Blank Mind meander through 1991-1994 on latest V/A
'Lost Paradise: Blissed Out Hardcore 91-94' focuses on atmosphere to emphasise shared connections between serene ambience and frenzied breaks
Blank Mind has announced forthcoming V/A, ‘Lost Paradise: Blissed Out Hardcore 91-94’.
Set for release on March 25 both digitally and via a 2x12" double pack, the record meanders through the three-year timespan bridging the gap between Sheffield bleep ambience, cutting-edge rave-meets-breaks sounds and softer, new-age synth pads.
By making these connections, the imprint hopes to focus on the atmosphere carved out by forming shared connections between the more serene soundscapes and frenzied bass, for example, highlighting the unity established through experimentation.
Read this next: Intimate, nostalgic '90s party shots from the infant days of techno
These themes exist in parallel to the political landscape at the time, amidst post-Thatcher years and culminating in the year of the enforcement of the anti-rave Criminal Justice Act.
"‘Lost Paradise’ came about after Tammo [Hesselink] and I realised an almost uncanny crossover in our love of hardcore," explains label founder Sam Purcell. "Particularly for tunes with an ethereal ambience, and these long ‘blissed-out’ breakdowns. Samplers and romplers heralded new possibilities and there’s a utopian feeling of optimism in the music from this era.
"The record is about looking at hardcore through the lens of ecstasy in the traditional sense of the word and its themes of ascension. The art is also a nod to this and its relation to the era and technology. For anyone who hasn’t heard it yet, I highly recommend LTJ Bukem’s 'Dusk Till Dawn' set from October 1993, which was a big influence.
"There are lots of reissues out there, and we felt it was important to craft something that has the ebb and flow of an album, inspired by compilations like 'Artificial Intelligence' on Warp and 'Objets d’art' on New Electronica. We both felt a bit of imposter syndrome as we didn’t have first hand experience of this era, but hopefully we did justice to it for those that did and can introduce it to a few more people along the way."
Read this next: These are the breaks
'Lost Paradise: Blissed Out Hardcore 91-94' is available on March 25, pre-order it here.
Niamh Ingram is Mixmag's Weekend Editor, follow her on Instagram