We’re barely into the new year, but already, we’ve got two untimely passings that leave significant holes in the world of electronic music: Dax Pierson and Árni Grétar Jóhannesson.
Ed.: Thanks to David for contributing this obituary; I was always moved by their music and it’s chilling to get this news. David notes that his connection was only through the music, and “from what I’ve heard from mutual friends, both were very warm and vital people, whose presence will be deeply missed.” From both of us, deep condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew them. -PK
Dax Pierson
Dax Pierson live as Macrobid at the SF Eagle, May 20, 2014
An integral part of the fertile early-00s hip-hop scene around the Anticon label in Oakland, California, Dax Pierson first made his name as a member of Subtle (alongside Doseone, Jel, Jordan Dalyrmple, Marton Dowers, and Alexander Kort) and 13 & God (a supergroup of sorts teaming German indie electronic group The Notwist with a number of Anticon stalwarts, namely the Doseone/Jel duo, “Themselves.”
A 2005 tour van crash with Subtle left Pierson paralyzed from the chest down, a condition with which he lived and re-learned how to continue making music. Most recently, his last full-length album was 2021’s excellent Nerve Bumps (A Queer Divine Dissatisfaction) (Ratskin) which drew on Pierson’s unique experience as a Black, queer, disabled musician, culminating in the epic “NTHNG FKS U HRDR THN TM”
Pierson’s musical legacy spans noise, industrial, hip-hop, and much more, a reminder of the rewards of keeping an open ear in composition. A 2005 benefit compilation for Pierson, Irreplaceable Hand, illustrated the wide creative net he cast with contributions from Odd Nosdam, Matmos, Nurse With Wound, and many others.
Dax Pierson – “For The Angels”, dir. by Malocculsion
Árni Grétar Jóhannesson aka Futuregrapher
In both his personal releases and as a label runner, Árni Grétar Jóhannesson was extremely prolific, with a wicked sense of humor. Whether releasing under his own name, his most common artist moniker Futuregrapher, or something more pranksterish like Karl Marx, Jóhannesson’s wit and love of electro and acid came through clearly. One fun example of the wit: much of the cover art for releases on Jóhannesson’s labels were credited to “Mason Verger”, the villain from Hannibal whose lisped pronunciation of the word “super” was also a running gag.
Futuregrapher live on Icelandic TV program Stúdió A, 2014
As a label head, Jóhanneson was a consistent support for a diverse community of artists, with a wealth of riches released on his labels Móatún 7 and Intellitronic Bubble, the latter co-founded with friend and collaborator Metamatics (Lee Norris). Most recently, Intellitronic Bubble provided an unbelievable deal during December’s Bandcamp Friday, offering the entire digital catalog of >130 releases for seven Euros – which has given me ample opportunity to dig into some favorites, heavily recommended below:
cable.percussion – XYZ –
Deep acid electro, essential for fans of Drexciya, Aphex Twin, Cylob
Metamatics & Futuregrapher – Sosa Telephone Laugh
The two co-founders explore drum and bass with an IDM bent, themed around samples from the titular character from Scarface laughing on the phone.
Futuregrapher – Brim
Jóhannesson in a more eerie/downtempo mode, and one of many releases available free/name your price.
G-Prod – Cosmic Scan
Sublime ambient electro from French brothers David and Nicolas Gaugain (no relation to Paul, as far as I know).
Metamatics – Heddon Zara Spook
A look back at some early Metamatics’ releases from 2000, that playful era where “IDM” wasn’t quite out-then-in-then-out-then-in again as a term.
Árni Grétar – ReBirth RB-338
I’ll end this section calling out to something very CDM-appropriate: a retrospective release from Jóhanneson collecting tracks from his teenage years composed in Propellerheads’ pioneering computer acid station, ReBirth RB-338.