by Ben Hogwood, with text from the album press release

“British electronic music pioneers Graham Massey (founding member of Manchester legends 808 State) and Brian Dougans (the mind behind acid house milestone Humanoid and one half of The Future Sound Of London) join forces for their debut collaboration In Place Of Language, released on Belgian label De:tuned.

Both 808 State and Humanoid helped shape the UK’s early rave and acid house movement. Here, Massey and Dougans channel that legacy into a beautifully balanced four-track EP that radiates warmth and energy, drawing on more than three decades of experience in electronic music. Inspired by key elements of the ’89-91 era while embracing a contemporary edge, the duo merge their distinct sonic identities into a sound that feels both timeless and forward-looking.

In Place Of Language is not a nostalgia trip, but a natural evolution: a meeting point between foundation and future, and a blueprint for a new wave of electronic experimentation!”

The one track available to hear so far, Optica, is an effective blend of ambience and movement, with spacious keyboards given a good deal of percussion and synthesized squiggles for company. The rush of Balearic warmth at the end bodes well for the rest of the EP, bubbling with energy and movement.

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Published post no.2,802 – Wednesday 18 February 2026