Deltron 3030’s classic debut album came out 25 years ago today. I was gonna start a Deltron thread to celebrate but then decided to open it up to Dan The Automator in general. I enjoyed a lot of his high-concept albums over the years, from Dr. Octagon to the debut Gorillaz album.
These are some of my favourites he’s been a big part of over the years
Here’s a rubbish interview I did with him 10 years ago on the phone hiding behind a car in a car park in the middle of a Queensland summer trying to hear what he was saying.
I adored that Deltron 3030 reform gig they did at Scala back in 2013. The follow up album might not have been great (though it was far from a disaster as far as these things go) but that’s a live gig that will stick with me for some time.
The super group Deltron 3030 is composed of producer Dan the Automator, rapper Del tha Funkee Homosapien and DJ Kid Koala. Their self-titled release features appearances by Damon Albarn (Gorillaz, Blur), Prince Paul, Peanut Butter Wolf, DJ Money Mark, MC Paul Barman Sean Lennon and more.
This Hip-Hop concept album was released the same year as Gorillaz’ first 12" and is on a similar plane. Following the release of Deltron 3030, all three members participated in Gorillaz’ self-titled debut album. With Del (aka Deltron Zero) on vocals, Dan the Automator (aka The Cantankerous Captain Aptos) on production, and Kid Koala (aka Skiznoid the Boy Wonder) on turntables, Deltron 3030 is in fact a concept album, taking the listener on a paranoid journey set in a dystopian year 3030 dealing with viruses, the apocalypse, an oppressive government, and a war waged against a huge company called the Corporate Bank of Time that rules the universe.
For this 25th Anniversary Edition, Deltron 3030 is presented in a double splatter vinyl pressing, housed in a gatefold jacket. Disc One is on clear, yellow and black splatter vinyl and Disc Two is a clear, mint green and bluejay splatter pressing. The vinyl is housed in printed inner-sleeves and the set also includes a commemorative OBI exclusively for RSD Black Friday.
Tracklist
A1. State of the Nation (feat. Damon Albarn)
A2. 3030
A3. The Fantabulous Rap Extravaganza (feat. Prince Paul)
A4. Things You Can Do
B1. Positive Contact
B2. St. Catherine St. (feat. Beans, Mr. Lif, P. Wingerter, Peanut Butter Wolf, Verna Brown)
B3. Virus
B4. Upgrade (A Brymar College Course)
B5. New Coke (feat. Mark Ramos-Nishita)
C1. Mastermind
C2. National Movie Review (feat. Brad Roberts)
C3. Madness
C4. Meet Cleofis Randolph the Patriarch (feat. MC Paul Barman)
C5. Time Keeps On Slipping feat. (Damon Albarn)
C6. The News (A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Microsoft Inc.) (feat. Hafdis Huld)
D1. Turbulence (Remix by Mark Bell)
D2. The Fantabulous Rap Extravaganza Part II (feat. Prince Paul)
D3. Battlesong
D4. Love Story
D5. Memory Loss (feat. Sean Lennon)
D6. The Assmann 640 Speaks
I love ‘So… How’s Your Girl?’ I think that it was the most expensive album I owned at that point - I got it as an import from HMV in Newcastle, and it cost about £17!
100% on Peeping Tom, I remember buying that on release day, loved it, but revisited some of it recently for a 2007 music league and well, yeah doesn’t sound good.
listening now
