Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: d, designer, fridge, ganger, him, mapstation, soul static sound, tarwater, thermoderm, tikiman, to rococo rot, tortoise
I’ve been slowly but surely getting obsessed with this English label from the mid 90′s called Soul Static Sound. I first read about the label in a Tortoise interview with the Wire many years ago, something to do with the label owner D (Darryl Moore) DJing at their Bristol show or something along those lines. BUT then I also read about them in connectionIn any case, I’ve come to the realization that SSS actually is the only genuine link between ‘post-rock’ from the US and ‘indietronica’ from Germany while also allowing UK bands like Fridge and Ganger to explore more experimental sounds away from Output and Domino. I have a small collection of things which I find completely fascinating in the sheer minimalism of the music and the groovy design work by Wright+Wilkinson. Curiously, he began with a whole heap of records from the riot grrl and indie-pop underground such as God Is My Co-Pilot and Dub Narcotic Sound System. Here’s a list of what I have currently:
Tortoise – Why We Fight/Whitewater 7″ (Soul7)
One of the first releases by this now seminal group, the A side shakes with those nice basslines and vibes or marimba chopped up and layered over the loose funk while the flipside is all slo-mo beats and feedback drift while a children’s song stalks along.
Designer – Vandal/Larson 12″ (Soul15)
Two slabs of pulsing grooves from Casey Rice under his really underrated Designer guise. Side A is mixed by Casey and Bundy K. Brown, the other by Shy-Z. It’s almost hip-hop but seriously digital and full of dub bounce and delays.
Thermoderm – Thermoderm 12″ (Soul20)
Four friends from Glasgow (including members of Ganger and El Hombre Trajeado) find themselves with studio time from a sound tech course for the unemployed. So what better thing to do then make a four track EP of skewed dub vibes and tweaker’s rock, right?
Fridge + D – Indesguise 7″(Soul22)
A limited edition one sided 7″ that sees the now supergroup of Kieran Hebden (Four Tet), Adem Ilhan (Adem) and Sam Jeffers tussle with label owner D with awkward tape splices and mangled grooves. Like a fucked up dub-plate but in a good way.
To Rococo Rot + D – TRRD CD and LP (Soul23)
This time we see the Brothers Lippok and Stefan Schneider go head to head with D to conjure up short miniatures full of that kraut-rock groove that TRR love but in a darker world as inhabited by D’s samples and sounds.
Tarwater Featuring Tikiman – Like A Miracle CD (Soul24)
Awesome four track EP that features two songs and then two ‘versions’ including one that I think uses music from both the original songs. The title track is a beautiful indie/dub/reggae thing that I don’t think anyone would expect!
Mapstation – Mapstation CD (Soul25)
First solo release for Mr Schneider, going out on his own with his always melodic yet groovy basslines and blippy synths to create cute little pieces with energy to spare but tones to sleep as well.
To Rococo Rot + D – Smaller Listening/Numbers In Love 7″ (Soul26)
Dirty electronic minimalism in the true sense, full of dirt and grime. It’s at odds with TRR’s beautiful digital grooves but I like the compositions and the deep pulses that sound like motors of some nature.
D – Untitles CD (Soul27)
first and only solo release by Darryl Moore I believe and it’s full of nice abstract electronics pieces, not sure if he’s using samples or turntables or whatever but it’s definitely cool stuff regards of the sound sources.
I’ve just purchased the following:
HiM – Changes/The Focus 12″ (Soul19)
Ganger – Trilogy 12″s feat. D, Two Lone Swordsmen & The Underdog (Soul21.1/Soul21.2/Soul21.3)
so I’m looking forward to hearing those. I just wonder why the label stopped I guess. Darryl Moore was right on the pulse of exciting music when each of the records was released so it’s a shame he’s still not putting out records, either on SSS or of his own but I’d be keen to find out if he’s still around doing things or not.
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hey shoeb, hope you’re doing well. thought that you might like to know that we’ll be re-releasing the thermoderm record online under a creative commons licence which allows free distribution, remixes, etc. all of the el hombre trajeado records are already available for free at http://www.elhombre.co.uk and so is my latest sketch at http://www.rmhubbert.com.
take care
hubby
Comment by hubby June 16, 2009 @ 1:41 amI agree this label is really outstanding! The Tarwater Featuring Tikiman 12” is one of my favorite record…
Comment by Esteban December 12, 2009 @ 1:26 pmIf you’re stil interested, I used to work with Darryl when he worked and then managed (after Stuart Staples of Tindersticks fame went over to Talbot Road to run the exports) the Rough Trade Shop at Neal’s Yard in Covent Garden during the 1990′s. Darryl knew alot of people on the underground/independent music scene and obviously also had access to alot of new music as it was being released. Darryl had previously worked with the band Cindytalk and also I believe as a cycle courier. He is orginally from New Zealand. He left Rough Trade a few years before they moved the shop from Neal’s Yard to Brick Lane, and believe he is now pursuing a career in garden design.
Comment by Malarki August 19, 2011 @ 10:46 pm