C O D E new album “A refreshing blend of electro-pop and cinematic/ambient styles with a sensual touch” digital services buy from Bandcamp includes also includes the singles UK electronic quartet CODE earned their stripes in the electronic scene of the early 1990s and were championed by the likes of John Peel, John Digweed and Kiss FM presenters Colin Dale and Colin Faver. Their debut album, ‘The Architect’, was issued on the Third Mind label in 1995 just as that company folded, but has often been cited as a cult classic. Its follow-up, ‘Ghost Ship’, finally arrived in late 2020 after a 25 year journey and was enthusiastically received by critics and fans. Like that album, ‘Continuum’ has been assembled by remodelling material from archived studio sessions and sounds like it could have been made yesterday. Emotionally engaging and exquisitely produced, it is timeless music that, although carrying traces of influences such as Kraftwerk, The Blue Nile, Talk Talk, David Sylvian and Depeche Mode, also has a romantic techno intensity all of its own. Following the recent singles ‘Pleasure’ and ‘Acheron’, a third track from ‘Continuum’ has been teased to coincide with its release date. The hypnotic and slow-burning ‘You’re The One’ celebrates the shades of grey between love and lust and how our minds often airbrush out the flaws in the object of obsession. Commenting on the alternating ‘love / lust, like diamonds, you’re the one’ wording of the song’s chorus, the band explain that they were reflecting the fact that “diamonds have little intrinsic value, bar scarcity, yet are still perceived as the essential symbol of true love. These rare, shimmering stones are equated with the perfect relationship and yet perfection is a moving target. Only 20% of diamonds are of gemstone quality and many of these have visible flaws and discolourations.” Over the course of twelve songs (2xLP), or a more compact eight (CD & digital), ‘Continuum’ sees CODE rework both sides of their chunky, industrial techno-tinged early single ‘505 345 675 Delta 9’ / ‘Straight to Hell’, which contrast neatly with the uber-cool minimalism of ‘Pleasure’ and ‘Metal Of Lesser Proportions’. The songs ‘Atlantic’, ‘Bleak Moments’ and ‘The Architect’ all appear in remixed form from their debut, with the cosmic, improvised version of the last of these being a rare treat. Originally entitled ‘The Grand Architect’, it sounds even grander now. Six further songs are released for the first time ever across the various formats. ‘Continuum’ is further proof that the music produced by CODE in the 1990s has stood the test of time and stands up well against more recognised electronic acts of that era. Songs by the group have also recently been licensed for several electronic dance and chill-out compilations, while 2021 saw two members act as prime movers behind the stunning ‘Love And Death’ album by H2SO4. GHOST SHIP “Although you will be reminded of better-known contemporaries like Orbital, Leftfield or Underworld, the diversity and quality of the musical palette here defies easy categorisation and also brings to mind a blissed-out Talk Talk” CONTINUUM C O D E |
