- published: 26 Aug 2015
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Phuture (now called Phuture 303) is a Chicago-based acid house group founded in 1985 by Spanky, DJ Pierre and Herb J. The group's 12-minute track "Acid Tracks" (1987) is one of several recordings that lay claim to being the first-ever acid house record.
Acid Tracks featured characteristic bass lines from the Roland TB-303 bass synthesizer—which was manipulated to produce resonant and squelchy sounds uncharacteristic for a bass guitar it was designed to emulate. The track raised to popularity at DJ Ron Hardy's Music Box club in Chicago and has since been re-pressed many times.
Phuture released a great number of acid tracks now considered classics, usually as 12-inch vinyl maxi singles. Its only albums, however, have been Alpha & Omega (1997)—the first release since the group renamed itself Phuture 303—and Survival's Our Mission (2003), the title referencing the opening lyrics of the 1988 single "We are Phuture."
The music the group produces is dark and monotonous. Many tracks are very long, even passing the 10-minute mark (such as "Acid Tracks"). Sparse lyrics are occasionally related to drugs, like the lyrics of "Your Only Friend" (1987), which describe cocaine addiction, or a simple chant, such as on "Spirit" (1994).
Follow the river
Wallow in silver
Voices draw nearer
I'm counting out the day's wage
Let it be known, lettin' it out
Let it be known, lettin' it out
See it so near, it seems so far
It's when you're here, It's where you are
See it so clear
Making my head spin
Watching the world sing
Holding me under
Try and get a hold son
Let it be known, lettin' it out
Let it be known, lettin' it out
See it so near, it seems so far
It's when you're here, it's where you are
See it so clear
Pale and wanton
Dreams forgotten
No use crying
I feel like chicken on a bone, chicken on a bone
See it so near, it seems so far
It's when you're here, it's where you are
See it so clear
Lettin' it out
Oh, let it be known, let it be known
Lettin' it out, Lettin' it out, Lettin' it out
Let it be known, let it be known
Lettin' it out, Lettin' it out, Lettin' it out
Hello, hello, hello..
Let it be known, let it be known
Lettin' it out, Lettin' it out, Lettin' it out
Let it be known, let it be known