null032: DeFeKT

My first experience of Dublin based producer DeFeKT was this summer in Dublin, that most memorable gig experience with Carl Finlow, Radioactive Man and Dexorcist. He was on straight after me and pumped right in over the Funktion One system through the pure analogue power of his modular synth - it was electro proper indeed. He's not just on our radar, but featured in Dave Clarke's end of year chart and gets regular mentions on DJ Madwax's Vocode Blog. You can check his releases on Takeover Recordings and he has a new twelve out today on New Flesh Records you can check the previews on the label's Soundcloud player here. Keep your eyes on Acid Lab Records for his next release - a split with his alias ESS more info on which is revealed in our interview below. 

He's recorded us a vinyl set - a hand picked selection of his favourite tracks deleberately kept down to the 45 minute mark to represent the ones most special to him. 

You’re output consists of purely electro - what drew you into writing music in this particular style?

My brother has always been into techno and I grew up hearing his music collection from an early age, from listening to his techno collection and always been interested in sound it led me on to getting my first pair of turntables when I was about 14; they where cheap all in one console things that had no pitch control, so basically I couldn't do much on those. I then progressed on thru few other pairs of decks and landed on Technics, which I still have. I was then collecting and listening to techno at that time and I always noticed that there was electro mostly on the B sides, those tracks always caught my attention even though at that time I wasn't playing electro much. I then got bored of techno at that time and started listening to electro and started to mess around trying to make my own beats on computer and any time I went to make beats it was always was a break beat I never programmed any 4 to the floor, my kicks always seemed to be broken. Then went to college to study music technology and learned more about production and equipment, which led to me getting into analogue gear and setting up my own small bedroom studio which is a never ending adventure till present day.

Who were your inspirations?

From and early age hearing my brothers techno collection and always messing around with speakers and sounds in my room. I used to have these CDs that were made to be used to test car sound systems - they just had sweeps through low frequencies. I would put them on in my room and see how much bass I could push through the speakers for hours on end.

Then later on, I learned in college about the roots of electronic music from 'Musique concrète' through to early analogue synths, those early forms of experimentation had a huge impact on me, learning what the early electronic music pioneers did with tape loops and synths. When I heard those really early recordings they just sounded like techno and electro to me it was so interesting to hear the effects they had on modern electronic music today. It’s somewhat forgotten how important those early experiments with tape from the 50s and 60s were.

You’re from Dublin, somewhere that really shines with talent can you give us a view through the keyhole of what’s happening there in electronic music? 

I’m actually originally from the midlands (the country side) I moved to Dublin when I went to college. Yeah Dublin city is an interesting one allot of good heads around into music, defiantly allot of good producers. The music thing in Dublin is starting to get interesting again slowly but still seems to be a lack of good events going on to be honest. Allot of the same people playing at every night and then lot of the really good DJs who are really into music don't get enough gigs or exposure because of that. It’s a thing that I don't understand really. But besides all that some great music around the city and allot of good artists and DJs doing great things.

Any plans for an album is that something you’d want to aim for? Or do you see your music more fitting for single releases?

I did a small album in 2010 called 'Stimulus' which was an 8 track mini album and I want to do part 2 of this soon for sure of similar style. A few things are set to be released over the next while, two new vinyl records are out very soon one of which is called "Sequence One EP" which will be on Umwelt’s New Flesh records and the other will be a split 12" EP with my other alias ESS (Electronic Speech Systems) on Acidlab. A remix I did for Anodyne, which will be out on Combat Records too. So I’ve got a few a few things to in thepipeline..

You normally play live as DeFeKT but you’ve done a vinyl only mix for us - can you explain what inspired the mix and track choices for us?

Yeah for the past while I've being doing live hardware sets with a modular synth and drum machines, but for this I wanted to do a short mix of some tracks that I play when I'm DJing or listening at home. It's more of a selection of artists and tracks I like at the moment. I wanted to do a short DJ set of some good electro tracks that are around these days not a
long never ending mix. 

Tracklisting:

1. Stingray enters the unkown - The sadist(einrich mueller remix)
2. Morphology - Euckidean Algorithm
3. Drexciya - Rubiks cube
4. The Exaltics - Things fall apart
5. Pip williams - Cold love
6. Boris Divider - Ultralink
7. Morphology - evaporation Residue
8. Time Light curve - Acidlab
9. DeFeKT - Modular System
10. The Exaltics - The hunch

 DeFeKT on the web:

http://www.defektedelectro.com/
http://soundcloud.com/defekt-2
http://soundcloud.com/e-s-s-1

null031: LAKKER

Both natives of Dublin - a city that is becoming evidently more and more known for innovation in electronic music - Lakker are a divine concoction of sounds from the darkest warehouse techno to the complexity and brain melting structures of IDM. Ian Mc Donnell and Dara Smith make up the beat stirring duo getting together 10 years ago now and today they're enjoying a toasty reception of their latest release for Berlin left of techno label and party Killekill with their Spider Silk EP. They're set to play an AV set this Friday to launch their new twelve - Smith is a dab hand at the visuals as evident in the accompanying videos so you can look forward to an immersive experience at Berlin's infamous Suicide Circus club. They'll also be in Hamburg the following evening - more info here.

Another thing, which is a very cool thing I'm sure many of you will be envious of, they're one of very few artists that can say they have the support of none other than Aphex Twin, that really is the king of musical endorsements. So, take it from us and Mr. D. James - Lakker are worth your time. So, be sure to read onto our wee interview with the pair and get on the download of this killer mix. 

How did you connect with Killekill?

Nico from Killekill got in touch with us through Simon (Swarm Intelligence) who runs the Stasis label. Simon did a mix of Irish producers and one of the solo Eomac tunes was on there. Nico really liked it and got in touch and asked for more tunes. We then sent him a bunch of Lakker stuff aswell and he was really into it and decided to put out the Spider Silk 12". that just came out there recently.

What other releases do you have scheduled in / ready to go?

There's nothing in concrete for 2012 yet, but we hopefully have a follow up release on Killekill, an EP with Acroplane, and another 12" on Love Love Records. Nothing definite yet, but we've a bunch of tunes finished, and even more very nearly finished, that we want to get out.

How did you guys get Lakker together? How long have you been making music for?

We got together in 2001 I think it was. We were both in a four-piece at the time called Undermine, and when that broke up we wanted to continue working together as we were on the same musical wavelength and thought we had some good ideas. So about 10 years we've been making tunes together.

Do you intend to always play an AV show live when you play out?

for the moment I think yes, we'll do it for most gigs, if there's room for a projector and decent size screen. some venues just dont have the space. It's something we've been planning for a while and we're just about ready to do it properly, got some stuff that Dara has been working on that looks great, so we're pretty excited to premiere it at our upcoming German shows.

01. Leyland Kirby - Neon Lit Atoms - (History Always Favours The Winners)

02. Gescom - Slow Acid - (Skam)

03. Aardvarck - Afrika Slang - (Eat Concrete)

04. Sunken Foal - Low Mountain Light Socket (Acroplane)

05. Hecker - Δ Chant / Δ P.groy - (PAN)

06. Mika Vainio - Behind The Radiators - (Touch)

07. Alva Noto - Module 2 - (Raster Noton)

08. Autechre - d-sho qub - (Warp)

09. Lakker - Pano - (unreleased)

10. Grischa Lichtenberger - 0607 lv 1 re - (Raster Noton)

11. Autechre - Gantz Graf - (Warp)

12. Steve McPherson - Blanket Song - (unreleased)

13. Steve McPherson - Ghost Song - (unreleased)

14. Autechre - Gantz Gaf (Lakker's unofficial Edit) - (unreleased)

15. Emptyset - Avichi (Monoloc Remix) - (CLR)

16. Jape - The Oldest Mind - (Music Is For Losers)

17. Jeff Mills - Human Condensing - (Axis)

18. Snuff Crew - Domo (excerpt) - (Killekill)

19. Lakker - Spider Silk - (Killekill)

20. Kangding Ray - Odd Sympathy - (Raster Noton)

21. Eileen Carpio - Humming (Unreleased)

22. Powell - 09 - (Diagonal)

23. Lakker - 8Blip - (Killekill)

24. Colin Stetson - Fear of the unknown and the blazing sun - (Constellation)

25. Lakker - BKRO - (unreleased)

26. Sleeparchive - Ronan Point 1 - (Tresor)

27. Johan Johannsson - Part 5: The Sun's Gone Dim And The Sky's Turned Black - (4AD)

Extra sounds, FX and production by Lakker.

DOWNLOAD: null031: Lakker

null030: SYNC24 B2B INNUME

Scand established itself as a club night at the height of electro’s first coming and popularity in London at the infamous Fortress Studios. The current resurgence in the genre’s popularity hasn’t yet been traced the history back to these guys yet - apart from Dave Clarke who, like, Sync24  has always maintained a relationship with this breed of beats, keeping in touch with the ever present underground sound. That includes whether it's in fashion or not. Another track from Phil's label Cultivated Electronics also featured on the man DC's fabric60 mix and 4 years on from it's first twelve they've now signed a distribution deal with Clone -  a stamp of quality if there was ever one needed. I bet most readers of this blog will already be familiar with CE's output,  if not check their back catalogue here. 

The night is currently run by  Phillip Bolland aka Sync24 with residents Innume, Agent2 and Steve Allman both of which keep to a vinyl only set up with their impeccable record collections stretching back across the genre right up to present day cuts - there's nothing else in London quite like it. Since Scand was rejuvenated after a couple of years down time, the event has been success after success reaching out to a hardcore crowd and creating a roadblock at its current venue The Horse & Groom. The next event is next Friday where Stillleben  label boss Luke Eargoggle is being flown in to perform with Cosmic Force and Abstract Forms label head Deixis.

We’re proud to present this mix of Scand promoter and Cultivated Electronics man Sync24 going back to back with Innume alongside an interview with Phil to promote the forthcoming party a week on Friday.

For more info on the event click here.

 
So how long has Cultivated Electronics been running as a label now?

Cultivated Electronics was started in late 2007.

And what is its ethos?

To release high quality underground Electro music.

At what point did you start Scand?

The first official Scand party was just over 9 years ago at the Fortress Studios in Old St. At that time I was playing every Sunday at Cafe 1001 in Brick Lane with 3 other guys, Rob Smith (Innume), Chris Edwards and Paul Crognale. We decided to start a club night and Scand was born. About 3 years after our first party the Fortress shut down and Rob and I split from the other two guys and continued to run Scand alone. We held parties at various venues across East London then in 2006 took a 3 year hiatus. In 2009 I restarted Scand with a friend Tom (Truss) with the intention of it being a 2 room event with house and techno in the second room. After 2 parties together we decided to not collaborate anymore. I now run Scand myself although Rob is still involved as a resident.   

What would you say the basis of the party and how do you choose who to book as your guests?

There is a real sound to the Scand parties which I feel is reflective of the label and this is what the night is about, to push a particular sound that I don't feel is really getting a massive amount of exposure anywhere else.  There are other really good nights in London which push the Electro sound along with other styles of music such as Wang, Plex, Colony and Bleep 43. With Scand however it is purely about Electro.

There is no real fixed booking policy for Scand, I just book artist's whose music I like and respect.  I also try as much as possible to book people that are not necessarily a massive crowd puller but have a good sound.    

And what about your residents? 

The Scand residents are myself, Innume, agent2 and Steve Allman. The residents are really important for the night as we shape the overall vibe of the party. Each of us brings a slightly different style which helps to mix it up and keep things fresh.  

It's really one of the only electro parties in london, it's become a real hub for the timeless style of music, why do you think it has been so successful?

I think by being purely focussed on the Electro sound the night has built up a bit of a reputation and people always know what they are going to get at a Scand party.

What's next for CE and Scand?

CE has just been taken on for distribution by Clone which I feel is a really positive thing for the label. CE009 is out on the 17th of January and that is a release from Morphology with a remix from myself. I then have a V/A compilation lined up for EP 10 and forthcoming material from Dynarec as well as a possible EP from Innume and I.

Scand's final party of 2011 is next Friday (the 16th) at the Horse and Groom with Luke Eargoggle, Cosmic Force and Absract Forms label head Deixis which should be wicked. I am then teaming up with Colony again for a string of events at the Horse and Groom and Rhythm Factory throughout 2012 with our first party being on the 3rd March. Line ups announced very soon!!.  

DOWNLOAD: NULL030: SYNC24 B2B INNUME

null029: SQUISH KIBOSH

Both visual and electronic music artist Squish Kibosh is based in the creative hive of activity that is Glasgow. His musical work is mainly self released, consisting of acid jams to mind moving electronica one of our favourites you can listen to here. For null+void he's compiled a mix of old and new tracks which he described as 'discordian disco'.

Check out his artwork here production here and mixes here.

Tracklisting:

1. Throbbing Gristle - Hamburger Lady - Industrial Records - 1978
2. Arpanet - Innershell Shielding - Rephlex - 2005
3. MR.SQUISH - Smeets - unreleased - 2011
4. +10 - Fug Nasty Acid Flakes - Napalm Enema Records - 2008
5. Acid Druid - Lunatic Wandered - Zanderhythm - 2011
6. Boogie Times Tribe - The Dark Stranger - Suburban Base Records - 1993
7. Venetian Snares - Chainsaw Fellatio - Planet Mu - 2009
8. DJ Rashad - Drop Juke Out - Juke Trax Online - 2009
9. DJ Spinn - Fall Back - Planet Mu/Loose Squares - 2011
10. Aphex Twin - Windowlicker (Demo Version) - Sire/Warner Music Japan Inc - 1999
11. DJ Stingray - Mindless - WéMè Records - 2007
12. Mixrace - Mixrace Outta Hand - Moving Shadow - 1993
13. Razor X Productions - Imitator ft. Daddy Freddy - Rephlex - 2006
14. Aphex Twin - Avril 14th - Warp Records - 2001
15. Squarepusher - Star Time 1 - Warp Records - 2009
16. Kool Keith - Same Sound - DMAFT Records - 2003
17. Luke Vibert - Dirty Fucker - Planet Mu - 2005
18. Bodenständig 2000 - In Rock 16 Bit - Rephlex - 1999
19. Flying Lotus - ...And The World Laughs With You ft. Thom Yorke - Warp Records - 2010
20. Señor Coconut And His Orchestra - Riders On The Storm (Merengue) - Multicolor Recordings - 2003
21. Universal Indicator - Untitled (Green C3) - Rephlex - 1995
22. Bruce Haack - Word Game - Columbia - 1970

DOWNLOAD: null029: Squish Kibosh

null028: URSA

This time we asked The Centrifuge's audial communique to showcase this favourite sounds featuring tracks that range from the familiar to the emerging from Koolmorf Widesen, LFO and Instra:mental. Ursa is a tireless worker at the heart of London's underground electronica scene, an early collaborator for The Centrifuge's net label he has been holding the reins of their fortnightly online radio show on brap.fm for over 2 years now with insurmountable levels of lost sleep and dedication. 

He's decided to take his passion for the artists who have become a big part of the output of the show, and the scene and network he's created into the live sector in a new event 'Freelectronica' kicking off on August 3rd at 93ft East on London's Brick Lane. For the first show he'll be bringing in Volitune and Oxynucid both producers of The Centrifuge ilk the former who will be debuting a new live set. I have also been invited along for the ride. More info on that here. 

Tracklisting:

1. Repetition/Distract - Old Weevil Neighbourhood (Weevil Neighbourhood)
2. Demdike Stare - Desert Ascetic (Modern Love)
3. Pinch - Croydon House (Swamp 81)
4. LFO - Mentok 1 (Warp)
5. Instra:mental - Thomp (Nonplus++)
6. Myoptik - Berlin (The Centrifuge)
7. Drumman - White Tie, Black Hole (Lux)
8. Instra:mental - Aggro Acid (Nonplus++)
9. Neutek - Orinoco (ROTR Lazer Dome rmx) (The Centrifuge)
10. Oxynucid - Cod Liver Oil (V67 rmx) (Complex Sound Sagacity)
11. Koreless - 4d (Pictures)
12. Baconhead - Wookie (Acroplane)
13. Vaetxh - Clipper (unreleased)
14. Funckarma - Technology Boom (Thin Consolation)
15. Luke's Anger - Halfstep (Soundcloud)
16. Wax - 20202 (Element rmx) (Hardwax)
17. Tom Yaxley - Ambienty (Carl Brown '92 Cornwall rmx) (The Cenrtifuge)
18. Dorian Concept - Toe games made her giggle (Ninja Tune)
19. Siriusmo - Bad Idea (Monkeytown)
20. Oxynucid - Leffe Blonde (Zanderhythm)
21. Martsman - Interreign (unreleased)
22. Skitty - Dublin (foundation X)
23. Eschaton - Bohr (Ursa rmx) (unreleased)
24. Modeselektor - Monkey Flip (Monkeytown)
25. Koolmorf Widesen - Bow'94 (Scrubber Fox rmx) (The Centrifuge)
26. Jimmy Edgar - Turn You inside out (Baconhead rmx) (unreleased)
27. Neutek - Busby Soundsystem (unreleased)

DOWNLOAD: null028: URSA