If there’s one thing that can bring more feeling and humanity to club music, it’s improvisation. That’s why it’s such a pleasure to meet people like TM404, aka Andreas Tilliander of Sweden.
Andreas’ latest antics included opening up for Richie Hawtin at Loveland at this week’s Amsterdam Dance Event. That’s a regular gig for TM404, playing alongside Rich – and a reminder that you need not underestimate mainstream club audiences. They can enjoy a diet of adventurous dance music, too.
And what you get is a thoroughly enjoyable two hours, one that starts easy and hypnotic and dials up to some energetic disco exercise in no time at all – all thickly acid coated. It manages to stay spacey and dreamy but it’s never without groove, never sleepy. Listen:
As for the gear used:
If you are playing a bill alongside Richie Hawtin, of course you want the PLAYdifferently Model1 mixer to mess about with, too.
Beyond that, this is of course acid-centric fare. Masking tape-marked 303s are front and center. There are also starring roles for the Elektron Analog Rytm and Octatrack. In effects, you get the KORG KAOSS Pad Quad, plus the usual Eventide goodness.
Here’s a nice view of the gear lineup from sound check:
Maybe the most unique gear is the Pearl Syncussion SY-1, a vintage percussion synthesizer, which Andreas uses for improvised melodies. Here’s a closer look at that original gear from a YouTube tryout (not Andreas’):
Here, Andreas is using the DIY recreation of the Syncussion – a new project from this summer:
Full gear list, roll call:
Instrumentation:
Elektron Octatrack
Elektron Analog Rytm
Roland TB-303 (two)
Roland TR-606
DIY Syncussion
Teenage Engineering OP-1
Eventide H9
Digitech Polara
Korg KP Quad
Boss BX-4
Everything went thru the PLAYdifferently Model1
Thanks, Andreas, for this one.