quête:datassette

Described by his peers as a keystone in ambient-electro, Datassette is a bastion of the underground and one of alternative electronic music’s most exceptional and enigmatic talents.

His extensive and diverse discography spans two decades and includes a plethora of albums, EPs and remixes for independent record labels, including: Ai Records, Apollo/ R&S, Wall Of Sound, CPU and Shipwrec. His work and creative output also extends to the design of music libraries for TV and radio; producing sound effects for 8-bit video games; working as a graphic designer and co-running the Misc label.

Datassette has never been shy of creating complex, addictive and emotive music and this magical music formula is replicated on Sentinel, his new EP for Lapsus Records.

As is emblematic in his long-standing career, Datassette demonstrates a healthy non- conformist approach to conventional labels and pigeonholing. By using a combination of powerful vintage hardware and latest generation digital techniques, the British producer continually manages to redefine his sound. This new four track EP sees him fuse dub, electro, braindance, ambient, experimental electronica and even abstract hip hop.

Intercepts is a brand new sub-label from London's Frequency Domain.

Frequency Domain has soundtracked late-night astral travelling since 2015, releasing drone, ambient and offbeat electronics from the likes of Forest Drive West, Plant43, Datassette, Matt Whitehead, Anthony Child, Jo Johnson and Ali Wade.

Intercepts indulges the parent label's more unruly and percussive leanings with a series of EPs drawn up from an anonymous pool of Frequency Domain artists and newcomers. Intercepts releases are served two at a time, with two separate strands - X and Y - each exploring their own sonic trajectory.

The first 'X' series EP delivers three tracks of skewed, mutant techno, landing some place between Livity Sound's cerebral rollers and Dynamic Tension's disorienting clunk.

Mucha, AKA Amanda Butterworth presents a stunning double header for Frequency Domain's tenth birthday release. But when up against one of the most thoughtful, precise, yet loose and rave inducing producers in the history of synthesisers, there was only ever going to be one opening point being made here. Surgeon's remix is typically essential for any techno fan. So while the original 'Skin' is this patient, rhythmic but beat-less slice of post- (or pre-)club stuff, full of ecstasy moods and comedown overtures, Surgeon's take refocuses us on the repetitive vocal patterns and slaps a wonderful compelling broken kick underneath to create a proper dancefloor builder. B-side 'You Make Me Go Under' goes for a neo-Bjork style IDM leaning piece, which then gets a moody, apocalyptic Datassette cut to top off an exceptionally strong package. Buy it. Buy it now.

Inspired by the cassette packs shared amongst friends on the playgrounds of the 90’s, Tape Pack’s debut release on new imprint, Loom Recordings, aspires to communicate the essence and spirit of golden-era jungle/D&B, updated to incorporate influences from today’s thriving and diverse electronic music community. Too young for the rave in ’95 but buying records and experimenting with production since the early 00’s, the time has finally come for Tape Pack to kick things up a notch and start sharing the output. Classic meets modern – elements from the past, the present and the future, weaving the fabric for LOOM-001, with LOOM-002 and LOOM-003 already in the pipeline.

Loom’s debut release is accompanied by a special event on August 24th, 2024, at The Glove That Fits, London. Artists on the night to include: Datassette, Equinox, Forest Drive West, Kid Drama, L Major and more.

Back in the 1990s video games were still largely seen as nerdy: fun, sure, but basically a guilty pleasure that you’d soon grow out of. The release in 1995 of wipE'out'', a lightning-fast, razor-sharp, futuristic racing game that helped to launch the PlayStation in Europe and North America, changed all that. This was a game that looked and sounded both adult and cool, the kind of game you would put on display in your living room, rather than hide away under your bed. Key to this was the fact that wipE'out'' borrowed unashamedly from the clubbing experience and electronic music, in a way that put it at the heart of progressive mid 90s culture. It soon became a phenomenon.

wipE'out'' looked sensational, with Sheffield agency The Designers Republic - known for their work with Warp - creating the visuals, packaging and manual for the game, drawing heavily on the bright colours and excitable geometric shapes of the rave and club flyers of the early 90s.

wipE'out'' also sounded like a new rave dream. The European version of the game included music from The Chemical Brothers, Leftfield and Orbital, the kind of fashionable game syncs that were almost unheard of at the time. Equally striking was the game’s original music, which came from Welsh musician Tim Wright, aka CoLD SToRAGE, by this point already a veteran in the video games world, having worked on the music for Amiga titles such as Lemmings and Shadow of the Beast 2. His music for wipE'out'' was, if anything, even more extreme than the big-name syncs, mixing the accelerated beats of drum & bass with the pure synth rush of trance to make music that sounded as breathlessly exciting as playing the game felt.

These tracks were burned into the brains of millions of gamers; the soundtrack to a generation of late-night anti-gravity racing, as the sun gingerly rose beyond the curtains. But they haven’t, perhaps, quite got the respect they deserve, something that this release will address. In 2023, video game music is finally getting its dues; here, remastered and repackaged –and also remixed by cutting edge producers such as Kode9, μ-Ziq, Brainwaltzera, Simo Cell, Wordcolour, James Shinra, Surgeons Girl and Dattassette– are some of the most important, thrilling, innovative and most fun songs ever committed to game release.

Intercepts is a brand new sub-label from London's Frequency Domain.

Frequency Domain has soundtracked late-night astral travelling since 2015, releasing drone, ambient and offbeat electronics from the likes of Forest Drive West, Plant43, Datassette, Matt Whitehead, Anthony Child, Jo Johnson and Ali Wade.

Intercepts indulges the parent label's more unruly and percussive leanings with a series of EPs drawn up from an anonymous pool of Frequency Domain artists and newcomers. Intercepts releases are served two at a time, with two separate strands - X and Y - each exploring their own sonic trajectory.

The first 'Y' series EP delivers three tracks of urgent machine funk; a spannered slab of 170bpm Braindance hogs the A side, while two peak-time sci-fi electro cuts play out on the flip.