- Record Label: Cherry Red
- Release Date: Apr 29, 2016
Buy Now
| Buy on |
|
- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
-
May 4, 2016Released through Cherry Red Records, and coupled with a gorgeous book of notes and commentary from Henderson, the compilation reminds listeners of the importance of an “exciting”, “shambolic” period, one in which today’s music was born.
-
May 4, 2016Close to the Noise Floor: Formative UK Electronica 1975-1984 collects four discs of the alternately thrilling, grim, silly, and just plain bizarre stuff.
-
May 4, 2016Despite the omission of obvious classics like “Warm Leatherette” or Fad Gadget’s “Ricky’s Hand” (presumably because the Mute label archive was off-limits to the compiler) Close To the Noise Floor provides a fascinating overview of the formative years of British home-studio electronica: groups who were precursors in spirit, if not direct lineage, to the techno and IDM artists of the ’90s. Still, with the cult for “minimal wave” now a decade old, it almost feels like another task has become urgent: the rediscovery of the groups that did the groundwork for the outfits on Disc 3 of Noise Floor.
-
MojoJun 10, 2016This compelling, enlightening aural history gives [lesser-known artists] a worthy platform. [Jun 2016, p.102]
-
May 4, 2016It’s by no means intended as a “greatest hits” package--you may rue the absence of ringers such as Warm Leatherette or Do The Mussolini (Headkick) – but as a snapshot, you can’t fault its clarity.
-
May 4, 2016Close To The Noise Floor covers the full spectrum from sublime to ridiculous, but the sheer range of sonic innovation, warped beauty and dark humour here is hugely impressive.