Browse by Artist: FREEFORM

Artist:	FREEFORM
Title:	Condensed
Label:	NONPLACE (GERMANY)
Format:	CD
Price:	$15.50
Catalog #:	NON 012CD

"With this compelling mix of Freeform highlights from the past 7 years Nonplace provides a introduction to Simon Pyke's finest grooves. All the titles -- although derived from the original releases were radically edited 'condensed' for predominantly entertaining purposes and remastered to guarantee 100% aural excitement. Similar to the Replicant Rumba Rockers release a year ago, Bernd Friedmann has again compiled favourites, 'picked the nuts' in a typical soundclash-DJ manner. Supposed to make sense as a continuous mix it starts with one of Freeform 's earlier tracks that may give you a clue about the significant leap that Simon's music has taken since he appeared 1995 in what has become the IDM scene. Back then his electronically generated music has also been described has hardly distinguishable in the sea of sound that was gushing forth in the wake of Warp's Artificial Intelligence series and other seminal IDM landmarks. Nevertheless, Pike's releases, flirting in turn with Ambient, Electronica, Techno, Dub and Industrial have proven to be enduring records. But now, attempts to describe Condensed in more detail are quite futile as there are no real points of reference to compare it to. It's providing an impressive array of junkyard astro-phunk designs. Naturally experimental, his adventurous approach to computer based composition is tempered by a healthy sense of fun. Rhythms and soundscapes that are ethnically tinged without being New Age. In fact, this alien world is closer to the space cadet excursions of Herbie Hancock or the intricacy of David Toop than it is to any of dance cultures peripheries. Most of his music has never been put on vinyl, so the music on Condensed is a vinyl debut release. Condensed wants to keep memories fresh. Out of several albums on several labels Burnt Friedman chose the most brilliant tracks by one of the most brilliant contemporary producers."

Artist:	FREEFORM
Title:	Audio Tourism Vietnam / China
Label:	QUATERMASS (BELGIUM)
Format:	CD
Price:	$13.00
Catalog #:	QS 107CD

"Freeform released so far on labels like: Warp, Skam, Worm Interface and Law & Auder. Audio-Tourism (Vietnam/China) is the follow-up to Freeform's acclaimed album Green Park. Going further into the crossover in between organic/harmonic acoustic sounds and the machines & additional unique recordings made during a 3 months journey in China, Vietnam and Hong Kong. But the best thing is to let Simon Pyke talk about it: 'As 'Tourists' the idea was to source snapshots of life. sounds of the lashing monsoon, the serenity of Lugu Lake, the intense song of cicadas and the chatter of Saigon. Armed with a minidisk, pair of 'in ear' microphones, radio, portable sampler and camera every experience, however small and quiet, was recorded. Collecting sounds and instruments unique to the environment was the chrysalis for a spontaneous musical dialogue. A conversation between Western and newly acquired Asian influence. This album is the result of two months exploring the backstreets of Vietnam and the Yunnan province, China as Audio Tourists'."

Artist:	FREEFORM
Title:	Audio-Tourism Remixes
Label:	QUATERMASS (BELGIUM)
Format:	2CD
Price:	$14.00
Catalog #:	QS 117CD

"The album Audio Tourism Vietnam / China released in October 2001by Freeform aka Simon Pyke is a unique musical vision, his personal account of a journey he made in Vietnam and China with a tourists eye and ear. During this period he collected sounds on a purely aesthetic level, rather than trying to document their cultural context. This is a successful attempt to broaden his style by actively going out and seeking new influences and sound sources. All tracks were composed with the sources gathered during this trip, sampled and reshaped through machines. Whilst recording the album real instruments, collected during the trip, were used with a kind of playful ignorance. Modified Zither, human beat box through Tibetan horn, electronically processed traditional folk songs and the Vietnamese monochord as the ultimate sub bass machine. Following the album Audio-Tourism Vietnam/ China, this 'remix' album is based on works inspired and derived from the original one. A two-part project, the first CD is the original Music/Sources. The second part is a double CD with re-interpretations by artists including Bill Laswell, Autechre, Atom TM, Colongib, Jan Jelinek, Shudo, Mash'ta, Tal. All the remixers selected received different sources: the original sounds gathered in Asia, some 'work in progress' etc. With these elements new compositions were made. Better than doing simple remixes, the musicians took the option to work in their own style, as if the material provided was their own. The result is a thrilling extension to 'A/T' completed with a CD including some of the original source and a CD-Rom interactive part."

Artist:	FREEFORM
Title:	A.T. Home EP
Label:	QUATERMASS (BELGIUM)
Format:	12"
Price:	$7.50
Catalog #:	QS 12102EP

"Freeform invites you to share his slide collection. Some traces gathered during an 'audio-tourism' travel in China and Vietnam. Fragments of emotions, furtive images, moments of jet-lag distorted perceptions and an abundance of memories subjectively 'stolen' from the daily Asian life. A new 3 tracks 12" that proudly announces the imminent release of a new full length album filled with furious breakbeats built around electronic devices and field recordings. Gamelan fighting with beatboxes, flutes and cymbals defying basslines and sampler. This is a step into a new form of intelligent 'techno' and cutting-edge 'dance' music. Enjoy an original trippy trance effect with this blasting encounter of traditional Zen spirit and kicking beats, with Freeform as the master of ceremony. These tracks will surely be a welcome addition to your record collection, to be filed somewhere in-between soundtracks, traditional music and the electronic evolutionism sections."

Artist:	FREEFORM
Title:	Wildcat
Label:	SKAM (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$7.00
Catalog #:	SKA 024CD

"To record Wildcat Simon Pyke moved his studio 'The Freefarm' to a new venue on the south coast of England. Detached from the civilization of London and positioned 15 bracing steps from the sea it was the perfect place to rediscover the joys of vocal gymnastics and beach-comb beats. Freeform strives for the perfect balance between hands on improvisation and good old traditional song melting. It's amazing what a lung full of fresh air and eye full of sunshine can do for the imagination. Get prepared for another excursion into junk funk utopia."

Artist:	FREEFORM
Title:	Outside In
Label:	SKAM (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$14.50
Catalog #:	SKALD 014CD

Skam's longest-serving artist returns with his second full length release for the Skam label. Prolific London-based musician Simon Pykes has been sampled by the likes of Howie B. and has appeared everywhere: Skam, Warp, Worm Interface, Language (on Electric Kingdom as Nudge), Law and Auder, Nonplace, Quatermass, Sub Rosa, etc. Freeform is a "non-linear" electronician, experimenting with and investigating every aspect of what electronic music is and should be. Pykes' releases flirt with ambient, electronica, techno, dub and industrial and have proven to be enduring records that helped to usher along the inception of IDM. This new album is a unique cocktail that sees Pykes more junk-funk infused and folky, developing the styles displayed on last years' summer-themed Wildcat EP.

Artist:	FREEFORM
Title:	Me Shape
Label:	SPRAWL (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$18.00
Catalog #:	SP 029

"Fourth album-length selection from Simon Pyke (subtitled 'Created for livesets, between livesets, and after livesets. Recorded between December 1995 & November 1997') after a (holy) triumvirate of such for the Worm Interface and Headphone labels, in addition to 12" singles & comp tracks for Skam, MAS, Warp, Sprawl, MASK, V/VM, Law & Auder, and WI (effectively earning him 'poster boy' status for the IDM underprivileged). I've been raving about this fucking guy for years now, and other than 'Oh yeah, I saw his Skam EP for sale last month for like forty dollars! I almost bought it...', few seem yet smitten. Listen: no one merges the 'serious/academic' electronic circuit with ass-friendly rhythmic/bass grit like this guy, not even Autechre, and although this may not be the CD to fully convert you, you owe it to your soul to at least investigate WHY this is an important cultural breach. Seminal." -- Hrvatski.

Artist:	FREEFORM
Title:	Green Park
Label:	SUB ROSA (BELGIUM)
Format:	LP
Price:	$12.00
Catalog #:	SR 149LP

LP version. "Freeform is the extremely free and open minded doppelganger from Simon Pyke, the prolific English musician sampled by Howie B. and getting credits for it. Appearing everywhere action is: Skam, Warp, Worm Interface, Language (on Electric Kingdom as Nudge), Law and Auder, Chocolate Industries. Freeform is a 'non-linear' electronician, experimentaing and investigating every aspect of what electronic music is and should be. For his new album under the Sub Rosa banner, Freeform is playing with the world of acoustic sources: creating a toy box ready to be opened for fun and pleasure, and forget all about Pandora. You get: action, exoticism, and weird things from outer space. Freeform is guiding whoever listens to this strange and amazingly beautiful album to unknown countries. Green Park is filled with the sound of a gamelan ensemble facing the gateway to King Kong's lair, with the astonishing sound from futuristic samba anthems, and sometimes with childlike neo-expressionist lullabies close to The Residents. An incredible soundtrack for a movie to create while listening -- eyes shut -- to this album, the source of inspiration for Roger Corman's James Bond feature, including exotic dancers abducted by pink and purple aliens while the hero has psychedelic dreams under a snowstorm in Bali. This time there will be a rumble in the quiet electronic village, and nobody to save This Island Earth, at last. Looking back to Freeform's already thick catalog, one might say that Green Park is once again a musical neologism, a habit that Simon Pike will surely not abandon too soon. If you thought you knew Freeform, have a walk in this Green Park and you can be sure things will change a little bit."

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