'Pump Up The Volume' Co-Producer Steven Young Passes Away

A British electronic music pioneer and co-producer of '80s global hit Pump Up The Volume, Steven Young, has died, longtime label 4AD has confirmed.

With his brother Martyn, Young was a founding member of celebrated English electronic group Colourbox, who were active in the early-to-mid-1980s and one of 4AD's early cult acts, distinguishing themselves at the time through their evidently eclectic influences — hip hop and reggae were just as likely to be sampled as soul or industrial tunes — and experimental openness. Around the end of the band's tenure, in 1987, Steven, Martyn and the members of dream-pop duo A.R. Kane, Alex Ayuli and Rudy Tambala, released their collaborative hit under the moniker M/A/R/R/S. 

Pump Up The Volume turned heads for its then-unusual construction, being made almost entirely from samples, and ended up as a somewhat unexpected world-beating smash. Despite the song's massive success, it would be the only release for the collaborative project.

The esteemed UK indie label broke the news on social media early this morning (AEST), informing its fans "with much sadness … that Steven Young from Colourbox and M/A/R/R/S has passed away".

"One of the label's true pioneers, Steven leaves behind an incredible legacy and will forever be in our hearts," their statement reads. "Our thoughts go to his brother Martyn, their family and his friends."

Give Pump Up The Volume a spin for old times' sake below.