Archives 1999-2001 2×12″

Italian arcade electro superstars Mat 101 are back with this LP of lost recordings from the vaults on Cyber Dance Records. Back in the late 90s when electro was first being resurrected and transformed into a more European dark psychedelic style Mat 101 were at the forefront of the revolution, taking inspiration from the pure electro sounds of the arcade games of their youth and representing the classic Italian sound in new and unexpectedly brilliant ways. Their legacy was immense, spawning Jollymusic, Pigna People, Raiders Of The Lost Arp and Francisco (among many other projects) and inspiring subsequent generations of electro wannabes with how to do it properly ever since. This LP brings together their lost recordings, some intended for a second LP that never was, along with live cuts and rarities as well as other unreleased material. However the album is in no way merely a random collection of lost bits and pieces – what is surprising is how fresh, finished and naturally flowing the record sounds, so much so that it really would have made a worthy follow up to their classic 1999 ‘Goodbye Mum!’ first album. The breadth of sound on the records, from the gently hypnotising strains of ‘Marble Madness’ and the blissful climax of ‘Gloria Gloria’ to the intense electro jamming of ‘Commando’ and the progressive rave monster ‘Toys Around’, is truly stunning. And with dancefloor anthems like ‘Falling Down Suite’ and ‘Musicadambiente’ thrown into the mix too the release is essential ammunition for both DJ activists and armchair-listeners alike.