Published – 4th May 1993 (approx)
Pages – 8 (A5 B&W)
Strapline – CUTS A FINE LINE
Featured Article
THE COLOUR OF AUTOMATION
When Liam Howlett cited Automation in The Ravescene Year Book as a band that he had a lot of respect for. Their notoriety was assured. ‘Yeah, that came as a real surprise, we only found out a couple of days ago, it gave us a real kick’.
Lee Roseman along with his MC brother Tony and Lee Fitzsimmons are the trio that make up the collective called AUTOMATION and have to date released seven tunes on their co-owned label TRIPLE HELIX. The Pink EP is probably the most noted to date. Five have been named after colours including red, blue and green, ‘we just came up with the idea of colours and stuck to it, says Tony. ‘Someone sent us a letter advising us to call the next one “The Polka Dot” EP . The options are limitless.’
However for their next release in mid-June they settled on Yellow. ‘We toyed with the name “THE UNITED COLOURS OF AUTOMATION” as a title for our forthcoming LP which hasn’t been recorded yet’. THE YELLOW EP offers three trax, “OFF YER FACE” a blatant summer outdoor rave stomper, however gimmicky, “NOISE BLEED” where thrash metal meets techno and “RUFFKUT” breakbeating new ground with hardcore foundations.
So far their career development has been slow but sure, casually balancing on the high wire of respectability and fame even down to acquiring the most marketable logo since our own Techno
smilees.
Most memorable is the permanent backdrop at Knowledge but ‘we plastered stickers all over London, even in Harrods’ boasts Lee.
To the more cynical ear the music, on vinyl, could be viewed as minimalist, even naive, but what clearly caught Liam’s attention is an energy that can easily be transposed onto the live’ stage. Something all too rare in the ravescene and if there’s a strand that runs through all of their work to date, it must be said, they are primarily A BAND. They possess that unquantifiable thing that sparks enthusiasm and interest but when asked to define their music Tony states ‘we do what we do’ so even they couldn’t tell you . ‘We still tune into the pirates when we can’, not so easy being based in an Ashford 17th century farmhouse amidst the tekno-ology of their in-house studio. ‘We prefer not to be influenced. We make music for people to dance to and never forget’ is their doctrine. Perhaps therein lies the secret.
Adverts
- Elevation The Payback. June 19th Roller X-Press
- Promise, The Best of Both Worlds – Warehouse Meets Garage @ The Wag Club, Wardour St, London W1
- Ravelation – Saturday 3rd July @ The Dome, Southall Lane, Hounslow, Middlesex
- Club Labrynth @ 12 Dalston Lane, London E8
- De Underground Records, 18 Sebert Road, London E7
- Lucky Spin Records, 121 Kings Road, Chelsea, London SW3
- Knite Force
- Mega Dog presents Midi Circus, Saturday 19th June @ Brixton Academy
- Wax City Records, 306-308 London Road, Croydon
 |  |
Rave Listings
Labrynth Warehouse Saturday 24th July. Bagleys Film Studios, York Way, London N1
Elevation Saturday 19th June. Roller Express, Lea Valley Trading Estate, London N8
Reincarnation Saturday 10th July. Kings Hall, Herne Bay, Kent
Astrology (Global Explosion) Staurday 12th June. Roller Express, Lea Valley Trading Estate, London N8
Club Essence Friday 11th June. The Garden, 352 Chartwell Sq, Southend
Euphoria Friday 25th June. The Warehouse, Union Street, Plymouth
Dance Europe Weekender September 24th – 26th. Euro Disney, Paris
Rise And Shine Saturday 26th June. Oscars, Clacton Pier, Clacton
Double Dipped / Every Picture Tells A Story Saturday 12th & 19th June. 2 Dalston Lane, London E8
Prophecy Saturday 10th July. Roller Express, Lea Valley Trading Estate, London N8
Delirious Friday 18th June. Rhythm Station, 35 Station Road, Aldershot
Jellydream Thursday 10th June. Turnmills, 63b Clerkenwell Road, London EC1
Slimes Every Friday from 4th June. The Soundshaft, Hungerford Lane, London WC1
Penetration Saturday 10th July. Gatwick Airport
Jungle Book Friday 25th June. The Rocket, Holloway Road, London N7
Promise Every Friday from 4th June. The Wag, Wardour Street, London W1
Oz Saturday 10th July. Megacite, France
Dream Dance Every Saturday. Nobles Niteclub, Bournemouth
Ravelation Saturday 3rd July. The Dome, Southall Lane, Hounslow
Happy Days Poolside Party Every Sunday evening. The Kings Oak Pub, High Beach, Loughton, Essex
Thunder & Joy Every Sunday. Raw, 112a Great Russell St, London WC1
Chart
Billy Bunters Labrynth 10
- Vibes – Sing It Loud / Obsession – Asylum Music Inc
- Kid Andy – Stop Spinning Me Around – Boogie Beat Records
- Rythm Quest – Closer (Golden Delicious Remix) – Network
- Altern 8 – Everybody – Network
- Order 2 Move – Rave Till Morning – Boogie Beat Records
- Rush Hour feat. Mac B – Be Alright – Soundman
- Piano 1993 – Take Me Away – Whitelabel
- Solo – Axis (Deep In The Underground) – Production House
- Bash St Kids – I Like To Get Away – Movin Shadow
- Lewi Cifer – 99 Red Balloons – Whitelabel
