One Point Two is a superbly accurate reflection of what the label has offered in the three years since One Point One. Distilling lush electronica from the likes of Mint (Queasy), Boc Scadet (She Spoke To The Sky), Zainetica (Awaken) or Inigo Kennedy (Faraway Towns), haunting ambient from Polestar (Retro Future), Infinite Scale (Cell Out), Vizier Of Damascus, (Murmurs) or Joseph Auer (Probes), razor-sharp electro groove escapades with Tommi Bass (Electro Glitch 2007), Utility Player (Initiation) and Cheju (Hubl) or dirty electro funk by Liberation Jumpsuit (One Night Stand), this compilation confirms Rednetic’s position as one of the most interesting labels around.
Each artist contributes one exclusive track, with the exception of Joseph Auer, whose Harajuku Rain, from his 2004 Kyoto Tokyo 2001 EP, has been given new attires thanks to a stunning remix from Finland’s Lackluster. Musicians featured on this compilation come with impressive pedigree.
Mint and Cheju co-run the excellent Boltfish Recordings from London and Norfolk respectively, and have both released a considerable amount of material on various labels.
Polestar is Jon Elliott, a Bristol-based musician who is also behind the hugely successful Glitchnight monthly club night.
Boc Scadet has released a considerable amount of music on various labels, and also ran for a while the now defunct ClickClickDrone imprint.
Inigo Kennedy and Tommi Bass are two London-based DJ and producers. While the former has also been recording since the mid-nineties, the latter has been in charge of mastering and producing all recent Rednetic releases.
Liberation Jumpsuit have been making a name for themselves with impressive live performances which go well beyond the usual laptop sets.
Vizier Of Damascus is the project of Arfan Ezra Munir Rai, a London-born and based musician whose Middle Eastern roots give his work a rare spiritual touch. He has released an EP on Rednetic, and an album on his own Tree Symmetry imprint. Arfan is also a lecturer in philosophy and religion in London.
Colin Welsh, the man behind Sunosis, whose Warmed EP is Rednetic’s most recent release, also runs the excellent Ginglik in Shepherd’s Bush, London.
Infinite Scale is responsible for an excellent couple of EPs for Toytronic and Boltfish and is booked to play at Glastonbury this June. More recently, he has completed the music for a Flash microsite to promote the new Ford Mondeo.
Utility Player’s Simon Thomas is often found getting his hands dirty with the behind the scene running Rednetic, and, beside having one of his tracks featured on One Point One, has also released an excellent EP on the label.
Zainetica is Rednetic label boss Mark Streatfield. When he is not busy with releasing other people’s music, Mark creates beautiful electronic music reminiscent of early Black Dog. He has released a number of EPs and albums on various labels.
Chicago-born Joseph Auer co-founded the label with Streatfield, but he has since relocated to Tokyo, Japan, where he lives with his wife and daughter. He has released music on Rednetic, Boltfish, October Man. Smallfish amongst other labels.
01 - Queasy - Mint
02 - Electro glitch 2007 - Tommi Bass
03 - One night stand - Liberation Jumpsuit
04 - She spoke of the sky - Boc Scadet
05 - Initiation - Utility Player
06 - Retro future - Polestar
07 - Cell out - Infinite Scale
08 - Awaken - Zainetica
09 - Hubl - Cheju
10 - Murmurs - Vizier of Damascus
11 - Harajuku (lackluster pitchmix) - Joseph Auer / Lackluster
12 - Probes off io - Joseph Auer
13 - Faraway towns - Inigo Kennedy
14 - Leap - Sunosis
Rednetic Recordings have impressed with recent electronica releases such as Inigo Kennedy’s stunning recent album. The label was formed by Mark Streatfield (AKA Zainetica) with Joseph Auer, both of whom contribute tracks to this collection. Together with Boltfish, Rednetic have been a great source for me for discovering hitherto unknown electronica acts.
In fact the first artist to feature on this compilation is Boltfish co-owner Murray Fisher whose ‘Queasy’ conjures up the mysterious atmospheres of space exploration. There’s a surprising variety on show with Liberation Jumpsuit’s slyly seductive ‘One Night Stand’ rubbing up against the subdued wintry drama of ‘Murmurs’ by Vizier Of Damascus. Elsewhere the warm techno sounds of Zainetica’s own ‘Awaken’ recall early 808 State. In the middle of the CD there are some so-so affairs but the ever reliable Kennedy raises the stakes with the deep loneliness of ‘Faraway Towns’ whilst Auer also evokes dark nights of the soul. Overall, it’s a compilation which doesn’t always hit the target (and after seventy minutes that’s perhaps to be expected) but it’s interesting that the label founders’ offerings are amongst the highlights.
Originally founded back in 2003 by electronic producers Mark Streatfield (aka Zainetica) and Joseph Auer, London-based techno/IDM label Rednetic Recordings has managed to carve out a distinctive presence amongst the international scene over the past four years, with strong album and EP releases from label signings Mint, Inigo Kennedy and Cheju appearing in the last year alone. This second label compilation from Rednetic, One Point Two, follows on from 2004’s One Point One volume and aims to provide an overview of the label’s current activities, drawing together an unmixed selection of 14 previously unreleased tracks taken from right throughout Rednetic’s stylistically eclectic roster. While I have to confess that I was more than slightly bemused by the ‘digital listening music’ sub-tag Rednetic have decided to run with for this comp (and intrigued by the idea of music designed not to be listened to), One Point Two certainly manages to adeptly bridge the middle ground between dancefloor-oriented techno/electro and more downbeat/ambient IDM atmospheres in the vein of Merck or Hydrogen Dukebox.
In many senses, the opening tracks of this expansive 73-minute collection
represent some of its more extrovert and upbeat offerings, with the icy
fragmented Warp-esque breakbeats and shimmering synth harmonics of Mint’s
‘Queasy’ giving way to the squealing rave-loaded electro-house
of Tommi Bass’s ‘Electro Glitch 2007’ and the Suicide-meets-Atomic
Hooligan industrial electro-grind in evidence on Liberation’s seedy
‘One Night Stand.’ Boc Scadet’s smooth fusion of electro-hiphop
rhythms and wafting Air meets ‘Trans-Europe Express’-style
synth atmospheres on the delicate ‘She Spoke Of The Sky’ soon
proves, however, to be a bridge leading the tracklisting here down into
some distinctly more abstract and occasionally beatless directions. Polestar’s
gorgeously enveloping ‘Retro Future’ proves to be a sweeping,
atmospheric highlight of this collection, artfully playing scattershot
electrical-burst polyrhythms against a velvet-smooth backdrop of arcing
ambient pads as rough-edged gear textures rattle and grind at the very
edges. Infinite Scale’s brooding ‘Cell Out’ meanwhile
manages to shift from blurred-out spoken word ambience and gathering dread
atmosphere into slow, crunching industrial beats and Eno-meets-BOC glacial
synthscapes, before a Lacklustre reworking of Joseph Auer’s 2004
track, ‘Harajuku’, manages to even toss in a dose of G-funk
amidst its decidedly R&B/hiphop-flavoured rhythmic undercarriage.
By equal points stylistically diverse and inspired, One Point Two represents
a seriously impressive label showcase collection from Rednetic that marks
the London-based imprint as one well worth keeping tabs on.
Three years on from One Point One, the hefty, 73-minute collection One Point Two provides an encapsulating portrait of Rednetic's current direction. The disc's fourteen tracks show that the label's still aggressively waving the lush electronica flag while broadening its menu to include electro bangers.
Boltfish head Mint's (Murray Fisher) opener “Queasy,” a fast electro-tribal ride through a neon-lit metropolis, bodes well for the journey ahead, while compadre Cheju (Wil Bolton) heads out for a country spin in the exuberant “Hubl.” Traversing kindred terrain are Rednetic co-founder Joseph Auer's locomotive “Probes Off Io,” Inigo Kennedy's sparkling “ Faraway Towns ,” and Utility Player's (Simon Thomas) occasionally blazing futurama “Initiation.” Inhabiting more ambient zones are Boc Scadet (Lawrence Grover)'s “She Spoke of the Sky,” Vizier of Damascus's (Arfan Ezra Munir Rai) aptly-titled “Murmurs,” and Infinite Scale's atmospheric spoken word setting “Cell Out.” On the filthier tip, Liberation Jumpsuit's acid-electro banger “One Night Stand” includes gutter vocals that make the tune even sleazier.
Three tunes in particular stand out from the crowd: Plaid-styled melodies
whistle gleefully during Sunosis' (Colin Welsh) “Leap,” Zainetica
(Rednetic head Mark Streatfield) rouses the neighbourhood to action with
polished melodies and crisp beat slam in “Awaken,” and London-based
DJ/producer Tommi Bass (Paul Alex Jarvis) gets his Kraftwerk mojo working
with the android hoedown “Electro Glitch 2007.” Needling synth
melodies sputter and squirm over a robotic drum machine rumble in what
may be the collection's freshest track, suggesting that Rednetic might
be wise to pursue that direction a little more aggressively in the future.
In the last five years, London-based imprint Rednetic have delivered a steady stream of elegant electronic records. While the label’s scope has considerably expanded over the years, the focus has largely remained on classic electronica. The label was set up in 2002 by Mark Streatfield and Joseph Auer, and the first release was Streatfield’s debut album as Zainetica, Escaping Dust. Since, Auer, who had then moved from London to Tokyo, released the Kyoto Tokyo 2001 EP, and further releases by Utility Player, The Vizier Of Damascus, Inigo Kennedy, Tommy Bass and Boltfish co-founders Will ‘Cheju’ Bolton and Murray ‘Mint’ Fisher, amongst others, have firmly established the label as one of London’s best imprints.
In 2004, the One Point One compilation collated tracks by some of the above artists together with offerings from Ochre, Sidechain and F.E.A.R. Three years on, the second instalment in the series harvests a further fourteen tracks of classic electronica and techno, with contributions from Mint, Tommi Bass, Liberation Jumpsuit, Infinite Scale, Boc Scadet, Joseph Auer, Sunosis, Zainetica and many more.
Very much like its predecessor, One Point Two spans a vast array of genres, from the elegant electronic swathes of Boc Scadet’s She Spoke Of The Sky, Zainetica’s Awaken or Sunosis’s Leap and the ambient expanses of Polestar’s Retro Future, Infinite Scale’s Cell Out or The Vizier Of Damascus’s Murmurs to the Detroit-infused offerings from Cheju’s Hubl or Inigo Kennedy’s Faraway Towns to the old style techno of Tommi Bass’ Electro Glitch 2007 and the acid funk of Liberation Jumpsuit’s One Night Stand.
The album kicks off in gently mood with the delicate formations and beats of Mint’s Queasy, but things sharpen up quickly, first with the electric charges inflicted by Tommi Bass, then with the dirty electro funk distilled by Liberation Jumpsuit, before Boc Scadet applies lush dreamy textures and brings One Point Two right back into melodic mode. A perfect reflection of the path followed by Rednetic over the last first years, the album then alternates between delicate pieces (Polestar, Infinite Scale, Joseph Auer) and more upbeat moments (Utility Player, Cheju, Inigo Kennedy).
Rednetic have gained confidence with every release, and the label’s audience has been growing accordingly. This second compilation brings together the many flavours of Rednetic and provides an ideal entry point for one of the most consistent independent imprints around.
Zainetica's Rednetic imprint is a great label. Coming from London and representing the electronica underground, they've been ploughing away for a few years releasing great sounds from great artists. Here we have the 2nd collection of tracks from friends and associated artists and it includes Zainetica, Joseph Auer (twice, in fact, with a track plus a cut remixed by Lackluster), Inigo Kennedy, Boc Scadet, Tommi Bass, Utility Player, Inifinite Scale, Mint, Cheju, Liberation Jumpsuit, Vizier of Damascus and Polestar. It's a varied collection that ranges from classic melodic electronica right through to a more uptempo, electro based sound with some real oomph. Selected with care this CD represents some of the most excellent underground UK artists from this scene... you know what to do! Recommended.
One Point Two is the most natural name for the sequel of the first Rednetic compilation One Point (you guessed it) One that saw the light if day in 2004 and was the second release ever on this not that old thriving yet successful label. There’s little point in denying it this compilation is very good and if it has any shortcomings they’re surely down to musical preferences and nothing else.
The opening track Queasy by affiliated artist Mint of Boltfish fame and it’s the perfect lush opening for a 14-track session of contemporary electronics. Queasy strikes me as quite an unusual track for being Mint masterminding it somewhat less nice than his regular output. Boc Scadet’s She Spoke of the Sky is another emotive high-tech production by Boc Scadet and it’s not hard to understand how this track ended up on the One Point Two compilation. Polestar’s Retro Future is brilliant with warm lush sounds submerging the sonic picture as they are contrasted with crisp beats and plenty of forward motion a simply seminal piece of music. Zainetica’s Awaken track is classic Zainetica material and the bubbly bassline would grace any open-minded dance floor and the musical references are as vast as is the undeniable talent held by this artist. Cheju’s Hubl holds all the characteristics of a Cheju track apart from the bassline that is decidedly more 80’ like than I’ve ever heard before. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it definitely a different approach for being Cheju. Vizier of Damascus’ Murmurs is anything and everything you would expect from Vizier of Damascus a great ambient track with an edge and the rhythmic work on Murmurs is excellent. However the track’s playing time is too short, weighing in at 03:12 it is much too short. The eleventh track Harajuku is an interesting collaboration between Joseph Auer and household name Lackluster. Actually it seems to be a remix by the ever so productive Lackluster, so I guess it should read something like Joseph Auer Harajuku (Lackluster Pitchmix). And as it turns out it was originally named Harajuku Rain and is taken from his Kyoto Tokyo 2001 EP released in 2004 on the very same label. In the remix Lackluster is opting for the big bass and the slow beats in this summery roller; keep the bass heavy and the beats kind of hollow, ya’ll feelin’ it? Joseph Auer’s Probes off Io has all the qualities and the unmistakable sounds of any J.Auer track. It is a solid slab of Americana being served by the artist. Complete with lush strings and forward moving beats in perfect harmony. Superb production and another piece of fine music signed J.Auer. Inigo Kennedy’s Faraway Towns has a melancholy struck melody, crisp beats and massive amounts of bass. It is an unforgiving slightly distorted bassline that is a monster. In Faraway Towns you get the sweet with the rough in a brilliant way. You’ve been warned so watch those bassbins! Sunosis’ Leap is the last track on the compilation and it is taken from the lovely Warmed EP released (and reviewed) on Rednetic earlier this year.
In conclusion: One Point Two - More Digital Listening Music from Rednetic
(as the full title reads) is a definite show of force by Rednetic and
a welcome as it is refreshing collection of tracks that rely on electronics
rather than acoustic instruments in what seems to be an unstoppable wave
of acoustic releases the past year or so. After all this is the E-desert!
Bell 03
Deuxième compilation du label, One point Two (More digital listening music from Rednetic), en plus d’être présentée dans un joli petit digipack gris blanc et rose, vous offre plus d’une heure de titres inédits (enfin, sauf deux) des maîtres du genre : Mint, Cheju, Zainetica, Boc Scadet, Infinite Scale, Tommi Bass, Inigo Kennedy, Polestar, Sunosis, et j’en passe. De l’electronica (Mint, Cheju,...) à la techno (Tommi Bass, ...) en passant par des morceaux plus ambient (Polestar, Infinite Scale,..), on a là tout ce qu’il nous faut pour passer une bonne soirée entre amis sous le soleil avec quelques pots de glace et une bonne bouteille. Et même s’il ne fait pas très beau pour un mois d’août, cette petite compilation s’apprécie tout autant en regardant la pluie tomber par la fenêtre, vous en conviendrez.
On n’a jamais douté du talent de Mark Streatfield, aussi bien en ce qui concerne ses créations musicales (Zainetica) que la gestion de son label. Les albums sortis chez Rednetic sont tous d’une qualité surprenante, et cette compil ne fait pas exception. Même les plus exigeants ne trouveront rien à redire. J’ai beau récouter tout ça en boucle à la recherche des meilleurs titres pour vous les citer, mais je risque d’y passer la nuit pour finir par vous conseiller l’intégralité des 14 morceaux, le mieux est encore de vous la procurer, vous jugerez vous-même. Et puis pour ceux qui auraient loupé la sortie il y a quelques mois de l’excellent Warmed de Sunosis (même label), vous en trouverez ici même un morceau, Leap, qui vous incitera sans nul doute à commander l’album. Bref, une très bonne compil à vous mettre d’urgence dans les oreilles, un point c’est tout.
all content © 2008 Rednetic Recordings unless otherwise specified.