Κυριακή 26 Ιανουαρίου 2020

Tune #103: Effective Force ‎– Diamond Bullet

There are many electronic music labels that gained fame through their active years, but only a few can be considered landmarks in the history of electronic dance sound, paving the way for new boundaries in music culture. One is of them is undoubtedly MFS, an independent EDM label set up in 1990 by Mark Reeder, a legendary figure shaping the trance sound.

The label is mostly known for hosting artists such as Cosmic Baby (Harald Blüchel), Paul Van Dyk and Humate (Gerret Frerichs & Hans-Georg Schmidt). However, it is worth tracking down the first releases, in which the today's gem is found.

EFFECTIVE FORCE - DIAMOND BULLET (BEYOND JUDGEMENT)



Effective Force was the collaboration effort between Johnny Klimek and Paul Browse, two foreigners in Berlin city.

Johnny Klimek is an music composer and producer of Australian decent, born in 1962 in Melboure. At 21 year old age, he moved to Berlin, where he founded the pop rock band The Other Ones with his siblings Jayney and Alf. In 1987, he set up his own studio for his solo productions and remixes. During the first half of the 90's he was active in the Berlin underground electronic scene through his productions with Paul Browse. From 1997 until today he focused on film scoring and he is a frequent collaborator to composer Reinhold Heil and director Tom Tykwer (on films such as Run Lola Run and Cloud Atlas).

Paul Browse is also a music composer and producer, of different descent though. Born in 1959 in Sheffield, he was influenced at an early age by frequency modulation and the penetrating power of sound through the struggle of his deaf aunt and her hearing aid device. In 1980 he became a member of Clock DVA, an industrial, post-punk and EBM group, founded by Adolphus "Adi" Newton and Steven "Judd" Turner. In 1989 he left England and the Sheffield-based band to start a new life in Berlin, in search of the city's underground. He extensively worked with Johnny Klimek under various aliases (System 01, 03, Effective Force as a duo and Holy Language along with Dr. Motte) until 1997, when Klimek followed a different direction in film scoring. His last traces in music production are found in 2004 (according to Discogs), questioning whether he is active or not.

The well-known production of the duo was Illuminate The Planet (1993) as Effective Force, not in its original version, but by the World Order Remixes of Paul Van Dyk and Dr. Motte. This post however pays homage to their second release under this alias; Diamond Bullet is a 4th tracker that indicates the dark and hypnotic feel of the early trance records. Heavily based on sampling, it blends perfectly with the Horror Monologue of Marlon Brando in film Apocalypse Now.

EFFECTIVE FORCE - DIAMOND BULLET (WILL IN POWER)


EFFECTIVE FORCE - DIAMOND BULLET (RITUAL)


EFFECTIVE FORCE - DIAMOND BULLET (NIGHTHAWK)


Electronic music needs guys like Johnny Klimek and Paul Browse back (unfortunately, a not likely scenario...)

Δευτέρα 6 Ιανουαρίου 2020

Label Realm: Evoking music mEmoriEs

Another letter with a few labels to mention...


If you are familiar with the Balance series, then EQ Recordings should ring a bell. The Aussie label was set-up at the start of this century to release electronic dance music of international DJs. The legendary series was released on this label from 2001 until 2010, initially featuring DJs mainly from Australia (Sean Quin, Kasey Taylor, Phil K, Anthony Pappa) and expanding to others from all over the world. The fifth installment has been already mentioned twice in the blog, since it is considered the quintessential DJ mix by progressive house fans. The series continued to be released from 2010 until today by Balance Music.


Eternell is a small imprint of Swedish producer Ludvig Cimbrelius, set up to release his own works and collaborations. His two albums as Purl (Deep Ground & Stillpoint) are superb dub techno albums and they are a fine reason to reference the label!


What a legendary label Eye Q Records is! It was established in 1990 by Sven Väth, Matthias Hoffmann & Heinz Roth. The label encapsulates the true essence of old school trance: hypnotic, trippy and ethereal. The production trio of Ralf HildenbeutelMatthias Hoffman and Steffen Britzke produced a ton of classics under the label, such as
Sven Väth - L' Esperanza
- Zyon - No Fate
- Cygnus X ‎– The Orange Theme
- Barbarella ‎– My Name Is Barbarella
and many more!
Even the seminal Energy 52 - Cafe Del Mar was originally featured in 1992 behind the Eye!

The history of label was basically over in 1997, since the parent German company went bankrupt in August of the same year due to financial problems by the American division Eye Q USA. The UK division continued for two more years, but the label has changed its musical style dramatically, resembling no more its contribution to trance music...

Happy 2020 to all!