V/A :: Ten Year Electronics (Cultivated Electronics)

To commemorate this anniversary a 12” has been commissioned that celebrates the imprint and the wider electro world. Ten Year Electronics closes the recent series of collaborations between the boss, Phil Bolland, and like-minded machinists. For the finale four cold cut craftsmen have been drafted in from near and far.

I wasn’t born an electro lover. Some are, I know, but personally I needed to grow into it. Some ten years ago I got in touch with a fledgling outfit, Cultivated Electronics. Their first EP seemed that bit too raw for me, a little too sharp. Little did I know back then that I’d not only be writing about Sync 24’s label, but craving its taut and toughened tones.

To commemorate this anniversary a 12” has been commissioned that celebrates the imprint and the wider electro world. Ten Year Electronics closes the recent series of collaborations between the boss, Phil Bolland, and like-minded machinists. For the finale four cold cut craftsmen have been drafted in from near and far.

The first partnership is with the usually techno tinted Truss for the menacing “Tri-Gate.” Beats are pared into piercing points. Interference and glitch orbit those spiking snares for a firm first statement. Veteran analogue experimenter Radioactive Man follows, hooking up with Bolland for “Eliptical.” A jittering, writhing and squirming work is offered. Squelch is chewed and pulled, bubbled and bulged as clouds loom and snipping snares rain. Those same globular bars are central in the collaboration with Australia’s Jensen Interceptor, “Wave ID.” Clinical and cold the duo have produced a chemically corrosive soundtrack, one of reduction and violent reactions. The final reduction sees label alumni Steve Allman don his lab-coat. Robotic vocals and bleep communicate a futuristic dancefloor of minimal proportions.

There’s never been an electro revival, principally because it never went away. Nevertheless, there were quiet spells. When few were releasing shards of SH-101 sourness and frigid funk, Cultivated Electronics was there and has continued to be there. For more than a decade Sync 24 has pioneered machine music, given a platform to new and upcoming talent and hooked a new audience on a once overlooked but always addictive sound(and that’s coming from the converted.) Happy anniversary CE and here’s to ten more.

Ten Year Electronics is available on Cultivated Electronics.