Biosphere – Microgravity (3xLP)

Deluxe, remastered reissue of Biosphere's seminal 1991 debut LP, now expanded with seven superb, unreleased bonus tracks from that formative ambient techno era. 'Microgravity' introduced the world to Geir Jenssen's Biosphere project and his patented electronic ambient sounds. The album was the first in a long line of work from Jenssen, and saw him fusing house-influenced beats with film samples and floating synthesized textures. As with the album's followup 'Patashnik', the most appropriate comparison would be to the early work of Richard D. James, but it also contains elements of early Orb or 808 State, albeit with much more of an eye towards melody and harmony. This was music to play in the darkened back room of a club rather than on the main dancefloor and would see the whole ambient electronic genre grow rapidly around it. Biosphere stayed as one of the names to watch throughout the entire 90s (culminating with the incredible and genre-defining 'Substrata') and it's truly eye opening to hear this excellent debut album in this expanded, remastered form.