Production
Composer Lyricist: Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Other
Unknown Contributor Role: 808 State; Other

9. In Yer Face

by 808 State

Primary Artist: 808 State; Main Performer
Performer: Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Performer
Composer: Graham Massey
Martin Price
Darren Partington
Andrew Barker; Composer
Producer: 808 State
Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Production
Artist: Graham Massey
Martin Price
Darren Partington
Andrew Barker; Production
Composer Lyricist: Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Other
Unknown Contributor Role: 808 State; Other

10. Cübik

by 808 State

Primary Artist: 808 State; Main Performer
Performer: Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Performer
Composer: Graham Massey
Martin Price
Darren Partington
Andrew Barker; Composer
Producer: 808 State
Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Production
Artist: Graham Massey
Martin Price
Darren Partington
Andrew Barker; Production
Composer Lyricist: Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Other

11. Lambrusco Cowboy

by 808 State

Primary Artist: 808 State; Main Performer
Performer: Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Performer
Composer: Graham Massey
Martin Price
Darren Partington
Andrew Barker; Composer
Producer: 808 State
Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Production
Artist: Graham Massey
Martin Price
Darren Partington
Andrew Barker; Production
Composer Lyricist: Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Other

12. Techno Bell

by 808 State

Primary Artist: 808 State; Main Performer
Performer: Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Performer
Composer: Graham Massey
Martin Price
Darren Partington
Andrew Barker; Composer
Producer: 808 State
Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Production
Artist: Graham Massey
Martin Price
Darren Partington
Andrew Barker; Production
Composer Lyricist: Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Other
Unknown Contributor Role: 808 State; Other

13. Olympic

by 808 State

Primary Artist: 808 State; Main Performer
Performer: Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Performer
Composer: Graham Massey
Martin Price
Darren Partington
Andrew Barker; Composer
Producer: 808 State
Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Production
Artist: Graham Massey
Martin Price
Darren Partington
Andrew Barker; Production
Composer Lyricist: Andrew Barker
Graham Massey
Darren Partington
Martin Price; Other
Unknown Contributor Role: 808 State; Other

Technical Specifications

Volume

1 volume only

Tracks

13 tracks available

Type

ALBUM

Format

Digital Media

Duration

58 minutes and 41 seconds

Explicit

None

Coverart

Available and up to 1000x1000 px

Booklet

Not available

Max Quality

CD Quality (Lossless)

16bit / 44.1 kHz

Stereo

Audio Extension

Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF

Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA

Archive Format

Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR

Lyrics

3/13 tracks have lyrics

Synchronized Lyrics

Only 1/13 tracks has synced lyrics

Genres

Electronic, Dance, Acid House

Label

ZTT Records

Music Distribution Service

UMG Global

Country

United Kingdom

Language

English (United States)

Popularity

Release Date

Feb 28, 1991

Track Preview

Available

Delivery Charge

Free

Delivery Method

Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site

UPC

602567501152

Shopping cart

Empty cart

Notification

ex:el

ex:el

1. San Francisco

2. Spanish Heart

3. Leo Leo

4. Qmart

5. Nephatiti

6. Lift

7. Ooops

8. Empire

9. In Yer Face

10. Cübik

11. Lambrusco Cowboy

12. Techno Bell

13. Olympic

Technical Specifications

Empty cart

ex:el

Product information

Release options

ex:el

1. San Francisco

2. Spanish Heart

3. Leo Leo

4. Qmart

5. Nephatiti

6. Lift

7. Ooops

8. Empire

9. In Yer Face

10. Cübik

11. Lambrusco Cowboy

12. Techno Bell

13. Olympic

Technical Specifications