100 Greatest Songs of the 90’s #70 – Future Sound of London – Papua New Guinea

Released : 1991

One half of Future Sound of London’s Brian Dougans had been responsible for the rave skronk of Stakker Humanoid’s Humanoid, but as the new decade arrived the push towards ever harder club sounds in turn had an equal and opposite reaction, as the traditional Balearic comedown material of the seventies was rewired and presented in pure electronic form.

Now a partnership between Dougans and former Manchester University course mate Garry Cobain, FSOL had despite their beginnings offered something counter-dimensional for ravers, immersive journeys using transports through psychedelic imagery, cosmic tableau and mind-expanding synthesis.

Papua New Guinea was this in excelsis, sampling goth noiseniks Dead Can Dance’s Lisa Gerrard and Meat Beat Manifesto but with layered in new age washes that sounded like they were being played by tripping angels. You could still lose your mind to it – but now that was only the beginning.