Following decades of staunch independence, Portion Control have just signed to Artoffact Records with the intention of providing a much deserved broader platform from which to promote their work. Alongside new material, the label will curate and reissue the group's back catalogue, allowing their work to be fully appreciated at last.
Marking the announcement of this exciting new partnership is the release today (5th December) of a fully remastered and expanded version of ‘SEED EP3’, first issued in 2021 as a set of short and long-form pieces. Expertly overseen by Paul Lavigne at Kontrast Mastering, 'SEED EP3.1' boasts an additional three new tracks that include ‘Possessed’ VIDEO. Now containing 16 electronic songs and instrumentals, with a total duration of almost 64 minutes, 'SEED EP3.1' acts as both a starting point to discover Portion Control as well as providing an enthralling revisit for existing fans.
PORTION CONTROL | brief biography
Emerging from the immediate post-punk musical landscape, Portion Control swiftly developed a raw, minimal sound utilising sequenced synthesisers, samplers and strident vocals built on driving, rhythmic structures. Their fiercely independent approach and experimental use of early technology positioned them as pioneers of the electro-industrial genre, as exemplified by their 1982 debut album, ‘I Staggered Mentally’, mini-LP ‘Hit The Pulse’ (1983) and second album ‘Step Forward’ (1984), all formative works in the evolution of hard-edged dark electronic dance music.
Following a hiatus that began in the late ’80s, Portion Control staged their return in 2004. Symbolically plotted on the steps of the British Museum, they introduced a darker, tighter style that nevertheless retained their uncompromising edge. Releases such as ‘Wellcome’ (2004), ‘Filthy White Guy’ (2006), ‘Pure Form’ (2012) and the trio of ‘SEED’ EPs issued in 2020-21 documented this renewed phase, combining the band’s original aesthetic with contemporary production techniques.
Throughout their career, Portion Control have remained resistant to commercial pressures while continually exploring new directions in sound. Their body of work stands as a significant contribution to electronic music history, both for its originality and for its lasting influence on subsequent artists within genres such as industrial, EBM, techno and darkwave.