Ex:el

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox album

| name = ex:el

| type = studio

| artist = 808 State

| cover = 808state_ex-el_cover.jpg

| alt =

| released = 4 March 1991{{cite web |url=http://www.808state.com/discogs/808_index.htm |title = 808 State - Discography}}

| recorded = September – December 1990

| studio = Revolution Studios

| genre = {{hlist|House|techno|acid house|synth-pop|sound collage|rave}}

| length = {{ubl|57:32 (UK)|63:34 (US)}}

| label = {{hlist|ZTT|Tommy Boy|Warner Bros.}}

| producer =

| prev_title = Utd. State 90

| prev_year = 1990

| next_title = Gorgeous

| next_year = 1993

| misc = {{Singles

| name = ex:el

| type = studio

| single1 = Cubik / Olympic

| single1date = 1990

| single2 = In Yer Face

| single2date = 1991

| single3 = Ooops

| single3date = 1991

| single4 = Lift / Open Your Mind

| single4date = 1991

}}

}}

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r6653|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic review]

| rev2 = Drowned in Sound

| rev2score = 7/10{{cite web|last=Gardner|first=Noel|url=https://drownedinsound.com/releases/15240/reviews/4139509|title=808:90, ex:el, Gorgeous, Don Solaris (reissued)|website=Drowned in Sound|date=2010-03-22|access-date=2024-08-11}}

| rev3 = Encyclopedia of Popular Music

| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite book|first=Colin|last=Larkin|author-link=Colin Larkin|chapter=808 State|title=Encyclopedia of Popular Music|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_NNmFiUnSmUC&q=808+state|publisher=Omnibus Press|year=2011|isbn=9780857125958|via=Google Books}}

| rev4 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev4score = B+{{cite web |title=ex:el |website=Entertainment Weekly |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220816162546/https://ew.com/article/1991/05/17/exel/ |archive-date=2022-08-16 |url-status=live |url=https://ew.com/article/1991/05/17/exel/}}

| rev5 = The Line of Best Fit

| rev5score = 82%{{cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/808-state-exel-deluxe-edition-7988|title=808 State - EX:EL (Deluxe Edition)|last=Rueben|first=Simon|website=The Line of Best Fit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081019132139/http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/2008/10/808-state-exel-deluxe-edition/|archive-date=2008-10-19|url-status=live|date=2008-10-17|access-date=2024-08-11}}

| rev6 = MusicHound

| rev6score = 4.5/5{{cite book |editor1-last=Graff |editor1-first=Gary |editor2-last=Durchholz |editor2-first=Daniel |title=MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide |publisher=Visible Ink Press |year=1999 |isbn=1-57859-061-2 |chapter=808 State|page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781578590612/page/378/mode/1up 378–379]}}

| rev7 = Q

| rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}

| rev8 = Record Mirror

| rev8score = 8/10{{cite magazine|first=Tim|last=Nicholson|magazine=Record Mirror|title=808 State: ex:el|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/51313687874/|volume=38|issue=10|date=1991-03-09|access-date=2024-08-11}}

| rev9 = Select

| rev9score = {{rating|4|5|full=U+25A0.svg|empty=U+25A1.svg|rating=medal}}{{cite magazine|last=Collis|first=Andrew|title=Building an Empire State|url=https://selectmagazinescans.monkeon.co.uk/showpage.php?file=wp-content/uploads/2017/05/albums13.jpg|magazine=Select|issue=10|date=April 1991|page=88|access-date=2024-08-11}}

| rev10 = Tom Hull – on the Web

| rev10score = B+ ({{Rating-Christgau|hm2}}){{cite web|url=https://tomhull.com/ocston/nm/get_gl.php?n=808+state|title=Grade List: 808 State|website=Tom Hull – on the Web|first=Tom|last=Hull|date=November 8, 2023|access-date=November 11, 2023}}

}}{{DISPLAYTITLE:ex:el|noerror}}

ex:el is the third studio album by 808 State, released on 4 March 1991 by ZTT Records.{{Cite journal|last=Sutcliffe|first=Phil|date=5 March 1991|title=ex:el review|journal=Q Magazine|volume=55|pages=68}} In contrast to the band's previous work, the album features more catchy melodies and heavier acid techno beats and percussion, "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, who sings on "Spanish Heart". In addition, Björk sings on "Qmart" and "Ooops", and is credited with co-writing both;{{Cite web|title=808 State Album Review: Gorgeous|url=http://www.808state.com/various/reviews/AlbumReview-Newbuild.htm|access-date=2021-12-13|website=www.808state.com}} this album marked the start of a long-running working relationship between Björk and Graham Massey.

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 electronic album to feature guest vocals by important alternative rock artists on selected tracks, which became commonplace too on later pop-oriented electronic albums.

Phil Sutcliffe in Q Magazine called the album "irresistibly full of fun"

The album is last to feature founding member Martin Price, who left the group in October 1991 to perform solo production work, eventually forming his own label, Sun Text.{{cite book

| first= Martin C.

| last= Strong

| year= 2000

| title= The Great Rock Discography

| edition= 5th

| publisher= Mojo Books

| location= Edinburgh

| pages= 311–312

| isbn= 1-84195-017-3}}

In 2007, The Guardian included the album in their list of "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die".{{Cite news |date=2007-11-20 |title=Artists beginning with E |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/nov/19/1000tohearbeforeyoudie2 |access-date=2024-08-15 |issn=0261-3077}}