Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Tune In
The resurgence of 'the Basic Channel sound' in recent years is something which is often commented upon in both the media and in record store catalogue listings. The deep, dubby vibe and metallic synths that typifies the phenomenon seem to crop up all over the place these days be it as part of a track's accompaniment in either techno or dubstep circles or as the actual basis of the track for next generation BC / Rhythm & Sound / Maurizio-influenced producers such as Quantec or Deepchord / Echospace.While it's frequent for the imitators to be criticised for not reaching the high standards set out by the innovators or pushing the sounds into uncharted territories, there are an equal (probably greater?) number of people (myself included) more than happy to lap up these sonic variations and said fans are likely to take great pleasure from Deadbeat's Radio Rothko mix.
Despite only containing a small number of tracks actually produced by Mark & Moritz, Radio Rothko screams Basic Channel at you and merely fluctuates along this pivotal axis as the mix takes its course; never straying very far from the production 'rules' the pair used. Featuring a wide variety of BC-influenced tracks and producers both old and new, the mix leans to the mellower side of their sound and despite not being a BC-affiliated product it's perhaps the perfect counterbalance to Scion's earlier 'Arrange and Process' outing which delivers a much tougher dancefloor-oriented take on the template.
No takeaway today but Deadbeat's Magnetic North features on the mix and is available below for your viewing / listening pleasure. You can pick up a copy of Radio Rothko at the usual stores on either CD or download.
Deadbeat "Magnetic North" from the Agriculture on Vimeo.
Labels: Basic Channel, Deadbeat
Friday, May 08, 2009
Three Halves Doesn't Make A Whole
Upon seeing the flyer for Thursday's Honest Jon's party at Plastic People with it's triple header of Mark Ernestus, DJ Pete & Sleeparchive (live) I became rather excited at the prospect of seeing three techno legends in such intimate surroundings, although I did feel a little bewildered as to why this wasn't going to be on a rather more practical Friday or Saturday night.As half of Basic Channel / Rhythm & Sound as well as a whole host of other sub-projects, Mark Ernestus' music credentials are well and truly cemented in place as it's nigh on impossible to overstate the importance of these ventures in terms of both the original productions the pair delivered as well as the ongoing influence their sounds have across a whole manner of genres today. Given that I don't recall ever seeing Ernestus listed as a DJ on flyers and the like, I had a sneaky suspicion that he wasn't going to be a four deck wizard but I felt pretty confident that he would have some damn fine records in his box. And sure enough he did, although their shine was a little dimmed by his 'no-mixing' DJ approach and somewhat haphazard sequencing and cross-fading resulting in an almost 'school disco' type awkwardness at times as the crowd waited for the outros and intros to pass so they could resume their appreciative dancing. I'm trying to tread a little carefully here as I am such an admirer of his work and he is truly in the scene's premier league but it just felt a little strange that the razor-sharp perception of space and flow that Ernestus' productions exhibit seemed to be sadly lacking from his DJing; something I'm citing as more of a surprise than a criticism. At times though, it did feel a little as if you were watching him play records for himself on a Sunday afternoon.
DJ Pete delivered a much more structured performance and for the first of his two sets, dropped a wealth of techno treats and maintained the momentum on the floor nicely. His set later in the night took things down a different path where he displayed his new-found passion for all things dubstep. The hefty bass sounded superb on Plastic People's system and sure enough he dropped some corkers but I couldn't help but sense that it wasn't really what the crowd were expecting or indeed what they were particularly wanting as the flyer had screamed 'techno, techno, techno' at them.
Techno, however, is what they most certainly got when Roger Semsroth aka Sleeparchive stepped behind his controls as his stripped down brand of clinical audiophile sonics was just what the doctor ordered. His set was the undoubted highlight of the night and I found it much more dynamic than his performance at 2008's Bloc Weekend which was the last time I saw him. My only complaint is that I wish it had gone on for longer as I was enjoying it so much.
So, all in all, it was definitely a worthwhile night to have attended but not quite the 5 hours of audio heaven I'd been hoping for.
Sleeparchive - Hospital 03
Sleeparchive - Papercup (buy)
Labels: Basic Channel, DJ Pete, Mark Ernestus, Rhythm and Sound, Sleeparchive, Substance
Thursday, May 22, 2008
I Call It Dubtec.
The amalgamation of two genres and two sounds, both with very different origins has started to materialise. The Berlin Dub Techno scene has been around for over 15 years now, with the godfathers of the metallic Techno sound, Basic Channel, (Pictured) having influenced everyone in the electronic scene since their inception in 1993. Since then they have created era defining Techno, dubbed out House and Electronic Reggae all with the metallic shards of sound that became their signature and which has been imitated by so many.Dubstep has its origins in a very different place. Out of the UK Garage/2 Step scene in the late Nineties emerged two separate genres. Grime, with its influences from Hip Hop and its utilisation of the MC as the main focus for the music and Dubstep, with its influences coming from Drum 'n' Bass and Dub Reggae. The commercial strains of 2 Step have been totally bred out from Dubstep's genetic structure, this has led to innovation and exploration of Bass and rhythm that now shares Techno's passion for innovation and pushing boundaries of sonic exploration.
Recently however a divide in the genre has become more evident. like Drum 'n' Bass a decade ago, Dubstep is becoming fractured between the heavy sounds and punishing bass for the dancefloor and the deeper strains which which are starting to be influenced by the Techno scene. One could argue that it all started with Ricardo Villalobos' remix of 'Blood On My Hands' by Shackleton, a tune which was already heading into deeper sonic territory than previous Dubstep offerings.
There are a new crop of artists emerging that are taking the Dub Techno influences to produce music that now seems a logical merger between the two sounds. Artists from the Bristol scene including Shackleton himself, Skull Disko co-founder Appleblim, and artists Peverelist and (dutch producer) 2562, both on Pinch's Tectonic label are merging Techno influences to create a new hybrid of Dubstep. I like to call it Dubtec.
Shackleton and Appleblim have always cited Basic Channel as a big influence and now what with Shackleton moving to Berlin and Appleblim being shown the 'secrets' to the Basic Channel sound from the Hardwax crew, and remixes by both camps now doing the rounds, this amalgamation of sound is set for a very interesting future.
Check the following releases to hear what I'm talking about.
Shackleton and Appleblim have always cited Basic Channel as a big influence and now what with Shackleton moving to Berlin and Appleblim being shown the 'secrets' to the Basic Channel sound from the Hardwax crew, and remixes by both camps now doing the rounds, this amalgamation of sound is set for a very interesting future.
Check the following releases to hear what I'm talking about.
Appleblim and Peverelist - Circling // Skull Disko 008
2562 - Channel Two // Tectonic
Peverelist - Junktion // Tectonic
Appleblim has just mixed Vol 6 of Dubstep Allstars. Buy.
The new album 'Aerial' by 2562 is released on Tectonic on June 2nd. Buy. Check out the review at FACT
Buy Peverelist and listen to his remix of Pole here.
Labels: 2562, Appleblim, Basic Channel, Dubstep, Skull Disco, Techno, Tectonic
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Introducing The 100th Mega Post
Photos PYMCA
Whooo hoo!
It's another celebration here at ill-ec-tro-nic as we have reached our one hundredth post. There are no brand new exclusives to give you at the moment so I shall be sharing some current tracks that are currently rocking my world.
Beck - Cell Phone's Dead (Villalobos Entlebuch Remix) // The Information Deluxe, Remixes
One by one he'll knock you out. I said a few months back that I thought that Ricardo Villalobos was overrated. I still stand by that remark but he is slowly winning me over with his superb remixes. Depeche Mode's Sinner In Me, Shackleton's Blood On My Hands and this bomb from Beck have all been huge. Villalobos' sound is to use repetition to such an extent that you get totally tranced out and lost in the mix. And how it works. This beck remix with it's eery moans certainly does that to me.
Thom Yorke - Harrowdown Hill (Ripperton Dub) // Unreleased
Thom Yorke's The Eraser was one of my favourite albums of last year. There have been some great remixes floating about of which this is one of the best. Ripperton turns Harrowdown Hill into a Minimal Techno stormer. If anyone has a copy I'd love to hear the the vocal version.
Round Four - Find A Way (Vocal and Version) // Main Street 1998
Round Three - Acting Crazy // Main Street 1995
Some classic deep dubby House music from Basic Channel. I've been totally getting into this sound at the moment and the sweet Reggae vocals of Paul St Hilaire make these two tracks really shine. You can still get them as part of the Round One to Round Five 1993 - 1999 CD compilation available at Juno and Beatport
Sebo K & Metro - Transit (Original Mix) // Get Physical Buy
Here is a nice slice of Electro House with soaring synth lines and uplifting strings which should do some damage if slipped into a set at the right time. Sebo K hails from Berlin and is part of the Mobilee crew with Anja Schneider
And finally here is a classic from Two Lone Swordsmen aka Keith Tenniswood and Andrew Weatherall (He attended the PYMCA 20 years of rave exhibition don't you know). Rico's Helly is from their second album The Fifth Mission (Return To The Flightpath Estate) from 1996 on their Emissions Audio Output Label and is my favourite TLS track. It's scattershot beats and live double bass bassline are to die for and create a moody masterpiece. You can finally get hold of this on a new compilation of their pre Warp material entitled Emissions From The Archive on the Rotters Golf Club label. Enjoy.
Two Lone Swordsmen - Rico's Helly // Emissions Audio Output 1996
Buy this compilation at Bleep
Well that's it from the 100th Mega Post. but stay tuned for an upcoming Psychedelic Rock post coming up next week.
Beck - Cell Phone's Dead (Villalobos Entlebuch Remix) // The Information Deluxe, Remixes
One by one he'll knock you out. I said a few months back that I thought that Ricardo Villalobos was overrated. I still stand by that remark but he is slowly winning me over with his superb remixes. Depeche Mode's Sinner In Me, Shackleton's Blood On My Hands and this bomb from Beck have all been huge. Villalobos' sound is to use repetition to such an extent that you get totally tranced out and lost in the mix. And how it works. This beck remix with it's eery moans certainly does that to me.
Thom Yorke - Harrowdown Hill (Ripperton Dub) // Unreleased
Thom Yorke's The Eraser was one of my favourite albums of last year. There have been some great remixes floating about of which this is one of the best. Ripperton turns Harrowdown Hill into a Minimal Techno stormer. If anyone has a copy I'd love to hear the the vocal version.
Round Four - Find A Way (Vocal and Version) // Main Street 1998
Round Three - Acting Crazy // Main Street 1995
Some classic deep dubby House music from Basic Channel. I've been totally getting into this sound at the moment and the sweet Reggae vocals of Paul St Hilaire make these two tracks really shine. You can still get them as part of the Round One to Round Five 1993 - 1999 CD compilation available at Juno and Beatport
Sebo K & Metro - Transit (Original Mix) // Get Physical Buy
Here is a nice slice of Electro House with soaring synth lines and uplifting strings which should do some damage if slipped into a set at the right time. Sebo K hails from Berlin and is part of the Mobilee crew with Anja Schneider
And finally here is a classic from Two Lone Swordsmen aka Keith Tenniswood and Andrew Weatherall (He attended the PYMCA 20 years of rave exhibition don't you know). Rico's Helly is from their second album The Fifth Mission (Return To The Flightpath Estate) from 1996 on their Emissions Audio Output Label and is my favourite TLS track. It's scattershot beats and live double bass bassline are to die for and create a moody masterpiece. You can finally get hold of this on a new compilation of their pre Warp material entitled Emissions From The Archive on the Rotters Golf Club label. Enjoy.
Two Lone Swordsmen - Rico's Helly // Emissions Audio Output 1996
Buy this compilation at Bleep
Well that's it from the 100th Mega Post. but stay tuned for an upcoming Psychedelic Rock post coming up next week.
Labels: Basic Channel, Beck, Electro House, Electronic, Electronica, Ricardo Villalobos, Ripperton, Round One to Five, Sebo k, Thom Yorke, Two Lone Swordsmen
