DOPEVECTOR

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Middleman

January 27, 2010 / admin / Comments Off

Middleman appeared on Bazooka10 label’s first EP, along with the title track: G-Lock. If this label sounds familiar, its because another Biotic track (Ghost, covered here already) appeared on a Bazooka10 compilation as well.

The track itself is a pretty early work (#21 in fact) and was produced in 2001. While the raw production shows both its age and its adventurousness, there is a certain quality about it that I’ve always liked. So much so, that the string sounds and synth arrangements make it a candidate for a remix in the future.

While this wasn’t the first ever Biotic release (Ghost would be it), this was the first non Various Artists release available on vinyl. The photo above shows its label, along with the name misspelling on it. And no, the mislabels wouldn’t stop there. Future Alek Biotic releases would contain mis-named or mixed up tracks, even the artist name. But seriously… who cares?

Download: Middleman (mp3)

Overtone

January 20, 2010 / admin / Comments Off

This just might be the biggest Dopevector release yet(!), and I’m thrilled to make it available in source format. Overtone is a remix of a track by the same name, but since I like it so much better than the original, it basically won over the title. The track was scheduled for release on the (awesome) Canadian techno label Ascend Recordings, however for one reason or another it never came out. Ascend hasn’t had a release in a few years and it appears that the label is no longer around which is too bad since I really liked its sound and have a bunch of the releases on vinyl.

In any case, Overtone remains one of my all time favorites and is likely my most satisfying production effort. What separates it in my mind is emphasis on the second beat which gives it an interesting rhythm shuffle. Rather than setting the tone of the track, the beat on this one serves the main theme and follows it closely. Obviously, the key element (preserved from the original) is the massive distorted riff, thickened by a sub level bass. These, and other synth sounds were played by a combination of the Access Virus B, and Native Instruments’ Reaktor software. Drums were played on the NI Battery drum sampler and dirtied up with the usual suspects.

(Btw, I’ll likely post the original version at some point in the future, so if you dig it do come back for more.)

Download: Overtone (mp3)Download: Overtone (wav)

The Culprit

January 13, 2010 / admin / Comments Off

The Culprit is a circa 2003, loopy, funky techno jam inspired by the sounds of Joey Beltram and DJ CZR. A few labels nearly picked this one up, but at the time I had no other productions which would make good record companions, so for that and probably other random reasons it never made it out. Its loop-based structure makes it fun to play and useful DJ tool, so I’m making it available here, in original wave format.

Almost entirely sample based (I believe the only played part was the bass) its got a retro vibe dominated by the thick, filtered groove. Have a listen and download it below.

Download: The Culprit (mp3)Download: The Culprit (wav)

Alek Biotic Delivers a Brand New Live Mix: Present Day

January 7, 2010 / admin / Comments Off

In case you haven’t noticed, for the first time that the Production and Posted On dates are the same. That can mean only one thing. A brand, spankin’ new release! That’s right. Read on and check it out.

Compiling, mixing and recording sets can be a long and exhaustive process. But as a live mix, I really thought that this one would be done quickly.

Wrong.

Endless last minute track substitutions and additions, re-takes, multiple mastering attempts (each separated by careful review of the entire 80 minute set on different speakers and headphones) all stood in the way of the final recording. But all that is behind us now. I’m thrilled to have this set finally perfected and available to you. Get ready for: Present Day.

While it’s precedent, The Hook Up Service, was your summer pool party mash-up stacked with funky, up-beat grooves, Present Day is a focused and dark live set featuring the latest releases by techno artists spanning the globe; from places like Argentina, U.S.(Texas and Minnesota), Ireland, France, Germany, Slovenia, all the way to Japan.

Mixed live using the incredible Vestax VCM 600 controller and Ableton’s Live software, Present Day is a vintage Alek Biotic live set, updated to present day repertoire and technology.

So, turn up the volume, hit play and enjoy. Track list will be posted here soon. Comments are always welcome.

Download: Present Day (mp3)

Track List:
Minimorph – Marrakech
OTP, David K, Jerome Pacman – Out Of Phase
Makotrax – What a Fxxxing (Side B Katana Remix)
Phase – Subraum-Omen
Dollkraut – Cheveux Noir
Lemos – Jo The Monster (Agaric Remix)
Wolfgang Gartner – Latin Fever
Solead – Les Capitales
D. Diggler – Bipolar 3.0
Phil Kieran – Past The Present Future
Recilod – Softrum (D. Diggler Remix)
Cari Lekebusch – Spindizzy
Umek – Work This Data
A.Mochi – Black Out
Sasha Carassi & Gianluca Luisi – Homer (Dustin Zahn Remix)
Phil Kieran – Never Ending Mountain
Kalon – Haiku (Female Remix)
Pfirter – De a Poco
Secret Cinema – Jazz Me

Btw, if you like Present Day, be sure to also check out Stereohype which has a similar vibe.

Triage

December 29, 2009 / admin / Comments Off

Triage is a techno track from ’04. If my memory serves me right, the bass line was played using the sweet Imposcar synth. And since I’m a little short on time today, I’m going to leave it at that. Wave download is included. Enjoy.

Download: Triage (mp3)Download: Triage (wav)

Exclusive: Kill By Inches – Stylin’ (Live)

December 21, 2009 / admin / Comments Off

We’re going all the way back to 1997, to Electric Plant Studios somewhere deep in Brooklyn for a live Kill By Inches session with Shane and Tommy on vocals. Joining the two were Kevin Oriol on bass, Steve Papa on drums and Alex Kolundzija on guitar, with Vin Cin producing the mix.

Stylin’ was a unique and popular KBI jam separated from the rest by its mellow vibe topped with Shane Ali’s awesome rhymes. Never released, this might be a the only recorded version of it.

As the story goes, about a year after this session the band’s lineup would be reduced to only 3 guys, with both Tommy and Shane moving on to other projects. What followed is the Down To Three EP, still available in stores and featured here already with another KBI exclusive.

Btw, for more recent Shane Ali works (including some KBI covers!), check out his page on MySpace. And while at it, be sure to check out Born Of Scars, the band that features KBI’s Steve and Pete (who replaced Alex on guitar many years ago).

Kill By Inches recorded at Electric Plant Studios on many occasions and I’m happy to report that I have a few other sessions as well. Check back soon for more.

Download: Kill By Inches – Stylin’ (mp3)

Anathema

December 14, 2009 / admin / Comments Off

Anathema was released on Gotham Grooves in 2005 on the Various Villains: Volume 2 record, which also featured tracks by Agent Orange, Adam Jay and Noah Pred. As mentioned in the previous post on Sativa, the two tracks are closely related and follow a similar sound pattern. The second of the two, Anathema is the more mature. For more production details, please check out the post on Sativa.

I was fortunate to have a release on Gotham Grooves’ first Various Villains record as well, which featured a track called Directive. We’ll cover that one here as well at some point.

Btw, while this was a Montaz production, it ended up on the release under the Alek Biotic handle. But, who cares… after all, BeatPort also misspelled “Villains”. But the player below is nice.

I’m also including our own player so you can hear the track in its entirety and in higher quality. But no download this time since its available at BeatPort.

Sativa

December 8, 2009 / admin / Comments Off

I’ve always loved the unique sound and versatility of the ride cymbal. Its distinct sound can be disguised and blended into a variety of genres while remaining very common and bare. I bring this up because Sativa is a track based on a sampled beat with a driving ride cymbal which marked a new direction in my productions. Coupled with a deep bass on the other end of the spectrum, Sativa really fills up the air, with the mid range filled by a mangled percussive riff and a twisted and evolving line played through Native Instruments’ Absynth synth. To get the rich harmonic sound from a very simple melody I layered multiple takes, each processed differently. The track also makes heavy use of delay and reverb effects which add to its spaciousness.

By the way, a very close relative of Sativa is a track titled Anathema, which was released on Gotham Grooves in 2005. We’ll cover that release at some point in the future.

Download: Sativa (mp3)Download: Sativa (wav)

Michael Hedges – Point B (Montaz remix)

December 2, 2009 / admin / Comments Off

Michael Hedges died on December 2nd,12 years ago. I only learned this recently and was completely unaware at the time I did this remix of Point B, Michael’s track released on his album Taproot in 1990. Like many of Michael’s works, Point B (as well as Point A) are solo guitar pieces performed using a Steinberger guitar. (I really like the original Steinbergers and have a few of my own. Btw, the photo on the left shows Michael with a custom Steinberger Klein guitar, which was a result of a collaboration between Steve Klein and Ned Steinberger.) Micheal did some cool stuff with Steinberger’s TramsTrem which caught my attention.

While the Point B is a very focused effort, my version features lots of instrumentation and beats with the goal of creating a very different aural experience. I purposely didn’t stay true to the source material but instead wanted to go in the quite opposite direction. Enjoy. And check out the Michael Hedges store on Amazon.com for all of his releases.

Download: Point B [Montaz Remix] (mp3)

Exclusive: Preston Space presents Time4Machine

November 27, 2009 / admin / Comments Off

An old friend Matt contacted me the other day asking if I had a copy of Preston Space’s Time4Machine. (We haven’t heard from Preston in years and I haven’t listened to this, his first official mix in almost as long.) So I dug into the “archives” and was thrilled to find it. I even found the original cover art which I helped put together back in the day.

If you’ve never had the pleasure of hearing this mix, then get ready for an hour of masterfully blended psy-tech trance. I don’t have the track listing, but if you recognize any of the tracks send me the info and I’ll post it here. I do know that it features a track or two by Eternal Basement and believe that the last track is by Infected Mushroom.