Batch 0008 by New Tendencies on SM-LL

[emenel]

Over the last six month’s I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with @pokk to put together this full length release for his label, SM-LL.

It’s being released on pre-order limited edition 12" clear vinyl and download as part of their Batch series, maybe @pokk can say more about what the series is all about.

This album began as a set of sound experiments as I was building pieces of my Serge system. With each new modules or panel, I spent time trying to understand its possibilities, limits, and edges. From these experiments I learned techniques for “patch programming”, using the patching of the instrument to specify what each component is meant to do in that specific context. I wanted to play with the raw electronic sound of the Serge but still make pieces that hold together as compositions and are unique from one another.

For this collection of pieces, I used patching as the sole means of sequencing and composing the music.

I started with a series of short and really sparse raw experiments just exploring the patches, recording everything I did. Then I emailed them to @pokk who provided some of the most thoughtful input and feedback on what are some really abstract sounds, including sending me links to recordings that it reminded him of. These really became reference points of developing the music, along with my usual big influences from Panasonic and that 90’s minimal scene.

I think I’ve posted this picture elsewhere, here’s the system used on these recordings:

I also used OTO Bim and Bam as the main effects, but a little bit of other stuff including Bugbrand PTDelay and COFilter.

I hope people find something in this, I really enjoyed making it and am grateful/excited to have it on SM-LL.

[emenel]

@sellanraa

Samples sound lovely. Will there be any American distro? Shipping costs appear to be absurd.

That’s a good question. Maybe there’s a way we can do a group order to save on shipping and I can ship them to North America from here? Or download

Maybe @pokk has a suggestion.

[Jonny]

I’ve been very intrigued by what kinds of sounds you might be making with that system as you’ve been building it. Preordered and looking forward to hearing the full album.

[Benjamin_Mauch]

Can’t wait to listen. Thanks for sharing!

[yoyosandshoes]

Love the SM-LL stuff and I’m very keen to get the download on this. The sample sounds great

[emenel]

It looks like if I increase the order size on Bancamp the shipping gets a lot cheaper, but then we’d have to ship them around North America, so it might only end up saving about $5 for shipping on each order.

I did ask Martin, but not sure if there’s any other option since it’s being cut in the UK.

So it looks like either a group buy for USA people, or download only are the best options if shipping is too much.

[emenel]

If you’re in the Toronto area (I think a number of people here are?) then you can come see me play the Serge live at the release show for this album.

Handlebar (in Kensington)
Jan 31, 8pm.
With naw and Invisible Out

I’m also going to try to record the show, at least audio. So if anyone’s interested in hearing a raw performance on the Serge system I’ll post that here in a couple of weeks.

[Inkwell]

I’d be really interested in seeing/hearing the performance!

[dani_derks]

so so stoked on this album. absolutely gorgeous.

• really love the movements of Signals and Swelter – were these single takes / patches or multi-tracked?
• I was struck by how minimally arranged yet rhythmically complex Not Insulated is. fantastic aesthetic across the entire album.
• I’d love to learn more about the medium this was recorded to (i.e., was it digital with clever saturation?). The more sharp sounds of Serge are nicely rounded a bit.

@emenel

including sending me links to recordings that it reminded him of.

ooooo, any recommendations?

@emenel

From these experiments I learned techniques for “patch programming”, using the patching of the instrument to specify what each component is meant to do in that specific context

any specific lessons learned? I have begun building a small arsenal of R*S versions and would love to hear your takeaways.

great and lovely work, matt!

[emenel]

Thanks, Dan!

@dani_derks

were these single takes / patches or multi-tracked?

These are all single takes with limited editing. There are a couple where when listening back @pokk and I wanted to extend some parts so we did some light editing, but it was all recorded “live” in my home studio.

@dani_derks

I’d love to learn more about the medium this was recorded to (i.e., was it digital with clever saturation?). The more sharp sounds of Serge are nicely rounded a bit.

It was recorded direct to digital multi-track (Apogee Element), anywhere from 2 - 12 tracks simultaneously depending on the piece.

I often take the tracks and run them back through outboard gear and re-record them, including Oto Machines BIM and BAM, a 60’s dbx163, and some various early digital effects. That helps with the “round” and saturated sound on some tracks. I also sometimes track through those devices if I know that’s what I’m going to want. And the whole mix gets put through some light compression either using Softube plugins or one of my outboard compressors (i.e. Valley-People Dynamite).

@dani_derks

any recommendations?

There are a few works that I listened to a lot while working on this.

• Yoshio Machida’s “Music from the Synthi”
• Panasonic, Vakio
• All the other SM-LL releases, most recently the Andrea Taeggi album

@dani_derks

I have begun building a small arsenal of R*S versions and would love to hear your takeaways.

The main thing is to never underestimate the power of the SSG and DUSG. You could have a whole system with just two or three of each of those. I use the Smooth section of the SSG as both a filter and VCA frequently on this. As well as cycling it and using it as a bass drum through the DUSG or Audio Mixer VCA. The VCFQ is also an amazing percussion module, the trigger input and cv on the q can create a wide variety of chirps, clicks, and pings - all the way down to deep drums.

Hope enjoy the r*s stuff, that’s most of what I have as well. Happy to talk about it more any time.

Really glad you enjoy the album!

[yoyosandshoes]

Loving this! Nice work @emenel and @pokk. Just through the first listen and looking forward to getting to know it over the next few days

[emenel]

Vinyl orders are arriving, I got my copies today. Really excited to see how beautiful these are.

[Inkwell]

Received mine! Absolutely love it!

[emenel]

Back on Jan 31 I played a release show here in Toronto with two other local musicians, Invisible Out and Naw.

There’s a local documentarian, Joe Strutt, who runs a website called Mechanical Forest Sound. He’s recorded almost every show in Toronto over the last 10+ years. He was there to document the evening, and I just finished cleaning up and mixing the live recording of my set.

I’ve added it to my Bandcamp for free, or to Soundcloud if you prefer. It’s a little different than the album, but was done in the same process and spirit. I used the same setup live as I did for the record, Serge, OTO Bim and Bam, mixer, and Hinton SwitchMix.