Hello humanoids, welcome to the brand new very special show
ROBO CAST 26 - JOHN FOXX SPECIAL
This special show features artists who have been inspired or influenced by the work of UK electronic music pioneer JOHN FOXX. You will find all the shows links and detailed artist information below. We have some fantastic EXCLUSIVE tracks from John Foxx associates past and present and a few surprises along our journey.
We also have some visual treats for you. The extremely talented filmmaker Tessa Meijer has specially created a video for this project. Tessa has creating a fantastic video for the FUTURE DAZE track "I Am A Stranger". This video has been specially created for this project. Tessa has previously created a video for the Louis Gordon track "Space Age Love Song". Tessa also partners Sarah Bradshaw on their Spectral Response project. Also included below you will find fab videos from Anne Clark, Future Daze and AjantaMusic.
And if that was not enough, we have teamed up with the Toffetones label to bring you a very special LIMITED EDITION (of just 100) CD featuring artists who have been inspired or influenced by the work of UK electronic music pioneer John Foxx. A diverse selection of electronica that takes the listener through song, sound, darkness and light. From the busiest city to the center of nowhere, always moving forward, here we go......
You can get more information and lay your sticky digits on this fantastic release by visiting the Toffeetones website -
http://toffeetones.toffeetronic.co.uk/MetalBeat_EPK.htm
Various - 'Here we go - The other side of metal beat'
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Here's a list of the fantastic artists for this show: -
ARTISTS / TRACKS / LINKS
ANNE CLARK - FULL MOON Club Mix
Below the fantastic video for FULL MOON!!
Anne will be touring Europe extensively for "The Smallest Acts Of Kindness" tour. For UK fans you can see Anne at UNDERWORLD, Camden in LONDON on Sunday 9th November at 18:00 with support from CLIENT and CASSETTE ELETRIK. Tickets are just £11 from TICKETWEB -
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
ROBO CAST were lucky enough to interview Anne about her time working with John Foxx on her 1985 album PRESSURE POINTS as well as a few questions on Anne's new album - THE SMALLEST ACTS OF KINDNESS.
ROBO CAST interview with ANNE CLARK 20th June 2008
How did the collaboration with John Foxx come about on Pressure Points? I've read it was the record companies' idea?
After the success of my second and third albums I signed a deal with
Virgin Records. Virgin demanded that a producer should be involved with my first album with them. I was reluctant to do this initially as David Harrow and I had between us produced 2 highly successful albums up to that point. However, by this stage David and I were moving in different directions and so after giving the idea some considerable thought I agreed but it would have to be someone whose work I admired and found inspiring. Along with bands such as Magazine and of course all the punk and post-punk, glam and industrial, troubadour songwriters etc, one major influence on my formative years had been John Foxx. As well as the Ultravox material I found his album Metamatic absolutely amazing. Totally unique. And, whilst in the time between I knew his music had evolved in a very different direction too, I thought both our wide-reaching influences and interests could make for an interesting collaboration, along with the material I was writing with musicians I'd met and was working with in London.
Was it always the plan for John to produce the album and co-write some of the tracks?
Yes basically. As I say, I had already begun writing with some musicians in London but was looking for that.....something extra......special....John's ideas were very appropriate!
What working methods did you and John use in creating the album?
Well, I went and met John at his studio (The Garden), I played him some of the demo ideas from the band. He played me some of his ideas. I gave him some texts. It all went very smoothly, flowing together. This was the mid-80s so the whole sampling thing was in full swing. Fairlights, Emulators etc, so it was very interesting creating and working with all the new sounds.
Was John easy to work with?
Absolutely! Very friendly, polite, relaxed and very professional!
I've read the timescale to do the album was just 2 weeks. Is this true?
Yes! No hanging around!!! Punk taught both of us that I think! I'm not such a great fan of the studio anyway. Once the material is written and you begin recording, you have to be so careful not to destroy the energy of things and often the recording studio, especially with the amount of technology increasingly involved, can do that.
Did you have the same regrets as John in not having Patrick Fitzgerald
on the album?
Yes! Patrik was my punk troubador hero. He inspired me so much!!! But......he was off doing other things eh? I think the music industry ate away at him!
Did you get what you wanted out of Pressure Points?
At the time yes, although it was quite a departure from where I was beforehand! Now though I feel it is the most 'caught-in-time' of my albums. But I certainly was very pleased with the results at the time.
How do you feel now about the Pressure Points album?
As I said, I feel some of the sounds are pretty much of the 80s and whilst in one way that can make the album sound pretty dated, in another way I still think there is some very good material on there.
How influential do you feel John Foxx has been on your music and the electronic scene in general?
As I said at the beginning, Ultravox's early material and Metamatic had a huge influence on me and I think on my generation of musicians.
Do you have a message for John?
That it would be great to meet up with him again, for a drink and a chat. Maybe he wants to come to my London show in November!!! I know he's been touring recently. Is he living in the UK? I just send him my best wishes and success!
Can you tell me about your new album and tour?
"The Smallest Acts Of Kindness" is my first original material studio album in years! I've collaborated with my "live" band - Jeff Aug guitars, Murat Parlak piano/keys, Niko Lai drums, Jann Michael Engel cello, Rainer Von Vielen Electronics. I've also collaborated with Leipzig-based electronic noise maker Manuel G. Richter. So, I think the album's a really rich mix of sounds and styles.
Taking a quote from the album press release - "With the world becoming smaller every second, we must grow closer every moment." This is a very optimistic view. In the "Full Moon" lyrics there is almost an apocalyptic view of the world "Cheap flights, fast food, flash cars, worlds collide, states divide, choose your side, landslides". So, are we on unstoppable rollercoaster of self-destruction or is there a glimmer of light in Anne's world?
There's a glimmer of hope if we stop leaving things to others......politicians, industry, companies that are only self-serving. Newspapers and media that beat us around the head with BAD THINGS and telling us how we aren't beautiful enough or thin enough. We've been so paralysed by political correctness, lack of
responsibility, celebrity culture and consuming! I can't stop what is happening in Iraq, Burma, Zimbabwe, Gaza.....but I CAN control the way I behave to people in and around my environment. We all can. That' where the optimism lies.
A big thank you to Anne for the interview and Jeff Aug for all his help.
THE SMALLEST ACTS OF KINDNESS is released on 26th September 2008.
TRACKLIST:
01 - Nothing Going On 05:32 Musicians:
02 - The Hardest Heart 03:45 Anne Clark : vocals
03 - Waiting 03:31 Rainer von Vielen : electronics, accordian, vocals
04 - Psalm 05:44 Xabec : electronics, vocals
05 - Know 02:56 Jeff Aug : guitar
06 - As Soon As I Get Home 07:29 Murat Parlak : piano, vocals
07 - Off Grid 03:02 Jann Michael Engel : cello
08 - Boy Racing 04:16 Niko Lai : percussion, drums
09 - Zest 03:09
10 - Prayer Before Birth 03:41
11 - Full Moon 05:13
12 - If 07:25
Total Duration 55:43
Anne Clark was born in Croydon,
Anne was experimenting with music and text and made her own debut performance at Richard Strange's Cabaret Futura in
In September 2008, Anne Clark will be releasing "THE SMALLEST ACTS OF KINDNESS," which will be her first album of original material in over a decade. This long awaited album contains the ultimate fusion between acoustic and electronic music and will prove to be the most anticipated album of the year. Joining forces with her current live band and the electronic noise producer from Leipzig, Germany, Xabec, Anne Clark delivers her most slamming album to date. Uncompromising in approach yet emotionally vulnerable, the material challenges her audience whilst showing them and herself respect in an age of compromise and conformity.
THE SMALLEST ACTS OF KINDNESS includes songs which Anne has been performing live over the last few years, but that have remained unrecorded until now. The album also contains new material which has never been publicly heard or performed. From the atmospheric "As Soon As I Get Home" to the gut-wrenching tribal electro vibe of "Prayer Before Birth," Anne Clark draws on influences from her entire career whilst constantly searching for new ways to bridge the link between her and her audience. This is an album that delivers and has been well worth the wait. The single "Full Moon" is pure electro and sure to be a dance floor burner.
With THE SMALLEST ACTS OF KINDNESS, Anne takes on organised religion - "the politicising of spirituality" -, the escalating crisis around oil and basic foodstuffs, and worldwide abuses of rights and resources; but she never loses sight of the rawest and complex human emotions and the need for hope.
When asked what the ultimate message of THE SMALLEST ACTS OF KINDNESS delivers, Anne simply replied, "With the world becoming smaller every second, we must grow closer every moment." With THE SMALLEST ACTS OF KINDNESS, Anne Clark is as close to you as the heart that beats within your chest, pumping the rhythms that bring us from the deepest sadness to the most illuminating joys of ecstasy. Join Anne Clark on her quest to discover, learn, and -- most importantly -- recognize the smallest acts of kindness. After all, is there anything else worth living for?
THE MATEYBLOKES - Tuesday Blues
This tune is dedicated to all of my colleagues who lost their jobs today at work especially Kathy. The place will never be the same again.
http://www.myspace.com/themateyblokes
The Mateyblokes consist of 2 brothers Brian & Kerry.I'm the oldest of 5 brothers,Kerry is the youngest. Kerry hasn't contributed anything for a while because he's doing up his house. We grew up in Halesowen.
I left Halesowen in 1993.Kerry still lives there. I started making music when I bought my first synth in the late 1980s.I was inspired by Ultravox & John Foxx's version of Ultravox. I didnt have much money or any way of recording what I was doing. I stopped playing when I moved to Tamworth in 1993. In 2006 Kerry offered to sell me his Korg O1/w.I took him up on his offer. In 2007,inspired by what other members of the Metamatic forum had been doing with their own music I decided to have a go. The first tracks that I posted on our Myspace page were called Dark Water & Summer Rain. These were inspired by the floods of that summer. I 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.
GARY HUNTER - A Face I Knew
http://www.myspace.com/garyhuntermusic
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 his support and help with the show.
BETTER STRANGERS - Thematic 1
http://www.myspace.com/betterstrangers
Formed 1997. Recorded Works: 'The Noise Survey' (1997 as Binary) 'Sinister Resonances' (2000 as Dancevision) 'Tanzkreis' (2006 as Dancevision) also track 'Quick City' on 'Time & Time Again' Electromancer CD 2001. The BETTER STRANGERS track 'You & You Again' appears on the fab RECLINER VOL1 CD on the Toffeetones label -
http://toffeetones.toffeetronic.co.uk/ReclinerEPK.htm
http://www.toffeetronic.co.uk/tt_shop.html
http://www.paulberrymusic.co.uk
http://www.myspace.com/paulberryuk
Quote from Paul –
"I remember having an
‘Parallel’ is my first album release. The independent release is available via the the major MP3 sites (iTunes, Napster, Rhapsody, Tune Tribe etc) as well as on CD (available from this site). The album became available in October 2006. A new album (provisionally titled 'Lost and found') should be available around October/November 2008. 'Kaleidoscope life' from the new album is available to download from my MySpace page.
GEIGERTEK - Picture In Eyes
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."
Links to AD Music and Musiczeit (Ian Boddy's digital download website) are below:
http://www.myspace.com/lethalfoam
Quote from Lethal Foam -
"He (John Foxx) made me realise that music is about feeling, you should just write what
you feel"
About Lethal Foam
Making music for over 20 years accompanied by tea at first, then whisky. When we first started out on our musical journey we worked with the artist now known as Future Daze and a few other folks too. Many of the old Lethal Foam tracks are preserved only on cassette tapes as way back then there were no PCs like we have today. It would be great to get some of these tracks like Dark Green Number Eight or Spy Theme onto myspace, but recreating them could be difficult, but we may give it a go. We have never played live as any of our incarnations, but GKP did once front a punk band called The Runts. Their debut gig was unfortunately cut short when a fight broke out in the pub hosting this momentous occasion, as the locals werent keen on seeing a fake hunchback in white face paint screaming down a microphone. Some woman who objected got the mic right in the face courtesy of the guitarist, Graham. The Runts never played another gig. And they got barred from the pub. In later years however GKP did work with Rock the Dock, a band formed for a small charity concert in
SARAH BRADSHAW - Incandescence
http://www.myspace.com/139640423
About Sarah - I've got a Diploma in Nutritional Medicine. I love music - all sorts - but I do have a good old dabble at synth stuff....which leads me nicely on to..... I am working alongside film-maker Tessa Meijer, and collectively we are Spectral Response and we are constantly working on new and exciting projects. Our work combines Tessa's images with my music and you can view it right here!
PLUS MY NEW MUSICAL VENTURE... I have collaborated with South East London based guitarist/vocalist Nic Taylor (Kill Your Heroes) and together we are Imminent Departure. Please check out our profile http://www.myspace.com/imminentdeparture
OUR 'CONJECTURE' EP IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD FROM CDBABY http://cdbaby.com/cd/immdep
AND SHORTLY FROM APPLE iTUNES http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=276020738
SARAH also appears on the fab RECLINER VOL1 CD on the Toffeetones label with her track 'Closer' -
TOFFEETRONIC - Let Me In
http://toffeetones.toffeetronic.co.uk/
Toffeetronic vs. Louis Gordon 'White Noise sessions 2008 (live)'
Live recordings from rehearsals for Toffee & Louis live one off set at the electronic event of the year -
White Noise Electronic music Festival http://www.whitelabel-music.co.uk/WhiteNoise.php
Recorded in Manchester's Shortwave studios this limited cd will be available exclusively at the festival.
The man behind Toffeetronic (Matt Gunn) is also the guy responsible to setting up the new 'fab' Toffeetones label.
ABOUT
New label, new music, new hope...........
We are embarking on a voyage of discovery seeking out new, original music. We collect.... we reject.... memorabilia........
JOIN THE MAILING LIST
Visit the Toffeetones site, join the mailing list and recieve a 4 track Toffeetones sampler cd FREE! http://toffeetones.toffeetronic.co.uk/
STORE
The Toffeetone Record Store.......
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FUTURE DAZE - I Am A Stranger
http://www.myspace.com/futuredaze
Quote from Future Daze – “From hearing Systems Of Romance back in 1978 I was hooked. Then along came the stunning Metamatic. This is a hugely influential, landmark album that has remained a firm favourite through to the present day. John does things on his own terms, allowing his creative processes to work without too many outside influences or label infighting. John Foxx a true, modern day visionary. Thanks for the electronic legacy.”
Ian is originally from Liverpool, moving to the Midlands (for work!!) in the early 80's. The latest FUTURE DAZE album "Mixed Synthetic Messages" is available now from the Future Daze website and CDBaby plus various digital download sites including iTunes. FUTURE DAZE also appears on the fab RECLINER VOL1 CD on the Toffeetones label with the track 'After The Rain' - Below is the very special video created just for this project by film maker TESSA MEIJER . This is the video for the FUTURE DAZE track "I AM A STRANGER".
FUTURE DAZE is one of the projects from Ian Price, the man behind the Robo Cast shows. Ian started the shows in July 2007 after various Future Daze and School Of Ambience (another of Ian's projects) tracks were played on various podcast and radio shows. Ian has a huge passion for electronic music and so THE SHOW WAS BORN. In the first Robo Cast year there have been 25 shows, 1 special show for The Family Records label and 2 shows for BBC WM.
I Am A Stranger
Created by Tessa Meijer
http://www.myspace.com/tessamoss
http://www.spectralresponse.co.uk
Spectral Response are Sarah Bradshaw (music) and Tessa Meijer (visuals). Based in Stafford, Brighton and Cyberspace, Spectral Response create a totally unique fusion of music and visuals - a 21st century gesamtkunstwerk.
As an added bonus, below is the FUTURE DAZE video for the track OXYGEN. This track is featured on the "Here We Go - The Other Side Of Metal Beat" Ltd Ed CD on the Toffeetones label.
Oxygen (Atomic Number 8 mix)
Created by Future Daze
LOGAN 5 - The Future That Never Arrived
http://www.myspace.com/neonnebula
