Dark Science Electro

Lowfish Reel Electronics Volume 14 - October 17, 2013

Intro is a mangled Coil sample...

1. "Xylitolic" (Grapht Fatal Flowers Remix) - Zyxt
2. "When all is said and done" - Ancient Methods
3. " Moddax" - Perc & Modern Heads
4. "Least Inkling" - Front 242
5. "Babaks House" - Cloudface
6. "Dust" - Alex Smoke
7. "Elephant Generators" - Solvent
8. "Sleep Games" - Pye Corner Audio
9. "Prisms" - Clockwork
10. "Daylight for 15 seconds" - Manasyt
11. "Blackpool Late Eighties" - Holden


Lowfish Reel Electronics Vol. 14

Before I did stuff under the name Lowfish I recorded as Pest(e). "Wrinkle" is from the 1995 cassette release "Test(e)" by Pest(e). I thought I was pretty clever with all the brackets…I did the art to this as well - I was just starting in graphic design then...

This track and a few other Pest(e) tracks were re-released on Suction Records (which we started in 1997, the year after this cassette was produced).

Wrinkle - by Pest(e) - 1995

ARTIST: Skanfrom
TITLE: Postcards
LABEL/CAT#: Suction Records / suction027
RELEASE DATE: October 7, 2014
FORMAT: Vinyl/CD/digital

Suction Records is proud to present "Postcards," a new full-length by Skanfrom - his first album since 2002… Skanfrom is Roger Semsroth from Berlin, best known for his  purist minimal techno project Sleeparchive.

Before Sleeparchive, there was Skanfrom… Skanfrom first appeared in the late-90s, releasing limited edition 7"s on his own A.D.S.R. label, part of a small movement of DIY labels influenced by the melodic, experimental electronica output of labels like Rephlex, Skam, and Warp. Skanfrom's music displayed a particular affinity for the lush, melodic electro of Bochum Welt, an early signing to Aphex Twin's Rephlex label; you could practically call Bochum Welt the blueprint for Skanfrom's sound. But there was something a little different about Skanfrom…

Unlike Bochum Welt, who claimed influence from big shiny '80s producers like Trevor Horn and Thomas Dolby, Skanfrom was also listening to a lot of raw synthwave music - the influence of early Depeche Mode (Speak and Spell), Kraftwerk (Radioactivity), and obscure bands like Vice Versa and Ceramic Hello, clearly set Skanfrom apart from his IDM contemporaries.

Skanfrom found a likeminded home in Suction Records, who were releasing records by Solvent and Lowfish with many of the same musical references. In 2002, Skanfrom released his debut album on Suction Records, "Hand Picked Fragments." A lot has changed since 2002, but in Skanfrom world, 2014 is very much the same. "Postcards" is full of the same pure and melodic electro(pop) that made Skanfrom so special to us from the start. As it was in the beginning, Skanfrom produced "Postcards" using little more than his beloved Roland SH-101; this classic vintage monosynth, with it's minimal layout and pure analogue tone, remains the ideal instrument for Skanfrom's enduring, synthetic sound.

"Perseids Over Greenwich" by Skanfrom

Jason 'Solvent' Amm has been active since the late 90s, creating numerous indefinable mutations of dance, rich with the pulsing warmth and chaos of analogue circuitry. Recent years have seen Amm serving as producer, co-writer and interviewer for the independent documentary epic I Dream Of Wires exploring the history, demise and resurgence of the ultimate electronic music machine, the Modular Synthesizer. All the while Solvent has pursued the industrial, acidic sounds that have always lain dormant in his work, and this mix for R$N offers an emotional gut punch, with slow, stately machine music giving way to chunks of bristling techno and bursts of quivering, tentatively euphoric melody. We caught up with Amm to discuss just how a producer who doesn't "put a lot of stock into recording mixes" goes about making a mixtape...
Full interview here: http://www.theransomnote.co.uk/music/mixes/solvent-the-ransom-note-mixtape/

Alessandro Cortini - Stella 
Lowfish - Knives 
Alain Kepler - Radio Wave Tracker 
Clouds - Blood Skating 
Varg - Norrlandsbrigad 69R 
Cylob - Durftal 
Strider.B. - [Bradley's Robot A1] 
Gescom - Viral Rival (Rmxd By Ae) 
[UNKNOWN ARTIST] - [Papers001-B1] 
Cloudface - On None 
Blacknecks - Don't Dream It Be It 


Read Full Interview

Solvent - The Ransom Note Mixtape

Dj Mag Review:
UMWELT
Post Human Satamile
The title really says it all. While NY imprint Satamile has a reputation for releasing uncompromising material,, French producer Umwelt applies his focus even deeper into the electro abyss. 'P.O.W', with its ghoulish riffs and industrial influences,, recalls a time when it was dangerous to walk the streets of New York. 'Biological Entity' and 'Zeta Reticuli Incident - a reference to Umek's electro alter ego - are powered by humming low-end intensity, while the hyper-breaks of'Delinkant' suddenly spiral out of control, like an angry crowd on the verge of rioting. This is the sound of new world disorder, frightening and unpredictable but strangely alluring.

UMWELT
biography
Lyon, France !


Behind Umwelt is a french music fanatic and an electronic music promotion activist. 
He is a real radio passionate: he has run radio broadcasts since 1993 and Teknocity since 1999.

As a DJ, going by the name of Freddy'J, he started mixing hardcore in 1993.. Now he is more eclectic. He plays electro, electrobreaks, breakbeat, breakcore... but he still has a weakness for dark sounds . 
He has outstanding mixing abilities; a french journalist saied “he is the Mozart of descks!”. Actually, he has not only a perfect technique but also a huge feeling by   leading people on a physical and mental travels.

As an artist, Umwelt he has been composing electronic music since 1996 and released his first tracks in 1997. He began producing techno and electro on his own labels Shelter and Fundata Records that have met a great success. Now his sounds are more electro, dark and broken. From the beginning, he has exclusively worke with hardware: this man loves machines ...he doesn't find computers and softwares very attractive and very sexy...


- “Post Humain” - SAT28  – Summer 2005
- “La Nouvelle Chair” - K6 XIV – 2005
 - “Telek” -  on Beatzclash vol1 compilation LP + CD  LHLP03/LHCD03 – 2002

- "Mountain Wilderness" - SH 05 (100 ltd) – 2000
- "Revisited EP" - SH 04 – 2000

 - "Landscape EP" - SH 03 – 1999
 - "Swelt EP" - FDT 04 - 1999
 - "...City EP" - SH 02 - 1999
- "Tchoukar EP" - SH 01 – 1999

 – "KinderspielL" (aka Junkman)  - FDT 03  - 1998
 - "Un:Real Convenience"  cd album - FDT01CD  - 1998
 – "STYX" - TK 01  - 1998
 - "Gas 41" - FDT 02  - 1998
- “Action” -Trax CD Sampler 008  - 1998

 - "Zeltron EP" - FDT 01 - 1997
 - “Traboul” (exclu) - license on Futuria 97 compilation - 1997


Bandcamp

The Zeta Reticuli Incident by Umwelt

Taken from 'New Ways: Music From The Documentary I Dream Of Wires' by Solvent, out August 14, 2015.

Purchase at The Ghostly Store: http://www.theghostlystore.com/collections/music-downloads/products/solvent-new-ways

Solvent - King Vincent (Wrangler Remix)

Digital Poodle "Work Terminal (Solvent revision)"
from "Revision! vol.1 - Work Terminal"
Suction Records / suction036
12"/digital - Nov 2015

Digital Poodle - Work Terminal (Solvent revision)

NTT DoCoMo

Illuminated Displays

Reference Frame

Event Horizon

"Tunnel" -- from "EP 1"
BUY: rx-101.bandcamp.com/album/ep-1

Suction Records presents the first in a series of archival releases by RX-101 - previously unreleased material, originally recorded to cassette circa 1997-1999. Pure and authentic Aphex Twin-style techno/IDM/electronics.

“EP 1” (suction032)
12” vinyl EP - October 17, 2016

RX-101 - "Tunnel"

Demonstration Tape (1997-2007)

Creepy Crawler

Return Of Atlantian EP

Humans Act Like Robots

SOLVENT WISH BASSABYSS MIX

self-titledmag.com/2017/12/13/ne235-solvent-mix-idm-braindance/

NE235: Solvent

Hi, here is the first full stream of EMS's "Rythmus Machine" , and tons of info about this overlooked producer. Also we have his limited Edition T-shirts for sell, 8$  on bandcamp. Buy one T'shirt and get the full Wav. file of the LP in return. Pretty good deal and great way to support the Artist and the Wunderground!!

http://satamile.bandcamp.com/




EMS is one of our most diverse and talented artists on the label. I found him living above Strange? Records in 1995 making his own modular synths, vocoders and drum machines for his electro productions. Stephen Machnowski currently has 3 eps on Satamile Records and a full length 2x12. He falls into the category of genius electro producer with records that have charted amongst the worlds top DJ’s and radio stations both nationally and internationally. It’s rare to find someone such as him who can build the exact modules from transistor up, write, engineer , perform live and dj!! 

XLR8R (USA) May 2004
"...six exceptional cuts in which minimal groove, analogical modulations, subtle vocoders, gloomy melodies and heading hypnotic bass lines combine perfectly, EMS introduces his definition of a both deep and funky syncopated music. The final result is just simply amazing!!

Dave Clarkes Techno Tip Sheet 
TOP FIVE ELECTRO 
1) Non Stop DJ's "Furious Ep" 
2) Blotnik Brothers "Elapse Current Loop" (Satamile) 
3) Manasyt "Sore" (Touchin' Bass) 
4) Ems " Synchronaut" (Satamile) 
5) RA-X "The Overthrow Ep" (RMR) 

EMS - SYNCHRONAUT - SATAMILE - 2xLP (SAT017) 

"EMS - Synchronaut" and "Blotnik Brothers - Elapse Current Loop" are two of Dave Clarke's 
TOP 5 electro picks 
--May 7, 2004 www.daveclarke.com (UK) 

"...more ears are primed for real electro than ever...ems brings unrelenting beats and time tested robotic vocoders to the dancefloor" 
--Review XLR8R (USA) May 2004 

"...six exceptional cuts in which minimal groove, analogical modulations, subtle vocoders, gloomy melodies and heading hypnotic bass lines combine perfectly, EMS introduces his definition of a both deep and funky syncopated music. The final result is just simply amazing!!" 
--Review by Atome.com (France) May 17, 2004 

"‘Crack In The Sun’ is a brilliant opener, almost hittting Detroit territory due to its warm analogue synths that play a lush sequence and modulate throughout the track, while underneath a stripped and jacking electro beat rolls with the sub bass, class groove. Also head for ‘Ginetik’ which has one of the warmest swooping basslines that hugs the beat with classic arpeggiator-esque synths that deliver a killer electro atmosphere. My fave has to be ‘Ellipticophasic’ which has an amazing and hard beat backed by acidic synths to drop what is probably the hardest cut on the album, it stands out so much due to the punchy drums that will rock a dancefloor solidly, ace New York electro shizzle." 
--Review by Boomkat.com (UK) May 2004 

"A full six track double pack that's bursting at the seams with cracking dancefloor electro grooves. After two great singles they cememt their place as key players for this top new york label. Hefty grooves, deep basslines and a more than liberal sprinkling of wicked sounds. Recommended." 
--Review by Smallfish.co.uk (UK) May 2004 

* The very first Satamile signature strikes back in full length version! After releasing three magnificent EP's, ''Exoplanet. Voice. Transistors'' ''Robotronic Rhythm''and ' 'Colonized'' on Andrew A. Price NYC based structure, rare and precious talent Stephen Machnowski signs here a dancefloor and mental electro deluxe album in its own and inimitable trademark. In six exceptional cuts in which minimal groove, analogical modulations, subtle vocoders, gloomy melodies and heading hypnotic bass lines combine perfectly, E.M.S introduces his definition of a both deep and funky syncopated music. The final result is just simply amazing! Grade A to sumptuous ''Crack In The Sun'', ''Ginetik'' and ''Ellipticophasic'', three tracks that confer ''Synchronaut'' opus its essential status. 
--Review by Dropshop.com (USA) June 2004 

Radio Plays: 
Kiss 100 Dave Mothersole 5/11/04 
Kiss 100 Tayo 
Kiss 100 Rev Milo 5/16/04 
Spin 103 Barry O'donoghue 5/20/04 + 5/27/04 
Passion FM Dan Bean 5/15/04 

Selected DJ Comments 
Keith Tenniswood - "The EMS ting I got is ace!!!" 
Tomaz (switch) - "I really love this! Ginetik and Getghetto are the best tracks. Chart and 
Airplay (Charted #10)" 
Percy X - "Love one of the trax on this LP, still playing loads of em" 
Mark Broom - "Yeah into it. Satamile can't put a foot wrong for me...going from strength to 
strength. Big up the NY Possee" 
The Hacker – “Good album, pure electro. I like it!” 
DJ Hyper – “Love it” 
Ade Fenton (Advanced/Atomic Jam) – “Best tracks are ‘Illusion Mode’ & ‘Ginetik’. I prefer 
the harder tracks on the album” 
Xander (Romp) – “This is the business. 9/10” (Charted #7) 
Barry O’Donoghue (Hotpress/Spin 103) – “Absolutely fantastic. Two tracks on this week’s 
show. Word.” 

Grooves Magazine 
Following up on the original vinyl released earlier in 2004, the CD version of Synchronaut adds five new tracks. With a distinctively deep, dark analog sound that harkens back to a mix of early acid, Detroit techno, and classic Elektroids, the record is packed with the classic 4/4, relentless 16ths of percussion , and robotic vocals of the 80's b-boy sound. Brisk and biting, tracks like "Close Encounters" and "Get Ghetto" establish an oppressive futurist vision early. But "Plt_lounge_eur" is a lovely, almost nostalgic electro piece that lubricates the ear canals, being plush and synthetic at the same time, and "Rhthmus Machine" slows down to an introspective crawl, its sensuous knob-twiddling making the piece grow and rise like a post-massive dawn. EMS has put together these extra pieces with as much care and attention as his homemade instruments. Highly recommended. 
Written by Alex Reynolds
credits

released 26 April 2004 
Stephen Machnowski, Frankford+Wayne Mastering, Gabe @ B'constructive design, Roland 909, 808, Juno 106, Satamile
tags



http://www.electromusic.com/studio/
Technical History
The electromusic specialist began designing and assembling his studio in New York in 1994. The initial purpose was to have a live setup that he could use to construct songs directly on the dance floor with few pre-written sequences.
Many of his synthesizers and drum machines were self-engineered from recycled, discarded electronics; converted into chaotic but solid techno music machines. From the transistor up they were engineered for raw bass power and allowed stray noises and malfunctions to become part of the recording or show.
The main foundation pieces of equipment at the time were his "CMS-01" modular synth, "Modularhythm System-3" drum machine, and "Sputnik Voice Processor SVP-02" vocoder. After his first couple records, EMS started to incorporate some commercial synthesizers into his studio to fill out tracks for the third record with plenty of live-performed layers without having to multitrack, but instead doing a 1 shot composite recording. Some of his most-used additional instruments were the Oberheim SEM, Sequential Circuits Pro-1 and Roland SH-101, which contained several modifications and enhancements.
CMS-01 Modular Synthesizer
The CMS-01 contains the following modules: VCO(2), VCF(2), VCA(3), AR Envelope, ADSR Envelope, Sample&Hold, Ring Modulator, Patch Bay, Trigger Extractor, AC/DC Mixer, LFO/HFO, VC Glide, Comparator, Envelope Follower, VC Slew Limiter
VCO 1
Based on an old design which is mostly discrete, this VCO is quite temperature sensitive. This one was fun trying to keep in tune every time someone opened the door or cranked up the fog machine. Cold makes the pitch go flat on this unit. Other than that, it has a very warm sound and has a massive frequency range.
Listen to: Rhythmus Machine
VCO 2
Standard 1970s "3340" oscillator design with sub bass.
Listen to: EMS acid/switch mix
VCF1
Diode ladder filter.
Sample & Hold
Labeled S&H, this little component helped a lot at shows. To fill the silence between live or DJ sets this one was patched in to VCO2 with a slow clock for sample rate and the voltage was output to a self-oscillating VCF1. Lots of blips and bleeps that could be tweaked to sound like computers from early scifi movies. Some notes could shake the floor with bass where the next could hang on almost inaudible high frequencies.
Listen to: Sample and hold example
LFO
Well, this might as well have been called HFO since it was mostly used as a high-frequency modulation source often applied to a VCF. The sound from that kind of patch is described as "talkie" because at certain settings you can almost hear vowel sounds. The component is on the bottom left, look for the small blue LED.
Listen to: Gemini

Bandcamp!! Buy It!

"Spyware" by EMS for Satamile Rec.

http://solventcity.com

http://facebook.com/solvent

http://discogs.com/artist/Solvent

For over a decade, Jason Amm’s work as Solvent has neatly defied categorization. His music is too sweetly melodic for techno or acid, his compositions too fiendishly detailed for synth-pop. He was too steeped in the sounds of the ‘80s to participate in the incipient IDM scene; he was briefly lumped in with the short-lived electroclash movement, only to outlive it; he’s played “minimal wave” parties and goth clubs, indie-rock shows and techno all-nighters. But even as words fail in the face of Solvent’s music, its pleasures are anything but elusive.

Today, Zimbabwe-born Jason Amm lives in Toronto, ON, where he spends his time obsessively grappling with an outsized collection of vintage analog synthesizers, samplers, and sequencers. Solvent first materialized in 1997 with a string of singles and full-lengths (1998’s Solvent, 1999’s Solvently One Listens) on Amm’s own Suction Records, the Toronto-based label he founded with Lowfish’s Gregory DeRocher. The watershed release Solvent City (2001) on Berlin-based Morr Music introduced Amm’s sound to a wider audience, and Apples &amp; Synthesizers (2004) marked Solvent’s move to Ghostly International. Along with notable remixes of artists including Soft Cell, Alter Ego, and Adult., Solvent tracks have appeared on high-profile DJ mixes and seminal compilations.

Solvent’s most recent record on Ghostly International, 2010?s Subject to Shift, marks a turn for the darker as Amm embraces his love of the abrasive sounds of acid and industrial. And while a sinister tone or two now dances among Solvent’s sparkling hooks and bright streaks of synthesizer, and while Amm’s music drifts even further from accepted genre-specific reference points, Solvent’s sound has only deepened. After more than ten years of composing love songs for robots, Amm sounds like nothing more than himself.



Creepy Crawler

solvent

Related tracks