Phuture
AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Artists:
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Phuture
- Genres: Electronica
Biography
Phuture only released a handful of tracks (plus an album a full decade after their debut), but have remained a legendary act in the development of Chicago house for their stomping 1987 single "Acid Trax," the track that began and defined the acid house sound. The group was formed by DJ Pierre, synthesizer fan Spanky and Herb J in 1985 as a recording entity to produce records for Pierre to mix into his sets at several crucial Chicago clubs. After being turned on to the high-pitched squelch of the Roland TB-303 synthesizer (marketed as a bassline machine for solo guitarists), the trio emerged from the studio with a track they called "In Your Mind." Ron Hardy previewed the song at his legendary club the Music Box -- where it became known as "Ron Hardy's Acid Track" -- and Phuture re-made the cut with production by Marshall Jefferson. Released on Trax Records in 1987, the single created a dividing point between the Chicago sound before and after it, with hundreds of "Acid Trax" imitations flooding the local market. After it caught on in Britain as well, the single soundtracked the wave of club madness which coalesced in the rave movement by the end of the decade.Despite recording one single with immense influence on dancefloors around the world, Phuture etched a rocky path during the rest of the 1980s. Herb J left after their follow-up single "We Are Phuture," and was replaced by an up-and-coming producer, Roy Davis, Jr. DJ Pierre left several singles later, and was himself replaced by Damon Neloms (aka Professor Trax). The lineup of Spanky, Davis, Jr. and Neloms recorded 1992's "Inside Out" but then the group lay dormant for several years. In 1996, Phuture returned as Phuture 303 (with the addition of L.A. Williams) and released the album Alpha & Omega one year later. ~ John Bush, Rovi
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Phuture
| Phuture | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Phortune |
| Origin | Chicago, USA |
| Genres | Acid house |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Labels | Trax Records Music Man Records Strictly Rhythm Records A1 Records |
| Associated acts | DJ Pierre, Roy Davis Jr. |
| Members | |
| Spanky Proffessor Trax DJ Pierre |
|
| Notable instruments | |
| Roland TB-303 Roland TR-707 |
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Phuture (now called Phuture 303) is a Chicago-based acid house group founded in 1985 by Spanky, DJ Pierre and Herb J. The group's 12-minute track "Acid Tracks" (1987) is one of several recordings that lay claim to being the first-ever acid house record.[1]
Acid Tracks featured characteristic bass lines from the Roland TB-303 bass synthesizer—which was manipulated to produce resonant and squelchy sounds uncharacteristic for a bass guitar it was designed to emulate. The track raised to popularity at DJ Ron Hardy's Music Box club in Chicago and has since been re-pressed many times.
Phuture released a great number of acid tracks now considered classics, usually as 12-inch vinyl maxi singles. Its only albums, however, have been Alpha & Omega (1997)—the first release since the group renamed itself Phuture 303—and Survival's Our Mission (2003), the title referencing the opening lyrics of the 1988 single "We are Phuture."
The music the group produces is dark and monotonous. Many tracks are very long, even passing the 10-minute mark (such as "Acid Tracks"). Sparse lyrics are occasionally related to drugs, like the lyrics of "Your Only Friend" (1987), which describe cocaine addiction, or a simple chant, such as on "Spirit" (1994).
The group also recorded under several pseudonyms, generally using the substitution of ph or pf for f. For example, the name Phortune or Pfortune.
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Contents
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Members
Current members
- Spanky (Earl Smith Jr.) (1985–present)
- Professor Traxx (Damon Nelomns) (1985–present)
Former members
- DJ Pierre (Nathaniel Pierre Jones) (1985–1990)
- Herb J (Herbert Jackson) (1985–1988)
- Jay Juniel (1990)
- L.A. Williams (1997)
- Phill Little (1990)
- Roy Davis Jr. (1990–1997)
- DJ Skull (Ron Maney) (1996–1997)
Discography
Singles and maxi-singles
- Acid Tracks (1987)
- The Creator (1988)
- We Are Phuture (1988)
- Do You Wanna Get Funky (1989)
- Rise From Your Grave (1992)
- Inside Out (1993)
- Mental Breakdown (1994)
- Spirit (1994)
- Acid Tracks / String Free (Phuture/Phortune) (1994)
- Times Fade (Phuture The Next Generation) (1996)
- Alpha & Omega (1996)
- Acid Soul (1997)
- Jack 2 Jack (Robert Owens/Phuture) (1998)
- Hardfloor Will Survive (Hardfloor vs. Phuture 303) (1998)
- Phreedom! (1997)
- Thunder Part One (2000)
- Thunder Part Two (2000)
- Soulgers Of Tekkno (2000)
- Washing Machine / Got The Bug (Mr. Fingers/Phuture) (2002)
Albums
- Alpha & Omega (1997)
- Survival's Our Mission (2001)
Remixes
- Roy Davis Jr.: Heart Attack (Phuture’s Mix) (1994)
- DJ Pierre: Matrix Chamber (Phuture 303 Deep Underground Mix) (1999)
- Zzino vs. Filterheadz: No Weapons (Phuture 303 Remix) (2002)
References
- ^ IMO Records. http://www.imorecords.co.uk/house-2/house-artists/phuture-biography/ "Phuture Biography"], IMO Records' Retrieved on 29 March 2011.
External links
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Mentioned in
Roy Davis, Jr.
(Electronica Artist, '80s-2000s)
Alpha & Omega
(1997 Album by Phuture 303)
Phuture 303
(Electronica Band, '90s, 2000s)
Transmissions, Vol. 2
(1997 Album by Felix da Housecat)
Brotherhood of Structure
(Electronica Band, '90s, 2000s)
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