Aircut – Visual Attack (From the Home of the Humanoid)

Released on:
Visual Attack (1991)
Visual Attack (1992)

Also known as:
Visual Attack (Original Attack)

Runtime: 4:30

A slice of Smart Systems-esque breakbeat hardcore by Dougans and Cobain, produced at The Beat Farm Studio by Pressure Zone. Everything you could want from the style is present, from hoovers to whistles, crowd noise and a brief emotive synth pad breakdown. It might be my favourite of all the band’s hardcore tracks, possibly because of the lovely breakdown section, maybe because of how over the top the main synths get near the end. It’s a lot of fun.

Almost identical mixes have been released as ‘Visual Attack (Humanoid Attack)’ and ‘Visual Attack (Humanoid Mix)’. The release and naming of this track over the years has confused even the hardiest of FSOL fans. When first downloading these tracks from Napster in 2000, I was very disappointed to find the ‘From the Home of the Humanoid’ and ‘Original Attack’ mixes were identical (other than a touch of crowd noise at the end), and it’s only since starting this blog that I’ve actually identified the tenuous difference between this and 1992’s ‘Humanoid Attack’ (spoiler: it’s four additional bars in the latter). You’ll want that version if you’re after the mix that appeared on By Any Other Name, by the way.

The voice sample stating “Proceed with the visual attack” came from the 1984 film The Last Starfighter.

Credits
Written by Dugans / Cockbain (first Beat Farm & Sonic pressings).
Written by Dougans / Cockbain (second Beat Farm pressing).
‘Visual Attack (From the Home of the Humanoid)’ recorded, produced and mixed by Pressure Zone at The Beat Farm Studio (first Beat Farm & Sonic pressings).
‘Visual Attack (From the Home of the Humanoid)’ produced by Pressure Zone and Humanoid, recorded and mixed by Pressure Zone at The Beat Farm Studio (second Beat Farm pressing).