Nexus 21 - Self Hypnosis (Unreleased Mix) / Silicon (Live at the Brain) [Anorax Records]

Format: 7".

ANORAX stays true to its #eatsleepcollect mantra with this limited 7” vinyl edition from British techno pioneers NEXUS 21. Both tracks had been stored in the NETWORK archives (well, in a metal box full of DATs) since they were recorded in 1991, until they finally saw the light of day on the NEXUS 21 LP MIND MACHINES, released last December.

Both stood out so much on that album that releasing them now in a 300-copy run on a 7” single format for collectors seemed the most logical step.

SELF HYPNOSIS has long been a characteristic anthem of early British techno, but the version featured here is radically different from the original and offers a fascinating glimpse into the rave machinations that Mark and Chris would embrace as they transformed into ALTERN 8.
The studio recording of SILICON had not been released in any format until the recent album.

It was set aside as both the label and the artists focused their attention on ALTERN 8 rather than NEXUS 21. Part bleep, part clonk, it's a classic example of the soundscape of North London in 1991. And that makes it even more ironic that this version was recorded live at London's beloved Brain club in April of that same year. It's incredibly clear for a live recording—and incredibly good.