Fortran 5 – Crazy Earth

This is a very interesting release. Really into this deep/dreamy club vibe.

I don't think progressive house had a name in 1990, but that's clearly what this is...it's trancey house, actually deep house, but more ethereal and hypnotic than its American cousins. Synth pads are held across multiple bars, transitions are relatively gentle, and the music lacks the soulful vocals and in-your-face, booty-shaking aesthetic that dominates "pure" house music. The kick drum is omnipresent but is clearly not the emphasis here; it's the anthemic chords, the effects, the abundant dreamy qualities.

Despite the inclusion of the "harder" mixes by Colin Faver, I can't imagine this really being much of a hit on the dancefloor; it's all a little too pop, a little too soft and pretty. But as a milestone in the development in progressive house and trance music, it's an excellent example of how UK producers were taking their brand of acid house to the next level, out of the clubs and into the fields and bedrooms.

Every version is about the same, just recombining the same parts in different ways. The "Global Warming" mix is a bit smoother and more trancey than the rest. Be sure to seek out the epic, soaring "Music for Ice Caps" version in which all of the transitions are gentle fades. Beautiful.

Original PR for the single claimed the group were Brazilian and were a Mute Brazil g. The fake Brazilian promos would have been designed to tie in with that. Of course, as has been pointed out elsewhere, there never was a Mute Brazil.

Totally overlooked by every one, it originally came out as two twelve inches, and its elements comprise of sublime house, tinged with sweet 303 acid sounds, glorious Asian vocals complete the track to make perfect for any after hours chilled house set.

It was a marketing idea at Mute London. Back then lots of labels wanted to make their artists look like imports were coming in and create a buzz in the UK shops. Looking back it didn't really work. Everything about that record from the heavy card jacket to label and shrink-wrap and the other Fortran 5/Mute Brazil promo was created at Mute London. This is 100% true, I know because I was there at the time.

It was a marketing idea at Mute London. Back then lots of labels wanted to make their artists look like imports were coming in and create a buzz in the UK shops. Looking back it didn't really work. Everything about that record from the heavy card jacket to label and shrink-wrap and the other Fortran 5/Mute Brazil promo was created at Mute London. This is 100% true, I know because I was there at the time.