Coming soon.

Info:

I was very excited to hear of Mike Shannon’s up coming album on Plus 8, and I suspect that I won’t be the only one. The news may come as a slight, but pleasant surprise to a lot of techno fans, and those of Hawtin’s Plus 8 in particular. Perhaps it may even be a sign of things to come from the label, who’s most recent release by Marco Carola seemed to get some sub-par reviews on various message boards. Maybe this little surprise of Mr. Shannon’s forth coming appearance will be enough to lift the spirits of these disgruntled fans.

Since we don’t have any samples for you just yet, here’s the quite long, but very descriptive info sheet on the album.

It’s been 10 years since Mike Shannon started making a name for himself on the international techno scene as a DJ, producer and label owner. Now, having recently relocated to Berlin he’s crowning his first decade of active service with The Memory Tree, his third LP in all and the first for another notable Canadian export – Plus 8 Records. Anyone who knows his previous two albums will already be aware that Shannon’s music covers a broader spectrum than just minimal techno. In fact 2005’s “Possible Conclusions To Stories That Never End” was awash with downbeat electronica, highlighting a natural instinct for fusing rhythm and melody whatever the style or tempo. Although “Memory Tree” follows a more club oriented trajectory it retains much of the emotional response generated on “Possible Conclusions” and is all the better for it. As a result Shannon has put together a collection of tunes that are simultaneously dark and soulful, stays true to his roots while embracing the future and never fails to deliver a flurry of kick-ass, funk inflected beats.

Beyond Incubation ushers in the album like distant headlights approaching over a hilltop. The flickering efx slowly solidify around a lush, bass heavy groove that transports the exquisite chord sequence ever closer, offering a transitory glimpse of what lies ahead, before dissolving into shadow. Mercury Mile continues the assent with a long beatless intro dominated by a wash of static interference and squirming synths, while the molten bass and tough, angular snare lend the groove a cool electro flavour. It’s mix friendly, deeply atmospheric and a useful tool for breaking it down and spacing things out before the sultry beats finally kick in.

After the expectation generated by the first two tracks, we finally reach maximum velocity with Wolf Module, a raw, acid tinged exercise in route one techno. The stripped down beats and racing hi-hats thrash out a treacherous path into the unknown accompanied all the while by a dark, growling main riff that bares its jagged fangs during the breakdown. From then on the bassline storms into focus and Shannon simply hits cruise control and lets the funk flow. Enero takes the foot off the pedal slightly before gradually flowering into a beautifully structured piece of uplifting techno, conjuring up a wealth of superlative dancefloor memories in the process. The shuffling percussion slowly reveals a timeless melody that takes its place centre stage, flanked by soft rising pads that stimulate the head and the heart. It’s a classic summer tune of an ilk all too rare at present, which should become the focal point of many DJ sets over the coming months.

Love Fry is a pivotal, stand out moment on the album, occupying the middle ground between the contrasting musical aspects of Shannon’s work. On the one hand – the dark, engrossing synth lines full of ecstasy and menace, on the other – the soulful, jazz influenced elements that add colour, light and a tinge of nostalgia to his work. And right at the heart of Love Fry they collide like two shifting tectonic plates throwing out a mountainous terrain that suddenly levels off into an expansive plateau. It’s a masterstroke made all the more impressive by the chameleon like bassline that morphs through all manner of twists and turns before the wind chime fx add a tactile, new dimension to the mix-out.

Shannon smoothes out some of the preceding edges as we enter the second phase of the album with Uno Para elSol chilling things out considerably. Straying briefly into the realms of deep house, it resonates warmth as a deftly played rhodes drift across a shimmering sea of percussion and soft chords soothe like a cool costal breeze. The original version of Dr X continues the vibe with another deep, melodic percussion sequence that bubbles seductively under the surface. Accompanied by dirty, splayed hi-hats and a chugging bassline, the laidback groove keeps the party rocking as classic techno chord stabs exploit the space between the beats, intertwining with a haunting melody that recalls the intro track to create a rich, effervescent atmosphere.

As the album draws to a close Regalos de Pandora lets fly with another perfectly crafted riff that echoes out into infinity. Shannon effortlessly applies a syncopated jazz rhythm section and more evocative chords to create a deliciously restrained track, ripe for the 6am shift when the crowd collectively switches to automatic. Finally Closed Question rounds off the album in style with homage to all things Detroit. It’s a characteristically bold finale that encapsulates everything that so refreshing about Memory Tree – intuitive beats, evolving arrangements, homogeneous sounds and melodies…it’s all there. In a nutshell, Mike Shannon has created an album of extraordinary depth and composure that will burn brightly in the techno firmament for some time to come.

…and there’s more! Two exclusive digital tracks – La Tentation and Japanese Censorship lie in wait in cyberspace, completing the collection in tough, uncompromising style.

The album will be available in the following formats: 2 x 12″ | CD | WAV | MP3

Samples:

Mike Shannon – Memory Tree LP

We’ll have some samples very shortly. Until then here’s the tracklists for the various formats:

• CD
• 1. Beyond Incubation – 5:34
• 2. Mercury Mile – 7:00
• 3. Wolf Module – 6:06
• 4. Enero – 8:44
• 5. The Love Fry – 9:46
• 6. Uno Para el Sol – 6:08
• 7. Dr. X – 6:25
• 8. Regalos de Pandora -7:56
• 9. Closed Question – 7:11

• 2 x 12″
• A – Wolf Module – 7:04
• B – Enero – 8:44
• C1 – Uno Para el Sol – 6:08
• C2 – Regalos de Pandora – 7:56
• D1 – Dr. X – 6:25
• D2 – Closed Question – 7:11

• Digital Only Bonus Tracks:
• La Tentation
• Japanese Censorship

Beatport:

Info:

Another wonderful release from Archipel, this time in the digital format. This release ranges from the stripped down and atmospheric techno of Mercury and Papumpu to the more dance floor friendly, but headier, 3.38 and Chatpoint. Puestel does an excellent job of touching on various moods in the seven track offering from Pheek’s label, which is already at cataloge number fourty-five. Check out the info sheet and samples below:

Rico Püstel, also known as Dinamoe, hails from Germany and has already released on labels such as Frankie and Minisketch. Here on Archipel he brings us “A Divine Proclamation to Space and Time” which is comprised of seven pieces of very diverse and viscous moods. “Mercury” and “Papumpu” take on delicate ebbing and flowing melodic spaces which purr warmly and steadily along into the headier realm with “Chatpoint”, “3.38″ and “When it Falls it Burns” which comfortably envelope the quietly arcing grey matter within anyone at earshot. “Orcus” and “Ainz” form abstract vessels which unendingly contort into ever novel perceptions while they pitch and yaw within a radiation rich, wavering, quantum framework.

Samples:

Rico Puestel – A Divine Proclamation To Space And Time

1. Mercury[See post to listen to audio]

2. Orcus[See post to listen to audio]

3. Chatpoint[See post to listen to audio]

4. Papumpu[See post to listen to audio]

5. Aiz[See post to listen to audio]

6. 3.38[See post to listen to audio]

7. When It Falls It Burns[See post to listen to audio]

Beatport:

Info:

Not too long ago Jeff Milligan of Revolver Canada demonstrated how he employs the use of a Nintendo Wii remote in his already amazing dj sets. With the help of an OS X only application called Remote Buddy, Jeff can now use Serato Scratch Live without actually touching his laptop. By the way, the remote seen in the above picture is not actually Jeff.

Here’s the info from Mr. Milligan’s website:

Over the past few years the vinyl vs. digital debate has been relentless. The arguments for and against digital djing continue to stack but some issues remain irrefutable on either side of the fence. One simply unarguable disadvantage of digi-djing is that the file the dj plays and controls is not a physical object like a vinyl recording is, and thus, a certain recognition factor is lost for the dj. Almost unanimously, djs will say they remember visually and that artwork, colours and fonts will remind them of all of the musical elements of a track, predefining what they play and when they play it in their sets as the vinyl aesthetics jog the musical memory. One advantage of digi-djing is that you dont need to take the record off or on the turntable as the control vinyl drives whichever file we wish it to, not withstanding one annoying absolute; constantly having to go back and forth to the laptop to search and load the decks, ironically neutralizing the time gained from not replacing the record with another. Searching for records becomes a more complicated task in a sea of personality-less, exclusively text based means by which to search for that perfect track for the moment. As many djs know, booths can also often be too small or ill-designed to accomodate the laptop dj and so the computer becomes a back-burner and its set-up in the antartica of the dj booth, making it even harder to get from the computer keyboard to the mixing desk. There is now a solution which allows the dj control the computer remotely, putting the selectors controls wherever he/she wants them. Controlling the computer by remote and taking ones hands off the computer keyboard saves time and annoyance. All you need is a Mac, a Nintendo Wii remote, and a cheap little program called Remote Buddy which makes controlling any application on the mac hands free with a little bit of relatively easy programming on the side. Jeff Milligan configured short key triggers to his Wii remote so he could be taking care of the decks and mixer, rather than spending valuable time scrolling a database of music via the computer keyboard. the nintendo Wii remote can be purchased separately from the Wii console and retails for around 30 euro. With a Mac, Serato SL or Final Scratch and a purchased Wii remote and Remote Buddy, you have fully versatile, hands free mixing solution for around 50 euro. Remote Buddy behaviours for Serato SL can be easily programmed for any application. You will also be happy to know that you can also use the Apple remote which is shipped with all Macintosh computers instead of the Wii remote making hands off mixing just the cost of the software.

Video:

“Hands-Off Mixing Demo Video:”

Beatport:

Info:

Living Light is an exhibition of sensuously engaging electroluminescent and bioluminescent installations. Biological and technological beings of light are used as live sculptural elements and the gallery is transformed into a meditative space. A world of responsive light entities, both mechanical and organic invite contemplation.

Nature is mediated, simplified and output through Pixy, a monochromatic volumetric video display. Each pixel of the captured image corresponds to an electroluminescent square. Pixy reduces images to their atomic elements allowing us to perceive their inner life.

Cascade, from Diane Willow’s Light Sensitive series, is a sensuous, biolumniescent installation. Biological beings of light are activated as fluid sculptural elements. Mediated by responsive touch and subtle sensing technology the glow of this living light transforms the gallery into a meditative space..

To find out more about this exhibit visit the Subtle Technologies website.

Date:

• May 29, 2008 – June 15, 2008

Location:

• Pixel Gallery
• 156 Augusta Avenue
• Toronto, Ontario