For this week’s Eclectic Minds feature we called on a man who’s influenced more producers than you could spend a whole day shaking several sticks at… Alex Paterson.
The driving force behind The Orb, and myriad musical projects since, Alex is famed for his desire to take the drums out of dance music and help morph ambient into the tantric state it languishes in today. Right about now, though, we’re asking him to put the drums back into the dance. And, if possible, a little bit of bass too…
“There’s always been elements of drum & bass in our work, believe it or not,” he grins. “We touched on it on our Orblivion album in different ways. I love the way it’s developed over the years into a dark, complex form of music. It’s taken yet another huge twist with the dubstep sound, too. It’s all done in a skunk world! For the lover of skunk and keep off the grass crews!”
But wait…. Drum & bass isn’t just a herbal remedy. Alex holds a cherished space for it in his heart as his late brother Martin lived and breathed the stuff.
“He was my older brother. He got me into music and was a massive, massive influence on my life,” says Alex. “We both lost our dad when we were young. He looked after me big time. And got me into music big time! If you can blame anyone for everything I’ve done, it’s him. To be able to tell you about his tunes is really cool.”
Further retro ruminations from Paterson can be found on The Orb’s last release C Battersea C. An evocative audio visual mission based on a film Battersea Bunches it actually features old Super 8 footage of a very young Paterson family!
“One of my aunties found some footage of my dad taking the family on a day out,” says Alex. “The audio is all remix-based so we remixed the video and made sure the right music was sympathetic to it. It really does take me away to neverland…”
Clearly he’s got a return ticket, as next month Alex has yet another long-player coming our way. Screen sees him teaming up with old friends Gaudi, who’s toured with the likes of Jimmy Cliff, The Wailers and Ziggy Marley, and Chestar who spent the early part of the century managing a didgeridoo band in Japan among many other things… And their deep, dubby We Are Screen is out next month on Alex’s Malicious Damage label.
Chances are you might hear some of it on his radio show tonight. Chilled Chewy Choosedays on fnoob.com from 8pm-10pm. In the meantime, let’s check his D&B favourites…
Creature – ‘Ow Much?
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf_li-0Dw5U
“Creature is my brother, so this is a tribute! I think I’ll play another tune of his – Black Bird – on my radio show tonight. The first truly Eno-ish drum & bass tune with a second hand car sales man presenting the prices loud and direct! A real monster of a record on Wot 4 Records in Italy.”
DJ Hype – True Playa’z Anthem
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQtETSPWSus
“Taken from the massive Super Sharp Shooter EP. Obviously Super Sharp Shooter was a tune in one that will always stand on its own two feet. But this will always stand out the most. That vocal sample! ‘I never fucked any one over in my life before…’ That’s an intro so devilish and complex, when the bass finally arrives it really explores that place where eardrums hide!”
Plug – Visible Crater Funk
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E9daOrcKdc&feature=related
“This is from two 12″ monsters. Four incredible tracks called Military Jazz, Pitch Bender, Cheesy and Angel. Really ahead of its time and a double trouble of mixing heaven! Let’s take it back to 96!”