While in San Francisco, I had the opportunity to discuss his future release
plans as Astralwerks will be releasing his new material domestically.
- there is a u-ziq EP to come out in June, I believe it has six songs on it.
- A u-Ziq album will be released in the late-summer/early-fall.
- There is an album under the name Gary Moschelers which is going through
sample clearance as we speak. It is a brilliantly wacked-out take on
acid-jazz (w/ some awesome takes on old school hip-hop thrown in for good
measure -- I have a copy). If all goes well this will be released...sometime.
All this sniping about Michael's personality make IDM sound like the National
Enquirer...really lame. Michael seems to be a quiet and reserved individual
who is REALLY into making interesting music. That he made his debut U.S.
performance on a boat with a P.A. not strong enough to handle the power he
was trying to force through it; that he had to physically hold two of the
leads to one of his keyboards -- thus leaving him with one free hand to push
all buttons and play melodic bits on one of the other keyboards; that he was
using borrowed equipment and just didn't work exactly as it does at home, I'd
say that Michael played a great show. The track w/ the sampled guitar
mentioned a few posts back was truly astounding.
For anyone to judge Mike's character based on his apparent run-in with the
promoter is simply wrong and unfortunate.
From all I mingled with after boat ride, it seems that a good time was
had...I know that I'll always remember it as special, especially the "alter"
which featured a huge plastic bunny!
Things to look forward to:
Single Cell Orchestra's - "Dead Vent 7" (Reflective - CD)
Miguel played me a track which ripped my head off...when I mentioned how
sonically deep the bass tones are, he quipped, "Miami bass in space". Uh,
yeah...and much more.
Me-Sheen - upcoming tracks on Reflective
Incredibly complex mind-fuck stuff made w/ an incredibly minimal gear set-up.
Jonah played me a track he collaborated on with Black Dog while they were in
S.F., "Space Dog" anyone. Very different then what one would expect -- cool
electro-soul.
If things work out this week, Jonah and Michael P. will do some work together
as well.
Brian Long