G.T.O.* – Pure

One of the definitive rave records of 1990 (and beyond), perfectly illustrating that the genre didn't have to be brash to convey its message. There are so many beautiful memories and emotions attached to this record, thankyou to Lee & Michael for putting it together!
There are some great comments below too, interesting stuff!

Not here to write about this track, which is peerless, but about the club which borrowed it’s name from it, Pure, in Edinburgh, Scotland. Which was also peerless. Mainly because of the artistry of Keith McIvor, DJ Twitch. But also because of the Venue (“the club with no furniture”), the lighting, the crowd- a family of zealots, akin to a friendly cult... if you were there at that time, it has probably moulded your life since. Derrick May thought it the best club in Europe. So did we.

Like many here, the flute has magical dark power that triggers ethereal memories from a misspent youth, something ancient, absolutely fantastical & unmatched by anything. It's only from hearing so many years later that I realise this wasn't just good, it is absolute spellbinding genius.

I'd love to know where that flute sample comes from after all these 29 years!

one of the god tracks that set the scene for the future of club world long live the pure gold track a club history maker

Massive tune. Caned for many years beyond its 1990 release, and for obvious reason. The following comment from a previous reviewer captures the beauty of MIDI programming, the subtle but powerful effect that MIDI timing / hardware sequencing had on tracks from that vintage period, and why current producers are going back to hardware.,.. "BUT! there is something about that beat and hi-hat combination that I really don't like. It has obviously been programmed that way on purpose but it sounds likesomebody has squashed it with their foot before it has had the chance to beat properly and that hi-hat that sits on the end of that beat and has a similar fate. OK if you take strong hallucinogenics I suppose. Hey maybe thats what GTO were doing and decided it sounded okay. It certainly did to me back then...." Oh yeah!

In truth, the house/rave scene would have probably died of malnutrition unless Industrial music had lent it it's teeth...Greater Than One (GTO), Cabaret Voltaire, Psychic TV, Meat Beat Manifesto, Nitzer Ebb, Front 242 gave a grave master's voice to something that should be taken seriously. Vice in versa, the rave scene blew industry a reason to live. Industrial heads stepped from darkness into lights and lasers and likewise bladder boys shifted beer guts for basses n' bleeps...This track was a litmus test, alkali or acid, it all was positive. No more brooding, no more lurking...I love you, I want to eat your soul.

Work of genius

not easy to discribe the pictures and emeotions which come into my mind, if i listen to this record now. i remeber listening to it teh first time at the efa distribution and uwe reineke played it to me and has been a musicaly revolution and elevation of electronic dance music in 1990. to me lee and michael stand out very much with their electronic music productions in general. this track was very big in berlin 1991 in the early techno days in berlin after the wall came down and new space became ours to fill with our sound systems and energy. thank you g.t.o.

I think this must come down to 'you had to be there' or so it seems. I remember thinking this will go down in techno history as a very important record. That is the kind of the thing i used to think back in the day. This really was pure darkn rave tribalness and has built in whistle sound too to prove it (there was usually one or two people with whistles at these parties). The track just epitomised the rave scene. The dark, smoky room. The lasers. The eyes popping out of the faces and the sweat rolling off each and every person there. You had to be there i suppose!
Fond memories. I love these tracks that take me back in time. This is a very good example of what a great techno record was. BUT! there is something about that beat and hi-hat combination that I really don't like. It has obviously been programmed that way on purpose but it sounds likesomebody has squashed it with their foot before it has had the chance to beat properly and that hi-hat that sits on the end of that beat and has a similar fate. OK if you take strong hallucinogenics I suppose. Hey maybe thats what GTO were doing and decided it sounded okay. It certainly did to me back then. Check it out and see what I mean. Other than the beat, its a great slice of rave history!