FOUNDATIONS: DAN CURTIN / PART 2
A man creating techno-gold.
Friends.
It’s Friday and we’re relaying the Foundations.
Apologies for the week out, thoroughly enjoyed the Francois Kevorkian post from Ben.
In Part One, I focused on two of Dan’s albums and the beginning of his collaborative work with Mike Tilly and Tatsuro Hayashi.
It is also worth mentioning that he collaborated with Warren Harris as Key of Soul and Morgan Geist as Like This Productions.
Here, I will focus on additional productions of these early works, under Apogee, Planetary, Prototype, and some releases under his own name. I will begin with Time Undefined.
TIME UNDEFINED
Two releases on Strictly Rhythm at the time of his techno productions and the beginning of his collaborative work. This is Dan’s solo attempt, in which he takes his unique sound and crafts a few EPs in the house format. A brave move, and something not often enough discussed. This is not your usual Strictly Rhythm sound, and although it may not appeal to die-hard fans of that label, it shows a new approach, introducing new ideas to a label that had been one mould and feel.
A house-techno blend, but the sound is in that familiar signature, even if it is toned down, which makes these EPs an intriguing listen. His early works are so unique and ahead of their time, and to this day, these productions still are. What this demonstrates, here in particular, is his ability to adapt this unique signature to a label that was so set in its sound, showcasing his astounding work ethic in working within those confines and making it work. For this, his productions cross genres with ease and class, making it palatable for that community to digest and for music to evolve healthily. Even though this is not his futuristic techno that many have come to appreciate and hold dear, it demonstrates an approach to music that brings different music communities closer together.
Togetherness is a word I often associate with his sound. There are numerous elements in his productions, coming from various sources, which enable his pieces to traverse different communities and be accepted, ultimately leading to creative music growth. This is how I interpret the message within his productions.
One from each of the two EPs.
Cascade-Alive EP
Cascade - Dawn Mix, which leans towards a melodic techno-house vibe, as does Alive - Summer Rain Mix.
Time Undefined EP Stage 2
This release has more of a feel of his work under Purveyors of Fine Funk. Here I chose ‘Orange Night’.
PROTOTYPE
Two songs were released under this alias. Both tracks have a menacing, tense feel, with high-pitched sounds and darker, emotive elements that contribute to this atmosphere throughout their duration. Biotic, a bleep-infused techno affair with its aquatic sounds, whilst The Path makes use of tight percussion programming and moody, emotive depth. This is Dan at the very beginning of his music career, and we are witnessing him in the process of defining his sound. This is raw, experimental, exciting, and free-flowing, and for me, it’s Dan at his creative best; it is also music at its innovative best, and this is where current production needs to reevaluate and return to.
I do, however, have to pay homage to David, here, who put the 1929 Mickey Mouse short ‘Haunted House’ to ‘The Path’ track. To pair these two is not only visual-sound perfection; I could not think of a more fitting song to represent that film piece, a hand-in-glove situation, but the animation specifically with Mickey, the instrument, and the cloaked entity directing how he should produce followed by a room full of dancing bodies once Mickey had mastered what they wanted, coupled with the feeling of the music overlay is an interestingly absolute representation of what is happening behind the scenes within this industry: simply music and artists are controlled. Unfortunately, there is far more going on: entities that do not have any part of this industry, interests at heart, fundamentally taking it in the wrong direction, it is creatively, sonically and visually being controlled at every level: therefore being destroyed from the inside out.
Video-music alignment, I suspect, was done because the track and video short just worked. However, it is interesting to see how things come to light, and the creative message that emerged, possibly unintentionally at that time, is correct, representing a dark industry. It is spot on and can be found embedded below.
Incredible music.
APOGEE
Releasing only one EP. Reminiscent of his releases, Space and 3rd From The Sun EP. The EP is interesting in that it takes his distinct US sound and attempts a transformation shift in response to what was occurring in the UK and Europe. It is more focused on the acid line, more fierce and chaotic, there are elements of a dark unusual edge in the sound in parts on all tracks, more notable in A2, B1 and one that changes the flow of the track and though I notice the association to Olivier Abitbol with Apogee a trance and dark-ambient french producer, and maybe it is this that I am picking up but the release itself makes no credit to him, I am therefore unable to substantiate to where that sound is coming from. It is not the smooth blend of sounds that is associated with Dan, and even though I perceive this, this release shows his commitment to making things work. There are elements of pure gold in this EP; it is this attitude that is missing today, which is why this EP gets an approving nod and a mention. It is A1, which is more in line with his tight productions.
It is in the following releases that Dan truly holds the title of a music genius.
His subsequent productions reach a whole new level of sophistication. For me to choose one over the other is impossible, as they are all exceptional in their own way, for one reason or another. My message is simple: listen deeply, let the music flow through you, and savour the experience. Please listen to these releases in their entirety.
I will begin with a few of his future jazz / house-techno productions, which are sublime.
DAN CURTIN
Spatial Relationships EP
I adore: ‘Crazy Life’, and ‘An Up The Wall Drive’. Funky percussive tracks with deep moods and melodies, along with vocal drop-ins, are fine. It is ‘She Thinks She’s So Smooth’ for me.
The percussive programming, strings, and melodic elements are quite astonishing: Percussion / melodic keys that flow into deep, emotive moods, with more blissful keys and more emotion emerging from a third of the way through. Another change in depth occurs at 5 minutes in, accompanied by voice work, making this one gorgeous track.
A hidden techno number from an incredible label. Be sure to check it out.
Bygone Epigone
Life In The Savage Garden
And, this overlooked EP. A mystery to me, because it is phenomenal.
PLANETARY
Trace Elements Vol 3
The outstanding 21/22 Corporation label, trace elements series. Intrinsically layered techno and an interesting switch at 4:30′, then reverts at 6.00′ without losing the track’s story. Wonderful.
The following two EPs in their entirety are nothing short of genius. On Origins EP, check ‘Out Of Sight And Mind’, lovely keys and a nod towards UR. And on Planetary EP, the 108 BPM, D-Xplete,
Intertwined from Origins EP
Until Tomorrow from Planetary EP
Another underappreciated EP, a 2010 release that showcases Dan’s enduring presence in proper techno, remains. Stunning.
Recognize
Between “Space” and “3rd From The Sun EP” and his Planetary release, these are the most futuristic, space-themed, deep-mood techno tracks, infused with lovely strings and melodic elements done in a way that leaves me nodding in admiration, and notably some of the finest innovative techno ever to grace vinyl.
Space EP
All three tracks. Envision at 13.52.
From ‘3rd From The Sun’ is Worlds of Mystery:
A remarkable producer, he has successfully translated his music across different diverse genre communities, captivating audiences worldwide with grace and precision.
I am going to leave you with three tracks to ponder: ‘Static’, ‘Matter Of Sound’, and ‘Reawareness’.
What is at play here is a man creating techno-gold.
Static
Matter of Sound
Re-Awareness
Until the next one.
Peace and Love
Stefan