Emerging from the UK in 1982, Magic Mushroom Band pioneered a distinctive fusion of psychedelic space pop that would evolve into electronic and dance music territory. Founded by Gary Masters, Kim Russell, Craig Twining, Wayne Twining, and Jim Lacey, the group established their own imprint Fungus Records while collaborating with Magick Eye Records, becoming key players in the underground electronic scene.
The band's sonic exploration deepened significantly following drummer Marc Hunt's (Swordfish) arrival in 1989, catalyzing a shift toward ambient-dub and eventually trance and house territories. This evolution led to their influential side-project Astralasia, which became the primary creative focus and achieved substantial success within the electronic music community. While Magic Mushroom Band entered a hiatus in 1995, Astralasia continues to develop their signature ambient and trance sound, cementing the group's legacy as innovators in UK electronic music.