Robot

Clarian - Is There Is a Light at the End (E.P)
SOFT001
Release Date: 29th September 2014

For most people, Seth Troxler is a name associated with Detroit-leaning House and Techno. Yet this only scratches the surface of Troxler's musical outlook, hence the formation of Soft Touch records; an imprint focused on peeling back the layers of the exotic and the strange, where interstellar guitar, calypso disco and seductive techno tracks can come together in unison and feel totally at home. On the labels first 10" release, long time friend and Guy Gerber collaborator, Clarian, collects three tracks for SOFT001; a kaleidoscopic journey through 6am electronics, afro-beat Indie pop and sixties West coast heartbreak. It's a bold opening statement for a label prepared to break the mould, get you on the floor with a whispered promise through the dry ice.

Clarian -  Is There Light At The End

You will probably recognise the name Clarian as one half of former synth pop leaning duo Footprintz. The Canadian has now stepped out on his own, and has released well-received solo EPs on Vision quest, Hot Creations and Turbo that saw him delve even deeper into a melancholic world of experimental house music.

As someone who learnt guitar and piano from a young age, Clarian’s music is very much alive and rich with real melody and feeling and that is once again the case on his debut EP for Canada’s My Favorite Robot Records.

Up first is the title track, a truly magical affair laced up with dangling harmonies, glowing percussive patterns and loopy melodies that suspend you in a huge open chamber and pleasure your soul as much as direct your feet. Musical, synth laden and beautiful tech like this doesn’t come along very often.

Next up is ‘Unrest’, another heavenly and super sensitive bit of richly melodic and vastly airy music. Hand claps, trilling keys and sweeping synths all colour an expansive deep house groove with real charm, wit and emotion.

Lastly, Clarian teams up with upcoming Miami based producer Uchi whose affinity for the dark &dreamy is on show for ‘Floating in the Wind’. It’s a sombre broken beat affair that has glowing pads backing sharp percussion and undulating drums and perfectly personifies the uplifting and intense mood of the dancefloor; a standout bit of work from these North American producers. 

This EP confirms Clarian to be very much out on his own in terms of the spirituality and artistry of the music he makes.

Buy on Beatport

Clarian and Uchi - Floating In The Wind

Clarian - Unrest

Clarian - Wasting Away Again In Moderation

A year after Fairmont dropped his highly impressive Lie To Me EP, Canadian outfit My Favorite Robot carefully curate a selection of remixes of tracks from this standout release. As well as one from the label’s eponymous production trio, the likes of Chloe, Abstraxion, Mattheis and John Digweed and Nick Muir all step up with their own great interpretations. 

French producer Chloe you will know from releasing killer cuts on MFRR, Live at Robert Johnson, Throne of Blood & BPitch Control as well as serving up hot DJ sets and mix compilations at clubs like Rex in Paris and for labels like Kill The DJ. Her remix of ‘Boa’ is a sparse but moody house affair, with deep groaning bass and an atmosphere akin to a deserted late night street. It’s a tense, broody track that will make for lots of dramatic moments on the floor. 

Next up, Harold Boué aka Abstraxion is a 29 years old French producer based in London and Marseille. He has released on Marketing, Biologic and Nicolas Jaar's label Other People. His remix of ‘Abysm’ is an invitingly hurried, heavyweight bit of electronic house funk with tons of great synth lines, interesting pads and weird sounds that make you want to move. 

Dutchman Mattheis of labels like Nous’klaer then goes for a much more blissed out, slow burning and ambient affair. He layers in lots of twinkling pads and rippled synth lines to his version of ‘The Most Beautiful Eyes in the World’ and it’s a stunning, widescreen bit of work that really sweeps you off your feet. 

MFR themselves tackle ‘Lie to Me’ flipping it into a brooding bit of slivery, reflective and synth heavy tech that rises and falls in beautiful ways, with gorgeous pads and feathery hi hats making for a super inviting rhythm. 

Finally the Bedrock boss and Renaissance legend that is John Digweed and his studio partner Nick Muir rework the same track with a sensitive heart and conjure up a warm, smooth and serene prog track that is riddled with great synths and really works you into a state of hypnosis. 

These carefully chosen remixers all manage to get fantastic results here, and as a result the whole package excels.  

Fairmont - The Biggest Eyes In The Wolrd (Mattheis Remix)

Fairmont - Lie To Me (My Favorite Robot Remix)

Fairmont - Lie To Me (John Digweed And Nick Muir Remix)

Fairmont - Abysm (Abstraxion Remix)

Fairmont - Boa (Chloe Remix)

My Favorite Robot aren't afraid to pay homage to their influences, as evidenced by this podcast. The basis is formed by a nice foundation of deep techno, yet al the garnish is formed by some synthpop, african drum patterns and wavey disco.

My Favorite Robot tries to maintain the spontaneity of their DJ sets in their live performances, in accordance to their mission of ignoring borders and broadening the definition of electronic music in order to deliver it to as many music lovers as possible: “When we were rehearsing for our first live shows, Voytek suddenly started a spontaneous jam of Alice in Chain songs. Jared and James were completely surprised and thus decided to keep that in our live set.” - C.

The full DJMag-interview will soon be available through http://www.sekoia.nl/my-favorite-robot-a-three-headed-entity/

Social:
http://www.myfavoriterobot.net
https://soundcloud.com/myfavoriterobot
https://www.facebook.com/myfavrobot
https://www.facebook.com/MyFavoriteRobotRecords
https://soundcloud.com/my-favorite-robot-records

Image: Drew Geraets
https://www.flickr.com/photos/drewgeraets

Become part of the SEKOIA community: 
Website: www.sekoia.nl
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Soundcloud: @sekoiacom

Interview

SEKOIA Podcast #029 - My Favorite Robot

Keeping it local, My Favorite Robot Records turn to the acclaimed Canadian house and techno producer that is Mateo Murphy for a new five track EP that explores the boundaries of quality electronic music.
Murphy has been active since the late 90s on labels like Turbo and Reconstructed but has been relatively quiet in recent years. This new EP marks a welcome return for a truly talented
producer.
Up first is ‘Focus,’ a languorous bit of elastic and dubbed out house music with twinkling melodies and bold bass strokes. Careful filter use allow rays of globular synth to beam into the
mix and add another layer of depth and colour. The dub version is that bit more stripped back and menacing with its granny chords and heady rhythms, then conjures up a heavenly, blissed out atmosphere with its celestial pads and chaired, starry melodies.
‘Apex’ marries arpeggiated keys that rise up through a glassy scale with icy hi hats and a nimble one note bassline. Uplifting and clean, crisp and expertly melodic, this one really will
sooth dance floors when dropped at the right time. The dub version is just as melodically well programmed but the bassline this time round is that bit more grounded and menacing.
It’s been a while since the world heard from Mateo but this latest missive proves he is a welcome voice in the global electronic conversation.

Mateo Murphy - Apex (Dub Mix)

Mateo Murphy - Apex (Original Mix)

Mateo Murphy - Steam

Mateo Murphy - Focus (Dub Mix)

Keeping it local, My Favorite Robot Records turn to the acclaimed Canadian house and techno producer that is Mateo Murphy for a new five track EP that explores the boundaries of quality electronic music.
Murphy has been active since the late 90s on labels like Turbo and Reconstructed but has been relatively quiet in recent years. This new EP marks a welcome return for a truly talented producer.
Up first is ‘Focus,’ a languorous bit of elastic and dubbed out house music with twinkling melodies and bold bass strokes. Careful filter use allow rays of globular synth to beam into the
mix and add another layer of depth and colour. The dub version is that bit more stripped back and menacing with its granny chords and heady rhythms, then conjures up a heavenly, blissed out atmosphere with its celestial pads and chaired, starry melodies.
‘Apex’ marries arpeggiated keys that rise up through a glassy scale with icy hi hats and a nimble one note bassline. Uplifting and clean, crisp and expertly melodic, this one really will
sooth dance floors when dropped at the right time. The dub version is just as melodically well programmed but the bassline this time round is that bit more grounded and menacing.
It’s been a while since the world heard from Mateo but this latest missive proves he is a welcome voice in the global electronic conversation.

Robot

Rebecca Jwt