Means&3rd - Thought Contortion EP - NUANCE001

Unveiled Nuance is the newly founded imprint by Manchester’s Means&3rd, a platform solely for his own productions. The Eastern Bloc Records staff member inaugurates his debut vinyl release with 3 tracks covering a balance between hypnotic and driving techno, in keeping with his adopted style of recent years.

‘Thought contortion’ opens the EP with a thunderous low end, propulsive rhythms and immersive sweeps of sound design, teamed with modulated synth patterns that assist the unfolding of its persistent structure. ‘Fragility of perception’ follows with its elastic 3 step synth groove and reverb rich textures which provide the bed while the percussion provides an airy dynamic. ‘Aural Dissociative’ closes the EP with an all-together headier affair, a dynamic drone providing the backdrop while flickers of rhythm supplement its evolution and heavily modulated lead lines take the focus.

Pressed on 140g Black Vinyl, reverse board full colour print sleeve with poly-lined inner sleeve complete with download code via bandcamp.

Distribution Via Rubadub Glasgow

https://soundcloud.com/means3rd
www.unveilednuance.com/
www.instagram.com/means_3rd/

Produced, Programmed and Mixed by Means&3rd
Mastered & Cut by Helmut Erler @ D&M Berlin
Design by Means&3rd
Pressed By Matter Of Fact, Güstrow, Germany

Thought Contortion EP

Preview - Means&3rd - Thought Contortion EP - NUANCE001

Unveiled Nuance is the newly founded imprint by Manchester’s Means&3rd, a platform solely for his own productions. The Eastern Bloc Records staff member inaugurates his debut vinyl release with 3 tracks covering a balance between hypnotic and driving techno, in keeping with his adopted style of recent years.

‘Thought contortion’ opens the EP with a thunderous low end, propulsive rhythms and immersive sweeps of sound design, teamed with modulated synth patterns that assist the unfolding of its persistent structure. ‘Fragility of perception’ follows with its elastic 3 step synth groove and reverb rich textures which provide the bed while the percussion provides an airy dynamic. ‘Aural Dissociative’ closes the EP with an all together headier affair, a dynamic drone providing the backdrop while flickers of rhythm supplement its evolution and heavily modulated lead lines take the focus.

Pressed on 140g Black Vinyl, reverse board full colour print sleeve with poly-lined inner sleeve complete with download code via bandcamp and available digitally via all normal outlets.

Produced, Programmed and Mixed by Means&3rd
Mastered & Cut by Helmut Erler @ D&M Berlin
Design by Means&3rd
Pressed By Matter Of Fact, Güstrow, Germany

B2 - Means&3rd - Aural Dissociative - NUANCE001

This mix all came about via trying to be civilised on a saturday night and having something to eat and drink with friends but i got back home feeling less than satisfied. I spent the next couple of hours keeping my housemates up with what basically you can hear in this mix! its been a good 6 months since the last so hope you enjoy!

Not Content, With Not Going Out

I was asked to provide the 'Phones Down Finale Mix' for Afrodeutsche's show on BBC 6 Music which aired on the 22nd of April 2022. Expect a high paced mix of all things i'm into spread across 23 minutes where i try to put my taste across as efficiently as possible. 

Tracklisting:
1. Primal Code - Infected Biome (0:00 - 03:05)
2. Kyntral - Curación (Efraim Kent's Windwaker Mix) (03:05 - 05:04)
3. Feral - Chiromanzia 3 (05:04 - 06:14)
4. Polygonia - Arachnida (06:14 - 09:25)
5. Wata Igarashi - Junctions (09:25 - 12:04)
6. Refracted - The View From Cal Companyó (12:04 - 15:46)
7. Dino Sabatini - Ceto (13:00 - 18:40)
8. Norman Nodge - ManMade (14:25 - 19:10)
9. Means&3rd - Thought Contortion (16:30 - 22:33)
10. Barker - Maximum Utility (19:10 - 23:04)

Means&3rd - BBC 6 Music Phones Down Finale Mix for The People's Party w/Afrodeutsche

Means&3rd returns to Unveiled Nuance with 002 following the label's debut 'Thought Contortion'. This time coming armed with 4 tracks providing a more direct club sound and falling in line with NUANCE001's affinity for low-end, tight percussion and underlying tribalism.

‘Aberrance’ opens Side A with a broken rolling kick drum and FM-type polyrhythmic stabs which reach a kinetic climax with further patterns of distorted FM crunch and propulsive percussion that sit next to alien sound FX. ‘Life’s Glorious Mosaic’ gives way to a much more mesmerising mood, utilising classic CR-78 percussive shots to provide energy amongst a sea of delicately delayed glassy synth chirps, spacious and mystic, the perfect hypnotic spell.

‘Kairos’ is the first cut on side B, picking up the pace with deep and dense shamanic formant drones juxtaposed against ethereal stabs which provide rest bite from the heavy groove, a chance for the ear to get lost in a moment of psychedelia before seeing us out with the return to the solid rhythm. ‘Discordianism’ closes out the EP, anchoring around the repetitive grit of the lead synth, textured stabs unfold next to squeezed shots of phased synth work that subtly lay underneath it, the whole track, reduced in nature, perfect as a layered tool.


@means3rd
www.unveilednuance.com/
www.instagram.com/means_3rd/

Pressed on 140g black Vinyl, reverse board full colour print sleeve with poly-lined inner sleeve.

Pre-Order available at Bandcamp: https://means3rd.bandcamp.com/album/lifes-glorious-mosaic-ep

Produced, Programmed and Mixed by Means&3rd 
Mastered  by Neel @ Enisslab, Rome
Cut @ Schnittstelle Berlin
Design by Means&3rd 
Pressed By Matter Of Fact, Güstrow, Germany
Distributed by Rubadub, Glasgow

Life's Glorious Mosaic EP

Preview - Means&3rd - Life's Glorious Mosaic EP - NUANCE002

Means&3rd returns to Unveiled Nuance with 002 following the label's debut 'Thought Contortion'. This time coming armed with 4 tracks providing a more direct club sound and falling in line with NUANCE001's affinity for low-end, tight percussion and underlying tribalism.

‘Aberrance’ opens Side A with a broken rolling kick drum and FM-type polyrhythmic stabs which reach a kinetic climax with further patterns of distorted FM crunch and propulsive percussion that sit next to alien sound FX. ‘Life’s Glorious Mosaic’ gives way to a much more mesmerising mood, utilising classic CR-78 percussive shots to provide energy amongst a sea of delicately delayed glassy synth chirps, spacious and mystic, the perfect hypnotic spell.

‘Kairos’ is the first cut on side B, picking up the pace with deep and dense shamanic formant drones juxtaposed against ethereal stabs which provide rest bite from the heavy groove, a chance for the ear to get lost in a moment of psychedelia before seeing us out with the return to the solid rhythm. ‘Discordianism’ closes out the EP, anchoring around the repetitive grit of the lead synth, textured stabs unfold next to squeezed shots of phased synth work that subtly lay underneath it, the whole track, reduced in nature, perfect as a layered tool.

Pressed on 180g black Vinyl, reverse board full colour print sleeve with poly-lined inner sleeve.

​

Produced, Programmed and Mixed by Means&3rd 
Mastered by Neel @ Enisslab, Rome
Cut @ Schnittstelle Berlin
Design by Means&3rd 
Pressed By Matter Of Fact, Güstrow, Germany

B2 - Means&3rd - Discordianism - NUANCE002

B1 - Means&3rd - Kairos - NUANCE002

A2 - Means&3rd - Life's Glorious Mosaic - NUANCE002

A1 - Means&3rd - Aberrance - NUANCE002

A bit more of a deeper affair with a good emphasis on low end and broken rhythms. A pretty high intensity mix in places which i really enjoyed putting together.

Low & Broken

Means&3rd - Character Ethic EP

Record number 3 from Unveiled Nuance brings a new confidence in the further developed sound of owner Means&3rd. A continued eye for detail as well as a roughness that breathes dark soul into the production aesthetic that we have yet to hear from the artist.

“Hardship Repackaged As Growth” Opens the EP with boomy, rugged low end and grainy driven synth lines with sharp hits of wide sonic impact and a depth of layered atmosphere, placed on a bed of dense percussion until its break point exposes contorted, abrasive stabs just surviving the crunch of their processing, that then take the forefront. “Countenance” replies to the previous track with a more calculated, rounder and organic palette of audio that focuses on a cadenced synth line that breaths with the arrangement, fizzing to break point and engaging the deeper listen. Swung percussion keeps the groove providing a propulsive backing that sits on gnarled bass hits before the focus returns on the charged lead line.

“Character Ethic” carries deep suspense from the off, with filtered menace being teased below the surface, warping atmospheres are stacked and build the apprehension against a militant 16th shaker before an almost vocal like modulated synth reveals itself and is left to dance prominently across the stereo field. Layers of energy providing percussion complete the picture for a mesmerising trip. “Desperate And Relevant” the most driving of the 4 cuts takes an effectively reduced stand where square wave accents build new levels of intensity. Propulsive low-end and cohesive percussion writhe through the track’s arrangement closing out the EP with a powerful ending, a blistering siren sees the track’s breakpoint provide a release worthy of the pressure built.

Pressed on 140g black Vinyl, reverse board full-colour print sleeve with poly-lined inner sleeve. 

Produced, Programmed and Mixed by Means&3rd 
Mastered by Neel @ Enisslab, Rome
Cut by Marco Pellegrino
Design by Means&3rd 
Pressed By AFG, Rome, Italy
Distributed by Rubadub, Glasgow & Readymade, Berlin

Character Ethic EP

Preview - Means&3rd - Character Ethic EP - NUANCE003

In the lead up to Bohemian Groves 4th Birthday each of the residents has been asked to provide an exclusive mix with there own take on the Bohemian Grove sound. September 20th see's James T Cotton (JTC) make his Bohemian Grove debut, Tickets available via RA - http://www.residentadvisor.net/event.aspx?628878

Means&3rd - Bohemian Grove We Are IV

Means&3rd - Character Ethic EP

Record number 3 from Unveiled Nuance brings a new confidence in the further developed sound of owner Means&3rd. A continued eye for detail as well as a roughness that breathes dark soul into the production aesthetic that we have yet to hear from the artist.

“Hardship Repackaged As Growth” Opens the EP with boomy, rugged low end and grainy driven synth lines with sharp hits of wide sonic impact and a depth of layered atmosphere, placed on a bed of dense percussion until its break point exposes contorted, abrasive stabs just surviving the crunch of their processing, that then take the forefront. “Countenance” replies to the previous track with a more calculated, rounder and organic palette of audio that focuses on a cadenced synth line that breaths with the arrangement, fizzing to break point and engaging the deeper listen. Swung percussion keeps the groove providing a propulsive backing that sits on gnarled bass hits before the focus returns on the charged lead line.

“Character Ethic” carries deep suspense from the off, with filtered menace being teased below the surface, warping atmospheres are stacked and build the apprehension against a militant 16th shaker before an almost vocal like modulated synth reveals itself and is left to dance prominently across the stereo field. Layers of energy providing percussion complete the picture for a mesmerising trip. “Desperate And Relevant” the most driving of the 4 cuts takes an effectively reduced stance where square wave accents build new levels of intensity. Propulsive low-end and cohesive percussion writhe through the track’s arrangement closing out the EP with a powerful ending, a blistering siren sees the track’s breakpoint provide a release worthy of the pressure built.

Pressed on 140g black Vinyl, reverse board full-colour print sleeve with poly-lined inner sleeve. 

Produced, Programmed and Mixed by Means&3rd 
Mastered by Neel @ Enisslab, Rome
Cut by Marco Pellegrino
Design by Means&3rd 
Pressed By AFG, Rome, Italy
Distributed by Rubadub, Glasgow & Readymade, Berlin

Means&3rd - Character Ethic EP - 04 Desperate & Relevant

Means&3rd - Character Ethic EP - 03 Character Ethic

Means&3rd - Character Ethic EP - 02 Countenance

Means&3rd - Character Ethic EP - 01 Hardship Repackaged As Growth

After being an attendee since 2013 this was an insane opportunity for myself and I really hope I did it justice. A beautiful weekend in the welsh countryside surrounded by the most amazing community. The energy in there was felt by all and I think the recording captures it well. Thanks all for coming through, you all made it one that will be etched in my memory forever! 

Room 2, Sunday evening, 9:30-11pm

Means&3rd @ Freerotation 2024

Been to long....Varying styles as per, really hope you enjoy. xx

You We're Right

WWW.RADARRADIO.COM

Means&3rd [Eastern Bloc Takeover] for RADAR Radio

Means3rd - Limbo Radio - 5th.April.2019

So here is the recording from the 13th of December. It took me around 2 months to get everything together and was very lucky to be able to perform it for the first time in front of the best crowd at @eastern-bloc-records. Pretty raw in areas but it definitely captures the energy from the night. Enjoy listening and hopefully won't be too long before I'm doing it again. x

Means&3rd (Live Set) @ Eastern Bloc Records 13.12.19

My Track for the Manchester Save Our Scene compilation.

As the pandemic tightened its grip on the UK, the Manchester and Salford underground music community watched helplessly as our vital spaces; clubs, bars, record shops and creative hangouts began to close their doors indefinitely. Not allowing these closures to halt collective creativity, producers and musicians from across the city got to work. 20 artists have come together on this 90 minute compilation to showcase the bubbling pool of talent which the North West and beyond has to offer.

The compilation reflects the endless diversity that our scene thrives on. Featuring an array of sounds from breakneck techno to sample infused garage, clattering broken beat, sleazy italo, ghostly electro, dreamy pop and contemporary club. All of this amplifying the multifaceted musical bubble which the city facilitates.

All proceeds from the compilation are split 50/50 with the artists and the Save Our Scene - Manchester & Salford fund offering a range of support for workers within our community who won’t qualify for government funding as they may be freelance, on zero-hour contracts, paid cash in hand, or don’t meet other criteria.

Mastered by Charlie Tear @ Arc Studios, London

Artwork by Craig riddums

Monark's Dream (Manchester Save Our Scene - BRB Compilation)

My track for the PUEBLO SALVA PUEBLO compilation.

This compilation is an emergency project developed by “Ascetic Limited” (Los Angeles, CA / Tbilisi, GE) &  “One Night Collective” (HN/UK) to help collect donations for the people affected by  “Eta” and “Iota”, two strong hurricanes that battered the country of Honduras and Central America. 

Honduras is facing probably the greatest catastrophe of its history, the International Committee of the Red Cross estimates the recovery of damaged areas across Central America will take at least two years. 

No country has been hit harder than Honduras, where at least 3.7 million people, more than a third of the population, have been affected.
No region of Honduras has suffered more than the flood-prone valley surrounding San Pedro Sula, the country’s second-largest city and industrial center, where the storms caused the Chamelecón and Ulúa rivers to breach their banks.

This compilation Consists in 31 tracks from artists from around the world that have offered their support, their imagination and their precious time. 
The compilation will be launched exclusively on “Bandcamp” released by both labels on Friday 4th of December.

All the money that this project will generate will be donated to the people of Honduras that are in need of: food, shelter, medicine, clothes, somewhere to sleep and all the basic needs that the government is not offering.

This is a simple demonstration of the solidarity that the electronic music scene represents.

Mastering: 

Matt Salamone (Ascetic Limited) / João Rodrigues ( Tema Mastering)

Artwork/Design: 

Robert Anderson ( LEFTANDERSON)

Video/ Animation: 

A.Morgan

Buy on Bandcamp

Means&3rd - Confined Screams [Ascetic Limited / One Night Collective]

Unveiled Nuance

Means&3rd / Eastern Bloc Records /Manchester

Bookings : ben.unveilednuance@gmail.com

A steady and fulfilling path has been walked by Means&3rd aka Ben Marsden to get him to the creative space he currently occupies.



A Manchester resident since 2007 his musical education has been nurtured by the city and the experiences that have come with it. First beginning with his musical education, shortly followed by many years of promoting events and culminated in securing a place behind the counter at one of the UK’s finest record stores, Eastern Bloc Records, where he currently curates the House and Techno sections.



A local favourite and regular of Manchester's White Hotel, Warehouse Project, Soup Kitchen, and the close quarters of Eastern Bloc's very own club night his DJ'ing style has matured over the years to convey a more textured, headier but no less driving vision of techno that is always cohesive within its layers and never struggles to provide a boundless dynamic, especially when given the chance to play extended sets where he truly thrives, a keen intuition developed from over 2 decades of DJing. 



More recently he has zeroed in on his production skills with 2021 seeing the launch of his own imprint 'Unveiled Nuance' which will serve as a platform for his own productions and a true introduction to his sound as an artist. After years of meticulous analysis of his craft and the invaluable knowledge gained via the record shop, he has truly begun to sculpt his own sonic identity with a sharp attentiveness to detail.

Popular tracks by Means&3rd/Unveiled Nuance