Forthcoming...

Hello Fax lovers. A slightly late Happy New Year to you! Hope all is well wherever you are and that plenty of Fax music is finding its way on to stereos/computers/iPods or whatever you may use to get those sounds flowing in 2014.

First thing's first: Before I go any further time for a quick look at some of the frankly rather tasty music that is coming out on Psychonavigation Records in the first half of this year. In the last few months we have already had Hush!, a great collaborative effort between Dr. Atmo and Miss Silencio. This record veers towards the more melodic, ethereal side of ambient with soundscapes provided by the ex-Fax man and some nice keyboards from Miss Silencio. I'm really pleased to report that Atmo still has it, big time.

This week a copy of the brand new Steve Stoll album Praxis arrived on my doormat. Interestingly this release is dedicated to the works of three female electronic music legends: Daphne Oram, Delia Derbyshire and Laurie Spiegel. 

Now I must confess that I'm no gear expert but with what sounds like predominantly analog soundscapes Praxis had me dreaming of wires big time and reminded me of how nice it would be to splash out ridiculous amounts of cash on an old modular synth. If you enjoy experimental electronic music from the very old school (and I do) I'd imagine you're going to really like this one.

Next up we can look forward to Lorenzo Montana's latest album Leema Hactus, which is due out on 10th February in a limited run of 300 CDR copies. Once again, I can't profess to be an electronic music gear expert but from the clips I've heard it sounds as if on this outing Lorenzo has mixed his trademark style with hints of some much older school sounds. Am I right? We shall see. The teasers are sounding great.

Then in April we have Tales Retold, a remix album of work taken from Mick Chillage's Tales from the Igloo album. I believe that Peter Benisch is remixing one of the tracks and Chillage mixed by Benisch is cause enough for excitement, I think! This will be released in a limited run of 300 CDR copies with a special ejector jewelcase and six page booklet.

Speaking of Peter Benisch, Waiting for Snow seems to be one of the most well-loved Fax albums and not without good reason (a review of this one will hopefully be coming to NMLK soon). Curiously, Benisch never followed this up with further Fax albums but in May Psychonavigation will be releasing his latest effort, Broken Chords as a limited edition of 300 CDR copies. Once again this will come in special ejector jewelcase with a six page booklet.

...and last, but definitely not least another electronic music legend: Oliver Lieb's Inside Voices will be with us in June. Anyone in possession of Music to Films or indeed any of Lieb's myriad other releases will know there is cause for serious excitement with this and it will be released in a limited run of 500 CDRs, once again with an ejector jewelcase.

So, that's a quick round-up of all of the ex-Fax artists with releases coming to Psychonavigation in the first half of 2014. Something to look forward to almost every month until summer.

To pre-order any of these releases see here: http://psychonavigation.com/

So, what next for the NMLK blog? Well, as mentioned there is a very big interview almost ready to post. This is currently waiting to be checked over by the interviewee (as I couldn't hear every word on my dictaphone tape) but he's a busy guy, flying here and there all over the world. Hopefully coming soon, though...

I have also already started work on a review of  the epic eight disc Pete Namlook tribute box set Die Welt ist Klang and this will be posted when I've managed to properly take on board many hours of fantastic music.

If you haven't ordered a physical or digital copy of this you can still do so here:

http://www.carpesonum.com/s01.html

...and finally I'm planning to post more reviews for Fax releases. As 2350.org has already done an excellent job of allowing fans to post reviews of Fax releases up to 2008 my plan is to first focus on the releases from this point onwards (with some exceptions)...

So, all of this to look forward to in 2014. Here's hoping for a great one. More soon....

Dr. Atmo interviewed

 

Q: Am I right in thinking that you were born in Iran but left in 1978? Was that as a result of political unrest? What do you remember about your early years?

A: Well, my dad brought me out of Iran three weeks before the revolution and went back, in the hope that I could go back after school and university. I was 12 and grew up with friends of his and later by a very nice but conservative family. I remember a country full of lovely people, landscape, culture and great food. It was before our country pushed to the wrong direction. I hope we can see laughing people again in this country.

Q: ...and the next stop was Frankfurt? Is that right? You ended up DJing at a club called XS. Can you describe the scene at the time and how you became a DJ and musician? It seems that there was a massive scene for techno in Germany back then?

A: I grew up in Frankfurt with very talented personalities and their styles, like Mr.Väth, Talla 2XLC, Bijan Blum, DJ Dag, Mark Spoon and many, many more. I met most of them at a young age (15-19), as I worked in a record shop. In the night, I brought them the newest records in the clubs and enjoyed their sets and started to make light (light jockey) for them. Frankfurt was full of creative people and makers and it influenced me a lot for sure, as I started to study architecture, got many jobs to design shops, offices, studios, flats AND clubs like Omen or XS. As I heard that XS want to make a chillout night and I loved downtempo music, I applied for the job and my first nights were totally packed. So they became my own “Atmo nights”.

Q: How and when did you first meet Pete Namlook? Was that at XS? Can you remember the first time you met him and how you decided to record music together?

A: I remember a guy from Boy Records came to XS with company (Pete) and he introduced us. Pete had just moved to Frankfurt and enjoyed my sets for weeks and so we got to know each other better. He told me about his music career and job as software programmer and I told him about my visions for architecture and music. He invited me to his studio and it was my second production (first with PCP). I brought lots of music and samples with me...and Silence was born.

Q: I’m really fascinated by this period when various musicians (yourself obviously included) went from playing techno to branching out and also playing and recording ambient music (this mixture is very much in evidence on the Escape double CD that you recorded with Pete). What do you think the catalysts for this were? Was there something you guys were listening to that influenced the move or was it simply a natural move to making some chilled out music?

A: I never DJ'd  as a techno dance DJ but I love that music for sure. For many artists it was very stylish to have a kind “chillout” version of their dance tracks. For me it was not a new kind of music - it had only a new name that the techno generation was totally in love with. Every rave must had a chillout room and I played in lots of these rooms for hours and hours. ;) I played older stuff like Tangerine Dream into The Orb, perhaps. Or David Sylvian or Can  into Mixmaster Morris or Aphex Twin albums. For me the point was that you can not got the future if you don't know about past. So until today my sets are always a trip from '50s...'60s to present.

Q: I once heard an interview (I think it was with The Chillage Idiots radio show) when Pete described Silence as his big breakthrough at Fax…the record that made people stop and take notice. What do you remember about recording this and the follow up, Silence II?  What was it like working in the studio with Pete? Can you remember how you worked together?

 

A: Well, Silence was his first real full ambient record on his own label. After a few A&R call offs, he decided to start with the own label called Fax. And even for me Silence was the first record with all my passion and with my new artist name on it. Working with Pete was great at first and for sure always with great results. We both were zodiac sign Sagittarius and that couldn't work for long time. So after Escape we decided to work separately. He came in touch with my friends Move D or Mixmaster Morris and was more interested to work with them, as he made ​​me feel very often then. So I started to work with others...

Q: Who provided the mysterious voice on those Silence records…the guy asking the questions with the really deep voice? (-:

A: To be honest, all those mysterious elements came from my music collection, especially that Silence voice.  I bought that tape in a new age meditation shop in Hamburg years before and chilled to that voice many, many times before Silence was born.

Q: On those first two Silence records and the Sad World series there are strong ethno music elements. Did you tend to get those from field recordings or did you ever bring musicians into the studio to provide the sounds?

A: Pete's place was not that big in that time and so we couldn't record live. But by the time of my collaboration with Ramin as Sad World we could record a few musicians and artists around at Ramin's dad's. It was always a great moment when you saw/heard all of those old instruments on new beats. Goosebumps were guaranteed! And it happens again and again, like last time recording for my new band, Atmo and the Lightz.

Q: Do you have any particular memories of working with Ramin on the Sad World records?

A: The biggest moment that I will never forget? His dad performed an old Persian poem on Sad World 2 and we all started to cry by the first play...

Q: You recorded three albums (The Whole Traffic, The Whole Traffic II and A Day in the Park) with Pino and Wildjamin (aka The Basalt Boys). How did you meet those guys and what do you remember about recording with them?

A: Pino is Iranian too and he enjoyed my sets in XS and asked me to listen to their stuff. Benjamin Wild (a famous producer now) and Pino had lots of stuff and I started to rearrange and edit it. At the end we decided to create all of those as new projects and Pete was very interested in all my stuff. So it all went out on Fax, for sure.

Q: Music to Films, the album you recorded with Oliver Lieb, must be one of the most interesting and sought after records in the whole Fax discography. I’d argue that as a soundtrack to Koyaanisqatsi it is more powerful than Philip Glass’ music. It certainly lends a darker atmosphere to the film. How did the idea for that album come about? How did yourself and Oliver Lieb work on it? A great deal of time clearly went into making sure that all of the pieces of music sync up perfectly with the images in the film.

A: Working with Oliver Lieb was great for sure. I designed his studio in the same time that I did the studio design for Pascal Feos too. And my charge was to produce a album with them. ;)) Mixmaster Morris called the Music to Films idea a “one million dollar project” and this made Pete very jealous. I knew that a few licensing requests were not answered for this album. Sad but ...

Q: Do you have a favourite Fax album or favourite Fax albums?

 A: Dreamfish, Silence.

 Q: Which of your records are you most proud of?

A: On Fax: I.F. 1&2 – Intergalactic Federation (Moufang & Atmo). On my own label, Brillianttree, Atmo & the Lightz - Eclectic, where I recorded with 12 musicians, all from different genres. Three years of lovely works and lots of Berlin gigs are the result. Love also the double CD package that I designed too as a 10 inch cover ;)))

 Q: Did you keep in touch with Pete through the years?

A: Not much. The reasons are private and after years I can say partially my fault too for sure. He helped me a lot but he got lot from my side also. He should rest in peace and it was very sad to hear that bad news.

Q: You have a CD coming out in September on Psychonavigation Records with Miss Silencio called Hush! From what I’ve heard it sounds great! What can you tell us about this one?

A: Well, the project with Miss Silencio is more smooth, sensitive and melodic. Not so dark as the all other ambient records. Hush! is a very deep fluffy trip, also with nicely played instruments, like harp or zither and female voices that I love too.

 Q: …and finally how would you pay tribute to the great Pete Namlook in words?

A: I want to thank him for all of the music that we did together and excuse me if something went wrong in the past. Music should be forever and his will be for sure! Rest in peace, Peter... 

Chris W. and all citizens of the Intergalactic Federation would like to pass super-mega large thanks to Dr. Atmo for taking the time to answer these interview questions. Hush! is available to preorder now from Psychonavigation Records:  

http://psychonavigation.com/post/56902363285/psy077-miss-silencio-dr-atmo-hush-artist

...and to keep up with Dr. Atmo's latest musical adventures look no further than the Brillianttree website:   

http://brillianttree.com/

The news in brief

Hi there. Firstly, my apologies for a short period of absence from the blog. We've been having a heatwave in Britain and I just haven't been able to bring myself to sit at the computer for any extended period of time on warm summer nights. I've also had a few technical problems with the blog, as it wasn't allowing me to enter text. A little bit of investigative work revealed that Blogger now no longer works with Internet Explorer 8, so here I am in Mozilla Firefox. Anyway, no matter...

Over the summer I've been listening to some of the fantastic records coming out from those who once recorded for Fax and I thought it might be nice to put together a little cut out and keep guide to some of the labels that have released and/or will be releasing work by former Fax artists. Feel free to bookmark this page but have your wallet ready, as this could get expensive!

One of the albums I've been listening to recently is Draft III by Material Object. Now, those of you who avidly followed Fax output will know that Material Object recorded two Elektronik albums with Pete Namlook. Draft III was Material Object's ideas for what would have been the third record in the series but tragically Pete never got a chance to collaborate on this one. Musically it picks up where Elektronik II left off, offering up some spine-tingling, ethereal sounds and I can't help but think that had this one been completed it would have been the strongest in the series. As it is it is still an excellent album. It isn't available as a physical release right now (Material Object is reluctant to do so, as he feels it is unfinished) but it is available as a download at this link:  

http://materialobject.bandcamp.com/album/draft-iii

If you download it (highly recommended) and you like it why not drop Material Object an e-mail to let him know and who knows...we may get a physical release. It certainly deserves one.

Meanwhile Carpe Sonum Records is releasing a CD of Indiana Drones, by Material Object and Phonaut. This record was sent to Pete Namlook for possible release on Fax but whether he got the chance to hear it before his tragic passing is unknown. It is a beautiful album and I'm so glad it is getting the physical release it deserves after a period as a download only.  For more information and to order see here:

http://carpesonum.tumblr.com/indianadrones

Dave from Carpe Sonum is also hard at work on Die Welt ist Klang, an epic eight CD tribute to Pete Namlook, featuring four discs of those who recorded for the label and four discs of contributions from fans. The tracklist is available here:

http://carpesonum.tumblr.com/namlooktribute

Profits from this project will go to Pete's family and if you would like a copy and haven't already ordered you can do so here:

https://www.ear-rational.com/namlook.php

All pre-orders will help to fund the completion of the project and the CDs will be housed in a special wooden box. 

At some point in the not-too-distant future Carpe Sonum also plans to release the following: Mick Chillage (an as yet untitled album), Gate Zero - End of Days, Thomas P. Heckmann - Lost Tales vol. 3, Moss Garden (Lee Anthony Norris  & Dimitar Dodovski) - In the Silence of the Subconscious with the possibility of a Robert Musso Transonic 3-CD reissue to follow...

Keith Downey of Psychonavigation Records has also been hard at work, releasing the work of several Fax artists. In addition to Lorenzo Montana's Eilatix, the label has just released A New Dawn by Pure Evil (aka Charles Uzzell Edwards) and the following months will see albums from:

Miss Silencio & Dr. Atmo - Hush! (available in September)

Steve Stoll - Praxis (available in October)

...and Oliver Lieb - Inside Voices (available in November)

Lorenzo Montana's next solo album, Leema Hactus is also slated for a release in early 2014. For a preview of the album see here:

http://psychonavigation.bandcamp.com/album/lorenzo-montan-leema-hactus-album-sampler-psychonavigation-records-psy082

For more information about any of these releases and to order from Psychonavigation Records see here:

http://psychonavigation.com/

Having released the excellent Autumn of Communion 2, Darren Bergstein's Anodize Recordings will also release Earthbound by Ishqamatics (Autumn of Communion's Lee Anthony Norris, along with Matt Hillier) in early September. As with Autumn of Communion 2, Earthbound will be presented in a special tin box. To pre-order see here:

http://anodizesound.bandcamp.com/album/earthbound-fall-2013

...and finally Lee Anthony Norris' Txt Recordings will be releasing Autumn of Communion 3 in the not-too-distant future. To hear some sound samples of other music on the label and to pre-order the Autumn of Communion CD see here:

http://www.txtrecordings.co.uk/index.html

Before I disappear here is a quick update on Project Ringelblume, the plan to grow flowers and plants in Pete's memory. I recently received this message and image from Har (aka Third System on the Discogs Fax forums):

I thought I would send you a picture of what Pete's tomato seeds look like now. Incredible plants. Picture taken on or around 27th July on my Samsung moby. Going to be a great crop.

All the best

Har 

Many thanks, Har. Much appreciated! My marigolds have also been coming on a treat and I like to think that Pete would be suitably pleased by our horticultural achievements this summer. Here are a few photos of my plants, taken yesterday. Enjoy...