FriendBurst Blog

The Hacker (Michel Amato) is an electronic producer from France.  Inspired by Depeche Mode and early electro, he released Melodies En Sous-sol on his own Good Life label – following several 12″ singles on DJ Hell’s Gigolo label.  Then he collaborated with Miss Kittin on First Album.  It was good timing (right at the start of the electroclash movement).  The Hacker toured extensively with Miss Kittin.  Then they went their separate ways and worked on their solo albums.  The Hacker released Reves Mecaniques in 2004.  It is more focused and varied, compared with the earlier material.  It is one of my favourite albums.  The Hacker has also done remixes for Air, Fischerspooner and Nitzer Ebb (to name a few).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FOhJVOPwJg

The compilation X was released in 2008.  It marked The Hacker’s tenth anniversary as a producer.  The CD contains ten live tracks and three previously unreleased tracks.  The DVD contains the full live show plus a one-hour documentary and some bonus material.  The Hacker and Miss Kittin reunited, and their second album (imaginatively titled Two) was released in 2009.  It is adequate but doesn’t quite match the vivacity and originality the pair displayed eight years before.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIeuvG6YG-U

Hardfloor released just three albums, prior to The Best Of Hardfloor (1997).  The compilation contains the singles plus a bunch of remixes (on a separate disc).  The German duo created a unique sound, simultaneously using up to six TB-303s (the machine which produces those squeaky acid bass lines we’ve been hearing since the mid-eighties).  There have been five more albums, over the past fourteen years.  I haven’t heard any of them (my techno/trance phase was very brief).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_h8NgSJv7k

Mark Pritchard (ex-Global Communication) has only released one album, as Harmonic 313.  The name refers to a research laboratory which conducted various experiments – or scenarios – relating to creative artificial intelligence.  When Machines Exceed Human Intelligence is an interesting but often frustrating experiment in itself.  While it doesn’t exactly replicate the ‘scenarios’ of the Harmonic 313 laboratory (mercifully) the spirit of adventure is present.  It has its moments (eg. Falling Away and Quadrant 3).  A lot of it is just too disjointed and abstract though.  I suppose that is the point, but it doesn’t make for easy listening.  It is a typical Warp Records release.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8Bx9Vg91S8

The Ideal Condition by Paul Hartnoll (the older brother from Orbital) is somewhat more accessible – and often quite beautiful.  The album is less electronic and more acoustic, compared with Orbital’s output.  The rhythms on The Ideal Condition are not strong – and neither are the vocals.  However, the album is pleasant enough.  Robert Smith (The Cure) is one of the vocalists (on Please, the second single).  The Hartnoll brothers have since resurrected Orbital (see my blog entitled New Orbital).

Norwegian singer/songwriter Kate Havnevik worked with Royksopp, before releasing her debut album.  Melankton is not a particularly joyous album.  It’s not really dark though.  It is very melodic.  The strings (arranged by Havnevik herself) are frequently uplifting.  Havnevik is a classically-trained musician and plays the piano and guitars on this album – as well as doing the singing.  She blends classical styles with electronic elements.  Some of her songs have been used in television programmes (eg. Unlike Me in Grey’s Anatomy and Travel In Time in The OC).  Fans of Dido may like Kate Havnevik (although Havnevik’s voice is stronger).

Further listening

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcMM_qyyRGs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJN2ohwYzLc