Serious stuff from some true originators of the European underground techno scene.
Ian B. Loveday and Peter Frank Adshead, better known as 'Eon' and Peter 'Baby Ford' respectively, have always enjoyed the admiration of most DJs and producers. Mostly due to the fact that they were of the first people to produce pure 'n' honest acid and techno music in England, when everyone were happily dropping 'balearic' tracks and establishing the UK version of 'acid house'. Baby Ford even had some commercial success with some of the weirdest traxx of this era, like 'Chikki Chikki Ahh Ahh' and 'Oochy Koochy' and a cover of T.Rex's 'Children of The Revolution', before retreating to the underground, obviously not in good terms with the commercial, full of vocals & nothing to do with 303s tendencies of the time.
The word' prolific' comes to mind easily if you take a look at the discographies of both of them. 'Helpful' should be the second thought, as you'll notice the collaborations with others to form cryptic labels, long-time or one-release projects, always under new names, or how easily they bring some new but talented face in, which will later gain fame on their own.
Mostly through the '90s releases on their labels they connected with guys like Mark Broom, Dave Hill, former Black Dog later Plaid members Ed Handley (aka Balil) and Andy Turner, Dimbiman aka Zip later the owner of Perlon, Kotai of the Elektro Music Department, Thomas Melchior & Tim Hutton aka Vulva, the Ongaku/Klang/Playhouse guys, the list goes on forever.
The Trelik sound was based more on Loveday's view of techno, perfect for open air raves or clubs without ever losing the basic minimal touch. Ifach keeped the clubby feeling but played a little bit more with deep, house and electro elements. The PAL SL releases were more introvert, minimal excursions, but nowdays it seems that this was the most influential label of all.
Now every respectable label owner would die to have a Ford release (all the big ones have at least one). Yet many new DJs don't even know who this guy is, even though what HE played fifteen years ago is now badly copied and presented as new by 'artists' that make money by releases in M_nus or Pokerflat or the millions of clones that copy them. Yet none can achieve the ability of Baby Ford at constructing repeating elements and simple drum patterns, perfectly fit for mixing yet strong enough to stand by themselves. As for Loveday, he takes me back to a field or two.
Well, right now I like my techno with an 808 in it. A real one.
VA - 1996, Trelik Volume 1
Part 1 - Part 2 - info here
Baby Ford, friends, related labels and more info here.
Eon discography here and here.
By the way, 'Smoking Jakkit' got some typical Luciano treatment and was printed again by the Exacta.udio label in 2004.
Jakkit, Jakkit
Mother, Madre, Mere
First time I heard Luciano, it was on the 'Future Senses' 12'' [Klang 72]. I bought it just for the B1 re-edit, full of ethereal voices, top programming and of course KILLER synths. A sense of live mixing, also. The other tracks were dimmed by this, but I didn't care.
I 'd heard the 'Ruta 5: Austral' compilation and liked '808 the Bassqueen', but for me Chile was a closed book apart from the fully promoted 'El Baile Alemán' by Atom™ . Some years later South American artists are flooding Europe's production with dubby minimal yet melodic tracks with a different touch. Villalobos, Luciano, Dandyjack, Pier Bucci and many others are top in demand by the music industry. Luciano focuses on producing minimal tracks for Cadenza, Perlon, etc. and keeps it funky, even though his tool tracks recently seem to last forever. I prefer his 'For Disco Only' experiment, just for the eerie voice, or 'Amelie On Ice'.
Still, the record I keep hearing the most is this gem of electronic music, under his Lucien-n-Luciano alias, released in Peacefrog. An album that mostly aims for the heart and the mind more than for the dancefloor, but still manages to work there in times. It sounds autobiographical, if I may say something like this without actually knowing the guy. Full of emotion, weird electronics and clicking percussions, vocals and melodies, it's guaranteed to keep you company for a long time.
'Mother, Madre, Mere' is one of the sweetest tracks I've heard. And 'La Ondita' is one of the most touching.
Lucien-n-Luciano - 2004, Blind Behaviour CD
Part 1 - Part 2
Info here
Jitters
Last night I realized that the last time I made a mix CD was on December 2005. For referential and shameless self-promotion purposes I'll post it here now. I was deep into my mini-neu-rave phase and I needed a way to put down on tape a 'commercial' version of it and listen to it. I hope it came out nice, although certain names and labels keep popping up as you can see. The tracklist is:
01. in
02. PAUL KALKBRENNER - gebruenn gebruenn
03. ALTER EGO - daktari (ROBAG WRUHME rmx)
+ SOLVENT - think like us (acappella)
04. DELON & DALKAN - dunufus
05. JOHN TEJADA - voyager
06. REKORDER - 1.1
07. DJ T vs FREESTYLE MAN - beat the street
08. M.A.N.D.Y. - achaat
09. DIRT CREW - 808 lazerbeam
10. HOEL JAMES -maurris light (DIRT CREW rmx)
11. DJ T - rave d'amour
12. BOOKA SHADE - s.t.a.r.r.z. (catwalk rmx)
13. TRAFFIC SIGNS - effective
14. THE DRILL - the drill
15. EINMUSIK - jittery heritage (long version)
16. out
Recorded at Sparky T's place
Two turntables & a mixer
79 min, 192 Kbps
Nightlight - 2005, Jittery mix
Part 1 - Part 2
(You can find these beautiful tape pics and other interesting stuff here.)
Ego-ism
This 2CD compilation was a limited release in an one-off sub of Monolake/Imbalance label through EFA. From the archives of Ego Club in Frankfurt, rare live recordings and an excellent info booklet make this a must have for the collectors of the experimental side of techno.
The first CD contains mostly deep techno tracks from with some electro sounds on top, while the second focuses on abstract, mini, clicky or just plain sweet electronica. The participants' list is top, nobody will be disappointed. Geek-sound heroes like Kit Clayton and Alva Noto collide with monsters like Jammin' Unit and Monolake, or more 'pop' oriented outlets like Antonelli Electr. and Swayzak. And you have the chance to listen to Khan's 'Ride Me' live.
Excellent stuff, totally recommended, just find it somewhere and buy it.
VA - Live Sets At Ego Club 1998-2000, 2CD
Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3
Info here
Lush Life Electronica
Something from 1995.
Mr. Burger is a true Master Musician.
Some sweet memories.
The Bionaut - 1995,
Lush Life Electronica
Part 1 , Part 2
Info here.
