Ex:el

Untitled

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Entertainment Weekly	B+
Q
Select
Record Mirror	8/10

ex:el is the third studio album by 808 State, released in 1991 via ZTT Records. Contrast to the band's previous works, the album features synthpop and electropop, "embracing earlier flirtations with hip-hop and industrial music."

The album also features the guest vocals of Bernard Sumner of Joy Division and New Order fame, who sings on "Spanish Heart". In addition, Björk sings on "Qmart" and "Ooops", and is credited with co-writing the two songs.

It is considered to be the first major release to feature the sample from the film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory of the phrase "we are the music makers", which became one of the most common vocal samples in electronic music. It is also the first pop-oriented electronic-music album to feature guest vocals on a few tracks by important alternative rock artists, another thing that became commonplace on pop-oriented electronic-music albums.

Original track listing

1. "San Francisco" – 4:56
2. "Spanish Heart" (Featuring. Bernard Sumner) – 3:51
3. "Leo Leo" – 4:01
4. "Qmart" (Featuring. Björk) – 4:58
5. "Nephatiti" – 4:50
6. "Lift" – 5:12
7. "Ooops" (Featuring. Björk) – 4:41
8. "Empire" – 4:20
9. "In Yer Face" – 4:54
10. "Cübik" – 3:44
11. "Lambrusco Cowboy" – 4:05
12. "Techno Bell" – 4:56
13. "Olympic" – 4:21

2008 deluxe edition

In September 2008 ex:el was re-released as a 'deluxe edition' featuring Chapter 2 of journalist Ian Peel's 'The 808 Story', the original album remastered by Graham Massey, and a bonus disc of remixes and un-released tracks which included:

1. "In Yer Face - Facially Yours Remix" - 4:17
2. "Olympic - Euro Bass Mix" - 5:44
3. "Lift - Heavy Mix" - 4:42
4. "Cubik - State to Pan Am Mix" - 4:29
5. "Open Your Mind - Sound Garden Mix" - 4:28
6. "Lambrusco Cowboy - Alt Mix" - 4:17
7. "Ski Family" - 5:14
8. "Ooops - Mellow Birds Mix" - 4:04
9. "In Yer Face - Cheadle Royal Mix" - 3:26
10. "Olympic - Unreleased Mix" - 4:55