PETE NAMLOOK :: Tribute Release

News has emerged lately to lighten the heavy hearts of Pete Namlook fans and FAX-ophiles alike. For the uninitiated, Namlook (Peter Kuhlmann) had a major impact on the electronic music world, particularly as part of the 90s blooming of the new wave of Ambient and IDM-related, as an artist and curator of cult FAX label—as well as a mentor, collaborator and friend to many. In November 2012 we learned of his sad passing, aged just 51. The good news is in recent months FAX artists and fans have been busy on a tribute project, and igloomag has it from the horse’s mouth (long-time enthusiast, Dave of EAR/Rational Music) that it will amount to 4 CDs, 2 comprised of tracks from FAX alumni, and 2 tracks from fans.

No less than 24 alumni have been signed up, most of whose contributions have been safely stashed away. Among them are a newly composed exclusive track by Bill Laswell (with Bernie Worrell on electric piano) and an unreleased 1992 track from Biosphere which was sent to Namlook as a demo for their Fires of Ork collab; Richie Hawtin has also given up a F.U.S.E. track “Carocell,” from the same period as their collab, From Within; Anthony Rother is contributing an unreleased piece, and Daniel Pemberton is donating a track (likely from the Bedroom era).

You can find a current list of artists confirmed and fan contenders and discussion via the Namlook Facebook page. Deadline is 5/31, after which fans vote on which fan submission will make the cut, and the CDs will be sent for mastering and pressing. Motives are entirely honorable—to pay homage to Namlook, and get money to his family and some great music to his fans in the process. The project will be crowd-funded via PledgeMusic, profits going to Namlook’s family, who approve of the project.

Latest update from Dave of EAR/Rational Music—to whom kudos is due for leading project curation—is that it may well be five CDs.  Feelers are still out to a few invitees who’ve yet to respond, and more tracks are coming in aswespeak. Watch this space! (Last word: A 6-8 LP boxed set (!!) on 180 gram coloured vinyl is also envisaged ‘if there’s interest… and there seems to be,’ says Dave).

For more information about Namlook, visit www.namlook.de.