LowerState

My first encounter (of many) with Mike Smalle was rather aptly on the dancefloor. Introduced through a mutual friend, a similar partiality to certain musical strains transpired between us. I was genuinely surprised then to find out at a later date Mike was constructing a pop album under his B-Movie Lightning moniker. I was surprised even further to find Mike singing (rather wonderfully) atop said album. And thus is Mike, quite multi-dimensioned, quite unpredictable. His album Rain on a River emerged in June of this year, a 13 track affair with dreamy vocals floating atop 80’s basslines, fluffy synth melodies interspersed with triumphant trumpets. From our many talks and tangents on all things musical, it came quite naturally to invite Mike to put together a podcast for us, and the result is quite perfectly autumnal.

Additional words from Padraic O’Connor / Galway Wow [original article]

It was one of those moments that music anoraks like myself thrive on. I was living in Barcelona at the time and was on my regular Friday sojourn to the inspirational CD Drome record shop for my weekly music fix.

I knew the score with CD Drome, it happened every week. I’d go in, ostensibly to purchase 2 or 3 twelves of a house/disco/electronic persuasion but I’d leave with 4 or 5 slabs of vinyl and a handful of cds of everything from hazy folk to spacey prog rock depending on what the friendly guys behind the counter deemed to be the music they were going to tempt me with on that particular trip.

The friendly CD Drome staff had an irritating talent for playing the most beautiful music over the shop speakers while you trawled through your own selection at your listening post; music so good you knew that (A) you were going to have to ask the inevitable question “What’s that playing at the moment?” and (B) you were going to leave the shop with a copy of said album or single.

I’d settled in, headphones on, to pick through my vinyl selection when in between records I let my guard down for a few seconds and took off my headphones. Those few seconds were all it took for me to be completely mesmerized by the breezy, joyous pop wafting towards me from the shops speakers.  The obligatory “What the fuck is that?” in my pigeon Spanish followed and, with a knowing smile, came the retort, “it’s one of our favourite albums in the shop, and it’s from your country. It’s Cane141.”

I’d seen and indeed heard Michael Smalle’s merry Cane 141 collective before I’d left Ireland for Barcelona and knew of their delightful and dreamy melodies.  But that day in CD Drome, as I spaced out to the delirious “Let’s go out tonight” refrain of The Grand Lunar, was one of those moments, as a music lover, you never forget.

Mr Smalle’s album received heavy rotation in our sweaty Barcelona apartment that summer and since then I’ve kept a firm eye and ear out for all things Smalle.

As well as musical hook-ups over the years with the likes of Mark Eitzel, Sean O’Hagan and Cristian Vogel he has collaborated also rather superbly with Galwegian visual artist Roisin Coyle on the beautiful Lost at Seainstallation while his music has been lauded by radio DJs in Ireland and beyond. Here in Ireland tastemakers such as Cian Ó Cíobháin and Donal Dineen regularly dot their shows with splashes of Smalle colour while over the years Mike has also released music through BBC’s Chris Coco & Rob Da Bank’s The Blue Room series as well as hitting the ultimate heady heights of recording a John Peel session.

In recent years Mike has left his Cane 141 days behind him but his latest nom de plume, B-Movie Lightning, still sees him imperiously ploughing that refined glittering pop furrow that he harvests so well.  His mastery of shimmering keys, 80’s sounding instrumentation and drums allied with those whispered vocals hypnotises and entrances like a mantra. It’s charming music from a charming man.

The genial, understated Mr Smalle is a man who has stuck to his musical principles making subtle, ethereal, everyday, heartfelt pop to while away the days and nights. His talent is to make music for daydreaming to, music for road-trips, for getting drunk to, music to get lost in, music to make you smile or to comfort you when you’re having one of those days. Music that stirs your emotions and fills your heart.

So much music nowadays is condemned to the bin after just a few listens. Throwaway rubbish in a world more concerned with sound bytes than the whole story or with slick singles instead of albums that paint the full picture. But there’s a certain something about the music of Mike Smalle, B-Movie Lightning and of his old alter-ego Cane 141 that defies trends and is timeless.

Tracklist

1. Bark Psychosis : Pendulum Man
2. Aphex Twin : Rhubarb
3. Motion sickness Of Time : Absolute Pigment
4. Kangding Ray : A Protest Song
5. Broadcast : Echo’s Answer
6. Daphne Oram : Amphitryon 38
7. The Caretaker : Cloudy since You went Away
8. Julianna Barwick : sunlight.heaven
9. Linda Buckley : Immersia II
10. Nils Frahm : c,e,g.
11. Tim Hecker : Hatred Of Music I
12. Stars Of The Lid : Even If You’re Never awake

More on B-Movie Lightning

http://bmovielightning.com/
http://b-movielightning.bandcamp.com/
http://soundcloud.com/b-movie-lightning
http://www.myspace.com/bmovielightning

Download LowerState Podcast 015 / B-Movie Lightning

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I recently dug up this Q&A interview I did with the man himself in October 2008. On a Google images search I even found an image from the gig in De Burgo’s with my own blurry head in the background. Sometimes it all comes together easily enough.

Q. Favourite colour ? Purple
Q. How would you describe your music style? Hopeful melancholy
Q. What is your musical background? I had piano lessons for about 8 years, got my first synth at the age of 12 - electronic music seemed a way to be creative without relying on other musicians which were really hard to find in the area where I grew up.
Q. Where do you live? North East London
Q. What’s your favorite part of the day? Least favorite? Whenever I can switch into a nocturnal day rhythm - it’s much quieter at night so it’s easier to concentrate on music and I generally prefer the atmosphere as well. I hate mid day - everythings way too bright, loud and distracting…
Q. What’s your drink? Lassi
Q. Favourite book? “Der Zauberberg” by Thomas Mann
Q. Favourite movie? “Kamikaze 1989″ (Fassbinder)
Q. Favourite place? Orange County
Q. Favourite piece of studio gear ? Octave Plateau Voyetra 8 (my alltime favourite synth)
Q. Favorite subject in school? History
Q. Who/what inspires you? Missed opportunities, disappointments, memories
Q. Name one thing you feel strongly about. Why? German reunification - it should never have happened - Germany wasn’t a particularly open and civilzed society before 1989 but at least it didn’t have much power beyond its borders - the reunited stronger germany will sooner or later cause problems (dominating Europe etc) that could have very easily been avoided
Q. Best gig you’ve ever been to? It’s very difficult to narrow it down - saw Serena Maneesh at the water rats a while ago - incredible…
Q. What would be written on your headstone? No pretentious or patronizing bons mots hopefully
Q. If you weren’t a musician, what would you be doing? Don’t think I’d still be alive
Q. What 5 people dead or alive would you invite to dinner?
Marx, Gudrun Ensslin, Wolfgang Pohrt, Adorno, Marcuse
(I’d shut up and just follow their conversation)
Q. Concept of heaven? I don’t believe in heaven but I’d like to live in a society that has progressed beyond private ownership of the means of production
Q. Concept of hell? Capitalism is the end of history
Q. What would you like to be better at? Electro engineering (wish I had a clue about the technical side of studio equipment)

A resident of Galway, Frenchie has accumulated quite a number of releases in recent times. His debut EP ‘Fait Accompli‘ was released on Limerick’s Antiqua Recordings in December 2009, featuring two stripped down rolling deep numbers alongside remixes from John Daly and Nicole Moudaber. His follow up track - ‘Case Equal’ - featured on a split Antiqua EP last December alongside three other Irishmen: Duky, Did, and Frawl. Frenchie has entered into remix duty for Galway’s own B-Movie Lightning, reshaping ‘Take Yourself To The City’ into two fabulous 4/4 excursions available here. Needless to say we love all the tracks, and luckily for us, Frenchie is well versed in the art of record spinning. When we asked him for a podcast, the man himself was feeling inspired by a recent warehouse party in Galway. This mix wasn’t too long to follow.

Tracklist:

1. Reagenz - Keep Building (Workshop)
2. Christopher Rau - Always the Same (Smallville)
3. Julius Steinhoff - Something Like Wonderful (Smallville)
4. John Roberts - Glass Eights (Dial)
5. Morning Factory - Radioshow (Yore)
6. Donnacha Costello - Pleite (Look Long)
7. Portable - Fine Me (Perlon)
8. id10ts - In the Gold Room (Dj Koze mix) (LoEB)
9. Prostitune - NJ Turnpike (Just Another Beat)
10. Mark E - Christo (Merc)
11. Chaton - +91 Ahead 3.5 (John Daly version) (Plak)

Download LowerState Podcast 014 / Frenchie

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RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta’s Cian Ó Ciobhain releases An Taobh Tuathail Vol IV, the latest in the series as a free download from the RnaG website for 3 months only. The tracklist and a commentary from Cian (who thankfully tags the MP3 through the Lyrics ID3 tag!) is given below. Highly recommended - grab it now while you can.

Tracklist

1. Hildur Guðnadóttir - Unveiled
2. Alex Smoke - Ikos
3. Emika - Cooling Room
4. Actress - Maze
5. Lali Puna - Safe Tomorrow
6. Natalie Beridze / tba - The Face We Choose To Miss
7. Dau Cefn - Hey Baby!
8. Rene Hell - Razor. P+
9. Daedelus - Fin De Siécle
10. Tape - Parade
11. Valgeir Sigurðsson – Grýlukvæði (feat Sam Amidon)
12. Patrick Kelleher - Wonder
13. St. Catherines Home For Lazy Infants - It’s OK
14. The Gentleman Losers - Spider Lily
15. Phantom Dog Beneath The Moon - Two Hours After Dusk
16. alva noto - Anthem Berlin (For The Kingdom Of Elgaland-Vargaland)

Commentary:

01  Hildur Guðnadóttir - Unveiled

If this were a CD, I wouldn’t have put this as first track.  Rule no. 1 if you’re trying to sell a disc: put your catchiest song first.  But this is a free podcast and the Icelandic cellist’s quixotic ode to flight and movement is as good a place as any to start this trip (and it is a trip).

02  Alex Smoke – Ikos

I believe that this Glasweigan producer is possibly one of the finest producers making music on this planet right now.  Normally, he makes moody melancholic techno, but peel the emphasis off the shuddering kick drums and you reveal a thing of bucolic beauty. This is the opening track on his most recent LP ‘Lux’ on his own Hum + Haw label.  What a deliciously apt name for his label.

03  Emika - Cooling Room

Young British producer Emika moved to Berlin earlier last year and was immediately drawn to Berghain/Panoramabar, the epicentre of Europe’s techno/house scenes.  Her recent project, the ‘Fünf’ compilaton, on the club’s record label Ostgut Ton, inspired her to record the sounds of the immense venue when emptied of revellers, then passing on the field recordings to the club’s DJs and producers to mould new tracks out of.  In her own words: “I was in Panorama Bar on Sunday afternoon, and Nick Hoppner who runs the Ostgut Ton label was DJing, and there was like a long breakdown in the track, or he was doing some kind of quiet mix between two records, and I could hear all the metal panels in the building resonating, and I could hear all the motors and the lights above me. Like turning the strobes and stuff like that, and yeah, I carried on drinking and started thinking about all these millions of sounds that must be in the huge space when there’s no party.”  She recorded the light rigging, the fridges, people working, the infamous sex swings.  This is her own contribution.  Her début LP is due (possibly on Ninja Tune) sometime this year.

Full Emika interview on:
http://www.dummymag.com/features/2010/11/12/emika-captures-bergorama/

04  Actress – Maze

Modern electronic music, haunted by the pioneering sound of Kraftwerk, from the Londoner’s ‘Splaszh’ LP which deserves repeated listens.

05  Lali Puna - Safe Tomorrow

And finally a vocal!  The highlight of the band from Wilheim, Germany’s fourth LP ‘Our Inventions’ on Morr Music.

06  Natalie Beridze / tba - The Face We Choose To Miss

Natalie is a prolific artist from Tbilisi in Georgia who has released five LPs as tba.  Last summer, this 80s-flavoured pop song saw the light of day on her ‘What About Things Like Bullets’ EP.  Her new LP ‘Forgetfulness’ will be available on Monika Enterprise in March.

07  Dau Cefn - Hey Baby!

Welsh surrealists Dau Cefn occasionally tune into ATT on wet Monday nights and began sending some of their songs my way last summer.  I’ve pretty much listened to this ska-tinged ode to joy at least once a week ever since it came my way.

08  Rene Hell - Razor. P+

Provocative synth music that brings to mind early Tortoise, 70’s Kosmiche and ambient techno - this mind-blower is the opening track on the American producer’s recent ‘Porcelain Opera’ LP on Type.

09  Daedelus - Fin De Siécle

This romantic instrumental wouldn’t sound out of place in an old Disney movie.  From the LA producer’s 2010 EP ‘Righteous Fists Of Harmony’.

10  Tape - Parade

The musical approximation of sunbeams unexpectingly shining through a slate-grey sky.  All the way from Sweden.  Check out the ‘Luminarium’ LP on Häpna.

11  Valgeir Sigurðsson – Grýlukvæði (feat Sam Amidon)

Valgeir is something of a renaissance man in his native Iceland: founder of the Bedroom Community label; producer and engineer; composer of music for TV, film & theatre; he has also collaborated with Björk, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Kronos Quartet and CocoRosie.  This collaboration with American folk singer Sam Amidon is from the ‘Draumalandið’  (Dreamland) soundtrack.

12  Patrick Kelleher - Wonder

Based in Dublin, though orginally from Rugby in the UK, Patrick perfectly merges lo-fi electronica with phantasmal folk on his ‘You Look Cold’ LP on the wonderful Osaka label.  Check him out should he visit your neck of the woods with his band Patrick Kelleher & His Cold Dead Hands.

13  St. Catherines Home For Lazy Infants - It’s OK

Shimmering hazy guitar plucking from the ‘Old Ghosts’ LP from the prodigious Alex Synge, on Dublin’s distinguished Slow Loris label.

14  The Gentleman Losers - Spider Lily

This Finnish duo’s woozy dreamlike productions recall a vintage of music that predates the use of ProTools & modern digital recording.  From their second and most recent LP ‘Dustland’ on City Centre Offices.

15  Phantom Dog Beneath The Moon - Two Hours After Dusk

I used to jostle for space on the dancefloor (i.e. stare at the ground in a fey, sensitive manner, whilst gently rocking back and forth on the one spot, wondering if any cute indie chicks would be impressed by my limited edition Joy Divison t-shirt) at a clubnight called ‘Psychedelia’ in The Castle, Galway in the early to mid-90s, with the two members of PDBTM, who are now based in Nottingham.  Their spectral folk LP, ‘The Trees, The Sea, In A Lunar Stream’ on Galway’s dedicated Rusted Rail imprint sounds nothing like The Breeders’ ‘Cannonball’ - which was played incessantly at ‘Psychedelia’ - but instead brings to mind Talk Talk and their luminous ‘Spirit Of Eden’ LP.

16  alva noto - Anthem Berlin (For The Kingdom Of Elgaland-Vargaland)

Hugely influential artist whose installations have been included in the Guggenheim, New York, the Tate Modern and Venice Biennale, Italy.  From his second LP of dedications ‘For 2’ on the Line label.

An Taobh Tuathail ag craoladh  ó Luan go h-Aoine @ Anocht FM (RTE RnaG): 11pm - 1am GMT.  Éist ar an raidió (92-94FM & 102.6FM) agus ar DAB.  Ar fáil ar an idirlíon http://www.rte.ie/rnag/antaobhtuathail.html, ar Sky (Channel 0166) & ar NTL Cable (Channel 905).  Ríomphost: att@rte.ie