Ultramarine – London-based duo Ian Cooper and Paul Hammond – began life in 1989, initially inspired by early UK House music and long-standing schoolboy crushes on the white funk of A Certain Ratio, The Pop Group, 23 Skidoo and Cabaret Voltaire.
Their early releases were issued on the seminal Brussels-based label Les Disques du Crépuscule and shortly afterwards by Brainiak Records, a label closely affiliated to The Brain club (an early purveyor of regular House music nights in Soho, London).
Their debut album Folk was issued by Crépuscule in 1990 but the group are best know for their classic second album Every Man and Woman is a Star, initially released on Brainiak in 1991 and given a wider audience with the release of an expanded version on Rough Trade in 1992; neatly described by Simon Reynolds in his book Energy Flash as:
Perhaps the first and best stab at that seeming contradiction-in-terms, pastoral techno... all sun-ripened, meandering lassitude and undulant dub-sway tempos... like acid-house suffused with the folky-jazzy ambience of the Canterbury scene.
Ultramarine were one of the first groups of their generation to take electronic music into live situations and were adventurous in their integration of live instrumentation on stage and in the studio. Live appearances included a US tour in 1992 with Meat Beat Manifesto and Orbital and a US/European tour in 1993 supporting Björk. The group's collaborative work included songwriting & recording partnerships with Robert Wyatt and Pooka (Sharon Lewis & Natasha Jones), recordings with Kevin Ayers and David McAlmont, and numerous live and studio sessions with members of the London jazz scene, including Lol Coxhill, Iain Ballamy, Elton Dean, Dave Green, Roger Beaujolais, Greg Heath, Matt Wates and Jimmy Hastings.
Every Man and Woman is a Star was followed by the albums United Kingdoms (1993) and Bel Air (1995) – both released on Blanco Y Negro - and A User's Guide (1998) on New Electronica. Most recently, LTM released Companion (2003), a collection of remixes and alternative versions from the group’s early-90s period, and reissued A User's Guide (2005).
Wyndham Lewis (12"/CD) - Les Disques du Crépuscule (1989) Folk (LP/CD) - Les Disques du Crépuscule (1990) Stella (12") - Dancyclopaedia (1990) Stella (12") - Brainiak (1991) Weird Gear/British Summertime (12") - Brainiak (1991) Every Man and Woman is a Star (LP/CD) - Brainiak (1991) Saratoga/Nova Scotia (7") - Rough Trade (1992) Every Man and Woman is a Star (2LP/CD) - Rough Trade (1992) Nightfall In Sweetleaf (12"/CD) - Rough Trade (1992) Kingdom (7"/12"/CD) - Blanco Y Negro (1993) United Kingdoms (2LP/CD) - Blanco Y Negro (1993) Barefoot EP (12"/CD) - Blanco Y Negro (1994) Folk (CD) - Offshore (1995) reissue First Air (12") - Blanco Y Negro (1995) Bel Air (2LP/CD) - Blanco Y Negro (1995) Sketches (12") - Blanco Y Negro (1995) Hymn EP (CD) - Blanco Y Negro (1996) Hymn Remixes EP (CD) - Blanco Y Negro (1996) On The Brink (12") - New Electronica (1998) A User's Guide (2LP/CD) - New Electronica (1998) Every Man and Woman is a Star (CD) - LTM (2002) reissue Carl Craig Remixes (12") - Real Soon (2003) Companion (CD) - LTM (2003) A User's Guide (CD) - LTM (2005) reissue
Ultramarine freakin rules! cool and innovative, love the musical sensibility. you guys do very well. you should play some shows over here, they'd love it.
I've been reliving my youth a bit recently and fancied reuniting the Trance Europe Express Compilation classes of 93 and beyond! These records opened my mind and, though much has come and gone, they still form an essential part of my days....
Hi guys! I just bought the "Every man and woman is a star" album today. I'm listening to it at the moment, it's very very nice and sense-titilating. A perfect soundtrack to say goodbye to summer in no grief.
Online Now!
cool and innovative, love the musical sensibility. you guys do very well. you should play some shows over here, they'd love it. 
