Release Date:
03rd November 2017 (vinyl)
01st December 2017 (digital)
Format:
vinyl, download & streaming
Tracklist: 01) Dance Of The Comets
02) Orion
03) The Silence
Press Info:
After the re-launch of seminal imprint NovaMute with an EP from Nicolas Bougaïeff, Terence Fixmer takes over the reins.
Terence Fixmer’s career has spanned two decades with releases on many acclaimed labels. He has been accredited with pushing the boundaries of techno EBM and for the last few years has found a home at OstgutTon.
Having remixed VCMG on Mute in 2015 and Depeche Mode in 2017 Fixmer’s contribution to the NovaMute catalogue is a natural fit.
‘Dance Of The Comets’ is a three track EP exploring the fringes of techno and hypnotic dance music. The title track is the most dance-floor ready cut with a thumping bass drum and kick.
Orion’s sci-fi sequence uses mesmerising drones, whilst ‘The Silence’ is an eery exercise in which otherwordly whispers are centred by a compelling bass motif.
After a ten year hiatus NovaMute, the subsidiary of Mute (Depeche Mode, Goldfrapp, New Order, Liars, Moby) is back. Beginning in 1992 NovaMute released records from acclaimed electronic and techno artists such as Plastikman, Speedy J, Juan Atkins and many more.
Dance Of The Comets by Terence Fixmer (NOMU180) is released on 12” on November 3rd 2017.
Press Info (English):
Having remixed Depeche Mode and DJ Hell as well as releasing a new Fixmer/McCarthy single with Douglas McCarthy (of Nitzer Ebb), 2017 has already proven to be a productive year for Terence Fixmer. With the new Force EP, the Berghain resident follows up on 2016’s Beneath The Skin EP (O-TON 97), offering four stylistically different but congenial Techno scenarios for club use.
The record’s eponymous track on A1 doesn’t think twice: the initial signal horn starts as sudden as the staggered kick drum rhythm, reoccurring throughout the cut’s 6-minute playtime while sustained and oppressive screams from a synth, extra multifaceted EBM percussion and synth drones add to the overall sombre atmosphere of “Force”. The musical vibe distinctly changes with “Sidewalk” which puts more focus on synth melodies – like its predecessor a Techno cut per se, but with a stronger accent on hypnotic motifs.
On B1 “Melting Planets” emphasises the kick: clocking in slightly slower than the other three tracks – at 122 bpm – the bass drum here sounds extra vivid, ever-present and spot-on, just as if Terence was playing the drum kit sitting right next to you. With additional percussion and swirling melodies “Melting Planets” is a lulling, mesmerizing meditation in Dub Techno. “Striking Patterns” on B2 links to the best moments of Force EP’s A-side, combining bone-dry bass drum hits and distinctive brazen, banging noises, pulsing synths pads and sizzling surface sounds.
Press Info (German):
Nach Remixes für Depeche Mode und DJ Hell sowie einer neuen Fixmer/McCarthy-Single mit Douglas McCarthy (von Nitzer Ebb) hat sich 2017 bereits als produktives Jahr für Terence Fixmer erwiesen. Mit der neuen Force EP folgt der Berghain-Resident seiner 2016er Beneath The Skin EP (O-TON 97) und offeriert vier stilistisch verschiedene doch stimmige Techno-Szenarios zum Clubgebrauch.
Das titelgebende Stück dieser Platte auf A1 fackelt nicht lange: das initiale Alarmsignal beginnt so unvermittelt wie der die gesamte 6-minütige Playtime des Stücks prägende, versetzt angeordnete Kick-Drum-Rhythmus. Langgezogene, beklemmende Schreie eines Synths, facettenreiche EBM-Perkussion und Synth-Drones tragen zur insgesamt düsteren Stimmung von „Force“ bei. Der musikalische Vibe ändert sich deutlich mit „Sidewalk“, das stärkeren Fokus auf Synth-Melodien legt – wie „Force“ ein Techno-Stück per se, aber mit deutlich hypnotischeren Motiven.
Auf B1 betont „Melting Planets“ die Kick: langsamer als die drei anderen Stücke – um die 122 BpM – klingt die Bassdrum hier besonders satt, stets präsent und auf den Punkt, als ob Terence das Drumkit direkt neben einem sitzend spielt. Mit weiterer Perkussion und wirbelnden Melodien ist „Melting Planets“ eine lullende, faszinierende Dub Techno- Meditation. „Striking Patterns“ auf B2 knüpft an die besten Momente der Force EP-A-Seite an, knochentrockene Bassdrum-Schläge und markant-metallische, hämmernde Klänge, pulsierende Synthflächen und brutzelnde Oberflächeneffekte kombinierend.
Press Info:
Sonic Groove Records further ignites 2017 with the label’s second release of the year by FIXMER/MCCARTHY titled ” Chemicals.” The legendary Douglas J. McCarthy, founder and frontman of the seminal and pioneering EBM project Nitzer Ebb, continues his alliance with Contemporary Techno producer Terence Fixmer together lending to the electronic music landscape with their combined artistic initiative.
The A side of this 3 track e.p. presents the title track ” Chemicals ” in two forms; the original version and an instrumental version. The evolution of the sound that first surfaced in 2003 on Terence Fixmer’s own, Lille, France based imprint Planet Rouge is apparent on this new installment in the FIXMER/MCCARTHY discography. ” Chemicals ” original version is a triumphant echo of EBM/Techno fusion constructed with current innovative electronic music production that retains the aesthetic of the original sound of EBM combined with the power of Douglas J. McCarthy’s defining vocal style. The fine auditory balance is all the neural support needed to effectively compliment McCarthy’s deep and thunderous vocals. This track is reminiscent of the classics ” Murderous ” and “Join In The Chant ” by Nitzer Ebb but clearly light years beyond. The lyrical content references topics relevant to the forward thinking sect of the electronic underground, appropriately titled and are delivered with the magnified intensity McCarthy has draped the planet with for well over 30 years and for what he has become very well known for. The Instrumental version stands extremely strong on it’s own and is, for all intents and purposes, a defining example of EBM proto Techno of the futuristic kind.The inclusion of this version expands the releases appeal and will serve the desires of any twilight excursion through dark sonic techno domains.
Side B continues this transmission with another gem titled ” Wrong Planet ” that has been polished to near perfection in every way imaginable. This is a new development in sound that expands the horizon for this specific genre exponentially. Everything else happens from here on out specifically because this magnitude of output is truly unprecedented and expands beyond crossover range. Fixmer completely demonstrates his expertise while McCarthy’s inspired voice of fueled and cryptic conviction carries forth, a combination of perfect elements that give birth to an anthem for the rooms that deserve and can appreciate this. For DJ’s of this legion, it’s the perfect tool for peak time injection of auditory dissonance and streamlined cadence. For producers, has subtleties, production technique and sophistication that will have one back in the studio with their inspired hands challenged.
This is a unique and advanced release for Sonic Groove and in current dystopian and bleak times it is comforting to know that there are still possibilities such as this to deliver us from it all.
* Editors note: The releases artwork was designed by Douglas J. McCarthy inspired by a logo used for Industrial/EBM events throughout Spain during the early part of the 80’s.
Press Info (English):
Terence Fixmer goes Beneath The Skin on his first solo release on Ostgut Ton.
There’s few names that have left their mark on electronic music throughout time like Terence Fixmer did. The French producer has been releasing music since 1993 most notably under his own name, but also with his music wise wide-ranging alter egos Eisbär, Cyborg, Gemini 9, Scanner and – together with Nitzer Ebb’s Douglas McCarthy – as Fixmer / McCarthy. It’s thanks to people like him that Electronic Body Music eventually traversed towards contemporary club contexts and now remains being a defining part of dancefloors in general, or a Klubnacht in particular. By combining the aesthetics of EBM, Electro and Industrial music with the rhythmics of Techno, Fixmer coined and occupied his very own musical niche as a producer and live act.
At Ostgut Ton we’ve always been intrigued by Terence’s production style, his use of hard synth lines, guttural vocal samples, sharp-edged hi-hats, or to cut the matter short: his deep, glowering approach to sequencer Techno with EBM jabs. Therefore it’s great seeing him continue this path with four new tracks on the Beneath The Skin EP, following up on 2015’s Aktion Mekanik Theme Versions that featured remixes of the Music Man Records classic “Aktion Mekanik Theme” by Ostgut Ton’s Kobosil, Marcel Dettmann and Norman Nodge.
As aforementioned Beneath The Skin comprises the various musical facets of a Klubnacht: dark, pounding slaps and discomforting yet soaring synths (“Beneath The Skin”), Acid Techno modulations and lone voices in the dark (“Trace To Nowhere”), hypnotic synth progressions and ambient textures (“Devil May Care”) and finally some rest and soothing (“Immersion”).
Press Info (German):
Terence Fixmer debütiert mit der Beneath The Skin EP auf Ostgut Ton.
Es gibt wenige Namen, die elektronische Musik im Laufe der Zeit derart geprägt haben, wie Terence Fixmer. Der französische Produzent veröffentlicht seit 1993 Musik unter seinem bürgerlichen Namen, aber auch unter seinen musikalisch weitgefächerten Alter Egos Eisbär, Cyborg, Gemini 9, Scanner und – zusammen mit Nitzer Ebbs Douglas McCarthy – als Fixmer / McCarthy. Es ist Leuten wie ihm zu verdanken, dass Electronic Body Music in zeitgenössische Clubkontexte einzog und heute definierender Teil von Dancefloors im Allgemeinen und einer Klubnacht im Besonderen ist. Durch die Kombination von Ästhetiken aus EBM, Electro und Industrial-Musik mit der Rhythmik von Techno hat Fixmer als Produzent und Live-Act seine eigene Nische geprägt und besetzt.
Wir von Ostgut Ton waren stets fasziniert von Fixmers Produktionsstil, seinem Einsatz harter Synthlines, gutturaler Stimmsamples, scharfkantiger Hi-Hats, oder um es abzukürzen: seinem deepen, grollenden Sequencer-Techno-Ansatz mit EBM-Stichen. Deshalb sind wir hocherfreut, dass er diesen Weg mit vier neuen Stücken auf der Beneath The Skin EP geht und damit auf die Single Aktion Mekanik Theme Versions (Ostgut Ton, 2015) anknüpft – auf der man Remixes seitens der Ostgut Ton-Künstler Kobosil, Marcel Dettmann und Norman Nodge von Fixmers Music Man Records- Klassiker „Aktion Mekanik Theme“ hörte.
Wie gesagt vereint Beneath The Skin die unterschiedlichen musikalischen Facetten einer Klubnacht: Düstere, hämmernde Schläge und unbehagliche aber erhebende Synths („Beneath The Skin“), Acid Techno-Modulationen und verlorene Stimmen im Dunkel des Raums („Trace To Nowhere“), hypnotische Synth-Progressionen und Ambientflächen („Devil May Care“) und schließlich: Ruhe und Linderung („Immersion“).
