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Ultramarine formed around Essex duo Paul Hammond and Ian Cooper in 1989, who released a transitional album Folk before recording landmark set Every Man and Woman is a Star, released by Rough Trade in 1992 to widespread acclaim and eulogised by Simon Reynolds in his book Energy Flash: "All sun-ripened, meandering lassitude and undulant dub-sway tempos, like acid-house suffused with the folky-jazzy ambience of the Canterbury scene."

As well as sublime singles Stella and Saratoga, the album offers a mesh of acoustic textures underpinned by a sometimes dubby, sometimes upfront beat. EMAWIAS is a lavish mix of light yet infectious rhythms and mellow vibes, recalling lazy afternoons and bright summer seascapes. Mostly instrumental, the album also features lyric snatches from Kevin Ayers and Robert Wyatt, while on Stella the found voice speaks to the 'deepest part of the soul'.

"It isn't really techno music," Ian Cooper confessed to NME. "We use the shape and form of dance music but use different acoustic sounds. It's the sort of stuff which seeps into you."

Subsequent Ultramarine albums included United Kingdoms (1993), Bel Air (1995) and A User's Guide (1998). As well as reissuing EMAWIAS in 2002, LTM also released the remix album Companion (EMAWIAS Versions), which features a host of remixes, alternate version and out-takes.

Ultramarine regrouped in 2010, performing select live dates before releasing two new singles in 2011, one of them on Hammond's own boutique label Real Soon. Their return sent The Wire into raptures: 'Fondly remembered by many, Ultramarine eleased five albums of occasionally exotic electronica, a wistful meeting point of acoustic instruments, synthetic sheen and low-key sample detail. It was music you could enjoy at home without feeling your intelligence was being scorned, or that if you were not physically in a club, you were wasting your time. Ultramarine have released nothing new since 1998, so this single marks a stealthy return to recording following some recent live dates.

The feel is coolly tropical: "We've thrown away a million people," croon backing vocals over languid guitar chords and upfront congas. Electronics are held back, though halfway through they start creeping to centre stage. A version of the same tune on the B side continues this development, with a more pumping beat, though the tropical percussion still features strongly.

Now bolstered by new technology, Ultramarine renew their engagement with marrying electronic beats and acoustic percussion skills - whether from Africa, Cuba or Brazil - an area recently explored by the likes of Ricardo Villalobos and Carl Craig, who has remixed Ultramarine in the past. Will this have you salivating in anticipation of the group's future work? Possibly - though Ultramarine are far too nice to be associated with anything as vulgar as saliva.

Clive Bell, The Wire - November 2011


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