Multilink Magazine

There can’t be many people out there producing electronic music that aren’t already familiar with the Amen Break to some extent. It’s quite possibly the most reused piece of audio since the introduction of sampling.

A few months ago, Nathaniel pointed me in the direction of this tidy and concise 18 minute youtube clip doing an admirable job of explaining the enormous significance of this 6 second drum loop and it’s influence on anything breakbeat related since. I never got around to posting it here and eventually it slipped my mind completely but after it was pointed out to me again this week by someone else (thanks qiU!) I thought I better share before it gets lost again among the mess of other ideas swirling about my mindtank.

Amen Brother: The worlds most important 6 sec drum loop?

Here’s something nice for any of you who share my nostalgic fascination for the various characters who’ve shaped the last 25 years of electronic music.

Gerald’s been an innovator from the start. Setting a solid course in the late eighties with Pacific as part of 808 State and Voodoo Ray on his own, he went on to play a large part in the transition from Hardcore to Jungle. Of the many names that surface during discussions of early UK breakbeat culture, Gerald often seems to get brushed aside in favour of people like Goldie and Bukem. I have enormous respect for all of them but I think most of the original Drum & Bass guys would struggle to argue that they’re weren’t influenced by Gerald’s constant forward thinking approach during that early period.

Enough of my thoughts and opinions. I’m writing this because I stumbled across his site a couple of weeks back and the info section is great. The highlight is a short video made up of parts from a couple of old documentaries; Granada TV’s Madchester from 1990 and Channel 4’s Pioneers docu from 2000. There’s also a great page on Acid House which makes an ideal intro to anyone less familiar with his work or the period in general.

Mini documentary

Gerald on Acid House

A Guy Called Gerald homepage

Short 5 minute docu behind the scenes. Hat’s off to these guys, nice to see anything with this much integrity continue to grow.

It’s still pretty hectic here and I’m not having a lot of time to dig for stuff so we’re staying on the documentary tip…

Pump Up The Volume is a three part history on the development of electronic dance music. Part one looks in detail at Chicago and the early roots of house as it grows out of disco’s remains. The second and third parts take you through Detroit techno, acid house, Manchesters legendary Hacienda club and the UKs widespread rave scene of the early 90s that gave birth to so many new styles and directions over the following decade.

I say this about stuff a lot but you should consider checking this out even if you think it’s not your area. Anyone who’s into the idea of subculture and watching something develop should get a lot out of these. Although at 3 hours in total you may want to drop a bookmark to come back for parts two and three…

Pump Up The Volume: Part one (58mins)

Pump Up The Volume: Part two (49mins)

Pump Up The Volume: Part three (58mins)

Mark Rothko born Marcus Rothkowitz (1903–1970) was a Latvian-born Jewish American painter and printmaker who is classified as an abstract expressionist, although he rejected not only the label but even being an abstract painter.

Below is an hour long BBC ‘Power Of Art’ documentary on his career. I have a few reservations about the way this is done but ultimately, it does deliver a solid picture of some of what the guy was about. See it through if you have the time, it’s a little dark in places but well worth it…

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Props to Brad Troemel at Very Young Millionaire for the original post.

Skateboarding has had it’s share of household names since finding itself back in the mainstream. Tony Hawk and Rodney Mullen are often the first to be mentioned when thinking back to the 80’s boom while the casual observers tend to be more aware of younger guys like Bam Margera who have taken their profile to a wider audience now that MTV and the like are keen to provide them with a platform.

A name that gets less than it’s fair share of recognition is Natas Kaupas. To me, one of Skateboarding’s greatest strengths as a culture is its ability to be different things to different people and Natas really personifies what it’s meant to me over the years. The guy got involved on his own terms and carved his own route, that’s what it’s all about. Later, he would use that same personalized passion and drive as he began to get involved in related business ventures. Eventually finding himself as an art director he continued to turn his dedication and love for what he was involved with into some seriously fresh, original and influential styles.

Below is a 4 part ‘On Video’ biography on his career from pioneering skate legend of the 80’s to his post injury art direction of the 90’s. Don’t sleep on this if you’re feeling it’s not an area of interest to you, the cultural significance of this guys attitude and approach goes way beyond the context of skateboarding…

Part one…

Part two…

Part three…

Part four…