Portion Control — Hit The Pulse To Purge…

Hit The Pulse To Purge…is a CD anthology looking at the output of Portion Control between the years1983 & 1986. The South London industrial electronic/ EBM project is seen as being most influential, going on to inspire/ inform the likes of Front Line Assembly, Skinny Puppy, Orbital and Nine-Inch Nails.

The set is a ten-panel mini gatefold, with a murky black, red and white colour palette. Also included is a twenty-six-page inlay booklet- this consists of inversed/ murky pictures and brief text; sadly, there is no write-up about the project or this period in the band's career.

Portion Control were formed in 1979 with a line-up of Dean Piavani, Ian Sharp and John Whybrew. With their first run lasting until 1987, in this period they released eight studio albums. They regrouped in 2002, playing live shows, and to date have released another nine albums.

Each of the CDs has subtitles- so first up we have Hit The Pulse, The Illuminated Singles And Step Forward. This takes in twenty-three tracks. We move from the stabbing ‘n’ wowing synth tones, tightly snapping ‘n’ snaking electro rhythms, clipped male vocals of “Discord”. Onto the bright darting synth key melody, shuffling electro bass, skirting beats, and rowdier sing-song vocals of “Raise The Pulse (12” Version)”. Through to the stabbing synth horn tones, clip-clopping beats, and chanted/ slight effect touched vocals of “Real Estate Cult”.

Disc Two is entitled The Great Divide, Psycho- Bod Saves The World, Purge.. which features twenty tracks. We move from “Siren City”, which sounds like a more wordy/ serious take on Sigue Sigue Sputnik with its stabbing bass line, siren tones, gunning guitar synth tones, and shouty/ layered vocals. On to bucking ‘n’ juddering percussion/ synth mix, sampled brooding guitar loops/ chants, and electro cowboy vocals of “Fist Full Of Creds”. Through to bounding synth roll, spiralling electro tones, rapid vocal bound of “Brain Scraper Death Drive (Rebuild)”.

The third CD is entitled B-sides And Demos 1983- 86…, and features nineteen tracks. These go from the electro bass rolling, snaping/ chiming percussion, and roughshod shouty male/ female vocals of “Collapse”. Onto the snaping/ hissing beats, bending/ baying highwire synth tones, and distant chanted sample of “Total Recall”. Through to bounding electro bass, brighter stab melody, and synth pop singing of “Taste Of Love (Demo)”

Finally, there is disc four, which is entitled Live 1984-85, and takes in fifteen tracks. We go from “Abbo Dabbo” with its mix of female dialogue sample, stamping beats, jumping-rattling synth tones, and shouty male vocals. On to the rapid bounding bass line, snapping beats, juddering samples, ranting vocals of “Drag Down”. Finishing off with “H.O.T Matter”, which pares ambient swoon, stabbing to juddering synth tones, and muffled vocals.

All in all, Hit The Pulse To Purge… is an excellent anthology- with a great variety / different takes on electronica. The only sight let down is the inlay booklet, which would have been much better if there had been a write-up/ essay about the band & this period in their career.