Introducing : Broken Audio Movement
Analogue evangelists Broken Audio Movement (aka TR-One) know what they like. The Irish trio are spreading their impeccably influenced gospel slowly but surely, on labels like Fine Arts and Nice and Nasty. Bodytonicmusic.com met Dean Feeney.
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Introducing : Broken Audio Movement
On various music message boards, BAM come across as quite regimented in your views on music… where does this come from?
We believe in certain musical principles; sound quality, soul, honesty and most importantly the idiosyncrasies inherent in music produced using unique combinations of machines. We also believe in the importance of vinyl. These are trying times for almost everybody involved in the industry, from the independent record stores struggling due to bad sales through the record labels struggling to break even right down to the artists not making money at all.
Is this attitude important in what you do, how you create music…
Completely, it has defined the way we work. The machines we use and even the way we record tracks in live performances. All in an effort to keep the man machine ideology alive.
You care a lot about Detroit music, and maybe also what Detroit means. Why such a focus on the Motor City?
The rise and fall of the auto industry, the riots in the 60s, the near- abandonment of the city resulting in a decaying landscape; Detroit has had a pulsating and turbulent history which has always been represented in the music emanating from the city. From the jazz clubs of the 20s and 30s through the Motown era, Prince!, the funk and soul of the 70s and on to the modern day sounds of techno, electro and hip hop - there has always been a unique spirit inherent in the music of Detroiters. Music would be a very different place without Detroit.
What inspired you to make the recent ‘Tribute To Juan Atkins’ mix?
Juan’s health problems have been subject of rampant rumours over the years, and when a good friend of ours (Thomas Cox of infinitestatemachine.com) was telling me about a recent interview he had conducted with Juan and Mike Banks in Detroit in which Juan was seeming pretty down and out. I felt the need to try and raise some awareness and gather people together to show some love for a man we all owe so much to. I had an idea of making a mix containing music I felt would not exist without Juan’s revolutionary visions of electronic music. The idea was for the mix to be an open letter to Juan in which the music would be a message of support and love for him from music which owes its existence, for the most part, to him. After speaking to Tom - who as always was completely supportive of the idea - we decided that ISM would be the perfect platform to present this project. We also decided to get Underground Resistance’s Mike Banks to say a few words.
Who/what is/are your biggest influences?
Detroit, jazz, poverty, Aphex Twin, Africa, Drexciya, Charlie Parker, Jay Dilla, John Coltrane, Larry Levan and the Paradise Garage, Arthur Russell, Marvin Gaye, Juan Atkins, Gaby Kerpel, Tee Scott, Jamie Jamerson, McCoy Tyner, Robert Hood, Fela Kuti, Parliament/Funkadelic
You’ve released some videos of studio jams - who does what?
Well yeah, it’s a pretty complex process really… Dean drinks tea, Paul complains and Eddie plays Talking Heads baselines for hours on end.
You are taking your time making tracks… is this intentional?
Yes and no. At the minute we are in the process of building a dedicated studio - so everything’s a bit of a mess which has hindered our productivity. But also we believe in quality over quantity. With the rise of MP3 DJing, digital record stores, music production software and so on it’s become relatively easy for people to put out their own music - more often than not it’s merely an attempt to get famous and fuel egos rather than present something of worth. Whereas back in the day it took a little more dedication, investing in equipment, learning to use that equipment and doing something worthwhile which resulted in people having more respect for their music. Nowadays things seem very disposable and hollow.
What do you think about the recent focus on the European house scene? Good for parties and therefore everyone involved, or just a fad that doesn’t affect you?
Scenes are an invention of the media. Lazy journalists feel the need to compartmentalize things and fabricate “scenes”. This kind of stuff doesn’t really apply to us because we just don’t see it this way. The “music” and the “scene” (as defined by the media) are two different things occupied by very different people looking for very different things.
Who do you rate as producers?
At the moment there’s a lot of great music coming from Patrice Scott, Omar S, Theo Parrish, Cybonix, the Oliverwho Factory, Motor City Drum Ensemble, Reggie Dokes, Delano Smith, Jerry The Cat, Kyle Hall, Disco Nihilist, Tychos Comet, Andres, KDJ, Rick Wade, Burial, Spier1200 and Moritz von Oswald.
Which one of you worked in a record store as a kid?
I (Dean) used to work in Abbey Discs in Dublin when I was about 13. I was basically in the store everyday, used to skip school and hop the train some 50 miles and just hang out in Abbey and wander the second hand stores looking for old vinyl. I was and still am a vinyl junkie.
How does it work when you DJ?
It varies depending on the set we’re playing. In a long-ish set we might play three to four records each and build up to one each depending on the intensity. It tends to flow quite naturally, if one of us feels a certain idea there’s freedom there to explore. Shorter sets are much harder. This thing of shoving eight DJs on in a night with an hour each is ridiculous. As a DJ you need time to work a crowd, to do the whole “journey” thing. It can become very emasculating when faced with an hour or sometimes even less to do your thing.
Do you use CDs when DJing?
No. They sound horrific.
What is up next for BAM?
We’ll be playing a more techno/electro-orientated set at Electric City in the Twisted Pepper on April 25. We’re playing at the Square Festival in Wales in July. And there will be some more mixes coming through on ISM and the Dublin Bus Disco blog and of course plenty of crazy dancing at Northern Soul gigs...
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Sledgehammer255 @ 23 Apr 2009 18:25I hope rian lets them play on for 3 hr set..i bet the atmosphere will warant it..:))
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LocalGarda @ 23 Apr 2009 18:39
"Detroit, jazz, poverty, Africa"
When you say you're influenced by poverty do you mean you know, actually being poor or just having a hard on for the suffering of others?
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Tom_B @ 23 Apr 2009 18:41
Some respect for these guys.. Love their passion and belief in what they do. Shit-hot dj's and producers who will endure while the keyboard warriors who knock them will be shutting down their blogs cause they they aint got that passion! Big-up!
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decky @ 23 Apr 2009 18:54
good attitudes , from the heart! really respect that.
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LocalGarda @ 23 Apr 2009 18:57
Tom..are you talking about yourself? I note you haven't posted in several weeks! :)
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Tom_B @ 23 Apr 2009 19:00
ha ha ... writin' dem blogs is tough work, though it's even harder to work out how to use the quantise function in Ableton and knock out a bland minimal track
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LocalGarda @ 23 Apr 2009 19:06
Stick it to the "sheeple"
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Fauntleroy @ 23 Apr 2009 19:23
Prince aint from the D!
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interstellar_fugitive @ 23 Apr 2009 19:39
Tis a pity more people don't have the 'tood of these whippersnappers.
Big respect.
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GSoul @ 23 Apr 2009 19:57
Never heard the lads play but i like the sound of them..
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Tom_B @ 23 Apr 2009 20:07
You like their sounds G Soul..... almost as good as Crow's Farm sausages :-)
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gaganggang @ 23 Apr 2009 21:17
wft is the 'European House Scene'?
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Dazboy @ 23 Apr 2009 22:54
Looks like Beary is back at his best
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yogy @ 24 Apr 2009 3:27
Indefinable anything is a fine mix....any chance this set could be recorded?
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Dazboy @ 24 Apr 2009 9:00
Just get your arse down Yogy!
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michael_black @ 24 Apr 2009 9:26
Really liking the track for download. Epic deepness!
True what the lads say about production, "dedication, investing in equipment, learning to use that equipment and doing something worthwhile". A producer doesn't really reach their full potential for at least five years from when they first start IMO.
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Tayor @ 24 Apr 2009 9:34
often true aye. a new Malcom Gladwellism is to say you need to do something for 10,000 hours to become an expert at it . talks alot shite that lad though , so take it with a pinch
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Tayor @ 24 Apr 2009 9:37
track is wicked btw . love it
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Fieldog @ 24 Apr 2009 10:14
Good interview lads, kudos.....
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magoo95 @ 24 Apr 2009 10:51
sunday morning blues is mice mix too by them, seen lads in bia bar last october as part of deaf, respect.
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gmos @ 24 Apr 2009 10:53
good bunch of lads with serious talent, my fav dj tag team ;)
hopefuly, I'll make it down for thisPrince isn't from Detroit but recorded a lot there, and is strongly associated with the city
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m.g @ 24 Apr 2009 11:19
the set they played in bar bia last oct for deaf was sick! promising talent
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platinumray @ 24 Apr 2009 11:48
Easy to see why people using music to transcend poverty and hardship is inspirational, I pity the fool who doesn't get that.
The Juan Atkins tribute mix is still on regular rotation in our house, liking that track too.
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LocalGarda @ 24 Apr 2009 12:17
they said "poverty" not "people using music to transcend poverty and hardship". just curious as to what that means, if someone reposted an English producer (or say, Bono) saying that this entire board would be like "what a pretentious twat"
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Alan_Smith @ 24 Apr 2009 12:35
Nice track, distorting quite a bit on the right channel though.
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michael_black @ 24 Apr 2009 12:40
It's meant to be like that Alan ;)
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brokenaudiomovement @ 24 Apr 2009 13:09
Thanks for the kind words peeps
@LocalGarda - It definately isn't meant in the way you've described the Bono analogy, it's merely a passing thought that poverty is in a way influential to us. It's part of our thoughts... well, my thoughts at least
Looking forward to saturday night, gonna see if this sound system lives up to all the great things we've heard about it over the past while...
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brokenaudiomovement @ 24 Apr 2009 13:14
Also just to let people know we've just put up a new mix over on the excellent dublin bus disco blog
http://dublinbusdisco.blogspot.com/2009/04/tr-one-rapid-town-link-disco-...
Contains some italo/techno/electro-y stuff and sort of sets the mood for how we'll be feelin sat night
Enjoy, and props to homeboy Louis - possibly the best bus driving music blogger in Ireland
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Tayor @ 24 Apr 2009 13:32
stick it up in the 'sounds - mixes ' section of here, just stuck up the Juan Aktins one you did a while ago there
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brokenaudiomovement @ 24 Apr 2009 13:37
Good stuff trev, dunno how to put it up....you fancy doing it???
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LocalGarda @ 24 Apr 2009 13:49
"it definitely isn't meant in the way you've described the bono analogy"
Fair enough, best of luck...
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Mode Music @ 24 Apr 2009 20:17
Love this track and think these guys are mega talented..
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crispybacon @ 25 Apr 2009 3:50
That set in Bia bar late last year was indeed amazing. Really brilliant DJs.
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desy b @ 25 Apr 2009 9:28
its great to see quality local guys get the support and kudos they deserve. if you get the chance check them out live they sound even better than they read ;-)
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Louis @ 25 Apr 2009 12:56
rob hood last night, the lads tonight, liking the weekend so far!
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interstellar_fugitive @ 26 Apr 2009 8:38
As ever, the lads killed it last night in the basement. That Psychotic Photosynthesis / Journey of the Dragons mix esp was off the fuckin' chain.
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Tayor @ 26 Apr 2009 15:31
basement was wicked , brillant stuff
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Dazboy @ 27 Apr 2009 0:48
Excellent set, really great vibes. Man i LOVE that soundsystem!
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Louis @ 27 Apr 2009 14:07
spacer woman into whatever they played before it was a fkin savage mix too..
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brokenaudiomovement @ 27 Apr 2009 16:13
the set was recorded and will most likely be popping up somewhere soon
@Louis - the track before was the Shed Remix of that Luke Hess joint, can't think of the name right now. And the other track you were askin bout was Lime - Angel Eyes (Remix)thanks again folks
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Dazboy @ 27 Apr 2009 18:11
Here's the Set
http://www.bodytonicmusic.com/audio/mixes/TrOne_Twisted_PepperApril09.mp3 -
conor_l @ 20 Aug 2009 17:07
The lads make their return to POGO this Saturday:
http://bodytonicmusic.com/events/pogo/2009/jun/26/pogo-tr-one/ -
conor_l @ 15 Jul 2010 5:22
TR-One - It Ain't Hard To Tell is now out on POGO Recordings
Available now on limited 12" vinyl HERE:
http://www.juno.co.uk/products/it-aint-hard-to-tell/398885-01/Availablie on digital HERE:
http://www.junodownload.com/products/1595891-02.htm
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Looking forward to seeing them in the Twisted Pepper this sat. Perfect for the basement