IDM Mailing Archive

Interesting question. Couldn’t answer it myself so I asked ChatGPT: If you’re looking for a Rod Modell equivalent in drum & bass—a producer who embodies a deep, atmospheric, and dub-influenced style—there are a few contenders. • ASC – Known for his deep, ambient, and minimal take on drum & bass, ASC’s work, especially in the realm of autonomic and grey area music, mirrors Rod Modell’s approach to dub techno. • Paradox – While more breakbeat-driven, Paradox’s dedication to the craft of breaks and his stripped-back, purist approach aligns with Modell’s philosophy in techno. • Photek (early work) – His mid-’90s productions, particularly The Hidden Camera era, carry a cinematic, spacious quality that echoes the immersive nature of Deepchord. • Neon Jung / Domu – More on the experimental and minimal side of DnB, with a deep sonic palette. • Silent Dust – Fusing autonomic drum & bass with cinematic and dubby influences, they carry some of the same deep aesthetics as Modell. • Resound – His work, particularly collaborations with Loxy, brings an atmospheric depth similar to dub techno. If you’re looking for a direct 1:1 match, it’s tricky since Modell’s signature is very much in the techno/dub space, but these artists have brought similarly deep, hypnotic, and atmospheric vibes to drum & bass. Lee (Pilchard) Stacey https://pilchard.org On Sun, 9 Mar 2025 at 8:26 am, Rjyan Kidwell <cexwell@gmail.com> wrote:

quoted 6 lines idm-l, tell me

> idm-l, tell me > > who is the Rod Modell of dnb? > > >

quoted 4 lines If you’re looking for a direct 1:1 match, it’s tricky since Modell’s

> If you’re looking for a direct 1:1 match, it’s tricky since Modell’s > signature is very much in the techno/dub space, but these artists have > brought similarly deep, hypnotic, and atmospheric vibes to drum & bass. >

whoa, did ChatGPT write this part?

Good q - I’d recommend checking the Samurai records discography, especially the Horo sublabel. Maybe stuff on Hidden Hawaii? Might be more on a track by track basis. To me the Modellian part would be softly hitting drums. I’m sure it’s out there I haven’t been following contempo dnb much lately. Paradox is not what you’re looking for. ASC might have some stuff like that - he, like Modell, is aggressively prolific On Sun, Mar 9, 2025 at 2:20 PM Rjyan Kidwell <cexwell@gmail.com> wrote:

quoted 8 lines If you’re looking for a direct 1:1 match, it’s tricky since Modell’s

> > If you’re looking for a direct 1:1 match, it’s tricky since Modell’s >> signature is very much in the techno/dub space, but these artists have >> brought similarly deep, hypnotic, and atmospheric vibes to drum & bass. >> > whoa, did ChatGPT write this part? > >

quoted 3 lines To me the Modellian part would be softly hitting drums. I’m sure it’s out

> To me the Modellian part would be softly hitting drums. I’m sure it’s out > there I haven’t been following contempo dnb much lately. >

I read a great interview with Modell somewhere where he opined on the cumulative physiological effects of repeatedly listening to aggressive techno on Berghain-y sized PAs. I think this was when his Captagon record came out-- which (to my ears) totally sounds like a stab at a set that makes sense at a Tresor party but doesn't trigger a fight-or-flight response .

quoted 3 lines Paradox is not what you’re looking for. ASC might have some stuff like

> Paradox is not what you’re looking for. ASC might have some stuff like > that - he, like Modell, is aggressively prolific >

That was what I was thinking, too! ASC is the closest, but the prolificness is the common element. Some of ASC's earlier beatless records (Truth Be Told, Time Heals All, No Stars etc) has a Modellian dream-static quality, not super far from Modell's "Autonomous Music" cd or the more recent "Dusk, Darkness, (3rd word that starts with D)". Yet I think of Clements primarily as a dude who covers a wiiide territory in his catalog-- while Modell is laser-focused on a pretty narrow lane (which he somehow manages to take deeper and deeper as time goes on, despite the superficial similarities between his records.) The dnb ASC I've heard (eg Reflections) isn't fuzzy/hazy/gentle at all. I checked out those other names.. very loud + shiny, except maybe the Silent Dust and Resound? But in those cases, I wouldn't have thought of them as dnb producers based on what popped up on a bandcamp search. ChatGPT's answer is more interesting than I would have guessed, though. I never expected scientists in my lifetime would produce such a realistic simulation of asking a person who has never listened to music but has no qualms about quickly looking up everything other people have said and bluffing with their first guess at a "median opinion". -rk

Totally forgot about his Tresor stuff although I really liked what I heard. I was thinking more of the Blacklight and Incense and Echospace stuff On Sun, Mar 9, 2025 at 5:14 PM Rjyan Kidwell <cexwell@gmail.com> wrote:

quoted 43 lines To me the Modellian part would be softly hitting drums. I’m sure it’s out

> > To me the Modellian part would be softly hitting drums. I’m sure it’s out >> there I haven’t been following contempo dnb much lately. >> > > I read a great interview with Modell somewhere where he opined on the > cumulative physiological effects of repeatedly listening to aggressive > techno on Berghain-y sized PAs. I think this was when his Captagon record > came out-- which (to my ears) totally sounds like a stab at a set that > makes sense at a Tresor party but doesn't trigger a fight-or-flight response > . > > >> Paradox is not what you’re looking for. ASC might have some stuff like >> that - he, like Modell, is aggressively prolific >> > > That was what I was thinking, too! ASC is the closest, but the > prolificness is the common element. > Some of ASC's earlier beatless records (Truth Be Told, Time Heals All, No > Stars etc) has a Modellian dream-static quality, not super far from > Modell's "Autonomous Music" cd or the more recent "Dusk, Darkness, (3rd > word that starts with D)". > Yet I think of Clements primarily as a dude who covers a wiiide territory > in his catalog-- while Modell is laser-focused on a pretty narrow lane > (which he somehow manages to take deeper and deeper as time goes on, > despite the superficial similarities between his records.) The dnb ASC I've > heard (eg Reflections) isn't fuzzy/hazy/gentle at all. > > I checked out those other names.. very loud + shiny, except maybe the > Silent Dust and Resound? But in those cases, I wouldn't have thought of > them as dnb producers based on what popped up on a bandcamp search. > > ChatGPT's answer is more interesting than I would have guessed, though. I > never expected scientists in my lifetime would produce such a realistic > simulation of asking a person who has never listened to music but has no > qualms about quickly looking up everything other people have said and > bluffing with their first guess at a "median opinion". > > > > -rk >

Ahhh Blacklight Incense is stellar. My other top most played Deepkeezy is 20 Electrostatic Soundfields. I highly recommend that and Incense for anyone who doesnt adore Modell yet due to a low tolerance for extended exposure to 4 on the floor kicks. On Sun, Mar 9, 2025, 8:42 PM Chris Taylor <christaylor415@gmail.com> wrote:

quoted 51 lines Totally forgot about his Tresor stuff although I really liked what I

> Totally forgot about his Tresor stuff although I really liked what I > heard. > > I was thinking more of the Blacklight and Incense and Echospace stuff > > On Sun, Mar 9, 2025 at 5:14 PM Rjyan Kidwell <cexwell@gmail.com> wrote: > >> >> To me the Modellian part would be softly hitting drums. I’m sure it’s >>> out there I haven’t been following contempo dnb much lately. >>> >> >> I read a great interview with Modell somewhere where he opined on the >> cumulative physiological effects of repeatedly listening to aggressive >> techno on Berghain-y sized PAs. I think this was when his Captagon record >> came out-- which (to my ears) totally sounds like a stab at a set that >> makes sense at a Tresor party but doesn't trigger a fight-or-flight response >> . >> >> >>> Paradox is not what you’re looking for. ASC might have some stuff like >>> that - he, like Modell, is aggressively prolific >>> >> >> That was what I was thinking, too! ASC is the closest, but the >> prolificness is the common element. >> Some of ASC's earlier beatless records (Truth Be Told, Time Heals All, No >> Stars etc) has a Modellian dream-static quality, not super far from >> Modell's "Autonomous Music" cd or the more recent "Dusk, Darkness, (3rd >> word that starts with D)". >> Yet I think of Clements primarily as a dude who covers a wiiide territory >> in his catalog-- while Modell is laser-focused on a pretty narrow lane >> (which he somehow manages to take deeper and deeper as time goes on, >> despite the superficial similarities between his records.) The dnb ASC I've >> heard (eg Reflections) isn't fuzzy/hazy/gentle at all. >> >> I checked out those other names.. very loud + shiny, except maybe the >> Silent Dust and Resound? But in those cases, I wouldn't have thought of >> them as dnb producers based on what popped up on a bandcamp search. >> >> ChatGPT's answer is more interesting than I would have guessed, though. I >> never expected scientists in my lifetime would produce such a realistic >> simulation of asking a person who has never listened to music but has no >> qualms about quickly looking up everything other people have said and >> bluffing with their first guess at a "median opinion". >> >> >> >> -rk >> >