Indholdsfortegnelse for January 2022 i Future Music

LIKE IT? TRY THESE… Get Physical Full Body Workout Vol. 02 Compilation on the Claude-approved label, featuring Chimps, which he would license back for his debut album, that year. ADD THESE TO YOUR PLAYLIST: ‘Big One’, ‘Discoheadz (Rough Demo Cut)’, ‘Chimps’ Various Dirtybird Campout Compilation The label’s much-loved festival tent-a-thon rounds up the perfect soundtrack to a night under the stars. ADD THESE TO YOUR PLAYLIST: ‘Function’, ‘Fixation’, ‘Can You Funk’ Get Real Mind Yo Bizness/Snuffaluffagus Claude and Green Velvet team up as Get Real to deliver tech house magic on this 2016 EP. And, rejoice, as more action from the duo is planned this year. ADD THESE TO YOUR PLAYLIST: ‘Mind Yo Bizness’, ‘Snuffaluffagus’ Fred Everything Light Of Day Just one of the deep house nuggets found on Ralph…

2021: A YEAR IN BEATS Tracks is our favourite groovebox of 2021, but it’s not been the only beatmaking game in town. In fact, it’s not even the only Circuit released this year, with the sample-focussed Circuit Rhythm following hot on its heels. There’s a lot to like about Rhythm – particularly the sharp design and powerful sequencer it shares with its sibling – although for our money it loses a touch of the intuitiveness. The sampling workflow is inherently more complex, and operating without a screen can be fiddly at times. This is a problem that Roland managed to overcome with their SP-404 MKII. The surprise follow-up to a cult hardware classic beloved by LA’s beat scene. The 404 MKII crams an impressive amount of sampling (and resampling) power…

Gear of the Year 2021 | Feature SYNTHS WINNER KORG MODWAVE When we reviewed Modwave, we concluded that, despite its versatility, it was a touch less unique than its siblings Opsix and Wavestate. Having spent more time with Modwave, however, we’ve become even more impressed with how flexible its wavetable engine is. The dual-layered, morphing design and virtual analogue filters do everything from emulating vintage polysynths to creating otherworldly morphing textures. It’s not the quickest synth to program, but the price-to-depth ratio is impossible to argue with.…

THE AWARDS ISSUE A YEAR OF DAW UPDATES A side from Live, 2021 was not exactly what you’d call a classic year for DAWs – at least when you compare it to 2020, which saw a whole raft of releases including Cubase 11, Tracktion Pro 11, Universal Audio’s debut DAW, Luna, PreSonus Studio One 5, Acoustica Mixcraft 9 Pro Studio and the dramatic Live-like Logic Pro 10.5. And nor are DAW developers making it easy for us to keep up to speed any more, as they did around version 9, when so many DAWs seemed to adhere to the same version number. FLStudio broke ranks and has shot straight to version 20, where it has remained, while other DAWs like Pro Tools have now eschewed version numbers altogether, replacing them with…

Gear of the Year 2021 | Feature PLUGINS WINNER BABY AUDIO SPACED OUT With only a few standout soft synth releases in 2021, it was instead the year of effects, with the trend being to move away from hardware emulations and push the boundaries of effect design. Our winner does just that, while also invoking the sound and feel of a classic – the best of both worlds, you could say, and definitely out of both of them. Baby Audio’s Spaced Out is a Space Echo reimagined and it’s been hailed as one of the most creative effects around, with delays, modulation and some incredibly lush sounds.…

THE AWARDS ISSUE THE YEAR IN EURORACK Although the ADDAC 112 is our pick of the year for modules, others stood out too. Following the general trend of granular’s popularity is Mutable Instruments Beads, the successor to the equally popular Clouds, which takes the original concept and makes it neater and smaller. Erica Synths have had an impressive year with consistently impressive modules. While the Black Series 2 as a whole offers many great offerings, we feel that the Matrix Mixer is something that could benefit any modular synthesist. It offers so much potential for sound designers and could make patch teardown anxiety a thing of the past. Being able to store patches from any and all different modules, adapt them and instantly recall them is something that has only…

Richard Fearless | Produce like… PRODUCE LIKE… Richard Fearless The Death In Vegas lynchpin on making his new ambient opus Future Rave Memory © Kevin Lake Richard Fearless has been releasing electronic music since the mid-’90s, but for most of that time he’s been best known for his collaboration-heavy, genre-hopping project Death In Vegas. Following an initial string of white labels, he released his first album under the name Richard Fearless in 2019. Decidedly more machine-focused, that album – Deep Rave Memory – saw the producer stripping his sound back to its rawest elements, combining ambient washes of analogue synth with swirling delays lines, acid-techno bass riffs and cavernous drums. Last month Richard Fearless returned with a companion album, Future Rave Memory. Produced once again in his Thames-side Metal Box studio, and…

Reviews | 512 Audio Skylight 512 Audio Skylight £190 Jon Musgrave plugs up this new podcast-focused large capsule condenser from US manufacturer 512 Audio THE PROS & CONS Sound tailored for speech and vocals Stylish headstock Low profile, C-shaped cradle Very effective clip-on pop shield Good value Quite heavy 512 Audio is a new venture from Texan gear manufacturers Warm Audio. So far the product line includes two mics, a dynamic (Limelight) and a condenser (Skylight), and it’s the latter I have on the bench for review. Skylight is a keenly priced phantom-powered cardioid condenser with a large 34mm gold-plated capsule. The package includes the mic, a C-shaped suspension cradle and a clip-on dual layer pop shield. The mic has its own pouch and it all comes packaged in a…

Reviews | Fluid Audio Axis Fluid Audio Axis €249 It can be a bit of a minefield choosing a budget mic. Jon Musgrave weighs up this impressive-looking new entry THE PROS & CONS Reasonably neutral sound with subtle high frequency boost Compact hard carry case Accessories include high quality mic cable Low profile, C-shaped cradle Very effective dual layer clip-on pop shield No regular mic clip Axis is a new phantom-powered cardioid condenser from US brand Fluid Audio. Fluid are best known for their monitors and they have produced some pretty nice designs over the past 10 years. However, with both monitor headphones and the Axis mic now added to the product line, they’re clearly seeking to branch out a bit. Axis all areas Axis is built around a 34mm…

Talking Shop | Paleman TALKING SHOP Paleman “A lot of small changes and tweaks can add up to the biggest change” Back in the early ’10s, the dark, cerebral sound of early dubstep compelled a generation of forward-thinking producers to reconstruct club music in innovative forms. Calum Lee was at the heart of this scene, producing warped, bass-heavy rollers that thrived in the murky no-man’s-land between house, dubstep and techno. After launching his own label, PLMN, in 2016, Lee’s output shifted further towards the experimental, and he began working on a series of self-titled EPs that have culminated in the hallucinatory sonics of this year’s PLMN005, and two EPs under a new alias, Fresnel Lens. Lee was kind enough to invite us into his attic studio, revealing how he’s transitioned…

Gear of the Year 2021 | Feature DRUMS & GROOVEBOXES WINNER NOVATION CIRCUIT TRACKS Tracks is the perfect example of how to create a follow-up to a hit product. The second generation Circuit doesn’t mess with the winning elements of the original – the powerful digital polysynths, the slick hardware layout, the balance of accessibility vs depth – but doubles down in some important areas. Improvements to the sequencer, MIDI capabilities and I/O mean that this is not only a killer groovebox in its own right, but also a powerful, tactile hub for studio or stage performance.…

MIDI, CV AND MORE Looking at the ‘controller’ market in 2021, the sheer variety of tools available to help you get hands-on with your music making is impressive. If classic MIDI keyboards are your thing, there is an absolutely huge selection out there vying for your attention. Of recent releases, M-Audio’s recently launched Oxygen Pro range stand out for their winning combination of deep DAW integration, flexible features and low price. At the more esoteric end of things, Torso Electronics’ T-1 is a brilliantly left-of-centre MIDI sequencer that can create multiple polyphonic Euclidean cycles. For those looking for inspiration away from traditional step sequencers, it can be a great way to inspire fresh rhythmic ideas. Having spent much of the past few years focused on standalone production stations, Akai brought…

Gear of the Year 2021 | Feature SOFTWARE & DAWS WINNER ABLETON LIVE 11 Ableton Live 11 gets our vote as DAW of the year, but it was a close call between it and the dramatic update to Logic Pro (10.7) at the end of the year. Live 11 wins thanks to its huge list of (arguably) smaller updates, some to level up with competitors – comping and take lanes – and some just wonderful additions, like the PitchLoop89 and Hybrid Reverb effects, MPE support and probability editing. It all makes Live feel slicker, more comprehensive and at something of a peak in its 20th year.…

THE AWARDS ISSUE 2021’S FINEST STUDIO GEAR The things that we lump into the broad category of ‘studio gear’ – monitors, headphones, interfaces and accessories – aren’t necessarily the most exciting purchases, but they also tend to be absolutely essential to our music making. It might be hard to get too excited about a new budget interface or mid-sized set of monitors, but these are some of the most widely needed – and purchased – categories of gear, so it’s hardly surprising that more and more brands are getting in on the action. UA’s Volt range might be 2021’s closest thing to a ‘sexy’ interface, but there have been other impressive entrants this year too. Arturia’s new MiniFuse interfaces offer a broad range of features and quality bundled software. Audient,…

Gear of the Year 2021 | Feature MODULAR ADDAC SYSTEM 112 ADDAC’s take on granular synthesis is a standout module from this year, for a couple of reasons. Firstly for the layout – which is clear and concise, making it powerful and intuitive. Secondly for the sound design possibilities, which make it such a valuable tool. The long buffer times, visual feedback and huge array of control, via faceplate and CV, make this looper/granular synth a real powerhouse, that any modular synthesist will value.…

Richard Fearless | Produce like… GET THAT SOUND… How Richard layered feedback loops for the outro of Our Acid House 01 > Our Acid House is the emotive final track of the album, inspired by the death of Andrew Weatherall. Richard also wanted to create a transitional ending. “I knew I was going straight into recording a Death In Vegas album after this, so I wanted something that felt like passing the baton from one project to the other.” He achieved this by creating an epic build of heavily processed feedback. 02 > It starts with a pad-like sound from Roland Juno. “The actual sound started as a synth line. I reamped it through my [Vox] AC30. I used two Neumanns to stereo mic the amp,” Richard explains. “I think…

Glitch | Retrospective The past, present and future of glitch PAST: Yuzo Koshiro and Motohiro Kawashima – Streets of Rage 3 OST Critically unacclaimed on release in 1994, the Streets of Rage 3 music didn’t immediately become a cult classic like so many other Sega soundtracks. In retrospect, it’s a more challenging listen than the eclectic hip-hop and techno-inspired soundtracks of previous games in the beat ’em up series, but it’s an obvious precursor to glitch aesthetics in electronic music. You can hear it all on YouTube if you don’t fancy tracking down an original console version. © SEGA/Ancient © Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images PRESENT: Hyperpop ’90s glitch purists might sneer, but some of the most fascinating glitch in recent years has been concealed within the Trojan horse of pop production, spearheaded…

Reviews | Akai MPC Studio Akai MPC Studio £230 Akai’s revamped MPC Studio combines hardware control with software power to deliver everything needed to run an MPC-based setup, says Martin Delaney THE PROS & CONS The trademark pads are always fun to play, and with a controller it’s even more rewarding MPC software has matured to become an effective DAW in its own right Good price for a bundle that includes the controller and full MPC software The hybrid hardware/software approach isn’t for everybody Akai’s MPC Studio joins the MPC range, which comprises the MPC One, MPC Live, and MPC X. The Studio is a USB MIDI device that connects to a computer and controls the included MPC 2 DAW software – the other MPCs can also do this, but…

Reviews | Campfire Audio Honeydew Campfire Audio Honeydew IEM £249 These in-ears look the part, but how do they sound? Rob Redman runs a test THE PROS & CONS Clear, precise sound Excellent fitting options Canvas carry case and cleaning tool Cable is short Biased towards the low end Campfire Audio products have often been noted for their aesthetic design, as well as their excellent performance and this follows through with their lower-end Honeydew IEM (in-ear monitors). The Honeydews come in bright, cheerful packaging that is carried through to the design of the IEMs themselves, which feature a very attractive geometric-shaped body, manufactured using 3D printing. Don’t worry there though, there are none of the striations you might expect to find. These are beautifully finished, lightweight and do the job…

Alan Fitzpatrick | A Career in Gear A CAREER IN GEAR Alan Fitzpatrick The techno king takes the hotseat for our new feature exploring the gear behind an artist’s discography Over the past decade, Alan Fitzpatrick has achieved the admirable feat of straddling the underground and the mainstream, headlining Berghain while dropping hits on BBC Radio 1. Best known for releasing caustic techno on venerable imprints like Drumcode, Hotflush and Hypercolour, he’s shown a softer side in recent years, embracing disco edits and experimental electronica. This November, Alan is sharing his first album in a decade. Machine Therapy, released on Anjunadeep, is something of a love letter to his studio. “The time I had in the studio was like a therapy session,” he says. “Particularly with the pandemic, not knowing what…

FM | CLASSIC ALBUM Claude VonStroke Beware of the Bird Dirtybird, 2006 Words by Roy Spencer Initial reactions to Claude VonStroke and friends’ first parties and music releases on his own Dirtybird label were not, it’s fair to say, great. Their signature sound of bleeps, bloops, and bonkers bass failed to capture the imaginations of the local San Francisco dance music scene. “We got zero respect,” says VonStroke. “Everyone is like, ‘What the fuck? This isn’t cool’. We got 10 people to our parties. But, we didn’t give up on this dream.” While all the happening clubs on the West Coast were bumping the smooth sounds of labels like Naked Music Recordings, that lot were obsessed with Playhouse, Klang, and the bumpier, dirtier sounds of forward-thinkers like David Duriez and…

FM | ALBUM REVIEWS Jim Wallis and Nick Goss Pool ALBUM OF THE MONTH Tip Top Recordings The beautiful, highly atmospheric and ethereal collaborative album from multi-instrumentalist Jim Wallis and painter/guitarist, Nick Goss. In early 2020, Goss spent several weeks as part of an artist residency onboard the 183-meter tanker, the Cielo Di Gaeta, on the Adriatic sea. Back in London, Goss then took the field recordings he made of life onboard and together with his ex-bandmate Wallis, began to create these wonderful, textured soundscapes in an attempt to capture and document the journey. Combining ambient, classical and experimental industrial music alongside the natural recordings, the album is a beautifully paced, measured piece. Goss’ melancholic and stretched out guitar loops are accompanied by Wallis’ subtle yet haunting strings and wistful…

THE AWARDS ISSUE CONTROLLERS WINNER KORG SQ-64 A few years ago, good quality CV sequencers were hard to come by, but in 2021 we’re somewhat spoilt for choice. Korg’s SQ-64 joins the likes of Arturia’s ‘Steps and Novation’s SL keyboards in updating analogue sequencing (plus MIDI and USB) for the 21st century. The 64 brings something fresh though, in its sleek portability – this is a fully fledged poly sequencer you could happily slip into a laptop bag – and the inclusion of some neat performance tools.…

THE AWARDS ISSUE 2021’S MUST-HAVE PLUGINS Synths-wise, highlights of 2021 include OB-E, another stunning (albeit so far Mac-only) emulation from GForce, this time based around the Oberheim 8-voice. Not an emulation, and certainly benefitting from doing whatever it wants because of it, is the latest v3 incarnation of Pigments, Arturia’s first ever non-emulation synth and *whisper* one of their best. On the subject of instruments, one of the biggest names in software, Spitfire Audio, upped the ante, pumping out more libraries than ever before, the highlights of which were Hammers, delivering a bespoke set of percussion tools collated by Saw composer Charlie Clouser, and Albion Solstice, covering both orchestral and more extreme instrumentation. “2021 COULD BE SEEN AS A YEAR OF NEW RANGES” Orchestral Tools also started moving away from their…

Gear of the Year 2021 | Feature STUDIO GEAR WINNER UNIVERSAL AUDIO VOLT INTERFACES The budget interface sphere is one of the most crowded markets in music making. It’s also a space where it’s hard to innovate. Decent budget interfaces offer some ins, some outs, do it well and do it cheap. That’s all there is to it. Kudos to UA then, for creating something that genuinely stands out. Not only do the Volt interfaces look incredibly smart, but the addition of a simple, all-analogue ‘vintage’ preamps and 1176-style compressor make for a set of interfaces that are appealingly intuitive and incredibly useful.…

Nightmares on Wax | In The Studio With NIGHTMARES ON WAX Due to a health scare and enforced DJing sojourn, Nightmares on Wax’s George Evelyn was forced to totally re-evaluate his life and craft. Danny Turner learns more When George Evelyn released Nightmares on Wax’s debut album A Word of Science; The First and Final chapter on Warp Records in 1991, he could not have envisaged that he’d still be signed to the label 30 years later. In between, he’s been a pioneering force on the downtempo scene, shaping, defining and blending elements of electronica, jazz, hip-hop, dub, funk, soul and techno on classic albums such as Smokers Delight, Carboot Soul and In a Space Outta Sound. However, after decades of DJing and touring, the pandemic finally gave Evelyn space…

FM | PRODUCER’S GUIDE Roland TR-6S Leo Maymind gives us a whirlwind tour of this slimmed-down TR-8S sibling, which, he argues, offers a fair amount of charm in its own right… Roland’s TR-6S has now been around for a few years, and while its big brother, the TR-8S, has received a lot of critical acclaim, the 6S has proven no slouch. Blessed with the exact same internal sound engine but boasting six instruments instead of the 8S’s 11, the TR-6S packs a lot of punch in a very small, portable package. When you take into account that this little drum machine can draw power from either batteries or USB and has full digital audio streaming capabilities over USB as well, it’s quite a powerful package. Taking a quick glance at…

Interview | The Black Dog THE BLACK DOG Danny Turner meets the techno outfit to chat Sheffield, brutalism and new album Music for Photographers Sheffield’s best-known purveyors of ‘listening techno’, The Black Dog hypnotised the electronic world with seminal ’90s albums such as Bytes and Spanners. With the line-up changing from its initial formation, the last two decades have seen founding member Ken Downie joining forces with Martin and Richard Dust, with the trio treating us to a raft of unnervingly esoteric albums since the release of Silenced in 2005. Away from the music, over the last few years Martin Dust has leaned in on his history in graphic design and reached for his camera to photograph various aesthetically pleasing concrete structures in Sheffield. Initially set to a series of…

Interview | Vitalic VITALIC The French producer celebrates his 20th year in the game with a new post punk-tinged album. Matt Mullen learns more about his latest projects © Yann Rabanier French producer and multi-instrumentalist Vitalic recently celebrated his 20th year in electronic music, and with that, his first album release since 2017. The new record, Dissidænce, is a two-part affair, and the first volume promises more of the mutant techno with which he made his name. This time around, though, the producer is imbuing his 4/4 constructions with a post-punk edge. Vitalic joined us to talk through studio essentials and how the new release represents a return to his queer roots and sonic identity. Tell us about how you first got involved with production. “Since I was a kid…

Sounds & Samples | Reviews Loopmasters – Live Jungle Breaks £19.95 > Huge crop of breakbeats, played live on a real kit, copying the programming styles of the deadliest ’90s jungle producers. Drummer, Ned Haweeli, recreates the kind of dynamite chopped-up loops you used to find on tear-out Dillinja and Photek joints. They add a splash of FX where needed, and modern processing polish over the top, leaving you with a meaty library of killer loops, fills, hits, and software patches. Tempos are locked in around 160-180bpm, and each masterfully re-fashioned break is captured and engineered to the highest degree of audio fidelity. It makes for a fun resource of blistering beats, for any drum&bass head looking to add extra organic flavour. Roy Spencer loopmasters.com VERDICT 8.0 Audiotent – Epilogue Standard:…