Flanger (music)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Flanger


Img_capt = Flanger promo picture.
Background = group_or_band
Years_active = 1997–present
Origin = Germany
Genre = Nu Jazz Electronic
Label = Ntone Ninja Tune Nonplace
Current_members = Uwe Schmidt Burnt FriedmanThe Flanger project was founded in 1997 by Uwe Schmidt (aka Atom Heart) and Bernd Friedmann (aka Burnt Friedman), who have both been active in the music business since the early 1990s. The two musicians met up to program their first album "Templates" at "Mira Musica", Santiago de Chile in 1997. [ [http://music.hyperreal.org/artists/atom_heart/releases/Template.html# Atom Heart Discography] ] Their musical goal was to generate their own vision of non-repetitive, organic and extremely complex music that is far removed from the well-trodden paths of techno and other established styles of so-called contemporary music. [http://www.ninjatune.net/ninja/artist.php?id=48 Ninja Tune website] ]

"Templates" was released the following year on Ntone, together with separate 12-inch pressings of several tracks. Clearly electronic, it moved beyond dance or electronic formulas, tapping into the spirit of exploration that characterised jazz during the ’60s. [http://www.cyclicdefrost.com/blog/?p=1814 Burnt Friedman interview by Bob Baker Fish] ]

The success of this debut album convinced Flanger to do a second LP, which was recorded in Santiago de Chile, in March 1999. Entitled "Midnight Sound", this was released on Ntone November 2000. Also referred to as "Midnight Sounds". "Midnight Sounds" was the original title (and project name) for this album, but its originally intended label, KIFF SM, shut down before it could be released. [ [http://music.hyperreal.org/artists/atom_heart/releases/Midnight.html Atom Heart Reviews] ] The release of "Midnight Sound" prompted Uwe Schmidt and Bernd Friedmann, who are renowned for their very special shows, to consider the idea of live Flanger presentations.Although their Fall 2001 Tour was recently postponed, they are still planning a series of live appearances around the world. [http://www.ninjatune.net/ninja/artist.php?id=48 Ninja Tune website] ]

Since then, they have released four albums, the first two created side by side in Chile, though for "Inner/Outer Space" the guide tracks were outlined separately yet finalised together and for 2005’s "Spirituals", the biggest change of pace thus far, they did the opposite outlining the tunes together and producing them separately. [http://www.cyclicdefrost.com/blog/?p=1814 Burnt Friedman interview by Bob Baker Fish] ] On "Spirituals", their fourth full length album, they have collaborated with Sydney born Richard Pike aka Riff Jackson III of Pivot fame (and standin for Ewan McGregor in Star Wars) and his brother, drummer extraordinaire Laurence Pike aka MF Shakespeare of Triosk.

In 2007, the Nonplace label release "two in one" reissue of Flanger's first two albums together, called "Nuclear Jazz". The first and only Flanger remix to date - produced in 1999 for the Italian artist Gak Sato - completes this "blistering set of instrumentals that snare both, the intellect and the hips". [ [http://www.timec.net/ninjatune/index.php/flanger-nuclear-jazz-templates-midnight-sound Review at Timec.net] ]

Discography

* "Flanger EP" (February 1999, Ntone, Cat. no: NTONE32, 12")
* "Flanger EP2" (August 1999, Ntone, Cat. no: NTONE33, 12")
* "Templates" (15 June 1999, Ntone, Cat. no: NTONECD33, CD)
* "Midnight Sound" (2000, Ntone, Cat. no: NTONECD40, CD)
* "Inner Spacesuit" (8 October 2001, Ninja Tune, Cat. no: ZEN12105, 12")
* "Outer Space / Inner Space" (2001, Ninja Tune, Cat. no: ZEN61/ZENCD61, 2xLP/CD)
* "Spirituals" (2005, Nonplace, Cat. no: NON18, CD)
* "Nuclear Jazz" (Templates/Midnight Sound) (2007, Nonplace, Cat. no: NON21, CD)

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.ninjatune.net/ninja/artist.php?id=48 Flanger at Ninja Tune website]
* [http://www.timec.net/ninjatune/index.php/Flanger Flanger at Ninja Obsession]
*
*