Phuture

Phuture is an American, 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 rose to popularity at DJ Ron Hardy's Music Box club in Chicago and has since been re-pressed many times: it was an influence on acts such as Aphex Twin and the Stone Roses. Phuture released a great number of acid tracks now considered classics, usually as 12-inch vinyl maxi singles.

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). The group also recorded under several pseudonyms, generally using the substitution of ph or pf for f. For example, the name Phortune or Pfortune.

Former member Spanky, aka DJ Spank Spank, aka DeeJay Phuture (Earl Smith Jr.), died on 26 September 2016: the exact cause of death was unknown, but he suffered a stroke in May. The band have vowed to complete an album he working on at the time.

Links to Peel
Peel took enough of an interest in house music and its sub-genre of acid house to play several of the most notable tracks from that era. With regard to Phuture, he played the B-side of their most famous song, remarking that its heavy bass frequencies were causing problems for the speakers in the studio, but seems to have taken little interest in their work thereafter.

Festive Fifty Entries

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Sessions

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Other Shows Played

 * 09 June 1987: 'Phuture Jacks (12 inch-B side of Acid Tracks)' (Trax)Phuture - Slam!
 * 13 June 1988: 'Slam (7" with Spank Spank)' (Low Fat Vinyl)
 * 24 July 1993 (BFBS): 'Rise From Your Grave (12")' (Strictly Rhythm)