The Creative Technology Institute* – Trance

Besides the tracks mentioned by the bloke who bitched about all the noise that populated most of the record (douche-baguette!) beng the best on the LP, Personally, for my moullah, I'd have to cite the 3 tracks `Re-Education through Labour' (noisy and hallucinatory AF!!) and `Secret,' the second quietest track on `Trance', where in Cosey sings like a little girl, and (particularly) the acoustic elements and climax of `Until'... We're talking some big league, heavy trippin' early 80s psychedelic electronic industrial percussive free-from inspirational muzaque!! This was Chris and Cosey's second self-produced solo (?) effort after the initial (first) break up of Throbbing Gristle in 1981. Cosey and I were pen pals for a couple of years back in the late 80s. I sent them a big care package filled with thank you gifts I got for them at a Pic `n Save store in Fontana, CA, and Cosey recently informed me that the 3-D Godzilla stickers I had given them back in 1986 were still affixed to some equipment and furniture in their home studio out in the English countryside! I thought that was really cool!!

Despite the name, this has nothing to do with Trance as commonly understood (synth arpeggios, 140 bpm beat etc.). So, no, it's not one of the first trance albums. It does sound a little bit ahead of its time. "Impulse" has a tough electro beat similar to what b-boys would be making a year later, but faster. You could probably play it next to some Advent or other late 90's electro and get away with it. "The Gates of Ancient Cities" is another highlight and my favorite, sounding like a techno primitive version of something on 4AD. The only other track I find worthwhile is "Cowboys In Cuba" that puts together a moody bassline and a heavy, stomping mid-paced beat with the noises (media overload, nuclear war, distress) that populate most of the record.

this record is incredibly ahead of its time. BUY IT IF U SEE IT

Most popular for being one of the first trance albums