PRESS
Mesmerizing...rhythmically infectious and compositionally sophisticated, the magnificent Bodycode arguably represents the most perfect realization yet of Abraham's 21st-century Afro-house style.
- Textura
[Bodycode] winningly blends the oddly cerebral and the slyly sensual...its safe to say that [Conservation] will be among 2006s best techno releases.
- Seattle Stranger
Label: Spectral Sound
Release Date: 23 June 2009
Format: CD & Digital
Cat No: SPC-72
Alan Abrahams (aka Bodycode) is a restless spirit. His tracks have itchy feet and busy brains, chugging along at a brisk clip while cramming in enough rhythmic detail that make one’s head spin. Alan grew up in post-Apartheid South Africa, where polyrhythmic percussion first entered his bloodstream; he then lived in Portugal for years, sweating it out in Lisbon’s club scene while absorbing the sounds of electronic dance music and releasing tracks via numerous aliases. Three years after releasing 2006’s The Conservation of Electric Charge on Spectral Sound, the man known as Bodycode moved from Lisbon to Berlin. Now, Teutonic house music’s taut, jacking rhythms form the core of Immune, Alan’s new full-length as Bodycode.
Immune opens with the super-sub-bass pulse and cool atmospherics of “Meaning and Memory,” a track which already sounds worlds away from Conservation’s tech-y clicks ‘n cuts. Following “Meaning and Memory”’s sleek efficiency is “Hyperlight,” a galloping, end-over-end beat chasing endlessly after an elusive vocal sample (“get up!”) that always seems one step ahead of the kick drum. Vocal samples humanize Immune’s technological edge, providing heavy-lidded narration on lead single “What Did You Say” and lending the click-clacking “Imitation Lover” an old-school diva charm.
Immune’s closing moments are some of its loveliest, as the title track dresses up its drum-machine beat in chillingly distant piano chords and some low-slung gospel harmonies. Fittingly, Bodycode’s biggest musical step forward features a chorus of baritones warbling, “Nothing in this world is immune from change.”
Portable - Powers Of Ten
Label: Süd Electronic
Release Date: October 2007
Format: 2 x 12”, CD & Digital
Cat No: Sud 011
After well-received albums on Background Records and Scape as Portable, and a 2006 long-player as Body Code on Ghostly International’s affiliated label, Spectral Sound; Alan Abrahams returns to his Portable guise for a brand new album on his very own Süd Electronic imprint. It’s fitting that on his home label he’s let his imagination run wild, producing his most expansive and musically-rich album to date.
The sublime ‘Powers Of Ten’ is the album that Abrahams has always wanted to make, and sees him rise to the challenge in fine style. On ‘Powers Of Ten’, Abrahams further explores his African heritage and absorbs new influences from Portugal, his current country of residence. This is partly achieved through collaboration – a thread which runs
through the album.
On ‘Arrabida’, he works with classical Portuguese guitarist ‘Mario Mpex’, on ‘Shifting Sunlight’ with Tor from the brilliant Portuguese guitar duo, Dead Combo, and he is also reunited with long-time collaborator Leo Fernandes, the London-based bass player, on ‘Kuiper Belt’.
Abrahams further explores his vocal capabilities on the album, a talent which was demonstrated impressively on the ‘Take Action’ EP at the start of 2007, also on Süd Electronic.
‘Powers Of Ten’ perfectly illustrates the dualistic nature of Abrahams' work, working comfortably in a home-listening context but also convincingly on the dancefloor. The latter quality is especially evident on opener ‘Albatross’, with its infectious vocal; on the Detroit-influenced Afro-joint, ‘Locate’; the more overtly techy ‘Offline Mondays’ and the electrified ‘Trade Winds’.
There is a vast range of influences on display in ‘Powers Of Ten’, but surely one of Abrahams’ greatest gifts is his ability to assimilate these influences, creating a coherent, never clichéd piece of modern electronic music, inimitably his own.
CD Tracklisting
1. Albatros
2. Arrabida
3. Offline Mondays
4. Shifting Sunlight
5. Take Action* (CD-only bonus track)
6. Locate
7. Trade Winds
8. Kuiper Belt
9. Migrate
*Note: the CD version of the album includes the bonus track ‘Take Action’, taken
from Sud 009.
Label: Spectral Sound
Release Date: 11 July 2006
Format: 2 x 12”, CD & Digital
Cat No: SPC-37
Lisbon, Portugal-based Alan Abrahams has earned a lot of attention lately. His releases as Portable (~scape) have garnered near-universal acclaim for their deft fusion of tribal rhythms and a modern micro-house sensibility. For his first album as Bodycode, he focuses on the more dancefloor-oriented aspects of his style, yielding a gorgeous album born from the belief that the psyche can be unlocked via the body.
Bodycode also came from necessity—while on tour playing club dates, Abrahams was compelled to seek the most engaging sound for that environment. Remarkably adept at its task, Bodycode’s mesmerizing percussive arrangements and subtle melodic flourishes create an immediately engaging sound that lingers in the mind long after the club has closed
CD:
1. Nanotechnology
2. I, Data
3. Hands Free Computer Interface
4. Gene Patch
5. Bounce Back
6. Equidistant
7. Local Traffic
8. World Without End
2xLP:
A1. Hands Free Computer Interface
A2. World Without End
B1. Bounce Back
B2. Local Traffic
C1. I, Data
C2. Gene Patch
D1. Equidistant
D2. Nanotechnology !!! Start Code To Apply Top Banner !!!!
just called to see if you wanted to join me for a local drink, and your phone was off.... but i see you're in tokyo so i suppose that's a good enough excuse!!! i'm jealous!!!! xx
salut mon ami. what's up ?? fckn crew and me need a feedback for my nu remix.. please can u listen it and tell me what u think ??? I hope all is good for you ... see you soon
ABOVE SMOKE [concerto] Deep Explorer Music, Madrid (02h30) TRA$H CONVERTERS [DJ set] variz.org (01h30 > 06h)
Javier Álvarez a.k.a. ABOVE SMOKE is a producer from Madrid, owner and sound engineer of the underground label Deep Explorer Music. He's also an usual collaborator of labels like Bucketround, Signs of Authority, Minuendo Records, Sybaris, among others. During his first steps as a producer (in 2000) Javier was involved in the instrumental hip hop scene, surrounded by Jazz and Soul elements. Later he began to explore other styles such as Minimal, House, Electro and broken beats. An example of this new turn, is his first EP Hysteria (Deep Explorer 004) released on May 2005. Since then his hard work as been reflected on his numerous record releases. On top of this he's been performing live with laptop. A rubrica mensal "A Quinta Dimensão" é programada pela promotora/editora variz.org e tem como residente a dupla TRA$H CONVERTERS (Miguel Sá + Fad!gaz).
Thx so much for the add I love your music even more ! I wish you like my sound, tell me what you think, your opinion matters for us ! We are a French electro label, listen to our last band “haxis” Visit us and our electro music: http://www.myspace.com/neosonnix
