Yorkshire Bleeps and Bass

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Yorkshire Bleeps and Bass (Yorkshire Techno) was a short-lived (1989-1991) local musical movement in the city of Sheffield in the UK.

1 Characteristics
2 Early History
3 Groups
4 Releases
5 Demise
6 Aftermath

[edit] Characteristics

The sound was characterised by harsh, funky minimalism, speaker-breaking sub-bass and electronic bleeps or other futuristic sounds.

Many UK ravers of the early 90s will rememeber the 3am spine tingling moments these tracks would muster. Their sound was like a hypnotic calling from the beams and dry ice. Sparse and addictive.

[edit] Early History

The first record of the genre was "The Theme" by Bradford's Unique 3 in 1989. LFO's "LFO" was released on Sheffield's Warp Records in 1990. Nightmares on Wax next released "Dextrous" on Warp Records in 1990. The label went on to release the club anthem "Testone" by Sweet Exorcist DJ Parrot, and Richard H. Kirk of Sheffield avant-garde experimentalists Cabaret Voltaire), a track that went on to define the Yorkshire sound, and also the rather silly "Tricky Disco" by Tricky Disco. These were followed by a string of releases on the short-lived Leeds label Bassic Records, including the "Ital's Anthem" by Ital Rockers, a Chapeltown dub reggae band diversifying into techno, and Juno's "Soul Thunder", an understated track now recognised as a techno classic.Now then Rob and Stu.

[edit] Groups

Unique 3
LFO
Sweet Exorcist
DJ Parrot
Richard H. Kirk
Ital Rockers
Juno

[edit] Releases

The Theme
LFO
Dextrous
Testone
Tricky Disco
Ital's Anthem
Soul Thunder

[edit] Demise

The music scene in England changed, as piano house anthems took over northern clubs and the breakbeat hardcore scene grew in London and the West Midlands.

Bassic Records folded in 1991, taking most of their acts with them. Those who survived changed styles, with Ital Rockers going back to dub reggae and LFO shifting to techno.