 |
|
Neil Landstrumm's extensive discography spans from 1994-1999 recording for some of the
most influential labels in Techno including Tresor, Peacefrog, Scandinavia, Mosquito
and Sonic Groove. His own Techno and design imprint, Scandinavia, enjoys worldwide
recognition for being one of the few labels still innovating in the field. During 1994
in Edinburgh, Scotland both friendships and working relationships were formed between
a group of artists provided the
infrastructure of what was to unfold. The up-front and heavy Sativa club provided the focus of
creative attention between Landstrumm, Tobias Schmidt, Shandy and Dave Tarrida, providing them
the opportunity to develop unique live performance and DJ skills. During this formative period,
the distinctive Landstrumm Peacefrog sound evolved and debuted on four EPs and the crowning Brown
By August LP of 1995. Strong connections and EP releases were also made on Cristian Vogel's Mosquito
label in Brighton and Adam-X's Sonic Grooove label in NYC.
In 1996 the Scandinavia and Tresor assocation began with the first LP release marking a strict
departure from the more Chicago-based Peacefrog style. Understanding Disinformation tested the
new Bass Techno sound citing both influences from classic Detroit Techno and the more abstract
Sheffield Bleep Techno. Metallic soundscapes, sub-bass and stark beats set the bleep-tone of the
three LP's to follow.
Bedrooms & Cities, a narrative of Landstrumm's worldwide DJ excursions, displayed a more atonal
while song-structured style, again building on the UK bleep movement from the early 1990's. Low
and pounding basslines combined with swinging raw DMX rhythms, researched sounds, electro thips
and zaps gave Landstrumm his best selling work to date pushing the distinctive Scandinavia logo
into new domains.
After being granted a USO1 Artist Visa, Landstrumm relocated the label and studio to Brooklyn,
NY in August 1997 to experience inner city urban culture in the raw. Months later in 1998, the
third release of his Tresor album series, Pro Audio, was completed entirely in Brooklyn with
heavily designed and manipulated sounds created using an Apple Macintosh Powerbook 1400 and
BIAS Peak 1.64 providing him with fresh raw media for sonic experiments. Landstrumm used
Bit-rate decimation and SFX Machine techniques to provide grainy and subsonic grooves within
a constantly moving structure. Pro Audio illustrates the shift from swinging Jack-Trax to Sound
design for the Digital Territory. Razor sharp scissor hats, sub-funk bass and rolling Hip Hop
structures display the influence of NYC's culture into his musical output. Pro-Audio contained
pieces recorded over the whole of 1998, re-edited, processed and released that September.
The artists horizons have hacked themselves a clever niche in the multimedia mainframe, oft
revered and imitated. In progress and upcoming Landstrumm chapters include Scandinavia Animation,
Sugar Experiment Station (with Tobias Schmidt), Scan 2 Game Architects, MTV shorts and a fourth
album with Tresor.
|
|
