IDM Mailing Archive

The Global Communication remixs of the Chapterhouse album, in my opinion, are some of the most pleasant ambient sounds I have heard for some time now (but I would say that as my brother, Tom was the instigator). Interestingly, he has just finished his tour with Seefeel and Chapterhouse, which was a good promotional thang. Decent. Anyway, I have lectures to prepare... (Best wishes for Grant @ Rephlex records who has a kidney stone at the moment). Record companies can do this to people. Too much stress you see... Chill. (Oh yes Christian, my sig does grow now and again - yearly fluctuations in temperature I think...) ............................................................................. ben middleton | pattern avenger | passage violator | frequency defector | rephlex interceptor | | the innovators | | tom (tin tin - e621 global communication), grant (acid sniper queen), j jon | lizzie + carla, ian + liz, hair (techno godess), christina + r, aphex + tha | matt (phew), john (woolly mammouth), safina (chocolatey spread), chris, a+b | markey mark, davey dave, yanka, henry hawkins, janeee, ashiq (hawk), sarita | paul t, sven, samu, vidar, m+s posse, milton, link, intelligent dance music | sammie, sbex, g, kelly + andrew, paul n (prototype 21), jason + issie, bob! | smw (russ), nv, mjb, chris (sog), rwr, katie (peace), ol, laura, todd sines | fluid, brian, cindy, ys, susie, allison, djkc, kirk (art), dave (fatus cat) | bloo sqr, katrin b (the bphex twin), techno.stanford crew, manuel sepulvada | Velocity-9, jeremy, gavin + clair, simon, andrew + lizzie, rd, body release | ed andy ken (black dog), mike (kudos), mike dredd (!kosmik kommando), u-ziq | chris jeffs, synectics, rephlex, evolution, mangoes, spirit levels, *truro* |

The new Global Communication album is finished... expect to see it about in the next few weeks on Dedicated... hopefully quite nice. B love.

As far as I know... it is the packaging only that is limited... digi-cd type thing etc... B __ ___ __ (_ \( _)/ \ _) )) )/ /) ) (__/(_/(_/(_/

The Teep Verbal Remix... original content by S. Masters ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Review of 76:14 by Global Communication. (From `The Wire', Aug. 1994) Global Communication are the duo behind Reload, whose `A collection of Short Stories' was one of the highlights of last year. With a track listing paying homage to languages as diverse as "Hebrew", "Japanese" and "Morsecode" you might expect a similar level of invention from this current incarnation. Wrong. ***Ah, I see. Track names DO affect track content. What a concept! ***Statements like this reek of the _I-haven't-heard-the-music-but ***the-coverart-sure-is-neat!_ syndrome. Any music junkie knows... ***it's not about the package, it's about what comes out of the needle. Content to ape the trademarks of existing idioms (ie that branch of Ambient which exists as one long electronic hush), ***Woa nelly! Attention music makers, attempts at *traditional* ***ambient WILL be unequivocally dismissed as imitation. Such ***complacency will NOT be tolerated. Use your drum loops! their microchip mimicry layers folk rhythms over lunar landscapes, doing little more than reflect back our caricature visions of these exotic, alien territories. File under: urban muzak. ***Hey! Keep ME out of this! "...reflect back YOUR caricature visions" ***My visions are big budget. Especially with the deep space bass of ***Global Communication catalyzing my imagination. File under: yur wak ***Too bad she just can't say *me no like*. T double EP

Global Communication at Quirky's tonight... (at the Vox in Brixton)... Live track making... Live musicians... Live painters! Blimey... Plus Mublin Jim will be giving us some healthy tunes. Doors open at 10... GC start from 12 and go through till 4... Bandulu downstairs... Looks like a fun evening. If you go... come and say hello to Tom + I! Benny __ ___ __ (_ \( _)/ \ _) )) )/ /) ) (__/(_/(_/(_/

I promised I'd send this on when it was done, this will appear in the October issue of Underground News, which will be the electronic dance music issue...enjoy? I welcome comments. ************************************************************************* Global Communication transmits a blend of organic and industrial ambience from Somerset, England, where they, Tom Middleton and Mark Pritchard, keep busy with a multitude of other projects as well. Running their own independent label, Evolution Records, and recording other works under the guises of Reload, Rebus, and E621 keep their creativity flowing in the numerous musical directions they wish to explore. Like the name of the label suggests, Mark and Tom continually reinvent the concept of sound, through deconstruction and rebuilding of elements both natural and synthetic. I spoke with Tom via telephone from a rest point during their week of playing with Seefeel at the New Music Seminar in New York, conducting the interview simultaneously to be broadcast on college radio station KUCI in Irvine, California, and for our fabulous pages of Underground News. Tom Middleton: We did this yesterday, so we're used to this, but I hope it's ok for you. Tamara Palmer: Yeah, this is the first time for me too, but... TM: We're both virgins! (laughs) Yeah, so, whereabouts are you based? TP: We're in L.A. TM: Right, is that where there's like a time difference thing? TP: Yeah, I believe we're three hours before you in New York. TM: Wow, that's quite weird, isn't it? In theory, if you're three hours before us, then we're speaking to you back in time. TP: Exactly. TM: (laughs) Weird! Back to the future, let's go! TP: Why don't you start by telling me about your new album, called 76:14 [their debut, out on Dedicated Records]? Did you have an idea, like a theme behind it or a particular concept that you wanted to get across? TM: Yeah, it's called 76:14 because we basically did away with a name for the album and names for the tracks because names tend to predefine what something's going to be about and the whole concept of the album is something to let the listeners use their imagination. They can make up their own names for the tracks. They listen to the music and sort of generate their own images in their head, conjure up things. We're translating our emotions and feelings into the music and telling little stories with the tracks. TP: You did name the one track on the album, Obselon Mi-Nos? TM: Yeah, that's correct. That's actually quite an old track now, it was done a year and a half ago. We put that out on our record label, Evolution Records and that was sort of the thing that most people heard about Global Communication from, that one track. TP: I think in this country, most people have heard of you because of the Chapterhouse remixes [Pentamerous Metamorphosis] so if you want to talk about those a little bit: how you connected with the band. TM: I met up with Andy and Simon from Chapterhouse last summer and it was right about the time their new album was coming out. They approached us and they liked the Obselon Mi-Nos track. They asked us if we'd like to treat their album, just like a retranslation. So the idea was, we sat down and listened to the tracks with them, listened to all of the subliminal sounds in the background, talked to them about what the point or the meaning of each track or song was, and basically did a retranslation, not a remix. We have to stress that it's a retranslation, because remix in the traditional sense of the word is something completely different. What we did was take the meaning and the emotion from the original tracks and retranslate it in the Global Communication way, which is heightening the whole emotional experience. TP: You're also known as Reload, and you put out a full length entitled A Collection of Short Stories. Can you tell me, is there a marked difference between Global Communication and Reload since it is the two of you in both projects? TM: The main difference is, it's basically like a yin and yang thing. If you think about human beings, there's two different major aspects to human beings and that is like a dark side and a light side. Good and bad, white and black, that kind of thing. Global Communication is like the lighter side of human nature, the sort of more uplifting and positive emotions. Reload is more dark and sinister, things people don't like to think about. TP: Well, I think we're out of time, I have one more question, it's for my friend. He wants to know if you have any pets. TM: Any pets?? This is a strange question...BUT Mark actually has a whole tank of marine fish, two dogs, three parrots, a whole host of tiny little birds, and I don't have any unfortunately. I'd love a cat! Hug Your Waistline to the Bassline............................................ Tamara Palmer * trance@netcom.com * izzyzi5@mvs.oac.ucla.edu * .........................................................Women Respond to Bass

On Thu, 15 Sep 1994, Tamara Palmer wrote:

quoted 11 lines *************************************************************************

> ************************************************************************* > Global Communication transmits a blend of organic and > industrial ambience from Somerset, England, where they, Tom > Middleton and Mark Pritchard, keep busy with a multitude of other > projects as well. Running their own independent label, Evolution > Records, and recording other works under the guises of Reload, > Rebus, and E621 keep their creativity flowing in the numerous > musical directions they wish to explore. Like the name of the label > suggests, Mark and Tom continually reinvent the concept of sound, > through deconstruction and rebuilding of elements both natural and > synthetic. I spoke with Tom via telephone from a rest point during

Does anyone out there know/have any idea what sort of equipment Global Communication uses to craft their work (computer, software, synths, etc...) For that matter, how about Black Dog? Seefeel? Curious- -thad

... Does anyone out there know/have any idea what sort of equipment Global ... Communication uses to craft their work (computer, software, synths, etc...) ... For that matter, how about Black Dog? Seefeel? most of the kit is in Mark Pritchard's Nans garage down in Somerset... alot of different bits of kit now... 6 fancy effects... 4 samplers or so - akai's, casio's etc... plus a host of different digital and analogue keyboards (sometimes they borrow keyboards and get the best sounds out of them - perhaps only using them for 1 track...). most rhythms are sampled down... although they do have and make use of drum machines sometimes. they still often use a non-computer based sequencer... despite having an atari... but their system works well - which is all that matters. recently they have been making more and more use of acoustic instruments - even local buskers have played at some of their PA's... they like to involve people when they can you see... ben

On Fri, 30 Sep 1994, BIGGERSTAFF THAD LEWIS wrote:

quoted 3 lines Does anyone out there know/have any idea what sort of equipment Global

> Does anyone out there know/have any idea what sort of equipment Global > Communication uses to craft their work (computer, software, synths, etc...) > For that matter, how about Black Dog? Seefeel?

Seefeel, at least for their live mixing set, had some 16 channel mixer (possibly the Mackie but I truly can't recall). Otherwise they definately had the Alesis ADAT, the Ensoniq ASR 10, and DP 4 for proccessing. Now everyone must imitate.

quoted 7 lines Does anyone out there know/have any idea what sort of equipment Global

>Does anyone out there know/have any idea what sort of equipment Global >Communication uses to craft their work (computer, software, synths, etc...) >For that matter, how about Black Dog? Seefeel? > >Curious- > >-thad

No idea about Global Comm, althought there was a big ole debate about Reload equipment a while back. Seefeel: guitar -n- stuff! ;-/ Um. Yes, so anyway, re: Black Dog, I'd really love to know what's used. Not so I can run out and buy it...just to know. "Temple of Transparent Balls" sounds sorta FM-ey in places...just a guess. I'm also satisfied not knowing, somehow, because they're songs retain a whole quality...I don't sit and say "Ahh, there's the Minikorg!" Once again: "Ahh, there's the Minikorg!" My car just got smashed up and I'm a little disoriented. So, anyway, you may want to watch out for equipment questions when directed right at the artist. Ken Downie was nice enough to write me back the first time I wrote him, then I think I made the mistake of writing, you know, all casually and stuff: "Um, so...what sort of equipment do y'all use?" Haven't heard from him since :-( In a SurrealSound I-view, though, favorite instruments from Ken, Ed and Andy were veena, 303 and "the bloke who stuffed marshmallows up his nose." Really. -morgan geist

quoted 4 lines ... Does anyone out there know/have any idea what sort of equipment Global

>... Does anyone out there know/have any idea what sort of equipment Global >... Communication uses to craft their work (computer, software, synths, etc...) >... For that matter, how about Black Dog? Seefeel? >

A buddy of mine who can identify (almost) any synth on a track SWEARS that he hears SY77 presets all over the place on Reload's "Collection of Short Stores" and especially the "Biosphere" Global Comm. remix. 76:14 also sounds very SYish. What I'd REALLY like to know is, HOW did they get that crazy acidic sound on the "Biosphere" GC remix? At first I thought it was a 303, but I've since decided it's the best 303 impersonation EVER. PEACE MR-808 My mantra: 8080808! New improved low-calorie sig! "We must move on from the hippie mystical religious stance of the 1960's. The hippies were fugitives from technology. They didn't face the problems, they just ran away. But this is stupid." - Ralf & Florian

quoted 11 lines ... Does anyone out there know/have any idea what sort of equipment Global

>>... Does anyone out there know/have any idea what sort of equipment Global >>... Communication uses to craft their work (computer, software, synths, >>etc...) >>... For that matter, how about Black Dog? Seefeel? >> > >A buddy of mine who can identify (almost) any synth on a track SWEARS that >he hears SY77 presets all over the place on Reload's "Collection of Short >Stores" and especially the "Biosphere" Global Comm. remix. 76:14 also >sounds very SYish. >

Not presets - <sniff> presets? Move the sliders a bit - ok! bleep...bleep...transmat@teleport.com

On Tue, 4 Oct 1994 transmat@teleport.com wrote:

quoted 6 lines A buddy of mine who can identify (almost) any synth on a track SWEARS that

> >A buddy of mine who can identify (almost) any synth on a track SWEARS that > >he hears SY77 presets all over the place on Reload's "Collection of Short > >Stores" and especially the "Biosphere" Global Comm. remix. 76:14 also > >sounds very SYish. > > > Not presets - <sniff> presets? Move the sliders a bit - ok!

Well, I personally prefer to create all original (can it BE?) sounds, barring an excellent assortment of percussion available in my ProCussion, but I also say: Whether it be preset or user in nature, make it work well in the mix or keep looking for what you need. the ears never lie, unless the brain gets involved and confuses them. OnNOW: Still Reload...track 9 <pretty and BOOMy - love the combo> =B)

Hi,

quoted 3 lines Well, I personally prefer to create all original (can it BE?) sounds,

>Well, I personally prefer to create all original (can it BE?) sounds, >barring an excellent assortment of percussion available in my ProCussion, >but I also say:

Yeah! The E-mu Procussion really kicks ass!! We don't need all those 808s and 909s (they are still great tho) when the procussion can produce some very *original* sounds. Cheers, Hans OnNow: 2000 and One - Belongings EP <could've been a piece of ART ;)> -- +----------------------------+ | Hans Veneman | | veneman@tv99ad.xs4all.nl | | phone: +31(0)3200-35266 | +----------------------------+

quoted 17 lines On Tue, 4 Oct 1994 transmat@teleport.com wrote:

> > On Tue, 4 Oct 1994 transmat@teleport.com wrote: > > > >A buddy of mine who can identify (almost) any synth on a track SWEARS that > > >he hears SY77 presets all over the place on Reload's "Collection of Short > > >Stores" and especially the "Biosphere" Global Comm. remix. 76:14 also > > >sounds very SYish. > > > > > Not presets - <sniff> presets? Move the sliders a bit - ok! > > Well, I personally prefer to create all original (can it BE?) sounds, > barring an excellent assortment of percussion available in my ProCussion, > but I also say: > > Whether it be preset or user in nature, make it work well > in the mix or keep looking for what you need. >

Sure. I feel that lots of the presets on our two synths (both ensoniq, one VFX and one ESQ-1) are quite good, depending (of course) on how they are used. As an example, Intermix uses the ESQ-1 "icepop" preset one one of the songs on Phaze Two and it sounds great. Simple modifications to presets is often enough to produce great sounding patches, and putting any simple moog-style preset through a guitar flanger pedal can be tres cool :-) -H-

On Thu, 6 Oct 1994, Howard Berkey wrote:

quoted 8 lines Sure. I feel that lots of the presets on our two synths (both

> Sure. I feel that lots of the presets on our two synths (both > ensoniq, one VFX and one ESQ-1) are quite good, depending (of course) > on how they are used. As an example, Intermix uses the ESQ-1 > "icepop" preset one one of the songs on Phaze Two and it sounds great. > > Simple modifications to presets is often enough to produce great > sounding patches, and putting any simple moog-style preset through a > guitar flanger pedal can be tres cool :-)

I have to admit that I did play with an SQ-1 and thought the sounds were pretty killer, and even BETTER when dicked with a little. But the one I played with was not with the original owner and I could not say whether the patches I played were original or not. I often troll presets for a workable sound, but a "little" tweaking turns into a LOT of tweaking when I get at it. And hey...you throw effects in the equation, pedal or multis, you got a whole new game in a whole new ballpark. <G> I know. I always do. Be well... OnNow: Global Comm still...

quoted 4 lines And hey...you throw effects in the equation, pedal or multis, you got a

> > And hey...you throw effects in the equation, pedal or multis, you got a > whole new game in a whole new ballpark. <G> I know. I always do. >

Yes, but do you use the preset effects? :-) :-) :-) -H-

On Thu, 6 Oct 1994, Howard Berkey wrote:

quoted 7 lines And hey...you throw effects in the equation, pedal or multis, you got a

> > > > And hey...you throw effects in the equation, pedal or multis, you got a > > whole new game in a whole new ballpark. <G> I know. I always do. > > > > > Yes, but do you use the preset effects? :-) :-) :-)

In all honesty, no. I may skip through them til something catches the ear, as with sounds, but I get REALLY into building effects. I consider them a ride for sounds. A rollercoaster, if you will. Build a fun one, and drop a sound in/on/through. I love effects and rely heavily upon them in my jams. I would never lie and say I don't. <G> credit where credit is due. =B)

On Thu, 6 Oct 1994 13:21:58 -0700 (PDT), Joseph Morrison <brapman@netcom.com> wrote:

quoted 4 lines Honestly, I test drove the XD-5, which was $295, just BEFORE I tried the

>Honestly, I test drove the XD-5, which was $295, just BEFORE I tried the >ProCussion, which was $800 (2 weeks before they dropped the price a >coupla hundred...always my luck). the ProCussion won, hands down, to my >ears. But that was presets only.... I wouldn't mind em both... <G>

And that is EXACTLY the reason why it was discontinued. People tried the xd5, procussion and (shudder) d4 out in the store and went by presets only. When they did get into the programming of the beasties, the xd5 BY FAR outdoes either box, but most people do not want this. The general public wants plug and play drum modules for the most part. I can't TELL you how many xd5s I have seen selling used because the owner "does not have time to learn how to program it". The problem I have with most drum modules is that basically all you can do with them is transpose the pitch a of the samples bit and a few other do-dads, but nothing majorly EVIL to REALLY create a totally new sound. The xd-5 on the other hand works like an analog synth except replace the VCOs with one of their rather odd drum samples. It GREATLY lends itself to making drum loops that sound very much like when a regular drum box is processed through an anlog synth like say a Moog sonic 6 or eml101. Nice filters, envelopes, modulation, psuedo-ring modulation, and layering allow for TRUE creation of sounds that are very percussive in nature, but also some cool synth sounds as well. I have fooled many people with an xd5. The XD5 might take a bit more work (the presets UTTERLY suck) but IMHO it is REALLY worth the extra trouble, especially if you like the analog pardigm (sp?) like myself. But, in the end, it is all in the ears. What works for one doesn't work for others and so on and so forth. Whatever you have, use it to its utmost. This is definitely not IDM, so lets take it to private email, rmms, analogue heaven, synth-l or elsewhere. =B) OnNow: Karlheinz Stockhausen - Hymnen, Region III (loop that anthem karl!) Rob "If youd of gone up like ya' came down, you could have come down like ya' went up." Charles E. Jones "The Price of Leadership"

On Thu, 06 Oct 94 16:33:00 GMT, Hans Veneman <veneman@tv99ad.xs4all.nl> wrote:

quoted 3 lines Yeah! The E-mu Procussion really kicks ass!! We don't need all those

>Yeah! The E-mu Procussion really kicks ass!! We don't need all those >808s and 909s (they are still great tho) when the procussion can >produce some very *original* sounds.

Not really IDM, but I just though I would add my $.02........ For TRULY original percussion sounds with a VERY IDM slant to them, try the Kawai xd-5. Not only is it GREAT but it was discontinued by Kawai so it can be bought at VERY low prices compared to other drum modules. I know alot of artists (including myself) who swear by them. Rob -- mANnA/>tEMpESt<\fEED/>DBN<\iNFIdeLiTy rECoRdIng<\/>fEEd@maroon.tc.umn.edu "FILTER MAINTENANCE- After every 100 hours of operation apply a sine wave to the output of the FILTER to back flush the trapped overtones to unclog your filter." - EML 101 Manual

On Thu, 6 Oct 1994, fEEd wrote:

quoted 7 lines On Thu, 06 Oct 94 16:33:00 GMT,

> On Thu, 06 Oct 94 16:33:00 GMT, > Hans Veneman <veneman@tv99ad.xs4all.nl> wrote: > > For TRULY original percussion sounds with a VERY IDM slant to them, try the > Kawai xd-5. Not only is it GREAT but it was discontinued by Kawai so it can > be bought at VERY low prices compared to other drum modules. I know alot > of artists (including myself) who swear by them.

Honestly, I test drove the XD-5, which was $295, just BEFORE I tried the ProCussion, which was $800 (2 weeks before they dropped the price a coupla hundred...always my luck). the ProCussion won, hands down, to my ears. But that was presets only.... I wouldn't mind em both... <G> But I shall never regret the ProC purchase. Never. =B) OnNow: Global Communication _76:14_ Sweet solace....

quoted 1 line he hears SY77 presets all over the place on Reload's "Collection of Short

>> >he hears SY77 presets all over the place on Reload's "Collection of Short

quoted 3 lines Not presets - <sniff> presets? Move the sliders a bit - ok!

>> Not presets - <sniff> presets? Move the sliders a bit - ok! > >Well, I personally prefer to create all original (can it BE?) sounds,

Perpetually cynical here, but WHO CARES? Preset snobbery is a bit ridiculous. A lot of instruments have only one preset and no ability to change them. How they are used is what is important.

Hi there... I have a request... I am looking for reviews and cover scans of various Global Communication releases... If you have seen the Discography you will see what is missing. I am working on the sound-bites for each release... but I do not own every release (and Tom is always so busy!) If you can... have a look at: http://http2.brunel.ac.uk:8080/~cs92bbm/global/global.html Any inclusion will be fully credited. Also... if any of the Internet Contact people have stamp-sized pictures of them... I am up for a facial Initernet Contact List..! Just send them uuencoded this way in gif tif jpeg pcx etc... Thanks, Benjamin Bannerman-Smith-Middleton.