Buscar:simple machines

To begin the year with, Antinote summoned Panoptique and JC Satan's Paula to release a badass two-tracker, paying a pared-down tribute to a very overlooked period in recent musical history: the accursed electroclash-era.
.
At a time when 'Balearic' has become the new musical gospel, the holiest adjective one can use to describe one's music (and therefore, electroclash has become the musical antichrist - to keep going with the biblical comparison)... while everyone seems to glorify stuff like Ibiza's 'endless sunsets', the duo happily kicks over the anthill with a song, a record and a band soberly called Succhiamo (first person plural of 'to suck' in Italian). The title-track straightforwardly announces what the main elements of Succhiamo's music are: over-saturated simple patterns of drum machines and EBM-infused lines of synths backing overtly sexual vocals in Italian. Nothing more, nothing less.

On the flip side, Succhiamo deals with the same formula in depth, engaging this time in detailing a meaningless list of products available in the 'supermercato'. The song conveys a nihilist - but fun - attitude, and it just sounds as if the band was crashing a car in a commercial zone in high spirits... As a kind of inheritor to Ich Bin, Succhiamo offers to bring some stupidity in the club and gives serious dance music producers the finger, like some irreverent Franco-Italian Beavis & Butthead.

Labelhead Invite returns to his own imprint with a stunning 4-track solo EP.The EP is opened by a 'Determine', a somewhat deeper track with a very simple, yet powerful sequence that is supported by a very powerful kickdrum. 'Measure' continues the vibe set on the A-side, with it's very deep low-end and hypnotising synth-sequence topped with an aggressive ride. 'Refund' - the first track on the B-side - is a very stripped down, four-to-the-floor track that feels like the type of tool-tracks you'd find on EP's back in the days. The EP is concluded by the wonderful ambiance 'Excitation' sets which is a great track for starting or ending a set. Invite's Choice is at it again with a great EP that evolves all around the style Invite is known for; chaotic sequences, oldschool, stripped down use of drum machines and deep yet powerful low-ends

In the wake of Blocks & Escher's recent outings on Metalheadz, Critical, and Zomby's Cult Music, Narratives present the first solo
excursions on the label from one of its founders, Blocks. Varied, emotive and beautiful, the Séance EP is innately Narratives Music in sound and yet unlike anything the label has delivered previously. The Séance EP fleets between ethereal vocals, forlorn strings and analogue bursts of glassy synths, while drum machines dance with live kits that would be fitting of 90s Mowax records. Bass lines loom heavy throughout, simple and driving rhythms that bed the delicate keys and story telling harmonics above. As immersive as it is succinct, Blocks has created an extended player awash with feeling and juxtaposition; again displaying why Narratives Music has been lauded across electronic music from the likes of Goldie and
Com Truise to Zomby and Rob da Bank. Forming the veritable gem of the collection, is the vocal laden 'Haven', a collaborative piece between Blocks and the hugely talented Jennifer Hall. Live instrumentation of bowed strings and bass provide canvas for the heart wrenching tones of Hall. Doc Scott describes the track as 'Deep, deep blues'. More akin to a personal reflection of the artist than the frenetic speed of a club, more Twin Peaks meets Portishead than dance floor energy; this is music at a Drum & Bass tempo by a producer that doesn't want to be caught in a debate on style or subgenre. In essence it seems to emphasise a recent quote by Blocks, 'Drum and Bass is anything you can get away with'. Label support from Goldie, Kuedo, Doc Scott, Rockwell, Benji B, Paul Woolford, Zomby, Friction, ASC, Jubei, Teebee, Pedestrian,
Rob Da Bank, Midland, Kasra.

It's time to turn on the Strobe Lights and the Fog Machines! Exploration and Johannes Volk return with - The Awakened Guardians'. The title track on the A side sends you on a 7 minutes long journey, filled with a merciless bass, heavy dubs and a sinister atmosphere.
The B side starts with - Arcane', beginning with a simple groove and evolving into a complex synth monster. Last but not least we have - Indestructible', the track builds on subtle hi-hats, snare staccatos and a massive bass.

Seule une étude concise des différents mouvements automates de la musique électronique et leurs constantes permet de les subsidier par des séquences pré enregistrées plus ou moins longues et des les varier dans leurs assemblages via dans un premier temps des outils informatiques simples avec des contrôleurs appropriés. Réunir l'esprit d'un studio d'une période, endroit, d'un style, d'un type de machines ou de marques, la multitude des genres et styles à travers sampling ou reproduction, les possibilités sont presque infinies dans un maigre espace après de longues heures de travail. Une sensibilité suffisamment entrainée peut les naviguer. Ainsi le glorieux "rétro boy" avec sa boite à rythme et son synthétiseur, manifeste de la préhistoire de la techno, tout comme plusieurs personnes manipulant ces machines ne sont qu'un simulacre de ces groupes musicaux des siècles précédents. L'artiste en sa matière assemblée, construite et mutante, lui seul touche à l'individu dans son plus proche appareil. Dans l'enfance de la musique électronique dansante, le musicien reproduit l'autrefois essentiellement acoustique dansant directement sur un petit ensemble d'appareils et ne pouvant qu'agir sur de faibles transformations sonores, restreint à des possibilités de son par les ingénieurs d'une firme parait bien triste dans l'échec de la libération de ses semblables. Aujourd'hui par le biais de la multitude des supports et leur consultation facilité par les nouveaux médias, naviguer entre pratiques d'autrefois et connaissances de ces anciennes cultures tout en les combinant au mode d'aujourd'hui permet le rassemblement de la culture d'une lignée dont le point vectoriel semble remonter vers la naissance d'un certain assemblage physique qui engage un peu près toujours un certain ensemble de mouvements déclenchés autour d'un axe sensible ici non seulement à l'interaction sonore dans un isolement provoqué mais aussi dans le rapport du corps dans l'environnement construit autour d'une énergie artificielle ayant pour but principal le déclenchement de couches successives de vents à modulation de fréquences variées et pulsées à de multiples échelles par la sensibilité humaine de plusieurs personnes à plusieurs époques et rassembler autour d'un même esprit festif harmonieux. Ainsi, c'est l'enregistrement de ces performances que nous vous proposons dans son grand esprit dérivé à l'architecture économique proposée par la société d'aujourd'hui.

Following up his EP 'String Theory' on Simple, Julian 'October' Smith has teamed up with label head Will Saul, for 'Light Sleeper', Aus Music's final release of 2012. The EP comes with a remix from Kompakt boss Michael Mayer. Jules & Will met last year when Will relocated to Somerset and they seemed to click instantly in the studio. A natural division of labour emerged which proved to be both effective and fun whilst also playing to both's strengths. Jules mans the drum machines and outboard FX and Will controls the synths....they hit record and see what happens. Look out for another 12 from them in Feb next year with a remix from Fred P. October's profile has been steadily rising since the launch of his first label, Caravan Records in 2007. In the last few years, his brand of off-kilter house and techno has also appeared on Skudge, Misericord, Jack Off and Applepips, and been championed by the likes of Ewan Pearson, Skudge and Appleblim. Smith's label 'TANSTAAFL', has been widely praised by the music press, and sets the course forv more of the jacking dancefloor house and techno he is known for. This year Will Saul revealed he was behind Close, a project he's created as a vehicle for his forthcoming album 'Getting Closer' and a A/V show which will feature Will on various machines and Al Tourettes on drums all backed with lovingly crafted visuals created & mixed by Silent Studios. The A/V show debuts at Fabric on the 23rd February and the album will be released in May 2013 on !K7 and features vocals from Joe Dukie of Fat Freddies Drop, Peacefrog artist Charlene Soraia and Paul 'Tikiman' St.Hillaire as well as collaborations with Scuba, Appleblim, Ewan Pearson, and of course October. In the eight years since Michael Mayer released his debut album 'Touch', he's maintained a tightly packed schedule of DJ gigs and remixes.