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DOA PODCAST: PARADOX
DOA: You're something of a hero to those heads who, would you say, shun the more commercial/"mainstream" forms of Drum & Bass. Do you think more artists should be as outspoken as you have been about the state of the scene?
Paradox: I've always been pretty vocal, since the mid-90s about our DnB scene. Whilst I like to say what's on my mind, I can understand why some artists don't want to get caught up in the politics of it all. The Internet, for example, is such a powerful tool nowadays that it can spread or misinterpret statements, and before you know it your words are on every forum around the globe by breakfast time. Having said that, I do wish some heads would say what they truly thought instead of the "it's all good" chestnut. With me, though, I'm really passionate about our scene and the direction it's taking, so, personally, I can't just sit on the fence. Spreading negativity isn't good, I agree, but, seriously, there is a line you gotta draw before some of the music becomes so dumb that you find yourself eating Farley's rusks trying to connect to it. Anyway, I feel I back up my statements about today's scene with the most important reply: the commitment to the music. The music speaks the truth, and this gives me the right to say whatever I feel, in my opinion. I don't advise doing it drunk, though.
DOA: Let's talk first about the Alaska + Paradox LP slated for March 2009. What made you decide to drop another Alaska LP, seeing as Arctic Foundations dropped in 2006? Do you just go off how you're feeling with these projects, or is there more of a schedule/plan going on? How do you know "this tune is more Alaska"?
Paradox: The last solo Paradox LP was back in 2002 and seems to me like an eternity ago now, and yeah, I released the Alaska one in 2006, so really three years is a long wait for my seventh album. This Isolationist LP project is the debut combined artists of Alaska and Paradox, as I've released a few 12"s and remixes under the joint-artist umbrella on Bukem's Good Looking and some of my own sub-labels. I didn't plan the album from the word go in the studio; it basically came about after programming a few "ambient but still quite tough" tracks, and the LP idea evolved from there, really. Once the idea was in place, though, I sat down with marker boards and planned out the LP, the tempos to explore, possible guest musicians, avenues of my style of DnB that I really loved and wanted to represent on the album that were not your tear-out anthems, etc., but still funky and relevant to DnB's original roots.
The difference between solo Alaska and Paradox tracks is pretty straight forward. My Alaska stuff is 100% ambient and focuses on moods and synth work equal to the drumwork, really, whereas my Paradox tracks go "in" on the programming rhythm-side, not in the clever-complexity department but more on the overall drummer rolling whilst programming ethos. I have crossed the two artists on the occasional 12", like I said before, so this album is a good example of the two vibes meeting together.
DOA: Any special guest producers or vocalists we can expect on the album? What tracks are confirmed right now, and how far would you say the album is in terms of completion?
Paradox: Well, the album is complete and has gone off to manufacture, so I'm on schedule I'd say, although you never can predict delays when it comes to releasing albums, so I hope all falls into place on time, fingers and toes crossed. Kiyomi Yamashita is the guest vocalist on the album; I worked with her on a few tracks on the Arctic Foundations project, so it seemed fitting to ask her to return for this one. Packaging-wise, the 6 track triple-vinyl pack comes on clear transparent vinyl which adds a nice touch, and the CD version features 10 tracks, with bonus tracks and "Sample Me" drum loops for peeps to sample. Actually, being an analogue kid, some of my favorite tracks are on the CD, so I'm looking forward to getting my mitts on a digital CD for a change. There's also an additional "Sample Me" free with the MP3 download of the album, in .wav format, so 11 tracks in all. The tracks are "Zion" / "Vigilante" / "Heart of Space" / "Jerico" / "Abysm" / "Mauja" / "Odium" / "Kilaun Drift" / "Etherous" / "Sample Me #15" / "Sample Me #16".
DOA: You've also got some other album projects on the horizon, right? We spoke to Seba recently, and he said he desired to finish something with you - any word on that?
 Paradox: Yeah, quite a few to be exact; well, with Seba, we're still working on our Seba & Paradox album, so it's an on-going process. We've done a range of tracks, some nice non-DnB ones, too, and some fine vocal works with Robert Manos and Kirsty Hawkshaw, but next week we'll both sit down and discuss the plans for the project for sure, as we've both been busy working on our own albums. Also under wraps is the 3rd solo Alaska album for Arctic Music that I can't reveal until the summer. In March, the Paradox Presents The Age of Outsiders Vol. 2 CD album is released too, and this has 11 exclusive tracks and really is something, plus it's a first for a DnB album to go the non-conventional design route and commission oil paintings exclusively for the album. The results are quite stunning.
DOA: With Isolationist and a lot of your catalogue, you've included "Sample Me" tracks, featuring breaks and sounds that producers can add to their collections. Is there any chance of you doing a Paradox Sample CD, or something of that nature? Even culling all of the "Sample Me" tracks into one package?
Paradox: Well, sample-CD wise, Hospital has discussed a Paradox Breaks Vol. 1 for their production series. I got a lot of respect for Tony LE, and this is something that might materialize when I get the Arctic Music album done and dusted, so we'll see. Beats wise, I really love programming the "Sample Me"s, as I started the series back in 1998 on Reinforced Records and have kept them going ever since. Knowledge Magazine saw these volumes and asked me to do a few for their cover CDs, which I was quite happy to do so, and I wrote 3 volumes in all for KMag, and I may do more. It keeps the breaks alive, and it's a positive thing I can do for the scene, in a DnB community service kind of way.
DOA: Do you still dig for new breaks? How hard is it to find sounds that haven't been overly rinsed, or re-imagine classic breaks in a new light?
Paradox: Myself and Nucleus are crate diggers, we crave it. It's the backbone to DnB. There are so many undiscovered breaks from the 60s and 70s that we're constantly on the look out. Nothing is safe from our samplers. It's not a case of how hard is it to find them, it's a case of putting in the digging and graft to discover something; it can be quiet boring, but eventually you strike gold, and it's all worth it in the end.
DOA: Now, we know of your disdain for some of the styles of today, the disconnect from the old school and just a general malaise that definitely has fallen on DnB from time to time. Are there any newer producers that you ARE impressed with? If so, whom?
Paradox: An interesting question and one I haven’t answered in a while, if I’m honest. There's plenty of artists I'm into, but as for new artists, some nice tracks by Icicle, Insight and Instra:mental has caught my ears. Blu Mar Ten, dBridge and Digital, I always enjoy, but they ain't exactly new, are they, more like DnB fossils like myself, I'd say.
DOA: Where is your live PA taking you in the near future? Have you ever thought of releasing a live PA on CD?
Paradox: Yeah, over the next few months, I'll be performing live, promoting the Isolationist LP. I've just returned from Groningen in Holland, performing for the Break-fast crew, which was really cool, and later this week you can catch myself and Seba in Dublin. It's been a good few years since we both performed in Dublin, so some breakbeat pressure and proper Guiness will be downloaded for sure. On the 27th of Febuary, I'll be performing live in Moscow, Russia for the European album launch, and staying away from the Vodka I might add! The UK album launch party is on 13th March at Carbon in Brighton, with myself and Instra:mental, so a great night of good music at Carbon in store. I'll be heading back to the USA and many European haunts for the tour, and I love doing these live shows - everyone knows I love a microphone. As for releasing a Live PA CD... um... the Paradox shows are never recorded, audio-wise, as I like to keep them strictly for the crowds ears, so I doubt I'll release a Live CD. It's nicer to keep it just for the fans who want to see the live show in real-time. For all Paradox Live PA inquiries, you just contact my agent, ESP International, via mark@esp-international.co.uk.
DOA: What are some of the other forthcoming releases on Paradox Music, Esoteric, Arctic & Outsider?
Paradox: We have just received the test presses of Esoteric 11's "L.S.D Jazz" b/w "Rocksteady" by Nucleus and Paradox, and blue transparent 12" wax will be in the shops late Febuary. Incidently, we've also just completed the next Esoteric 12" (in your podcast!), so another wild chapter to look forward to.
Arctic Music #5 TPs will be floating around March in the shape of "Ataciara" b/w "Araicata" by Alaska & Nucleus. In this 12", Ambient DnB breathes in Arctic conditions: one track has no drums whatsoever. You'll see what I mean soon enough.
The next solo Paradox 12" on Paradox Music (PM19) will be ready around May and is ridiculously dark, unsettling and eery, so a little wait for that one. In the summer, a different mix of "Descendants" is forthcoming on the major label Universal. I'll release clips of that in the spring.
Outsider is ready to release the 21st Outsider release by Solar entitled "North To Future" b/w "Step Two", so expect that on the horizon, as well as the Paradox Presents The Age of Outsiders Vol. 2 is to surface in March, so plenty of exclusive music for everyone's ears.
DOA: Can we get a current top 15 from you?
Paradox: Sure, currently I'm listening to this lot in no particular order really, I'm no deejay remember...
01. Equinox "Paralize Babylon" (Scientific Wax)
02. Seba & Kirsty Hawhshaw "Devotion" (Secret Ops)
03. Digital "B.U.R.N.Y." (Violence)
04. Naibu "Newport" (Soul;r)
05. Nucleus & Paradox "De~scendant" (Universal)
06. DJ Trax "Flipped Out" (Audio Buffet)
07. Gremlinz "Frankie Gunns" (Renegade Hardware)
08. Raf & Illogic "Darkness At Noon" (Bingo)
09. Insight "Final Version" (Outsider(
10. Instra:mental "Photograph" (Darkestral)
11. Format None "Love and Hatred" (Amen Brothers)
12. Blu Mar Ten "If I Could Tell You" (CDR)
13. ASC "Epiphany" (Covert Ops)
14. Sabruko & Brother "In Control" (Horizons)
15. Spectrasoul "Taken" (Critical)
DOA: What can we expect from you in this special podcast you've given us?
Paradox: To say I've been generous is an understatement haha... I've showcased a few tracks from the Isolationist LP, demonstrating the different moods of the album; I've also included brand new, forthcoming material from Seba, tracks from the Age Of Outsiders Vol. 2 album, as well as exclusive Esoteric and Arctic cuts, including a few first-airplay, world-exclusives only for DOA.
DOA: When you're not making tunes and playing live, how does Paradox unwind?
Paradox: I listen to a lot of non-DnB of course, mainly Ambient and a lot of 70s Funk and soundtracks, that sort of thing. I'm a real movie fan, especially 70s movies, but I can't watch a film without homing in on the background score, rewinding things and annoying everyone in the room with my obsession for inspiration and samples.
Liverpool FC is a passion of mine. I'm a true Red. All I want to do is win the bloody European Cup again (6th one), so I can parade the trophy around Intalex's and Goldie's field of creams.
I like the usual going out, restaurants and drinking beer with mates, and getting asked to leave venues because Nucleus is too drunk... um... normal stuff, I guess. Oh, the missus is also a full time job, I might add.
DOA: When do you think you'll stop making music?
Paradox: Never, or possibly when the Akai samplers finally become extinct. Maybe this will be the final curtain.
DOA: Do you have any final thoughts or shout outs before we get into this exclusive podcast?
Paradox: Respects to all the drum programmers still carving out their art. Big ups to Seba, Nucleus, Kiyomi, Kirsty Hawkshaw & Robert Manos, Aerosoul Ltd, all Outsiders and DOA soldiers.
We thank Paradox for taking the time out to bring us some exclusive news; we now switch on to the exclusive, two hour podcast that Paradox has whipped up for us!
Tracklist:
01. Nucleus & Paradox "Esoterica" (Esoteric Dub)
02. Alaska & Paradox "Zion" (Isolationist LP)
03. Alaska & Paradox "Jerico" (Isolationist LP)
04. Nucleus & Paradox "LSD Jazz" (Esoteric 11)
05. Alaska & Paradox "Vigilante" (Isolationist LP)
06. Alaska & Nucleus "Ataciara" (Arctic Dub)
07. Seba & Kirsty Hawkshaw "Devotion" (Seba Dub)
08. Nebula "Ice Sculptures" (Age Of Outsiders Vol. 2)
09. DJ Trax "Pandora's Box" (Audio Buffet)
10. Insight "Final Version" (Age Of Outsiders Vol. 2)
11. Solar "Exploration" (Age Of Outsiders Vol. 2)
12. Gremlinz & Rumble "Jaro 88" (Outsider Dub)
13. Infest "A Day In Pictures" (Age Of Outsiders Vol. 2)
14. DJ Emery "Breathe Out" (Age Of Outsiders Vol. 2)
15. Nucleus & Paradox "Rocksteady" (Esoteric 11)
16. Alaska & Paradox "Abysm" (Isolationist LP)
>>> GRAB THE PODCAST <<<
*GRAB PARADOX RELEASES FROM THE DOA STORE
*GRAB PARADOX TRACKS FROM DOA DOWNLOADS
Words: khal |
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Dogs On Acid > Comments > DOA PODCAST: PARADOX
02-01-2009 07:11 PM
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