Portion Control are a British electronic and industrial band from South London, formed in 1979. The original incarnation of the group existed until 1987; they reformed in 2002.
The band pioneered the use of sampling and were acclaimed for their use of the Apple II computer based Greengate DS3 sampling and sequencing system. They have been cited as an influence on Front Line Assembly, Skinny Puppy, Orbital and Nine Inch Nails.
Portion Control formed in 1979 with a line-up of Dean Piavani, Ian Sharp and John Whybrew.
The trio's first release, the cassette-only A Fair Portion (including Andy Wilson of the Passage on bass), was issued in 1980 by Ladelled Music, followed by three further cassettes on In Phaze Records, Gaining Momentum and Private Illusions No 1 (both 1981) and With Mixed Emotion (1982).
Their first full-length vinyl release, I Staggered Mentally, was released 22 November 1982 by In Phaze. The album marked the beginning of the band's underground recognition and was noted for its use of the distinctive Roland TB-303 many years before the sound became popularized by acid house and techno music. With the release in 1983 of Step Forward, the band branched into a more melodic sound, earning them a supporting role in Depeche Mode's 1984 tour.
In 1987, the band split and all three founding members reorganized in 1990 as Solar Enemy. The band released two albums on Third Mind Records and T.E.Q. Music respectively, with some songs that did some reasonable business in the clubscene at the time. Solar Enemy ceased activity in 1993.
Piavanni and Whybrew reformed Portion Control in 2002, and self-released their first reunion album, Wellcome, in 2004.
Links to Peel[]
Peel seemed to have discovered the band in 1982 according to available tracklistings on this site. He would play further material from the group, including a session they recorded for his radio programme in 1984. After 1985, Peel seemed to have lost interest in the group until they reorganised themselves as Solar Enemy.
Sessions[]
PORTION CONTROL John Peel 4th January 1984
1. Recorded: 1984-01-04. First Broadcast: 11 January 1984. Repeated: 24 January 1984
- Go Talk / Rough Justice / Scramble
Other Shows Played[]
- Portion Control
- 17 March 1982: Terror Leads To Better Days (12" - Surface And Be Seen) In Phaze
- 05 December 1982 (BFBS): All Present And Correct (album - 'I Staggered Mentally') In Phaze
- 20 August 1983 (BFBS): Abbo Dabbo (mini-album - Hit The Pulse) In Phaze
- Mostly Peel Mid Sep 1983: Chew You To Bits (v/a album - The Elephant Table Album (A Compilation Of Difficult Music)) Tract
- 12 September 1983 (BBC World Service): Abbo Dabbo (mini-album - Hit The Pulse) In Phaze
- 19 November 1983 (BFBS): Raise The Pulse (12") Illuminated
- 29 November 1983: Raise The Pulse (7") Illuminated
- 03 December 1983 (BFBS): Raise The Pulse (12") Illuminated
- 05 December 1983: Collapse (12" EP - Raise The Pulse) Illuminated
- 12 December 1983 (BBC World Service): Raise The Pulse (12") Illuminated
- 28 December 1983 (BFBS): Raise The Pulse (12") Illuminated
- 25 January 1984 (BFBS): Raise The Pulse (12") Illuminated
- 07 April 1984 (BFBS): Rough Justice (12") Illuminated
- 09 May 1984 (BFBS): Raise The Pulse (12") Illuminated
- 22 May 1984: Go-Talk (12") Illuminated
- 23 May 1984 (BFBS): Go-Talk (12") Illuminated
- 19 September 1984: Tex-Mex (album - ..Step Forward) Illuminated
- 26 September 1984: Refugee (LP – Step Forward) Illuminated
- 24 June 1985 (BBC World Service): The Great Divide (7") Rhythmic
- 02 July 1985: The Great Divide (single) Rhythmic
- 08 July 1985 (BBC World Service): The Great Divide (12") Rhythmic
- Solar Enemy
- 02 May 1990: Techno Divinity (12") Third Mind
- 19 October 1991: Universe (album - Dirty Vs Universe) Third Mind