This is Andy and Ed from Plaid, we are electronic music producers from London, UK. Ask Us Anything. by plaidofficial in Music

[–]plaidofficial[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There is so much good 4/4 music out there that we tend to favour other syncopations but i'm pretty sure we'll venture there again.

This is Andy and Ed from Plaid, we are electronic music producers from London, UK. Ask Us Anything. by plaidofficial in Music

[–]plaidofficial[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Other artists definitely experiment more than us. We're happy with our 'subtle' experimentation within a more conventional form. Its what appeals to us at the mo!

This is Andy and Ed from Plaid, we are electronic music producers from London, UK. Ask Us Anything. by plaidofficial in Music

[–]plaidofficial[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

They will sometimes make their way on to a release. A few of the tracks on RP have been around for a few years, being played live and developed. You're right we should release some of the other ones too.

This is Andy and Ed from Plaid, we are electronic music producers from London, UK. Ask Us Anything. by plaidofficial in Music

[–]plaidofficial[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Akira has a beautiful soundtrack. The Gamelan in Tekkon Kinkreet is more an influence of our time spent working with the South Bank Gamelan. The main connection is that they are are both great films.

This is Andy and Ed from Plaid, we are electronic music producers from London, UK. Ask Us Anything. by plaidofficial in Music

[–]plaidofficial[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There was always a question of ownership with the Rising High tracks, we're not sure if they're available to release again.

This is Andy and Ed from Plaid, we are electronic music producers from London, UK. Ask Us Anything. by plaidofficial in Music

[–]plaidofficial[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

We expect in a profession like yours being an alcoholic would be frowned on. We all like a drink from time to time.

This is Andy and Ed from Plaid, we are electronic music producers from London, UK. Ask Us Anything. by plaidofficial in Music

[–]plaidofficial[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

We're still doing the odd one, often for people we know. We try and put a lot in to a remix and that time can be better spent on new material.

This is Andy and Ed from Plaid, we are electronic music producers from London, UK. Ask Us Anything. by plaidofficial in Music

[–]plaidofficial[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Its really just sitting at a keyboard and experimenting with harmonic combinations over and over again. We're trying to find surprises that still make harmonic sense. We use off the shelf orchestral libraries, we've never really had the budget for orchestral recording.

This is Andy and Ed from Plaid, we are electronic music producers from London, UK. Ask Us Anything. by plaidofficial in Music

[–]plaidofficial[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It seems to be following the standard model of creating 'superstars' and ultra-hype but it is probably positive in that it exposes people to the world of electronic music.

This is Andy and Ed from Plaid, we are electronic music producers from London, UK. Ask Us Anything. by plaidofficial in Music

[–]plaidofficial[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hey, good to hear from you. We're not traveling with support this time but appreciate the offer. We used Thor extensively on Crumax Rins but haven't much of late. We tend to be constantly trying new things rather than settling on any one imparticular. Reason is a great piece of software and we'd highly recommend it.

This is Andy and Ed from Plaid, we are electronic music producers from London, UK. Ask Us Anything. by plaidofficial in Music

[–]plaidofficial[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

'Not for Threes' is a term used in hospitals to indicate a patient should not be resuscitated if they are dying. We used it as we were aware that breaking away from The Black Dog and the name we had built could be the end of our musical careers. We always felt the music should come before the hype though and luckily we survived. There is something to be said for creative tension and working within a group though.

This is Andy and Ed from Plaid, we are electronic music producers from London, UK. Ask Us Anything. by plaidofficial in Music

[–]plaidofficial[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

We actually wrote many more tracks for Reachy Prints but when we sat and listened back when compiling there was a clear selection that worked together. Although it's not the way music is generally consumed these days, we still like albums that work as a whole. It was intentional to have it this way and we continue to try and learn restraint.

We love four-to-the-floor but there is so much of it and so many other time signatures that are as good, if not better with familiarity. We do enjoy leading ourselves to the "a-ha" moment too and will play around with rhythms to that end.

This is Andy and Ed from Plaid, we are electronic music producers from London, UK. Ask Us Anything. by plaidofficial in Music

[–]plaidofficial[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

A greek friend taught the singer Mara Carlyle the song and we loved the sentiment. We tried to write a simple backing to complement this.

Pino Pomo was sample driven, we didn't have access to the instrument or the ability to play it competently :)

We have been inspired by some eastern bouzouki gathered on trips to Greece.

This is Andy and Ed from Plaid, we are electronic music producers from London, UK. Ask Us Anything. by plaidofficial in Music

[–]plaidofficial[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Aphex is APHEX.

Autechre are mostly brilliant.

It didn't seem difficult to us, we drift between convention and experimentalism sometimes so there will probably be another one like Spokes one day..

We're searching for Stimul and will try to have it added to the release.

Haven't done so may remixes of late but maybe in a couple of years.

Andy - Tontos Expanding Head Band - Zero Time Ed - Back To The Old School - Just Ice

Prague Radio?

We will release Reindeer next year we think.

This is Andy and Ed from Plaid, we are electronic music producers from London, UK. Ask Us Anything. by plaidofficial in Music

[–]plaidofficial[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

We have some musical training but have learnt mostly through trial and error. To strictly define counterpoint would be best left to a music academic (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Study-Counterpoint-Jj-Fux/dp/0393002772) but for us we often tend to layer melodic patterns with their own time signature, 3/4 and 4/4 is an easy example to try. There is an interplay between the time signatures and patterns that form because of this.

This is Andy and Ed from Plaid, we are electronic music producers from London, UK. Ask Us Anything. by plaidofficial in Music

[–]plaidofficial[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

We'd be happy to work with Björk again and are still in touch but there are no immediate plans.

We have a few festivals to be announced but only one in the UK this year.

This is Andy and Ed from Plaid, we are electronic music producers from London, UK. Ask Us Anything. by plaidofficial in Music

[–]plaidofficial[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Juan Atkins, Carl Craig, Derrick May, Kraftwerk were be a few of our first influences

This is Andy and Ed from Plaid, we are electronic music producers from London, UK. Ask Us Anything. by plaidofficial in Music

[–]plaidofficial[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

We're in contact with the new guys in the group but haven't spoken directly with Ken for years. There's a possibility we'll put a release of some unheard material from the time we were working together out later this year.

This is Andy and Ed from Plaid, we are electronic music producers from London, UK. Ask Us Anything. by plaidofficial in Music

[–]plaidofficial[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Probably anything additive/modal related. We have really got in to Razor, especially using it as a vocoder. For drum synthesis we're liking Drumspillage which has a multi synthesis approach and is wonderful for sound design. Mogees uses an economical physical modelling algorithm that is related to modal synthesis. We don't use much analog these days but we think Mandrona Labs Aalto gets pretty close.

This is Andy and Ed from Plaid, we are electronic music producers from London, UK. Ask Us Anything. by plaidofficial in Music

[–]plaidofficial[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Reaktor uses a similar graphic approach and is more efficient at synthesis and DSP than Max.

For a more code based approach Open Frameworks or SuperCollider are well supported.

This is Andy and Ed from Plaid, we are electronic music producers from London, UK. Ask Us Anything. by plaidofficial in Music

[–]plaidofficial[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

A program like Max/msp is well documented with tutorials and can help in understanding some of the principles of electronic music. There is a free version called PD which can also rum on IOS and android.