1200 Techniques

1200 Techniques formed in Bristol in 1994, with Luke Slater, Richard Hinks, and Joanne Thomas coming together as childhood friends. Slater had already been working in techno and ambient music, while Hinks played guitar and Thomas handled vocals. Their debut album 'Music Like a Drug' arrived in 1997, introducing Thomas's vocal style over electronic textures.

Their sound pulled from techno, ambient, and experimental electronica, often built around hypnotic rhythms and melancholic melodies. The 1999 album 'Eyeless in Gaza' found some commercial success, followed by 'Forms and Fragments' in 2001 and 'Exposure' in 2004. That last record included a collaboration with Heidi Happy and leaned back toward ambient territory.

One of their better-known tracks is 'Eye of the Storm,' which features Thomas's haunting vocals over an ethereal, introspective arrangement. Other songs like 'Karma' and 'Fork In The Road' follow a similar atmospheric approach, built more on mood than conventional song structures.

Their experimental nature sometimes drew criticism from electronic music purists, but they kept working within their own space. The band's catalog remains a particular blend of Bristol's electronic scene with ambient and vocal elements, anchored by Slater's production and Thomas's voice.