ULTRAMARINE
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In 1991 electronic duo Ultramarine recorded their landmark laid-back album "Every Man and Woman is a Star", released in this form by Rough Trade in 1992 to great acclaim and eulogised by Simon Reynolds in his book Energy Flash:

"All sun-ripened, meandering lassitude and undulant dub-sway tempos… like acid-house suffused with the folky-jazzy ambience of the Canterbury scene."

As well as the sublime single cuts Stella and Saratoga, the album offers a mesh of acoustic textures underpinned by a sometimes dubby, sometimes upfront beat. It's a lavish mix of light yet infectious rhythms and mellow vibes, recalling lazy afternoons and bright summer seascapes. Largely instrumental, the album also features lyric snatches from Kevin Ayers and Robert Wyatt, while on Stella the found voice speaks to the "deepest part of the soul."

"It isn't really techno music," confesses Ian. Ultramarine formed around the Essex-raised duo of Paul Hammond and Ian Cooper in 1989, releasing the album Folk before recording the ground breaking "We use the shape and form of dance music but use different acoustic sounds. It's the sort of stuff which seeps into you." (NME, 6/91)

EM&WIAS in 1991. Subsequent albums have included United Kingdoms (1993), Bel Air (1995) and A User's Guide (1998). For the LTM reissue in 2002, EM&WIAS (LTMCD 2345) was remastered and features the original Rough Trade issue artwork. In 2003 LTM released the remix CD Companion (EMAWIAS Versions) (LTMCD 2352), which features a host of remixes, alternate version and outtakes

Every Man & Woman is a Star reviews: "Unique - Ultramarine anticipated the laid-back, enigmatic likes of DJ Shadow and were themselves, in their quiet but effective way, a UK equivalent of De La Soul. Ten years on, this still seems as fresh as newly combine-harvested hay" (Uncut, 9/02); "The essence of the Big Chill festival - four stars" (Q Magazine, 10/02); "One of the first proper artist albums to come out of acid house and remains among the finest works of the whole genre. Any why is that? Simple, no rules" (Ministry, 9/02); "The acknowledged classic of chilled electronica... There were, and indeed are, so many highlights that it seems unfair to point to anything in particular" (Tangents, 7/02); "An album full of suss and vibes" (Whisperin' & Hollerin', 8/02); "Everything about this LP shines brightly, colourfully - a kick in the balls for clubland snobs" (NME, 12/91); "First class laze-out music" (Q Magazine, 12/91; "Their masterpiece: electronic folk music; acoustic techno; the most complete electro album ever - pick your own description" (NME, 7/93); "It's daring open-mindedness produces a genuinely thrilling end result" (Melody Maker, 12/91); "Quite simply some of the most beautiful, ambient music ever heard" (The Big Issue, 3/92); "You can put it on, go away, come back in a couple of years and it'll still be there" (DJ, 12/91)

Please note that in North America LTMCD 2345 is available on the Darla label.

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