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POLE
The music of Stefan Betke, a.k.a. Pole, is constantly in a subtle state of flux. His recordings are evidence of his music’s
evolution, milestones along an open-ended journey. But this does not mean Pole’s albums are provisional or
incomplete; on the contrary, they express a kind of perfectionism always aimed at reaching an imagined musical core.
The way Betke strips layer after layer of sound, working toward a minimalist essence, everything is possible. For Pole
musical reductionism isn’t repetitive or deterministic. It involves constant motion around an ideal core, the smallest
possible unit. As a result, all of Pole’s releases, despite their differences, are united by a central question: How can one
extract the most intensity from the least amount of material as possible. Consolidation and purification as mutually
beneficial processes.
It does not make any sense to try to approach Stefan Betke’s music with buzzwords or narrow musical categories. At
the beginning there was, however, an often repeated anecdote, namely that of a minimalist dub musician who found his
style by chance, if not accident. In 1996, Thomas Fehlmann and Gudrun Gut gave Betke a Waldorf-4-Pole filter, which
had been damaged in a fall. Betke found it made beautiful static noise – a kind of crackling -- that became an integral
part of his first series of recordings. The releases were just sequentially numbered (“1” in 1998, “2” in 1999, “3” in
2000) so no titles would interfere with people’s interpretation by preconceptions. The covers only differ in their colour
– blue, red, and yellow, the primary colours of the spectrum from which all other colours can be mixed – mirroring the
fact that for Betke, this series offered a musical equivalent to the three primary colours, able to be mixed in infinite
combinations. The track titles “Stadt” (City), “Fremd” (Strange) do not really go a long way toward explaining the
sounds, either. For Pole, titles only serve the purpose of making it possible to discuss tracks - they do not constitute
any statement about the music. Pole’s minimal-electronica and dub remains abstract, but not empty. From the very
beginning Pole has been using a warm, groovy, and elastic sound, but doesn’t lose himself in dancefloor functionality.
The music can be heard as sound-architecture, as well as a story.
Stefan Betke, who was born in Düsseldorf - after a couple of years in Cologne - now lives in Berlin and works as a DJ,
remixer and studio operator. In 1999, together with Barbara Preisinger, he set up the label ˜scape. These days he’s cut
back on his DJ-ing to devote more time to his own music and his production work. But DJ-ing allowed him to keep on
the lookout for new sounds to incorporate into his own music, too. His sets ranged from dub, jazz, and minimal music
to hip-hop, the latter leaving its mark on Pole’s second series of records, which consisted of the two EPs, “45/45” and
“90/90”, and the album “Pole” (mute, 2003). For “Pole”, Betke abandoned the static noises and, for the first time,
worked with vocals, which were supplied by rapper Fat John from Ohio (US). Since 2005, Betke has also been working
as part of a live trio, with bass (Zeitblom) and drums (Hanno Leichtmann). After numerous live gigs with this line-up, a
mini-album is planned for 2007, which is set to update Betke’s musical ideas in an even broader format.
But neither hip-hop nor dub were the defining elements in Betke’s first two musical phases. Betke has never been a
reggae or hip-hop artist. His music isn’t based in a scene or in private experience, but in musical structures, which he
decontextualizes in order to integrate them into his own personal musical language. In Betke’s 2007 release
“steingarten” there are no more references holding the music together. Electronics, loops, minimalism – all of that is
there, of course, but now it’s all operating in a space all its own. Betke’s work, created in a vacuum, independent of
musical trends and clearly defined reference systems, is not predicated on anything or prefacing anything - it’s a
timeless artistic achievement.
Compilations:
Deutscher Funk Caipirinha Musik betke edition/BMG UFA 97
Freestyle Files Studio !K7 betke edition/BMG UFA 98
Pop 2000 EMI Electrola betke edition/BMG UFA 99
Sonar Festival 99 Sonar Music betke edition/BMG UFA 99
Clicks& Cuts Mille Plateaux betke edition/BMG UFA 99
Diverse Promotion Diverse betke edition/BMG UFA 97/98
Cashier Escape Routes CityCenterOfices betke edition/BMG UFA 00
Xarthybrid Offenbar betke edition/BMG UFA 00
Staedtizism Scape betke edition/BMG UFA 00
Pole vs Four Tet Leaf betke edition/BMG UFA 00
Ocean Club presents
STUMMMUTE NIGHT Volksbühnenr. betke edition/BMG UFA 01
Pop 2001 MME/Warner betke edition/BMG UFA 01
Nighteffects WMF Records betke edition/BMG UFA 01
Komfort Lab vs.scape WMF Records betke edition/BMG UFA 01
Sonar Festival 03 Sonar Music betke edition/BMG UFA 03
DIN AV DVD scape scape publishing/BMG UFA 04
Futurism Ain..t shit to me Kitty Yo scape publishing/BMG UFA 05
Remixe:
Various Artist No 9.5 Fatcat 98
Mike Paradinas Cajual u zique 98
Quarks Wiederkomm Monika ent./Plug Research 98
Lobi Traore Sayo F Communication 99
Biophilia Allstars No Movement,
No Sound,
No Memories Lux Nigra 99
Egoexpress Durchbrechen X Filme (Absolute Giganten) 99
Laub Grau Kitty Yo 99
Appliance Heroes of
Telemark Mute 99
Pole vs Four Tet Cload Leaf 00
Charged Cornered R&S 00
Fauna Flash Ten Compost 00
Atom tm Pentatonic
Suprise Quatermass 01
Station 17 Jesus hat gesagt Mute 01
Depeche Mode Carmatose Mute 01
T.Raumschmiere A Million Brothers Mute 03
Louis Armstrong Universal 03
Carl Douglas Kung Fu Fighting Echo Beach 04
Ferdinand Fehlers Hearts Meteosound 05
John Tejada Mono Palette 06
Produced:
Quarks Königin Monika Ent. 99 CD
B.Morgenstern Fjorden Monika Ent. 00 CD
Zigaretten Rauchen Männer Sony 00 7“
A.Nolte 21st Century
Schizoid man,
or how to lose
your head scape 01
B.Morgenstern Nichts Muss Labels/Monika Ent. 03 CD
Contriva if you had stayed Monika 03 CD
T.Raumschmiere Monstertruck
Driver Mute 04 CD
T.Raumschmiere Blitzkrieg Pop Mute 05 CD
TV:
Berlin House Viva 99 D
Pioneers Channel 4
Lee Perry,
Brian Eno
and more BBC 00 UK
Die Stadt ist Programm In Berlin TVB 00 D
Lola Da Musica Man Machine VPRO 00 N
Levis Rub yourself MTV Europe 02 Europe
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iNminimax Records presents Objeto Loops - AIM EP [INM032] OUT NOW on BEATPORT.COM Check it !!!
iNminimax is SUPPORTED by: Richie Hawtin, Paco Osuna, Joseph Capriati, Popof, Ramon Tapia, Gary Beck, Someone Else, Kaiserdisco, Monoloc, Alex Costa, Victor Ruiz, DJ 40oz., D.Ramirez, pÃr grindvik, and many many more...
Hi! Here some info about our new release. Thanx for your support. Productos BMM presents: BMM 34 Mario Plaza Vocal Sense EP with the remixes of Luis Noic Genre: Techno. Some comments: Ronald van Norden (Eminor, Tracer, Tight Lipped): Definitely the best EP I've heard of BMM! Good work! Carsten Rausch: I really like Mario Plaza - Vocal Sense. All Mixes are nice, but the Original Mix is my fav. Full support for that one! Dave James: Vocal sense is cool, hypnotic mix is my fave. Galuszka: The original starts chunky and gets funky, a nice groove. The remixes by Luis Noic take it minimal. The Hipnotic remix revisits some classic techno sounds, love it. The Reddman: The Vocal Sense Track was very smooth. It was one of those tracks that make you want to just stand in front of the speaker, close your eyes and let the music take you on a trip to somewhere deep within your own mind. M.O.D.E.: Luis Noic on vocal sense is great. Marc Fuccio (Fresh DJS): Favourite mix is Luis Noic Hypnotic remix. Deep sounds with brilliant production. This spare tune has enough hooks to take you on a journey. Gets my support. Clic here to Listen & Buy in Beatport. Supports & Feedbacks are wellcome! www.productosbmm.com
iNminimax Records presents Bass Late for Work - Subfractal EP [INM031] OUT NOW on BEATPORT.COM Check it !!!
iNminimax is SUPPORTED by: Richie Hawtin, Paco Osuna, Joseph Capriati, Popof, Ramon Tapia, Gary Beck, Someone Else, Kaiserdisco, Monoloc, Alex Costa, Victor Ruiz, DJ 40oz., D.Ramirez, pÃr grindvik, and many many more...
GAUA PROJECTek diska berria amaitu du. "BAT" gure lehen lana , iluna eta dentsoa. "BAT" olerki eta iluntasunarekin jolasten du, baina beti bilatzen argiren azken argi-izpia. Abestien hitzak "letras" erreproduktorearen link-an irakurri dezakezue.
GAUA PROJECT ha terminado su nuevo disco. "BAT" nuestro primer trabajo, oscuro y denso. "BAT" juega con la poesía y la oscuridad, pero siempre buscando el último haz de luz. Las letras de las canciones las podeis encontrar en el link "letras" del reproductor. Un saludo, nos vemos pronto!!
Review: "Don Goliath's "Bagstep EP" (DDR030) is one of those innovative EPs showcasing how versatile Dubstep can get. The unique idea of creating Dubstep versions of celctic (Irish as well as Scottish) folk classics for all you drunkards longing to sing along was Don Goliath's motto when producing this madness. The concept is as simple as effective: he picked 4 of your grandpa's favourites such as "Old Skibbereen", "Scotland the Brave", "Drunken Sailor" and "Amazing Grace" having the melody played by a definitly non-sober Bagpipe section and then layering it with lofi mid range wobbleism - we therefor call it Bagstep. Overall production quality is high grade with that intense sub focus so you can blow-dry your hair right in front of the bass bins. Now let's get into the tunes: "Skibbereen Bagstep" is one of the melancolic minor tunes expressing Irish history as it is. It is an unmixable 3/4 waltz beat at unusual 154bpm, well dancebal though when one moves to the triplets. "Bagstep the brave" should be one of the sickest rebuilds of the Scottish national anthem making it Mel Gibson's signature tune if he had one. "Drunken Bagstep" is a Glitchfest version of the sailors anthem capable of getting you uberdrunk by listening alone, Arrrr! "Amazing Bagstep" is as religious as it gets making it a tune that'll certainly safe xamounts of lost souls. Enjoying the dancefloor got even easier now: drink out the bar, make your skirt fly and sing along to these (future) classics! Some will hate this release and some will love it, there barely is anything in between. All Dubstep Division crew salutes the latter as our fellow beerheadz! cheeeeeerz!"
Check out our myspace for a list of digital retailers!
Hello! Here some info about our new release. Thanx for your support. Productos BMM presents: BMM 33 Tantrum Light LSD Island EP with the remixes of Paul Hunter, Da Trash & Zimaleto Genre: Minimal, Techno, Tech-House. Some comments: Carsten Rausch: The Da Trash Remix is a cool piece of percussive Techno. I will definetely play that. Dave James: Yeh I like the original trippy vocals. Galuszka: Tantrum Light offers a track that is straight up techno. The mood of the original mix is very Terminator 2 (Judgment Day) in its vocal work and sound choice. The remixes of this project ad funk, especially the Da Trash remix with it's rolling quality. Bodgan Taran: I just love the melody on Zimaleto remix of LSD Island. The Reddman: I listened all the remixes and was very impressed! I have to say I just loved the Paul Hunter remix of the LSD Island track. There was something about it that just kept the groove going for me. Moog Conspiracy (Elektrotribe / Buena Onda): I ll play Tantrum light - Da Trash remix. Marc Fuccio (Fresh DJS): Favoutite mix is Paul Hunter remix. Wicked groove of a bass line that instantly got me to my feet. Great production and construction. Graeme Park: I really like the Zimaleto Remix of Tantrum Light's LSD Island. Such a great groove. Clic here to Listen & Buy in Beatport. Supports & Feedbacks are wellcome! www.productosbmm.com
New Release from Section 27 Netlabel [S27-028] ADVIRUZ - NIGHTLY SOUNDS (IDM, Glitch, Experimental)
Adviruz is the artist pseudonym of Istanbul’s Pinar Gurcan, whose growing passion for sound is translated through her music. Since an early age, she has been listening and mimicking opera singers, writing melodies, songs and poems in which she spoke her mind and reflected her soul. All of which are evident on "Nightly Sounds", an 8 track album which is the equivilent of having a glimpse into a diary, learning of love lost, gained, a snapshot of the human condition from which we can all draw experience... All of these things are developed musically into minimalistic glitch, noise, idm, experimental music and microsounds, influences reminiscent of work by artists like Tujiko Noriko, Mira Calix, Plaid and Björk.
Adviruz and Section 27 present "Nightly Sounds", an intricately woven and rewarding musical tapestry. Available now for free download.
Download and Audio previews available at : http://section27netlabel.blogspot.com
To celebrate our first 27 releases on Section 27 Netlabel, we proudly present to you "Sectioned", a free compilation of 27 tracks, amounting to 2 hours across two discs of twisted electronic beats, discordant melodies, haunting passages, broken ambience, bending senses of time and space, microscopic glitches, pounding bass frequencies, sounds between sounds, the human voice and the audible sensation of music dissolving in acid. This is the sound of your mind's eye. This is the sound of the Sectioned... Strap yourself in and enjoy the experience.
Also features a 75 minute bonus disc "Sectioned : Nonimxs", including 9 remixes of selected Section 27 artists by Nonima and 2 original tracks created by Silent Snow and Nina Kardec using existing Nonima tracks.
Download and Audio previews available at : http://section27netlabel.blogspot.com
Hi! Some info about our new release. Thanx for your support. Productos BMM presents: BMM 32 DJ Jaimy Flashback EP Genre: Acid Techno. Do you remember the Dylan Drazen's sets? Do you remember Botom? Supported by Dylan Drazen: "It totally does remind me of Bottom too! It's got that underground classic Chicago house sound. :) Good job!" Clic here to Listen & Buy in Beatport. Supports & Feedbacks are wellcome! www.productosbmm.com
Hi! Some info about our new release. Thanx for your support. Productos BMM presents: BMM 31 beatsiZe New Experience EP Genre: The best and finest Tech-House. Support by Anderson Noise, Ray Fenwick, Alex Young, Ronald Van Norden, Tony Verdi, Fatima Hajji, M.O.D.E., V. Rotz, Jano Sound, Galuszka, Luixmi,... Clic here to Listen & Buy Supports & Feedbacks are wellcome! www.productosbmm.com
