Review: Unmarked Noise – First And Last

Unmarked and perhaps unknown. Does the first noise remain the last?

It’s been a while since I heard a new IDM album. In fact, with the Board Of Canada spending time with their families and Aphex Twin remaining silent since Druqs (except for the AFX series and The Tuss), good IDM, also known as Braindance, is hard to come by these days. (If you know something I don’t feel free to leave a comment!)

The album starts with Barbaguda, the track you’ll hear in the above video. From what I’ve heard, Unmarked Noise searched the archives by himself to find old video-material and edited the whole thing by himself too! But I could be wrong, see, just as vague as the opening track kicks-off the album, the same applies to how much is known about Unmarked Noise. (Next to nothing!) Which is the real shame, cause once you’ve entered the realm, and the second tracks kicks in…

You’re lost! Lost in sound, lost in beats and you’re unwillingly scanning your brain for anything recognizable to hold on to. There are many familiarities, many sounds which you might have heard before, but, you have no clue where, when, or by who. Don’t get me wrong, this is not some “abstract, just for the sake of abstract” kind of album. Not some weird stuff played at weird intervals “just to be original”. Heck, Unmarked Noise’s album is probably all written in the most used annotation of all, 4/4, quarter-notes. And that’s where it gets interesting, cause how many IDM tracks can be heard at an average minimal-techno party? Sure, Windowlicker managed to infiltrate, and James Holden manages to mix the most obscure stuff very well, but did you ever hear Squarepusher or Venetian Snares anywhere else besides Breakcore parties? Probably not. But this album can do just that; Add a little freak to your Jack.

I must say I’m impressed by the album. Having that twisted IDM feel that Aphex Twin did very well in his AFX series and under his other, other alias; The Tuss. While retaining a danceable beat reminiscent of Acid-Techno and experimental 80′s electro like Afrika Bambaataa and The Soul Sonic Force. There’s even a hint of Future Sound Of London to be found in there, and some cool Minimal breaks and climaxes. This album offers a lot a lot of replay value: See what hints, parts, influences (and perhaps Easter eggs?) are to be found.

The official press-release can be found on Mi2n. To download the opening track Barbaguda for free, visit the Prowess Records releases page. Subscribe to the Prowess Records Newsletter and get a 2nd songs for free!

Bad Bwoy Style – 2007 DJ Demo

I found another one of my older mixes! This time ’round from 2007. In this mix I decided to play many different styles; Minimal & Electro, Techno & IDM, some classics from different areas of the electronic-music spectrum and some leftfield tracks as well.

In the end I didn’t spread this mix since it contains a small error… One of the turntable ground wires slipped loose during play and a hum can be heard for about a second during The Hacker’s ‘Space Travel’. I remember my arm automatically leaping to the ground-cable to put it back in place!

Again, this mix is all vinyl and recorded using Audacity.

01 Jeff Bennett – reinforcing
02 Moguai – ataque
03 Argy – Unreliable virgin
04 Slam – We’re not here
05 Colorswitch – stuntman
06 the Hacker – space travel
07 Radio Slave – screaming hands (Wink’s acid interpretation)
08 Model8 – Lemon8
09 Literon – karma asound
10 Trickski – drakkar
11 the Hacker – it was tomorrow
12 Daft Punk – revolution 909
13 New Order – blue monday
14 Secret Cinema – timeless altitude
15 Leftfield – double flash
16 Mr Oizo – flat beat
17 Kraftwerk – home computer
18 Cybotron – clear
19 Hashim – al naafiysh
20 Squarepusher – my red hot car (girl)

Kurisumasu

Merry Christmas everyone!

In my time of absence I’ve been researching A LOT of information about my newly started record label. Rights, royaltys, laws. It’s a lot of work, yo! But it’s soooo worth the effort :)
The website; http://prowessrecords.com/ has a professional hosting now, and can now be styled and readied for its launch. The first release, featuring Dave Mech, Son of 8-Bits and Unmarked Noise, will be released in the 2nd half of februari.

Stay tuned for more info! I will be revealing a lot more in the next two weeks of the christmas vacation.

Have a very merry christmas. Spend some time with your loved ones, and in case you don’t have any loved ones. Enjoy your days off. Here are a few tips, just in case:

Cracked.com
Funny website.

Zero Punctuation
The best game reviews around right now. Brutally honest, but always a fair review.

My website!
It has 3 mixes from the last 2 years. Totalling in about 3 hours of mixed Techno, Minimal and IDM. Read the above websites while listening to this one. Well advised.

If all else fails.. Than try and think about all the sweet deals the stores will be offering in the after christmas sale!

4:20

After being sick for a few days…

I went straight back to business! For my school project i was busy setting up my own record label, and now that the first phase is complete, i can lift the curtain a little to show you what’s up.

The name of the love child of Techno and IDM is: Prowess Records. And i will unveil it’s concept homepage very soon. For now you can look at it’s placeholder here.