IDM Mailing Archive

While browsing through Tower records today, I happened upon a CD by Techno Animal, called "Re * Entry". (the * is really a dot on the CD). On the front of this CD was a label, which said something along the lines of "Aphex Twin, Seefeel, ", and a few other artists... I can't remember the exact wording, because for some unexplained reason, I've managed to lose this label! I called up Tower to make sure that I wasn't just dreaming up seeing this label... The CD they had there definitely had a label on it, as the girl mentioned Aphex and Seefeel when she read me the content of the label. At any rate, as I'm listening to this now, I can sort of see where this music might _sound_ like something that a RDJ + Seefeel combo would cook up, but it just doesn't seem right. The inside label of the CD lists these people as the writers of the tracks: K. Martin / J. Broadrick. Also, some other names which are mentioned on a few tracks are: Jon Hassell (that rings a bell for some reason), Kingsuk Biswas, Tom Prentice, Dave Cochrane, Damian Bennett. Now, my question is of course, what, if anything, does this CD have to do with Aphex/Seefeel, or any other groups? I've got this idea that the label on the cover may have been referring to other releases to come or already out, but since I can't remember exactly what it said, I'm at a loss to explain this release. It's on the Virgin label, (Caroline in the US), and is a 2cd set. So far, the music sounds fairly IDM-ish... a very clean sound, which is quite uncharacteristic of anything by RDJ that I've heard. Also, I can't hear any guitar, processed or not, which would tip me off as to a Seefeel influence. If anyone else has heard this, clues, pointers, tips, etc most appreciated! -- guyjr@wc240.residence.gatech.edu a.k.a., Guy Elden Jr.

quoted 4 lines While browsing through Tower records today, I happened upon a CD by

> While browsing through Tower records today, I happened upon a CD by > Techno Animal, called "Re * Entry". (the * is really a dot on the CD). > Now, my question is of course, what, if anything, does this CD have to do > with Aphex/Seefeel, or any other groups?

Nothing, directly. The marketing department placed a promotional sticker on the disc _categorizing_ Techno Animal as d**k a*b*e*t in the vein of Seefeel and Aphex Twin. BTW, I was going to post asking for a review, so thanks, and TIA for any more opinions on this release. I remain, Peter aka prisekin@netcom.com Dusty Chalk dusty@access.digex.net

quoted 4 lines Nothing, directly. The marketing department placed a promotional sticker

> Nothing, directly. The marketing department placed a promotional sticker > on the disc _categorizing_ Techno Animal as d**k a*b*e*t in the vein of > Seefeel and Aphex Twin. BTW, I was going to post asking for a review, so > thanks, and TIA for any more opinions on this release.

The one thing that prevails among all the tracks is a sense of wandering. They never really go anywhere with the music... It's a lot of good production as far as the actual music sounding "clean", but there's not much beyond a bunch of samples and filter sweeps every once in a while being repeated over and over... Granted, I've only listened closely to tracks 1-3 on Disc 1, scanned briefly tracks 4-6, and didn't even touch Disc 2... There are bits that remind me of Aphex, but not much to maintain my attention for very long. -- guyjr@wc240.residence.gatech.edu a.k.a., Guy Elden Jr.

quoted 3 lines After getting some info from ozymandias, I've come to the conclusion that

>After getting some info from ozymandias, I've come to the conclusion that >the Techno Animal CD has no relation to RDJ or Seefeel, or any other note- >worthy IDM artists.

Well, I'm glad mine didn't come with the damn sticker or it would have broken my expectations as well. Instead what I got was some headsplittingly cool psycho-hop with with beats that demand your attention. No, it isn't AFX, nor is it Seefeel. I think Techno Animal is distinctly on their own (and very worth keeping). This is the kind of stuff that Skinny Puppy should be producing now.

On Wed, 5 Jul 1995, Pete Ashdown wrote:

quoted 6 lines Well, I'm glad mine didn't come with the damn sticker or it would have broken

> Well, I'm glad mine didn't come with the damn sticker or it would have broken > my expectations as well. Instead what I got was some headsplittingly cool > psycho-hop with with beats that demand your attention. No, it isn't AFX, nor > is it Seefeel. I think Techno Animal is distinctly on their own (and very > worth keeping). This is the kind of stuff that Skinny Puppy should be > producing now.

The first TA record, _Trepanning_ (I think?), was very, very slow - but came out roughly 3 years ago. TA is 1 part Godflesh (Justin) to 1 part Ice (Kevin), if I remember correctly. As Greg E. would say, Techno Animal and Scorn are "death metal heads with a clue." :-) Dave .------------------------------------------dave.manning@dreamland.unomaha.edu | "There is no other reality dmanning@cwis.unomaha.edu | but our own...." dmanning@eworld.com .-------------------------------------------- dgmanning@aol.com

quoted 9 lines After getting some info from ozymandias, I've come to the conclusion that

>> After getting some info from ozymandias, I've come to the conclusion that >> the Techno Animal CD has no relation to RDJ or Seefeel, or any other note- >> worthy IDM artists. > > Well, I'm glad mine didn't come with the damn sticker or it would have broken > my expectations as well. Instead what I got was some head-splittingly cool > psycho-hop with beats that demand your attention. No, it isn't AFX, nor is > it Seefeel. I think Techno Animal is distinctly on their own (and very worth > keeping).

As soemone else has undoubtedly already mentioned (I'm 300 e-mails behind), Techno-Animal is a collaboration between Justin Broadrick (Godflesh et al.) and Kevin Martin (God et al.). The first Techno Animal release, "Ghosts", was by far my favorite album of whatever year it came out ('91?). Amazing. I don't know how I'd classify it, although "Dark Ambient" is vaguely close. I haven't heard the new one yet, however. Of course, back when "Ghosts" came out I was still slightly more of an Industrial Rivet-Head than Techno-head, so I don't know what I'd think of "Ghosts" in the context of what's happened since then. I think it's safe to say that TA has some relation to Scorn, who are operating around the peripheries of what we might stretch to label "IDM". As for "psycho-hop", isn't that (tm) Meat Beat Manifesto? (-:

quoted 1 line This is the kind of stuff that Skinny Puppy should be producing now.

> This is the kind of stuff that Skinny Puppy should be producing now.

'Cept they're dead (broke up June 12th), plus SP had vocals. You might be more on the mark stating that about Download (the post-SP project), but what they've been doing isn't remotely like psycho-hop. More like Just Plain Weird Shit. I don't like it at all. (Plus, if you say "what SP should be ... ", you'll get Ozy on yer case (-: ) - Greg

On Wed, 5 Jul 1995, Greg Earle wrote:

quoted 7 lines Techno-Animal is a collaboration between Justin Broadrick (Godflesh et al.) and

> Techno-Animal is a collaboration between Justin Broadrick (Godflesh et al.) and > Kevin Martin (God et al.). The first Techno Animal release, "Ghosts", was by > far my favorite album of whatever year it came out ('91?). Amazing. I don't > know how I'd classify it, although "Dark Ambient" is vaguely close. I haven't > heard the new one yet, however. Of course, back when "Ghosts" came out I was > still slightly more of an Industrial Rivet-Head than Techno-head, so I don't > know what I'd think of "Ghosts" in the context of what's happened since then.

I think a *lot* this proto-dark ambient from industrial/idm folks points directly back to the more haunting elements of Coil, the scarier parts of Current 93, and (dammit!) Godflesh. I *still* think _Slavestate_ has some of the best dance tunes from the era, and certainly serves as Greg's proverbial bridge between industrial and idm. Somehow, though, the whole Godflesh/Scorn/God access droned out, toked up, and slowed down after _Slavestate_. (Actually, God was pretty ambient, but I digress). I think Justin's work with Robert from Loop - the _Pure_ LP had a lot to do with it, and Techno Animal's "Ghosts" simply followed from "Pure II" and, from the same era, SP's "Download" from _Too Dark Park_. I just love this theory shit. Dave OnNow: Freaky Chakra! .------------------------------------------dave.manning@dreamland.unomaha.edu | "There is no other reality dmanning@cwis.unomaha.edu | but our own...." dmanning@eworld.com .-------------------------------------------- dgmanning@aol.com

On Wed, 5 Jul 1995, Dave Manning wrote:

quoted 2 lines Somehow, though, the whole Godflesh/Scorn/God access droned out, toked up,

> Somehow, though, the whole Godflesh/Scorn/God access droned out, toked up, > and slowed down after _Slavestate_. (Actually, God was pretty ambient, but

The first Godflesh album would make _Slavestate_ sound like jungle.

quoted 3 lines I digress). I think Justin's work with Robert from Loop - the _Pure_ LP

> I digress). I think Justin's work with Robert from Loop - the _Pure_ LP > had a lot to do with it, and Techno Animal's "Ghosts" simply followed from > "Pure II" and, from the same era, SP's "Download" from _Too Dark Park_.

Don't forget about Final, _One_ -- Justin Broadrick's solo project of ambience recorded over a period of several years. Naturally, it is very much like "Pure II". I do not see the connection between "Download" and this material. IMO, "Download" follows from the Industrial roots of Throbbing Gristle and Psychic TV, and perhaps artists like the Hafler Trio. The material may arrive in similar terrain, but traveled from different directions to get there.