Anthony Rother is described as an influential visionary, an electro pioneer and one of electronic music’s most prolific producers. For more than two decades Rother aggregated a vast musical canon that reflects his unique career as a sound researcher exploring the aesthetics far beyond the boundaries of electro, techno and pop music.

Starting his recording career in the late ‘80s, the Offenbach-based producer established himself in Germany’s electronic music scene with his first two releases, "Sex With The Machines" (1997) and "Simulationszeitalter" (2000). In 1998, he founded his label Psi49Net, allowing him to keep his artistic independence and showcase his vision of electro music that cultivated a unique storytelling approach, guided by dystopian future visions on societal changes due to technological progress. The vocoder-driven vocals and the dark dystopian synth sound with machine-like beats have become Rother’s trademarks, even before he found international recognition as a science-fiction avant-gardist with the virtual electro-pop project "Little Computer People" (2001) and his 3rd solo LP "Hacker" (2002).

In 2004, Rother created the Datapunk imprint to evolve an immediate, more song-orientated language that used simple melodies and even autobiographic anecdotes collected on "Popkiller." Perceived as one of his most venturous endeavors, yet his sonic shift had a decisive effect on many artists' careers: The Hacker, Boys Noise and Terence Fixmer published on Datapunk in its early days. While some of the experimental ambient recordings for Pete Namlook’s infamous label Fax +49-69/450464 reflects Rother’s prolific output, he also worked and co-produced with several prominent artists such as from former Kraftwerk member Karl Bartos, Sven Väth and DJ Hell.

After its success, Datapunk turned into an enlarging business which devoured both time and creativity to make music. In 2013, Rother decided to let the project rest and took a break that he used to move his studio while only producing music for his HYBRID sets. Through his self- contemplative retreat, he eventually rediscovered the artistic instincts that brought him back to his roots; both in terms of his renewed independence as well as how he channels creativity as a producer. In late 2017, Rother resurfaced with an EP on Danny Daze’s Omnidisc and contributed the track "Technic Electric" to Fabric 96 mix by DVS1. Last year, Rother returned to his Psi49Net label with a new album "3L3C7RO COMMANDO" that transports a clear message: Anthony Rother not only lives in and through his pure electro music, he still has something to say – here and now. The past represents the future!

In April 2019, Rother will release two 12’’ on DVS1’s Mistress Recordings followed by another EP as well as a conceptual LP for Psi49Net in fall. Moreover, Rother will drop a 12-inch on Radio Slave’s Rekids offshoot Stranger In The Night.

My first synthesizer was a gift from my father for my 11th birthday in December, 1985.

It was a Wersi AP6 Bass Synth, an analog mono synthesizer, year of manufacture 1977 – and it was love at first sound! I had never seen so many buttons and knobs before:

I was amazed at all the functions.

Playing keys the way you do with piano was unfortunately not possible with this device; I could only ever press one button. Various attempts to produce a melody or even a song with this monster came to naught. Frustration was initially very great until I had focused more closely on the technology and the architecture of the synthesizer.

Then it became clear to me that with such a device you can create your own sounds – and from that point on, there was no stopping! My poor parents and my poor sister, sorry about that!!! 

Then at some point, I got headphones as a present, and with that, the topics of inheritance and sibling murder were taken care of.   :)

In order to learn notes, I signed up for an organ course. Yes, precisely, it sounds super-boring – and that it was! But it was also important to me to learn at least the basics, in order to understand the principle of producing sound, and then to be able to create my own sounds. Later, I concentrated more and more on sound synthesis and hardware sequencing.

One day in the music store, there it was:

 A Roland Synthesizer with MIDI connection and, in addition, an ATARI computer which controlled the synthesizer like magic! From then on, not having the computer as sequencer was unimaginable, especially for such tinkerers in sound such as myself. Quickly the old computers reached their limits, whether because of the number of MIDI or audio channels, or because of the chip's processing power for longer pieces of music.

But once this MIDI witchcraft was understood, nothing else blocked me or my creativity.

And yet! Space and time. They've been my enemies since day one (12.12.1985). 

Thus since my first synthesizer affairs, I've been passionately collecting these wonders of technology. My biggest dream is to open the largest synthesizer museum in the world one day. 

Whenever I find the time, I try to go back to the era of the great synthesizer hits of the 1980s and -90s. I recreate the same set-up in my studio and attempt to bring the songs to life once more.

With modern sounds that I designed myself, I want to get more out of the old machines than my predecessors have done.

It is rumored that this creates the unmistakable sound of my musical works:

Warm, unobtrusive, powerful, and full of feeling. Every sound is created and recorded by itself – and thus definitely not off the shelf!

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Founded in 2013, Progressive Astronaut is a carefully curated platform, operating at the heart of the electronic underground. Initiated with the intent of musical exploration, we set out to showcase innovative content to our ever growing community. Established globally our loyal following embraces our contemporary vision for cutting edge electronic music, as seen through our premieres, podcasts, interviews, free downloads and more. Progressive Astronaut is a platform for discovery, with a healthy blend of emerging artists, along with the scenes most revered names, operating as a central hub where music aficionados, DJs, artists and label managers unite in a thriving environment bound by a passion for music. The continued evolution of dance culture resonates from the core of our platform as we move forward into the future. Come join us.

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Premiere, Promo, Press, Interview enquires: releasepromo@gmail.com

Release Promo is an electronic music promotion service which consists of DJs, Press and other key industry figures who provide feedback on promotional releases. Based on those reactions, record labels can judge the strength of upcoming releases. Feedback from promo pool members is compiled in a top 100 chart and published on the website and in weekly emails. The top 100 charts play a major role in what other DJs and music buyers play &amp; ultimately purchase.

Gabriel Ananda has been an established institution in the electronic music scene for countless years now and produces from emotionally playful, to primetime Techno a wide range of styles, without ever forgetting the organic groove in it. In recent times he has attracted attention especially through his radio show and same named label "Soulful Techno" in the emotional, melodic segment. Through several releases on his more dancefloor oriented label "Basmati" and further collaborations, as well as remixes by and for various well-known artists, Gabriel can now look back on over 300 productions. In addition to that, he fascinates with his gripping and varied sets, which take people around the globe on an emotional ride. Either from behind the DJ desk, or with his monthly Soulful Techno Podcast.

microcastle | est. 2009

microcastle is an electronic music imprint from the north, Canada. Releasing on vinyl, cassette and digital, the label is an outlet for borderless creation. The selective nature of the platform allows each artist to operate freely, where stylistic blueprints and conventional dance floor dynamics are lifted. A home for anyone who carves their own path, each microcastle project is unique unto itself, unmindful of trends, refreshingly organic and initiated with the intent of entering the unknown, from leftfield headphone listening to rebellious dance floors around the world. 

Label Artists: 16 Bit Lolitas, Spooky, Cornucopia, Guy J, Eagles & Butterflies, Echonomist, Upercent, Olaf Stuut, Ivory, Adrian Roman, MULYA, Ditian, Yubik, Radeckt, Solique, Presia, Auggie, Colossio, Shiffer, Speaking In Tongues, Kadosh & Nariz, Ruede Hagelstein, Santiago Garcia, Marvin & Guy, Chaim, Darlyn Vlys, Zombies In Miami, Mathias Schober, Love Over Entropy, Luca Bacchetti, Brian Cid, Khen, Chicola, Sahar Z, Cid Inc, Jamie Stevens, Henry Saiz, Monkey Safari, Third Son, Jeremy Olander, GROJ, Fairmont, Charlie May, Max Cooper, YokoO, Petar Dundov, Nhar, Clarian.

SUBMIT YOUR REPOST: https://progressiveastronaut.com/submit-your-repost

Founded in 2013, Progressive Astronaut is a carefully curated platform, operating at the heart of the electronic underground. Initiated with the intent of musical exploration, we set out to showcase innovative content to our ever growing community. Established globally, our loyal following embraces our contemporary vision for cutting edge electronic music, as seen through our premieres, podcasts, interviews, free downloads and more. Progressive Astronaut is a platform for discovery, with a healthy blend of emerging artists, along with the scenes most revered names, operating as a central hub where music aficionados, DJs, artists and label managers unite in a thriving environment bound by a passion for music. The continued evolution of dance culture resonates from the core of our platform as we move forward into the future. Come join us.

http://www.progressiveastronaut.com

Contact & Promos: progressiveastronaut@gmail.com

PS. we do not answer to SoundCloud messages

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