IDM Mailing Archive

Biosphere- Seti Project is out on Apollo. It's pretty good, but the vocal sample is kind of cheesy. The original "Seti Project" is pretty fast to be on an ambient label (140-150 ? bpm), but the remix is pure ambience. I like the cover art. It seems as if the Designers Republic is trying to copy the style of those 23 envelope people over at 4AD. Nothing wrong with that though. Anyone heard the new album "Patashnik" yet? It's had pretty good reviews in Melody Maker, NME and Select, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything. In either MM or NME, they have a full 2 page color ad. Where is all of R&S' money coming from? The Aphex re-issues? Jonathan eabu751@orion.oac.uci.edu

WEDS 3 MARCH - HERBAL TEA PARTY, THE NEW ARDRI, MANCHESTER DJ - RESIDENT Typical Glastonbury-Sound-system-crusty- 120BPM-look-i've-sampled-the-303-and-808-no breakbeats-here-mate Techno DAVID HOLMES, (SUGAR-SWEET, BELFAST) good sounds, not too impressed with mixing choice, lots of big biuld-up acid techno, leading to very wishywsashy ambient. A lot of US techno and i wish he could have left the basslines alone instead of trying to be clever and taking out basslines (bassdrum) for a couple of bars, leaving a 303 and a hi-hat, most of the time. The sound system was crap anyway,without letting the DJ piss around with a Bass EQ Fader.. PA - SPACE CADET , LOCAL BAND - OZRIC TENTACLES WANNABES Live drums, Bass guitar, Roland sequencer, bassoon - not very impressive, the same tired old dub reggae bass lines, no vocals/samples, folky bassoon. songs too long but alright as background music. - BIOSPHERE, Initial impressions was not too good, typical scandinavian student-looking sequencer-know-all wonders on stage. Blonde hair, and wearing those awful blotchy shell suit bottoms that appear so popular on the continent.. First tune was good / interesting, this man was nervous, kept fucking up the chords, but you couldn't tell unless you could see his face (expression of : why are all these drugged up crustys and technutters here looking at me ) second tune, his partner came on ( probably got held up trying to get a drink and interpreteting the Irish bar staff's accents ) and things suddenly got a lot better. BPM slowly increased through the set (up to 120 BPM ) moog basslines got louder. lots of vocal film samples, put through delay. Nice dancable beats,lots of whooshy analoguey sounds. A lot like the ORB in many places but instead of soundinglike a copy it all sounded dead fresh and inspirational... J.D. Conclusion 8/10 - Good night out got better when we all chilled out at home staying up to 6am spinnin' ambient tunes and toking

I went to see Biosphere last night and it was OK, didn`t blow me away though. Everyone who was anyone turned up: Renaat from R&S, Morris, Seefeel, the Oscillate crew and so on and so on until it was a kind of industry back-slapping affair. I also met this kid, 16 years old, who`s just been over to Belgium to sign to R&S, and he gets into all the gigs free, and he gets all the records free... what a git! He really did get on my nerves, arrogant little upstart that he is... Anyway, I got that 69 thing on Planet E, also the 7th Plain`s new 12" and Planetary Assault Systems` "Planetary Funk Vol.1". Still haven`t decided what`s best out of the 7th Plain and 69, though... Should I buy "Jazz is the Teacher" by Model 500? That drugs thing: the point with idm is that it has a cerebral appeal, ie that one can listen to it without needing drugs (while other forms of music need speed, alcohol, coke, whatever. This is why a lot of people who listen to it aren`t into drugs at all. However most people in the clubs etc do use recreational drugs and it`s hard to escape that fact. If you go to idm type gigs and clubs don`t be surprised to see a lot of people skinning up, but you never see any hard drugs which are the real problem (at least I never). So stop arguing! "Are you down with the Underground?" Peace, 5000 gee Brendan Nelson Lost Transmission From Cowley

> > I went to see Biosphere last night and it was OK, didn`t blow me away > though. Everyone who was anyone turned up: Renaat from R&S, Morris, Seefeel, > the Oscillate crew and so on and so on until it was a kind of industry > back-slapping affair. Can you or anyone else tell me more about Biosphere? I only first heard about him recently due to his previous career as a member of Bel Canto, who I adore. Is anything of his available in the US yet? I gather his UK label is Apollo/R & S...

Ned Andrew Raggett wrote:

quoted 12 lines I went to see Biosphere last night and it was OK, didn`t blow me away

> > > > > I went to see Biosphere last night and it was OK, didn`t blow me away > > though. Everyone who was anyone turned up: Renaat from R&S, Morris, Seefeel, > > the Oscillate crew and so on and so on until it was a kind of industry > > back-slapping affair. > > Can you or anyone else tell me more about Biosphere? I only first heard > about him recently due to his previous career as a member of Bel Canto, > who I adore. Is anything of his available in the US yet? I gather his > UK label is Apollo/R & S... >

Biosphere (Geir Jenssen) has two albums out so far, _Microgravity_ (1992) and _Patashnik_ (1994 - just released). I just picked up the latter and while it takes a little time to get into, it's very much worth it. Microgravity is a little short on ideas by comparison. Geir also has an album with Pete Namlook called _The Fires of Ork_ which I haven't heard. He also used to do cheezy new-beat stuff under the name Bleep. No US (or even UK) releases that I know of. ------------------------------------------------|------------------------------ "categories strain, crack, and sometimes break | Harvey D. Thornburg step out of the space provided" -NWW | hthornbu@osiris.ac.hmc.edu ------------------------------------------------|----------------------------

quoted 5 lines Can you or anyone else tell me more about Biosphere? I only first heard

> Can you or anyone else tell me more about Biosphere? I only first heard > about him recently due to his previous career as a member of Bel Canto, > who I adore. Is anything of his available in the US yet? I gather his > UK label is Apollo/R & S... >

"Can you imagine, an extra-terrestrial disc jockey? ...like listening to radiowaves from space... ...it was UNbelievable!" --Biosphere, "Seti Project" -djkc

quoted 6 lines I went to see Biosphere last night and it was OK, didn`t blow me away

> > > I went to see Biosphere last night and it was OK, didn`t blow me away > though. Everyone who was anyone turned up: Renaat from R&S, Morris, Seefeel, > the Oscillate crew and so on and so on until it was a kind of industry > back-slapping affair.

Unbelievable! All these guys under one roof? WHOA!!!

quoted 10 lines That drugs thing: the point with idm is that it has a cerebral appeal, ie

> > That drugs thing: the point with idm is that it has a cerebral appeal, ie > that one can listen to it without needing drugs (while other forms of music > need speed, alcohol, coke, whatever. This is why a lot of people who listen > to it aren`t into drugs at all. However most people in the clubs etc do use > recreational drugs and it`s hard to escape that fact. If you go to idm type > gigs and clubs don`t be surprised to see a lot of people skinning up, but > you never see any hard drugs which are the real problem (at least I never). > So stop arguing! >

I think these are elitist, misinformed, and generalizing (possibly stereotyping) statements. Saying that other forms of music NEED speed, etc, is basically an insult to these forms... you're saying a person requires a dosage of drugs to listen to classical, pop, rock, jazz, or whatever, otherwise they sound like crap(to put it blatantly). And saying people listening to IDM aren't into drugs is based on what facts/research? If IDM is supposed to naturally put you in a drug-like state, how do the musicians/composers/producers KNOW what a drug-induced state is like in the first place? I believe what you mean to say is that IDM is more hypnotic than other forms of music...even without drug-enhancement. But the purpose of listening to music is not soley to be entranced or hallucinate (synesthaesia). Maybe YOU require drugs to listen to other forms of music, but there are those who appreciate different forms of music in different ways...without drugs too. Be careful about making general statements like that... I believe how people define Intelligent, Danceable, and even Music is all opinion. There are no absolute definitions. I just don't wanna see this list get all elitist about it's music or closed-minded about all other music.

quoted 1 line "Are you down with the Underground?"

> "Are you down with the Underground?"

Yep! But, we're still a part of a grand stratification... ...different, but not separate...

quoted 1 line Peace, 5000 gee

> Peace, 5000 gee

peace.

quoted 3 lines Brendan Nelson

> Brendan Nelson > Lost Transmission From Cowley >

-djkc

quoted 6 lines though. Everyone who was anyone turned up: Renaat from R&S, Morris,

>> though. Everyone who was anyone turned up: Renaat from R&S, Morris, >>Seefeel, >> the Oscillate crew and so on and so on until it was a kind of industry >> back-slapping affair. > >Unbelievable! All these guys under one roof? WHOA!!!

I was the only person in the chill-out room who had bought a record in the past month! Everyone else was an industry blagger of some sort and I was the only second class scumbag there. I felt so out of place! [my stuff on idm being more cerebral than other musics]

quoted 6 lines I think these are elitist, misinformed, and generalizing (possibly

> I think these are elitist, misinformed, and generalizing (possibly > stereotyping) statements. > Saying that other forms of music NEED speed, etc, is basically an insult > to these forms... you're saying a person requires a dosage of drugs to > listen to classical, pop, rock, jazz, or whatever, otherwise they sound > like crap(to put it blatantly).

No I`m not. I`m saying that gabba, for example, isn`t made with the armchair listener in mind, and also (you`ve got to admit) there is a tiny minority of people who go to indie/metal clubs who don`t drink. I`ve been listening to idm for quite a while and hardly ever use drugs, and other people I know are the same. And I do listen to a lot of other styles of music apart from IDM so I don`t feel ignorant.

quoted 2 lines And saying people listening to IDM aren't into drugs is based on what

> And saying people listening to IDM aren't into drugs is based on what > facts/research?

That`s not really what I said. I said that if you go to IDM clubs you`ll see loads of people skinning up but not as much heroin (for example), or hard drugs in general.

quoted 3 lines If IDM is supposed to naturally put you in a drug-like state, how do

>If IDM is supposed to naturally put you in a drug-like state, how do >the musicians/composers/producers KNOW what a drug-induced state is like >in the first place?

Because most of the musicians/composers/producers DO take drugs! I`m not sure I implied the opppsite... but on the other hand, Daniel Pemberton was only 15 (he`s 16 now) when he produced a tape that totally stunned Mixmaster Morris, and he never takes any drugs at all! He`s signed to R&S now...

quoted 2 lines I believe what you mean to say is that IDM is more hypnotic than other

>I believe what you mean to say is that IDM is more hypnotic than other >forms of music...even without drug-enhancement.

Basically, yeah.

quoted 1 line Maybe YOU require drugs to listen to other forms of music

> Maybe YOU require drugs to listen to other forms of music

No I don`t, not at all.

quoted 2 lines I just don't wanna see this list get all elitist about it's music or

>I just don't wanna see this list get all elitist about it's music or >closed-minded about all other music.

Nor do I. Anyone who`s read any of my posts before will know that I have a very eclectic musical taste. And this particular discussion is relevant in that it does relate to idm: it`s more like "Do you need drugs to fully enjoy IDM" rather than "Is it OK to take drugs" so no flames please! Peace out Brendan Nelson Lost Transmission From Cowley "Experimenting for our future"

would love to come on friday. the offer of the guest list sounds ace could you put as many of the following on as possible without looking like a total blagger - amanda cooney, matthew moore, sud (his surname is unpronouncable), and tell me where it is again as i destroyed the original message. cheers matthew :)

quoted 5 lines would love to come on friday. the offer of the guest list sounds ace

> would love to come on friday. the offer of the guest list sounds ace > could you put as many of the following on as possible without looking > like a total blagger - amanda cooney, matthew moore, sud (his surname is > unpronouncable), and tell me where it is again as i destroyed the > original message. cheers matthew :)

Mistake! The gig`s actually on Saturday night, the 12th of March! I hope this doesn`t mess up the plans! I should be able to sort out the guest list as well... The venue is the Dance Cultural Centre at 24 Ashwin Street, Dalston E8 which is just next to Islington. It runs from 10pm-6am, I`m the sonic navigator at the controls of the "ambient" room from 12am-1am. Hope to see you there! Bye! Brendan Nelson Lost Transmission From Cowley

At 10:28 AM 3/6/94 -0800, Ned Andrew Raggett wrote:

quoted 1 line Can you or anyone else tell me more about Biosphere?

>Can you or anyone else tell me more about Biosphere?

His name is Geir Jenssen and he's from Tromsoe, Norway.

quoted 3 lines I only first heard about him recently due to his previous career as a member

>I only first heard about him recently due to his previous career as a member >of >Bel Canto, who I adore.

His album says on the back, "Jenssen was a major force in the Norwegian band Bel Canto, programming and performing the keyboards as well as composing several tracks on their first two albums, "White-Out Conditions" (1987) and "Birds of Passage" (1990). He left Bel Canto in 1990 to embark on his solo career, and has produced several 12" singles and one LP under the artist name Bleep. Microgravity is his first album as Biosphere and points out a new direction in his musical career; carefully blending the energy of high-tech dance msic with the ambience of cosmic sounds."

quoted 1 line Is anything of his available in the US yet?

>Is anything of his available in the US yet?

Domestic? not that I know of. I'm not sure if the Apollo compilation was released domestically but he has a track on there that was later remixed for the album. However, the import LP/CDs aren't that hard to find. The first 12" was Baby Interphase and my favorite work of his is a remix of this track on there that didn't appear on the first album. I'm not so fond of the freqent use of samples though. The music is a touch darker sounding than a lot of ambient sounding stuff out there which I do like. Recently his new double record and CD called Patashnik just came out along with a new 12" single called "Seti Project." The 12" has 4 tracks, 3 new, one is a faster dance remix of "A Fairytale" which appeared on the first album. I don't have these and I'm too poor to be a collector right now.

quoted 1 line I gather his UK label is Apollo/R & S...

>I gather his UK label is Apollo/R & S...

It's actually a Belgian label. ___ "The genius is not something added to oneself but a / / / / / / _ __/ stripping away of excess to reveal the god within." (_/__/ / (__ (__ ___/ finger -l kia@eden.rutgers.edu for PGP

WILL-E <kia@eden.rutgers.edu> wrote:

quoted 3 lines I gather his UK label is Apollo/R & S...

>>I gather his UK label is Apollo/R & S... > >It's actually a Belgian label.

R&S have a UK offshoot, which means most of their output gets a UK domestic release. They've had a presence here for several years now, though it was interrupted when their original partners folded. Patashnik is currently number one in the UK indie charts. -- Stephen Hebditch TQM Communications steveh@orbital.demon.co.uk

Does anyone happen to know what Biosphere's main synth is that he uses on Microgravity & Patashnik? A female friend of mind has a real difficult time forgetting that sound and always wants to listen to both albums, particularly the tracks: 'Baby Interphase', 'Seti Project', 'The Fairytale', and 'The Shield'. Is it one of Rolands' Juno series? Derek Jordan

quoted 5 lines Does anyone happen to know what Biosphere's main synth is that he

>Does anyone happen to know what Biosphere's main synth is that he >uses on Microgravity & Patashnik? A female friend of mind has a real >difficult time forgetting that sound and always wants to listen to both >albums, particularly the tracks: 'Baby Interphase', 'Seti Project', 'The >Fairytale', and 'The Shield'. Is it one of Rolands' Juno series?

He uses a Roland juno 106, a yamaha FB01, an s1000 and that's about it... Far as I know.. The real typical Biosphere sound is often the FB01 i guess, he used it on many Bel Canto songs as well...I mean that windy chord sound.. Love, AA Allert Aalders - Big Time Concepts |"When you eliminate the improbable allert@knoware.nl | whatever remains, however impossible | must be the truth" - Svlad Cjelli

A friend of mine just received his ordered copy of Biosphere's Shenzhou. Here's what he thinks of it so far (and I don't know how far that is):

quoted 4 lines Biosphere: so far it sounds like cirque played backwards with scratchy

> > Biosphere: so far it sounds like cirque played backwards with scratchy > records of classical music in the background (debussy)...slightly > better than listening to your PC fan...

Is this a realistic assessment ? I * --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org

I would have to disagree with your friend. I think its a rather interesting album. Definately more headphone material than stereo. When listening to it I get the picture of classical music floating around in bubbles of minimal ambient idm. Not something you can have on in the background while playing a video game and enjoy so much. You can find a glowing review of it at www.milkfactory.co.uk, a fair review at www.electronicmusicreviews.com, another glowing review at http://www.junkmedia.org/01/43/monroe43.html. I would suggest checking it out if the idea of a classical music forming the underbelly of a song interests you. On Wed, 19 Jun 2002, Irene McC wrote:

quoted 18 lines A friend of mine just received his ordered copy of Biosphere's

> A friend of mine just received his ordered copy of Biosphere's > Shenzhou. Here's what he thinks of it so far (and I don't know how > far that is): > > > > Biosphere: so far it sounds like cirque played backwards with scratchy > > records of classical music in the background (debussy)...slightly > > better than listening to your PC fan... > > Is this a realistic assessment ? > > I > * > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org > For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org >

Hooray for Pokey! --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org

At 01:54 PM 6/19/2002, Irene McC wrote:

quoted 9 lines A friend of mine just received his ordered copy of Biosphere's

>A friend of mine just received his ordered copy of Biosphere's >Shenzhou. Here's what he thinks of it so far (and I don't know how >far that is): > > > > Biosphere: so far it sounds like cirque played backwards with scratchy > > records of classical music in the background (debussy)...slightly > > better than listening to your PC fan... > >Is this a realistic assessment ?

As long as you are pretty ignorant (not meaning YOU, of course) with regard to ambient and drone musics. I would call it minimal, dark and atmospheric; builds loops of classical sounding snippets and moves on occasion into drone. Has Geir's touch for thick atmosphere. jeff --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org