Portion Control

Portion Control are a British electronic and industrial band from South London, formed in 1979 with a line-up of Dean Piavani, Ian Sharp and John Whybrew. 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's early sound blends innocuously with the moodier moments of Cabaret Voltaire and Throbbing Gristle", and at times demonstrated a gift for gritty, teethgrinding distortion, not unlike Esplendor Geometrico". The band described their early approach to music as "electropunk".

 

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 January 1984, Portion Control recorded a Peel Session. In 1987, the band ended. 

 

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. [SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA]