Hi-Tension formed in Willesden Green, North West London in 1976,[2] evolving out of the earlier group Hott Wax, who were active in the early 1970s.

[4] After a tape of Hi-Tension was given to Chris Blackwell of Island Records, he signed them to the label[7] and released the song in March as a limited edition single.

According to writer Paul Lester, "to see Hi-Tension, all scratchy guitars and indelicate brass, exorbitant afros and jittery motion, perform it on Top of the Pops is to witness underground late-70s black London in full effect.

[12] In an interview with the Daily Mirror in June 1978, Joseph announced that the group would "shortly" record their new album and tour in July, while commenting on audiences assuming the band were American due to their style being "very much like that of Earth Wind and Fire.

[9] The track was popularised by British DJs like Greg Edwards and Robbie Vincent, and according to Easlea, "[t]he single had a freshness, edginess and pizzazz that simply wasn’t coming out of the US disco phenomenon at that point.

"[2] In early 1979, the band fired their management team – who operated internally at Island – due to the problems surrounding the album's production, and signed to a new company who gave them what they saw as "the right balance of guidance and independence.

"[2] The group followed the album with the single "Funktified," which Blackwell allowed Joseph to produce alone, but the musician felt he "rather spoilt" the job due to the stressful working conditions, with "too many people around me, telling me what to do and saying they want it ready by tomorrow."

[19] Reviewing the reissue, Daryl Easlea of BBC Music described the "exciting" album as "British funk at its best from the era of punk and disco" and felt that it "remains a vibrant capture of a simpler time."

He commented on the band's enduring influence on subsequent Britfunk, saying: "Light of the World, Linx, Central Line and Freeez all owed them a debt, and this, their only album, is a testament to their prowess.

[20] The title track features in The Guardian's list of the top 10 Britfunk songs, crediting it as the "Year Zero explosion" that later inspired Funkapolitan, Stimulin and hits like ABC's "Tears Are Not Enough", Spandau Ballet's "Chant No.