Portion Control - 1983-86 - Hit the Pulse to Purge… / Limited Edition

Portion Control are a highly influential British electronic group who formed in London in 1979. Their early, innovative use of synths, drum machines and samplers inspired a subsequent generation of acts that included Depeche Mode (who they toured with in 1984), Nitzer Ebb, Skinny Puppy, Front Line Assembly, Nine Inch Nails and Orbital.

Following decades of staunch independence, Portion Control signed to Artoffact Records in late 2025. Alongside new material, the label is curating and reissuing the group's back catalogue as a series of box sets, allowing their work to be fully appreciated at last.

The first of these sets is scheduled for release on 14th August 2026. Entitled ‘1983-86 - Hit The Pulse to Purge…’, the 4xCD package and digital variant consists of 74 tracks that include the 1983 mini-LP ‘Hit The Pulse’, the full length albums ‘..Step Forward’ (1984) and ‘Psycho Bod Saves The World’ (1986), the classic original 12” singles 'The Great Divide’, ‘Go-Talk’ and ‘Raise The Pulse’, plus the ‘Purge’ EP (1986). Additional material includes B sides, compilation tracks, rarities, remixes, demos and two concert recordings from 1984 and 1985.

The first example from the set is a rebuild of the classic ‘Refugee’ VIDEO from the 1984 album ‘..Step Forward’. With its subject matter more relevant than ever, Rhys Fulber of Front Line Assembly grasped the opportunity to create this remix.

All 74 tracks have been fully remastered by Paul Lavigne at Kontrast Mastering. 16 have never previously been released, with a further 12 appearing on CD and digitally for the first time. The 4xCD box set is packaged in a 5 panel ecopak with a 24 page booklet containing archive photos and a new design by Stefan Alt.

Tracklisting CD1: "Hit The Pulse, the Illuminated singles and Step Forward" (2026 Remaster)

1-7 from "Hit The Pulse" mini-album [1983]; 8-10 single A-sides [1983-84]; 11-23 from "Step Forward" album [1984]

Tracklisting CD2: "The Great Divide, Psycho-Bod Saves The World, Purge…" (2026 Remaster)

Track 1 single A-side [1985]; 2-12 from "Psycho-Bod Saves The World" album [1986]; 13-16 from "Purge" extended play [1986]; 17-19 2k+ versions [various sources and dates]

*Previously unavailable on CD; ~Previously unreleased

Tracklisting CD3: "B sides and demos 1983-85…" (2026 Remaster)

Tracks 1-10 single B-sides [1983-85]; 11-13 compilation tracks [1984-2022]; 14-19 demos / mix [1985-86]

*Previously unavailable on CD ~Previously unreleased

Tracklisting CD4: "Live 1984-85" (2026 Remaster)

Tracks 1-8 at Potanus, Amsterdam/Netherlands on 1/4/84; 9-15 at Dolce Vita, Lausanne/Switzerland 6/12/85