Fortran 5

Recruiting a bevy of oddball-celebrity sidemen and guest vocalists -- sampled or otherwise -- somewhat blurred the backbone of the group, but David Barker and Simon Leonard recorded several albums of inspired ambient-techno as Fortran 5. Indebted to such culprits of British whimsy as <a href="spotify:artist:6Lt3HS8R2v8Q4G7ZkUWa8R">Syd Barrett</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:5IxfhXIHjAOAqibxl90NZO">Monty Python</a>, the duo usually recorded with samplers blazing, the unholy result of which included bizarre pop collisions like <a href="spotify:artist:2eogQKWWoohI3BSnoG7E2U">Donna Summer</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:0GByy3DcfbQwDvXGCWmzv9">the Pretenders</a> or <a href="spotify:artist:3yt4IVDHz0luREG9Uf9xrp">the Champs'</a> "Tequila" and thrash-metal. With roots in the <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Mute+Records%22">Mute Records</a> artists <a href="spotify:artist:6vF7kyDCH1mmOuqUtdUIYL">I Start Counting</a>, the pair debuted with 1990's "Crazy Earth," a dreamy acid-house track counting <a href="spotify:artist:6Lt3HS8R2v8Q4G7ZkUWa8R">Barrett</a> among its sample victims. Several singles followed during 1990-1991, including "Heart on the Line" with (live) vocals by <a href="spotify:artist:5Kvo1gV5usYbYwY4XkBFDV">Miranda Sex Garden</a>.

The debut Fortran 5 LP was Blues, released in 1991; it included contributions from Can's <a href="spotify:artist:4yr28XHlxD78C3diMbOsTs">Holger Hiller</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:5HAtRoEPUvGSA7ziTGB1cF">Orb</a>'s Kris Weston (aka Thrash), and noted DJ Colin Faver. The weirdest collaboration, however, was a cover of <a href="spotify:artist:6Lt3HS8R2v8Q4G7ZkUWa8R">Syd Barrett</a>'s "Bike," with vocals obtained by posthumously sampling various lines from legendary comedian and Carry On film star Sid James; the group was perhaps saved from a court case since producer on the session was Sid James' son <a href="spotify:artist:3xhSIBI2rJH54OJfq8i98R">Steve</a>. Following the LP were several high-profile singles, including "Look to the Future" (with live vocals by <a href="spotify:artist:66XuLc224VwkhDVuPMZL9c">Sly Stone</a> alumnus <a href="spotify:artist:6lUcc15t11bnaPr2qOuFs2">Larry Graham</a>) and "Persian Blues" (with Neil Arthur of <a href="spotify:artist:3LtBdgNHdH0Ix8hCFZ4NJG">Blancmange</a>).

The sampling shenanigans continued on Fortran 5's second full-length, Bad Head Park. The "Sid Sings Syd" theme was resurrected, with celebrated British actor Derek Nimmo unwittingly lending his vocals to a cover of <a href="spotify:artist:2rc78XDH9zuJP6bm78lU8Z">Derek & the Dominos</a>' "Layla," while Barker and <a href="spotify:artist:2AWxtGHxzDeuzMU5UisOSY">Leonard</a> also called upon <a href="spotify:artist:7ctAOUlIAs7yuMODWE2Fyz">John Barry</a> and media coverage of the Gulf War to enhance their compositions. The duo featured no collaborators and few samples on their third, the 1995 concept album Avocado Suite. Fortran 5 also remixed <a href="spotify:artist:0z5DFXmhT4ZNzWElsM7V89">Erasure</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:66GWpx9iLxrvvfhDsG9STP">Inspiral Carpets</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:5Kvo1gV5usYbYwY4XkBFDV">Miranda Sex Garden</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:7l4LQfvN4yz8zbK4WY0AAg">Laibach</a>. ~ John Bush, Rovi