 In the fucked up tangential world of Fluke, take nothing for granted. Steely
reserve, determination, and commitment are what have ensured their own survival.
Frequently misunderstood and more than once incurring the glare of the critical
eye, Fluke's tenacity and separatist stance have confused and confounded. They
resist being labeled and categorized. By doing so, however, they have enjoyed
support from loyalists who, like them, refuse to be told what to think, do, and
say. For Fluke, doing what they do isn't a job, it's a way of life.
Time for the rewind. Fluke are lifelong friends Mike Bryant, Jon Fugler, and
Mike Tournier who grew up just outside of London, shared a house together and
started making music in 1986. They swiftly got the home recording bug and it
wasn't long before the living room furniture had been cleared out to make way
for the black boxes and keyboards that started to spread across he floor. Fast
forward to 1988 and like so many others, Fluke tumble across acid house and have
their heads turned. By Spring '89, the first seeds of this eclectic influence
had taken root. In September '89 "Thumper", the debut single is cut. True to the
DIY ethic of the time, Fluke write and record the track at home and distribute
and promote it themselves. This is followed in Spring 1990 by "Joni"- and a one
album deal offered by Alan McGee of Creation Records. Later that year the single
"Philly" emerges to critical acclaim and dancefloor delight. This is followed by
the ironically titled long-player Techno Rose of Blighty - more praise and
critical appreciation lands Fluke a deal with Circa/Virgin Records in April
1991.
That summer to defy accusations of being studio heads and show they really are
an act - Fluke play their debut live gig at a party outside London called "New
Moon Rising". This results in the live mini-album Out. Fast forward to September
'93, and the second album Six Wheels On My Wagon is released and creeps into the
UK Top 40 album chart, winning them new friends and requests to undertake remix
duties. New Order's "Spooky", Frankie Goes To Hollywood's "Two Tribes" and
Bjork's "Big Time Sensuality" all get overhauled by Fluke and all crash the UK
national charts. So popular is their remix of "Big Time Sensuality" that Bjork
replaces her original version with Fluke's and invites them to perform with her
at the European MTV Awards in Germany.
April '94 and Fluke score their first UK Top 40 Single with "Bubble". This is
followed by their first UK tour and subsequent live appearances at various
festivals and one-off concerts in Europe before taking time to write and record a new LP. June
1995, the band rock the dance tent at Glastonbury. The first single, "Bullet"
from their third album, OTO, enters the UK charts at number 23, and the band
head out on an extensive UK tour. Sold out shows, rave reviews and a top thirty position
for the next single "Toot" in December affirm Fluke's flourishing fan base.
Early 1997 and a performance at Tribal Gathering wins them ecstatic reviews and
presents Rachel, Fluke's newest and fiercest live member, who gives Keith Flint
from The Prodigy a run for his money. In between playing a German Festival with
David Bowie and The Prodigy, and remixing the Smashing Pumpkins single "The End
Is The Beginning Is The End...", Fluke manage to finish up their new album
Risotto. With the first single "Atom Bomb" invading radio and MTV airwaves both
in the UK and in the US, the band win even more fans. This brings us to the
Fall of 1997, where Fluke toured the States on "The Electric
Highway" tour, and their second single "Absurd" (with remixes by the Headrillaz and The Mighty Dub Katz (aka Norman Cook/Fatboy Slim) has once again slammed into the UK charts at number 25, with US anticipation at an all-time high.
Combining
momentous techno, funky breakbeats, eclectic old skool electro with dirty,
gritty vocals, Risotto just may make 1997 the year that Fluke
get to answer the timeworn question, "So what's it like to be an overnight
success then?" In the fucked up tangential world of Fluke anything is possible.
One thing is for sure though, Fluke strive to celebrate the counter-culture
of which they are both part and parcel. For this reason alone, Fluke matter
and demand your attention.
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