Basic Channel

Moritz von Oswald ( b. 1962 ) and Mark Ernestus (* 1963 ), also known under the pseudonym of Basic Channel, two Berlin-based label owners and music producers, who since the early 1990s produced minimalistic techno and dub music.

Biography

Born in 1962, Moritz von Oswald is a great-grandson of Otto von Bismarck. Musically, he first appeared in 1983 as the drummer for the NDW lineup Palais Schaumburg in appearance. After the dissolution of the band, he worked on various projects until he published from 1992 dubby under the pseudonym Maurizio Techno productions. Already the first publications Lyot EP, Ploy EP and especially the Domina EP were recorded internationally thrilled and are now considered classics of the genre. Under the name 3MB produced by Oswald then with Thomas Fehlmann for the famous Berlin Tresor Records label.

At this time the close collaboration with Mark Ernestus started. A wider public were known founded by Ernestus and von Oswald techno label Basic Channel and Chain Reaction. Above all Basic Channel is one of the most important German techno label of the 90s. The publications of the labels have sämtlichst achieved cult status and are considered particularly in North America as rarities. The pieces were mostly influenced by the targeted use of reverb and noise effects. Specifically, the noise is regarded as characteristic style element of their productions, with an unusually high for the genre recognition.

With each new period of creativity founded by Oswald and Ernestus another label, such as Main Street for Vocal House. The publications of this label surprised critics and fans. Instead of the minimalist techno sounds was the first release I'm your brother a classic house song with vocals by British Andy Caine and decreed by the catchy chorus over a certain pop appeal.

In the course attended by Oswald and Ernestus amplified with respect to the dub music, and produced more pieces on Main Street in cooperation with the Dominicans Paul St. Hilaire ( Tikiman ). They continued this development since then consistently continuing and founded the label Burial Mix and Rhythm & Sound. Especially the publications as Rhythm & Sound show a clear influence of reggae production. Thus, the production duo since 1998, working on each plate with various Jamaican singers. The highlight of this collaboration extends the 2005 published One riddim album See Mi Yah, on which a single minimalist riddim, which consists only of two repetitive cycles, in essence, of the individual vocalists such as Willi Williams, Sugar Minott, Ras Donovan or Paul St. Hilaire is interpreted differently.

With the founding of the label Imbalance (1993) and Chain Reaction (1995 ) both offered to other artists such as the Finns Vladislav Delay a platform for publication of experimental techno pieces. Mark Ernestus founded and still runs the influential Berlin techno record store Hard Wax.

Their names are also within the techno scene often known only to the initiated, as consistently protect Oswald and Ernestus their privacy. So they rarely give interviews, give no biographical information is known, and their names can be found on any of their records. The few photos that exist of two producers, may usually only be distorted or completely unrecognizable printed - true to the attitude of the early techno scene, which rejected the cult of celebrity in the music industry, and sought to abolish the concept of musician subject. After their first publications held due to this low-key information policy of the two musicians some time persistent rumor, the producers of the Basic Channel disks were from Detroit, the " birthplace " of techno.

Published in 2008 by Oswald in collaboration with Carl Craig on the traditional label German Grammophon the third part of the series recomposed, re-interpret works of classical music in the contemporary artist. From Oswald and Craig chose for her album Maurice Ravel's orchestral piece Bolero and Modest Mussorgsky's piano cycle Pictures at an Exhibition.

Importance

With Basic Channel and Chain Reaction founded by Oswald and Ernestus two of the most influential German techno labels in the 90s. Also, the publications of their project Rhythm & Sound were in the majority good to very good reviews. So the albums including in the critic - Jahresbestlisten Spex well as in their " best singles of the 20th century," the Rolling Stone and the reader - year leaderboards were the de: bug listed.

The authors of the journal started in issue # 91 of the music magazine Groove with the help of many DJs a list of the top 100 tracks of the last 15 years. Moritz von Oswald and Mark Ernestus were represented as the only producer three times:

  • 37 - Maurizio - Domina ( Maurizio )
  • 54 - Phylyps - Trak II ( Basic Channel )
  • 55 - Round Two - New Day (Main Street)

Many critics are of Oswald and Ernestus as visionary producers who have taken a significant influence on the development of electronic music.

Discography (selection)

  • As Moritz von Oswald Recomposed (2008) with Carl Craig
  • Borderland (2013 ) by Juan Atkins
  • 1/1 ( 2013) with Nils Petter Molvaer CD and vinyl version
  • As Maurizio Ploy EP ( 1992)
  • Lyot EP ( 1992)
  • Domination EP ( 1993)
  • M4 (1995)
  • M4.5 (1995 )
  • M5 (1995 )
  • M6 (1996)
  • M7 (1997)
  • M CD ( Metal Box ) (1997 ) Compilation of publications as Maurizio
  • As Quadrant Q 1.1 ( 1993)
  • Quadrant EP ( 1993)
  • Infinition / Hyperprism (2004)
  • As Phylyps Trak (1993 )
  • Trak II ( 1994)
  • As Round One - Round Five Round One - I'm Your Brother ( 1995) ( Vocals by Andy Caine )
  • Round Two - New day ( 1995) ( Vocals by Andy Caine )
  • Round Three - Acting Crazy ( 1995) ( Vocals by Tikiman )
  • Round Four - Find a Way ( 1998) ( Vocals by Tikiman )
  • Round Five - Na fe rule ( 1999) ( Vocals by Tikiman )
  • 1993 - 1999 Main Street Record ( 1999) Compilation of publications as Round One - Round Five
  • As Rhythm & Sound Showcase ( w / Tikiman ) ( 1998) ( Vocals by Tikiman )
  • Rhythm & Sound ( 2003)
  • W / the Artists ( 2003) Compilation of publications as Rhythm & Sound
  • The version (2003) Compilation of the corresponding instrumental versions
  • See Mi Yah (2005)
  • See Mi Yah Remixes (2006)
Montreal Minimal Techno Dub (music) Cult (religious practice) Deutsche Grammophon Spex (magazine) Discogs
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