Apollo 440
Apollo 440 formed in Liverpool in 1991. A '90s dance act unafraid to throw a growing variety of styles into the mix, Apollo 440 hit the British Top Ten in 1997 by sampling Van Halen for the single "Ain't Talkin' Bout Dub," and big-band drummer Gene Krupa for "Krupa." The group was formed in 1991 by Howard Gray (a former studio engineer), his brother Trevor, classically trained on the piano, and their Liverpool schoolmate Noko, formerly the guitarist in Howard Devoto's Luxuria. The group was initially influenced by Britain's acid-house explosion, and worked as remixers (sometimes under the name Stealthsonic Orchestra) for U2, EMF and Shabba Ranks before making the leap to actual recording. The single "Astral America" appeared on the group's own Stealth Sonic Records in 1993, followed by club hits like "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" and "Krupa," both of which used an often formulaic hook borrowed from obvious musical classics of the past. Apollo 440's debut album, Millennium Fever, appeared in 1995, followed two years later by Electro Glide in Blue.
John Bush, All-Music Guide
Single: Liquid Cool Vol.1 (Theme for Cryogenic Suspension)
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Released 1994 on Stealth Sonic Recordings (Sony Music Entertainment). Written and produced by Noko, Gardner, Gray and Gray. Additional vocals by Elizabeth Gray. Tracks 1 & 4 recorded and mixed by Apollo 440 (Taken from the album Millenium Fever). Track 2 remixed by Eric Mouqet & Michael Sanchez of Deep Forest. Track 3 remixed by FSOL. Engineered by Yage for EBV. Track 5 remixed by Jah Wobble. Engineered by Mark Ferda. This is probably the best track/single that Apollo 440 have ever written. It's an extremely rare 2 part CD single/vinyl and hence is a collectors item worth a penny or two. Soothing vocal samples and chants blend with beautiful piano tinklings and a haunting melody in this uplifting ambient dance trance. Various remixes here, all of which are interesting and worth playing.
Single: Liquid Cool Vol.2 (Theme for Cryogenic Suspension)
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Released 1994 on Stealth Sonic Recordings (Sony Music Entertainment). Written and produced by Noko, Gardner, Gray and Gray. Additional vocals by Elizabeth Gray. Tracks 1 & 3 remixed by Eric Mouqet & Michael Sanchez of Deep Forest. Engineered by Ollie J. Track 2 remixed by Space. Engineered by Jono. Track 4 reanimated by Space. Engineered by Jono.
CDS: Apollo 440 - Krupa
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Released 1996 on Sony Music. A fun, bouncy track from @440 which is kinda like Jazz, and kinda, like, not. For fun, stick with
the @440 Original and the Serotina Remix, but if you want to break out the acid, throw on the much harder Narcotic Thrust Remix. Thanks to Brian Harris for this information.
CDR promo: Apollo 440 - Heart Go Boom
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Released 1999 on Whitfield Street. Nearly all the
versions on here are great and funky, but the Olmec Heads Remix
stands out for being a stomping trancer. Thanks to Brian Harris for this information.
