Rhythm & Sound
Last night in the Roundhouse I watched four unassuming looking folks make the most monumental noise i've ever experienced. I'm sure you've heard by now about the earplugs distributed on the way in, but I still wasn't prepared for the 20 minute physical onslaught of 'You Made Me Realise' at the end of My Bloody Valentine's set. It was like being strapped to a jet engine, and quite an experience. To begin with people nodded their heads, then held onto each other for support, then edged towards the exits as they reached the limits of their endurance. I've always suspected that 'Loveless' wasn't really designed for home listening, and i've never previously managed to crank it up loud enough to reveal its secrets. I'm not sure it was enjoyable, but it was certainly memorable.
Some other sonic futurists whose secrets i've been trying to unlock for many years are Basic Channel, Berlin's masters of dub techno. In their Basic Channel guise, they only released 9 records back in 1993.... which were then followed by a deliberately obtuse compilation with illegible track titles, static, and a label on the back commanding you to 'BUY VINYL'. The compilation was also strangely compiled, being made up with edits of the b-sides and featuring none of their better known tracks.
Now 13 years later, a second compilation is being released with vastly improved sound and a tracklisting that virtually crackles with hits compared to the first one.
It basically comprises 6 of the original A-sides, including probably their best known track 'Phylyps Trak'. They pioneered a sound that has been endlessly imitated since, however none of the copyists can come close to this masterful blueprint. Reverberating metallic sounds seem to shift in form in front of your eyes, while the whole thing is steeped with dub reggae as much as Detroit Techno. It might not hit you straight away but it'll never really leave you.
BASIC CHANNEL - OCTAGON
Some other BC greatness not from the album:
QUADRANT - HYPERPRISM
MODEL 500 - STARTLIGHT (MORITZ VON OSWALD REMIX)
Some other sonic futurists whose secrets i've been trying to unlock for many years are Basic Channel, Berlin's masters of dub techno. In their Basic Channel guise, they only released 9 records back in 1993.... which were then followed by a deliberately obtuse compilation with illegible track titles, static, and a label on the back commanding you to 'BUY VINYL'. The compilation was also strangely compiled, being made up with edits of the b-sides and featuring none of their better known tracks.
Now 13 years later, a second compilation is being released with vastly improved sound and a tracklisting that virtually crackles with hits compared to the first one.
It basically comprises 6 of the original A-sides, including probably their best known track 'Phylyps Trak'. They pioneered a sound that has been endlessly imitated since, however none of the copyists can come close to this masterful blueprint. Reverberating metallic sounds seem to shift in form in front of your eyes, while the whole thing is steeped with dub reggae as much as Detroit Techno. It might not hit you straight away but it'll never really leave you.
BASIC CHANNEL - OCTAGON
Some other BC greatness not from the album:
QUADRANT - HYPERPRISM
MODEL 500 - STARTLIGHT (MORITZ VON OSWALD REMIX)
posted by headphonesex @ 12:22 AM
