Among the earliest signings to the storied 4AD imprint, Colourbox remained one of its least heralded, yet they stood at the forefront of non-hip-hop acts that placed heavy emphasis on sampling. Their sophisticated blue-eyed soul, which wove together strands of vintage R&B, dub, and industrial textures, found its fullest expression in the landmark M/A/R/R/S single “Pump Up the Volume,” an outgrowth of the duo’s deep engagement with the underground club culture of the 1980s.
The project was essentially the brainchild of London siblings Martyn and Steven Young, who first enlisted singer Debbion Currie for Colourbox’s 1982 4AD debut “Breakdown.” By the time a 1983 remake of that track was cut under producer Mick Glossop, Lorita Grahame had assumed vocal duties. Later that year the trio released a self-titled EP culled from three hours of studio improvisation; the record showcased their initial forays into dub, turntable scratching, and other sampling techniques. The 1984 single “Say You” and the subsequent 12-inch “Punch” followed, while 1985’s “The Moon Is Blue” previewed a full-length album also issued under the band’s own name. Two further singles, “Baby I Love You So” and “The Official Colourbox World Cup Theme,” surfaced in 1986.
In 1987, at the urging of 4AD founder Ivo Watts-Russell, the Young brothers joined forces with labelmates A.R. Kane under the name M/A/R/R/S. The resulting single merged classic soul grooves with cutting-edge electronics and studio craft; champion turntablist Chris “C.J.” Mackintosh and London DJ Dave Dorrell supplied the scratches. “Pump Up the Volume” became the first 4AD release to reach the top of the British charts, signaling sampling’s migration from hip-hop into mainstream dance and pop. No second collaboration ever materialized, and despite this breakthrough both the Youngs and Colourbox withdrew from recording without further releases.
