FUTURE BEAT ALLIANCE: FBA21 Collected Works 1996 - 2017
VINYL | STREAM

Matthew Puffett, the artist most commonly known as Future Beat Alliance, presents a retrospective of selected works under his most lauded moniker. growing up in Oxford, with an unmistakable influence of the more soulful side of Detroit techno that had become his obsession. ‘Collected Works 1996-2017’ maps an illustrious discography over two decades and is released on the artist’s own imprint - FBA Recordings. Preceding the compilation, a brand new track entitled ‘Chemical Cloud’ will also be released.

‘Collected Works 1996-2017’ opens with one of his earliest productions on Void Records: ‘Intruder’ is a utopic dose of abstract electro that hints toward the uplifting, meditative sentiment he was to explore over the next two decades. Early gems like the broken beat dreamscape of ‘Eon Link 500’ (Delsin, 2000) and otherworldly melancholia of ‘Almost Human’ (Delsin, 2001) are offset with stranger still productions like the blissfully tense ‘Head Ways’ (Emoticon, 2002) and positively surreal ‘Lumiere’ (Versatile, 2003). ‘Fake Love’ (Versatile, 2003) takes sun-drenched grooves and contrasts them with animated synth leads, arriving at a transcendent, unearthly state; ‘Something To Hold’ (Unreleased, 2004) explores this further with glistening scales and nostalgic chords. ‘Calculated Notes’ (EevoNext, 2009) distorts his positive sentiment with unnerving melodies and stripped back percussion whilst ‘Without Words’ (EevoNext, 2009) carries his familiarly rapturous sound through new structures. ‘Dark Passenger’ (Rush Hour, 2009) delves into deeper, more ambiguous terrain and is featured in the Hollywood film ( All I See Is You )

Three 2010 tracks on Tresor remain as bold and diverse as ever, with the hypnotic arpeggios of ‘Machines Can Help’, main room expanse of ‘Cross Dissolve’ and bass-led mysticism of ‘Endless Blue’. ‘Radio.Seti.Org’ (FBA, 2013) continues further in the terrains mapped out throughout his discography, embarking on a strange, illusory journey through smooth pads and immersive synths. 

‘Chemical Cloud’ (FBA, 2017) is a new production available before the compilation is released, which features swirling reverberations and emphatic melodies. Also forthcoming as a digital exclusive is the unreleased ‘Beginner’ from 1996, a joyful taste of Future Beat Alliance’s earlier visions as a producer. 

‘Collected Works 1996-2017’ champions an oft overlooked aesthetic in contemporary techno, opting for radiant bliss over darkness and placing the listener in enveloping soundscapes, admirable for their sheer detail and arrangement whilst never losing sight of the dancefloor.

A1. Intruder (Void - 1997)
A2. Chemical Cloud (FBAR - 2017)
A3. Almost Human (Delsin - 2001)
B1. Something To Hold (Unreleased - 2004)
B2. Dark Passenger (Rush Hour - 2009)
C1. Eon Link 500 (Delsin - 2000)
C2. Head Ways (Emoticon - 2002)
D1. Fake Love (Versatile - 2003)
D2. Machines Can Help (Tresor - 2010)
E1. Cross Dissolve (Tresor - 2010)
E2. Endless Blue (Tresor - 2010)
E3. Calculated Notes (EevoNext - 2009)
F1. Radio.Seti.Org (FBAR - 2013)
F2. Lumiere (Versatile - 2003)
F3. Without Words (Eevonext - 2009)
Digital Only: Beginner (Unreleased - 1996)

All tracks written & produced by Matthew Puffett

Mastered by Connor at Calyx (Berlin)
Front cover photography profile by Markus Henttonen
Design & layout by Matthew Puffett & Felix Pahnke
Gatefold pylon photography by Matthew Puffett

All songs published by Koablt & Proof songs