Hello humanoids, seasons greetings and a big welcome to the brand new show
ROBO CAST 30
The best original electronica from around the globe is now ready for your listening pleasure.
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Here's a list of the fantastic artists for this show: -
ARTISTS / TRACKS / LINKS
CRAIG FURKAS - CAROL OF THE BELLS
http://www.myspace.com/craigfurkas
CRAIG FURKAS - DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR? CD
The track 'Carol Of The Bells' is from the album 'Do You Hear What I Hear'. This CD and lots of other from Craig are available on CDBABY.
Craig's roots lie in serious classical training with one of his earliest performances of Samuel Barber's Piano Sonata earning him the Honor Award from the Detroit Musicians League. He also has a Bachelors Degree in Music Composition from Wayne State University in Detroit Michigan. After many years of performing classical and mainstream venues Craig left Detroit and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in music. His first years in L.A. were spent freelancing various jobs including some film scoring and transcribing music for such artists as Wendy Carlos and Eddie Jobson. Eventually he landed a job as chief studio engineer at 2KSounds who were affiliated with E.M.I. and Virgin Records. Here he worked with an array of artists from folk to Rap including Glen Campbell, Randy Bachman and Michael Narada Walden. He left 2KSounds and started his own record label, Random Arch Music where he keeps busy producing his own as well as other artists CD's. His fifth CD,"Do You Hear What I Hear" is an eclectic Christmas CD performed entirely on synthesizers and virtual instruments. Some of his arrangements are waaay over the top. I'm sure you'll enjoy this unique work. Make sure to check out "Kaleidoscope", and his other CD's as well.
THERMOSTATIC - THE BOX (TIGER BABY EXTENDED MIX)
http://www.thermostatic.se
Originally founded in 2003 Thermostatic quickly gained an underground cult-status when Vox and Charlie recorded the track "I Want To Be A Marilyn" under rather spontaneous circumstances . The band name was suggested by Michael Strandtoft of the band Helm as the perfect name for charming electronic music. The combination of thermo and static actually beckons the style of the music, since it is both warm and strict at the same time.
In 2004 the duo turned into a quartet when Digidroid and TiN joined. This was actually when this project developed into an actual band. The track "Private Machine" was recorded and stated the characteristics of the nowadays well-established Thermostatic sound. The song wasn't even finished when it started to draw the attention of DJ:s and club-heads.
The electro-saga continued and Thermostatic was contacted by Wonderland Records, a small label that used to release independent pop acts and country music(!) but later on also signed other electronic acts. This led to a collaboration that eventually ended up in the release of "Joy-Toy", the first Thermostatic album. Thermostatic released the Humanizer album in May 2008.
Influences - A lot of Commodore 64 game classics mixed up with 80ies and electro stuff. Some house influences thrown in aswell.
THE MATEYBLOKES - ARCTIC LULLABY
http://www.myspace.com/themateyblokes
The Mateyblokes consist of 2 brothers Brian & Kerry.I'm the oldest of 5 brothers,Kerry is the youngest. Brian left Halesowen in 1993.Kerry still lives there. He started making music when he bought his first synth in the late 1980s. He was inspired by Ultravox & John Foxx's version of Ultravox. He didnt have much money or any way of recording what he was doing. He stopped playing when he moved to Tamworth in 1993. In 2006 Kerry offered to sell his Korg O1/w.Brian took him up on his offer. In 2007,inspired by what other members of the Metamatic forum had been doing with their own music Brian decided to have a go. The first tracks that he posted on our Myspace page were called Dark Water & Summer Rain. These were inspired by the floods of that summer. He continued to post a new track almost every month.
Kerry began making music in the early 90s when he bought a bass guitar. He played bass in a band called Mental Radio & did quite a few gigs in the midlands until he got married & the gigging stopped. He bought his first synth in the mid 90s & continued to create tracks in a spare room. Kerry's first tracks to be posted on Myspace in July 2007 were Lonely Seas & The Truth. We did try to collaborate on a track last year but the distance is the main problem. We tend to use each other as sounding board for each others tracks. The mateyblokes name comes from an old nickname a girlfriend gave me - Mateybloke. I'm currently working on another new song with vocals.
TOFFEETRONIC - STOP THE CAVALRY
(followed by)
TOFFEETRONIC Vs KIKI MOORSE - DOOR POLICY (from the Neon's Dead EP)
http://www.myspace.com/toffeetronic
http://toffeetones.toffeetronic.co.uk/
TOFFEETRONIC Vs KIKI MOORSE - NEON'S DEAD - Released on December 1st from the Toffee shop - http://www.toffeetronic.co.uk/tt_shop.html
Mix madcap electro maverick Toffeetronic with the uber cool vocals of Kiki Moorse (Bad French/Chicks on Speed) and this is what you get - A disturbingly infectious, funked up electronic beast with enough punch to smash your face in!
1: Neon's Dead! (Full Version)
2: Door Policy
3: Neon's Dead! (Lights Out Mix)
4: Neon's Dead! (Radio Edit)
In December 2004 Roxy won the
Parralox was formed in February 2008 because John needed a vehicle to express the electro music he was creating but didn’t fit in with the style of his other, much darker band, The Tenth Stage. After a bit of head scratching he called Roxy and asked if she would like to collaborate together on an exciting music project, which she of course agreed to! Parralox released their music on myspace and within a matter of weeks the electronic community had embraced them, as the reviews above testify. This led to the band being requested to appear on the Electronically Yours Vol 1 Compilation CD (UNDO Records/EMI Greece) organised by the founder of the Electronically Yours after he heard Parralox’s music on their myspace page.
In September 2008 their album “Electricity” was the #2 best selling CD on the MusicnonStop Store in UK. Their debut album Electricity was released September 2008. It is a Limited Edition CD, released in conjunction with the Electronically Yours website, and features 3 bonus tracks. The band will launch their album in London, UK on November 28th @ Industry Club, presented by Electronically Yours. More details below.
About Dan - I sing, play keyboards and percussion, mix, remix, and produce.
In connection with my work at Korg, I've been interviewed in several magazines, including Sound On Sound and Computer Music. Occasionally, I also do consulting for other artists, and compose music for television and other applications. For more details, see the Music Services section. I'm a frequent contributor to the magazine Electronic Musician, and have also written for Keyboard. If you're interested in reading some of my articles, hop on over to the appropriately-named Articles section. I maintain a modest project studio, the Construction Zone. As part of a recent studio remodeling, I also have a list of recording equipment for sale.
Download the whole album as a zip file or click here for more downloading and streaming options.
The first release came in 1994 on Desy Balmer's 'Nice & Nasty' label. This was the 'Tanzmusik e.p' created up in Manchester's 'Out of the Blue' studio, now sadly gone. Jonteknik joined forces with Kraftwerk enthusiast Mark 'Staggman' Stagg and Andy Sturmey who is responsible for many of Jontekniks CD cover images.
Gaining respect from the press, such as Melody maker, Future music, Music Technology, MT and The Mix, Jonteknik was crafting his own sound around the heavy influences of those great pioneers from Düsseldorf. It was soon discovered by the world's coolest Belgian and writer/producer Pascal Gabriel who helped Jonteknik sharpen production skills. Pascal introduced Jonteknik to Claudia Brücken. They both corresponded by post. A simple demo was recorded around 1993 called 'Ohm from ohm'.
Jonteknik also had the pleasure of meeting up with Holly Johnson in the mid 1990's. A few ideas were put together and there was a lot of music chat. Holly showed Jonteknik that songs worked with the right structure. An acoustic performance of 'Relax' and 'Love train' demonstrated this exactly!
More recently Jonteknik worked with Paul Humphreys and Claudia Brücken on their 'Onetwo' project. Jonteknik co-wrote and co-produced several tracks and even dabbled with lyrics. One of the highlights for Jon was getting to program percussion and synths on a track that has Martin Gore from Depeche Mode on guitar! It was a hard time for Jon as issues beyond his control were making life complicated. Jon holds the times of working with Paul Humphreys as a great memory, especially creating 'The theory of everything'.
WORK WITH ONETWO - The theory of everything - part 1 (co-writer + Programmer) / The theory of everything - part 2 (co-writer + Programmer + some lyrics) / Cloud 9 (featuring Martin Gore) (Programmer) / Signals ('item' version) - (co-writer + Programmer) / Signals ('Instead' version) - (co-writer) / Element of truth - (co-writer + Programmer) / Sister - (Programmer) / (One and only) Sister - (Programmer) / + various unreleased material.
Now Jon looks towards the future and as well as working with vocalists/writers on a brand new album, there are releases of older material introducing you to the sound of Jonteknik.
A few years ago, Martin began collecting what amounts to one of the most impressive collections of vintage analogue synthesisers and effects I've ever seen (and that includes my own gear). As Martin would get hold of a new piece of equipment, he would record a track based around the synth in question and post it on the dubsounds forum for all the resident gear-heads to listen to. The tracks by their very nature sounded like little time-capsules of an electronic sound from back when the instruments were made. A sound lost in time and never quite replaced. It wasn't long before I approached Martin with the idea of recording ambient industrial electronic soundscapes using NOTHING but genuine vintage gear, the result of this project is ANALOG. It's been about two years in the making and the result is an album of pure synth that sounds like it was recorded in the late '70s. The reverbs and delays are all spring, bucket brigade and tape echo. The phasers, flangers and distortion pedals are all vintage MXR and Electro Harmonix pedals. Even the EQ comes from vintage mixers. The only time "digital" touched these recordings was in capturing it all for CD. Of course there will be comparisons to the type of sounds that came out of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop and the early electronic/industrial experiments from Cabaret Voltaire, Chris Carter etc. but I think that's a good thing. The point is that there is NOTHING out there at the moment that sounds anything like this and Martin has tapped into something that many of us fans of electronic music have wanted to hear for a long time.
ANALOG is due for release on Toffeetones in early December 2008 as a limited edition deluxe digi-pack - 100 only.
check out the record label site http://toffeetones.toffeetronic.co.uk
GEIGERTEK - THE GARDEN (BENEATH A CHRISTMAS MANTLE)
http://www.myspace.com/geigertekmusic
::: ABOUTgeigertek :::
Geigertek is the studio-based project of U.K. electronic music composer and musician, Neil Fellowes. It was created in the late Summer of 2006 and is dedicated to the creation of electronic and computer generated music.
The music of Geigertek is written, recorded and produced using a contemporary computer-based recording facility, located in the East Anglian city of Norwich in the United Kingdom. Details of the studio used by Geigertek can be found HERE
Sound generation is supplied by software synthesizers. The first Geigertek release is a collection of musical pieces, both melodic and ambient, under the title of "The Garden", released through the AD Music label and written, recorded and produced by Geigertek in the Norwich studio (see album details below).
Song creation may be computer based, sounds may be synthetic, but the music comes from the heart and the soul.
The first Geigertek album, "The Garden" was released through AD Music on Monday 4th August 2008, in both digital download and CDr formats. Work done by David Wright on the mastering has really paid off as the album sounds fresher and flows better. An image of the CD cover, which has been beautifully realised by Dave Massey (Code Indigo and Callisto), portraying the underlying themes of the album and the mood of the music perfectly, is below.
In the words of David Wright - "Another new artist to AD Music, Geigertek, is based in Norwich and his debut album "The Garden" is a superb creation released digitally in July 2008 and now available as a CDr release with AD Music's usual high quality artwork and on body print. "The Garden" is an exciting mixture of electronic music sounds and styles that has its roots firmly in the "melodic new age" style of instrumental music, with strong hints of romanticism and no shortage of great tunes. However, where Geigertek really succeeds is in creating his own unique style and sound based on solid musical arrangements that at times verge on the classical, (which is no surprise given Neil's classical training), some great solos, both synth and piano, and some inventive sequencing. There is also an unusually strong variation of moods here that really works well. From the mystical tones of the opening track "The Garden" through various sonic journeys that incorporate both strident and laid back rhythms, through the classical excursion on "The Sculpture and the Wall", the gentle melody of "Songbird Bathing in Blue" to the stunningly atmospheric "View from a White Room", this is a superb album of well crafted, heartfelt instrumental music that although walking the line of melodic new age, never crosses into the sugary sweet. The Garden is sure to find favour with those who like their electronic music varied, emotive and melodic and is a welcome addition the AD Music catalogue."
The music of Neil Fellowes and Geigertek is written, recorded and produced using a contemporary digital virtual studio, located in the East Anglian city of Norwich in the United Kingdom.
Video footage from the first live Geigertek performance at the Fisher Theatre, Bungay, Suffolk, U.K. on Sunday 14th September 2008 is viewable on the Geigertek MySpace page.
Links to AD Music and Musiczeit (Ian Boddy's digital download website) are below:
You can see Geigertek at the Awakenings - Live ambient & electronic music on 27th June 2009.
GARY HUNTER - I WISH IT COULD BE CHRISTMAS EVERY DAY
http://www.myspace.com/garyhuntermusic
http://www.myspace.com/definitionofsounduk
I have over the last 2 or 3 years returned to Synthesizers and re-recorded a lot of the material I did with Ray to a much higher standard and in addition I have written numerous new songs and done some cover versions. One cover version I have done is a track of OMD's called "Of All The Things We've Made". This was included on an american release tribute album called "We Love You 2". I am very proud that my version of the song was worthy of inclusion on the CD.
One of my latest project is an interesting one as I have decided to record an album of Ambient/soundtrack music and decided I would only use layered strings, choir sounds and piano. It has resulted in learning Cubase, a programme I have wanted to use for some time. So far 15 songs have been written and I am currently working at mixing those. Moby's ambient music has been the key influence with this material.
The last 12 months have been a very busy and productive period for Gary. He record a full album of Kraftwerk covers including many of Kraftwerk's classic tracks. In addition he also did a remix CD of tracks taken from the album he recorded which was called "Music By Design". Both the main album & remix album have been submitted to Astralwerk records in America who have previously put out Kraftwerk tribute albums.
The Kraftwerk project saw Gary take up the challenge of doing vocals and this has lead to further cover versions being recorded including electronic renditions of 2 Joy Division tracks, "She's Lost Control" and "Love Will Tear Us Apart" both of which have received critical acclaim. He recently recorded 2 Yazoo tracks, "Too Pieces" and "Goodbye 70's" and has covered a few Gary Numan tracks including the classic track "Cars". Again his Numan covers have proved extremely popular.
As well as cover versions Gary has continued to record his own music and is currently working on an album which is heavily influenced by the album "Metamatic" by John Foxx and early Gary Numan material. Currently he has recorded 7 tracks for the CD which he is hoping to make available by the end of year. The album will be the first to feature Gary's own vocals on his own material.
One thing Gary does work hard at is learning the mechanics of the various VST instruments he uses and is always willing to try new techniques regards mixing from suggestions from people on the myspace scene. The coming months promise to be a very busy time for Gary so keep an eye out for the new album which has a working title of "Systematic" and also later in the year will see him return to his dance project which will also be something to look forward to.
A big ROBO CAST thank you to Gary for all his help with this show.
