Nimimerkin takaa kirjoitteleva brittiläis-suomalainen Conehead on marinoitunut free party- ja teknokulttuurin syvissä vesissä jo 90-luvun alusta ja omaa mahtavan tietopankin sähköisten alakulttuurien ilmiöistä ja dionysialaisten tanssirituaalien historiasta Brittien saarilta. Tällä kertaa kirjoitus on luonnollisesti toisella kotimaisella eli englannin kielellä.
I am listening to a lot of ambient these days. I feel I really really need to.
He’s called The Irresistible Force aka Mixmaster Morris, he wears a holographic suit and he should be knighted for his services to chilling out.
This, his debut as The Irresistible Force, came out in 1992 and is either my favourite or second-favourite ambient album of all time, depending which way the wind is blowing and what phase the moon is in. I played this until it wore out, literally. The new one arrived today. It’s only got six tracks on it but at least three are prog-rock length.
Printed on the bottom left hand side of the back of the sparsely clouded blue sky sleeve is the legend, in red ink: ’I THINK THEREFORE I AMBIENT’. To the right of that there is a list of thank yous and inspirations which reads like a guide to the creative vortex that was electronic music in the year 1992.
German DJs and artists like Sven Väth? Check! Jam and Spoon? Check! Thomas Fehlmann? Check!
The oddest musicians and DJs in Albion, such as Aphex Twin? Check! Earth Leakage Trip? Check! The Shamen? Check! The Orb? Check! B12? Check! Orbital? Check! Black Dog? Check! Ultramarine? Check! Andy Weatherall? Check!
Dutch techno legends Speedy J and Psychick Warriors ov Gaia? Check!
Hairy squigglers and noodlers Eat Static and Ozric Tentacles from the West Country? Check!
Detroit giant Carl Craig? Check!
Club Dog, the psychedelic electronic event in The George Robey pub in Finsbury Park? Check!
Tresor, sweaty Berlin club in a bank vault? Check!
Psychedelic rearranger and changer Fraser Clarke? Check!
Whirl-Y-Gig, longest-running world music club in London: Check!
Weirdo author for the heads Robert Anton Wilson? Check!
Entheogenic Emperor Sasha Shulgin? Yes!
Serve Chilled, an ambient show on Nottingham pirate radio? Check!
Spiral Tribe and their non-stop sound system? Check!
Radically weird electronic label Irdial? Check!
Psychedelic rock band Levitation? Check!
Scritchy Scratchy plunderphonic legends Coldcut? Check!
Now onto the album itself. Well, the track names will probably give you a clear idea about what’s to come:
Spiritual High
Sky High
Flying High
High Frequency
Symphony In E
Mountain High (Live)
As the Mixmaster himself said, ’It’s time to lie down and be counted!’
Perhaps you should try a bit of ambient too. If you haven’t tried it yet, this would be a very good place to start. I hope you enjoy it.
