Digifrog

This Myspace is dedicated to the memory of Jake Stephenson.

Hi there. My name is Scott.

Well what can I say, I'm relatively new to Myspace. I live in the mystical southwest of the UK. I am (an almost handsomely gorgeous) male, single and live on the outskirts of Bristol. I work full time in electronics (*sigh, well it's a job). I am passionate about my intrests, especially the frogs :o) So lay off the frogs. The main reason for me starting a 'Myspace' is to try and promote the best I can the labels/artists that I love and support, for the excellent music they produce that would befit any modern home, either with friends or dinner :o).

Musically, my tastes of Electronica all started in 1991. I was introduced to music by The Orb, by Radio 1s’ Annie Nightingale, along with some other random stuff. I think then the ‘acid house’ thing had matured to a point it was enough to change my tastes for good. Though never one to throw away the stuff I used to listen to, I had been converted.

Then later in 1991, early 1992, I found the first of the “Ambient Dub” compilations from Beyond Records. All the artists who appeared on these became firm favourites. Acts like Higher Intelligence Agency & Richard H. Kirk gave a more abstract feel to the sound, Insanity Sect also had a great sound, but their album release was thwarted in 1995 when Beyond sadly closed.

Then in 1992/1993 Björk crossed over and started her solo career. Being then a long time Sugarcubes fan, I was introduced to the artists that remixed her early work (Sabres Of Paradise, Fluke, Youth etc.). Incidentally, some people who like Björk, like her becouse of her musical ingenuity, and some people like her because of the voice. With me, it has always been, and always will be her voice.

And then Planet Dog happened. Wow! 'Maya' by Banco De Gaia; 'Implant' by Eat Static; 'Sirius Sounds' by Children Of The Bong, and of course the “Feed Your Head” compilations (especially the first two} are highly regarded releases from the Dogs and all time classics. The track ..Sadhana' by Alien Progeny (Steve Everitt) on 'Feed Your Head Vol. 2' is one of my most favourite tracks of all time. The Children Of The Bong album amazes me even now. Planet Dog really opened things up. Along with 'the Dogs' Magick Eye Records also make important releases from the likes of Astralasia and Children Of Dub. Magick Eye probably didn't make the same impression on me as Planet Dog did but these two labels were probably the truest precursors to todays psychedelic music scene in my opinion.

Compilation albums are a great way for introducing you to new acts, and before long I had become acquainted with the likes of Makyo, Astralasia, Jake Stephenson and Ozric Tentacles, to name but a few. Jake Stephenson being a muh loved, and much missed artist.

So, in a never ending search for different sounds of Electronica, 1995 gave me two very classic albums that are still loved to this day. Those being “Spanners” by Black Dog (Warp), and “Self Evident Truths Of An Intuitive Mind” from T-Power (S.O.U.R.). What a classic that T-Power album is. So rich, such a fresh sound that still stands to this day, and has not really been bettered in my opinion for that genre. Amazing!! 1995 also saw further dub compilation releases. This time the 'Serenity Dub' compilations (Organik Technoids, Digital Roots etc) from the Incoming! label. Digidub, Digital Jesus & Manneseh featured on these original albums. Planet Dog also followed up with their two 'Planet Dub'compilations. All these were a precursor of what was to follow in the electronic dub scene.

Then in 1996 the Goa/Psytrance thing jumped on me. Dragonfly (mainly their sublabel LiquidSoundDesign), Twisted, T.I.P. (Infinate Excursions, Mystery Of The Yeti) and Matsuri Productions (JuJu Space Jazz, Digitalis) for me led the way in the fast paced and chill spaced psychedelic sound. Hallucinogen being perhaps prefrred for the more dancefloor orientated vibes. Then the Shpongle thing happened properly (after a track on a T.I.P. compilation 'Infinate Excursions 1' (1995), and as soon as it did I knew that this was what I had been wanting to hear all along. A culmination of all the styles of electronic music I had been listening to for a number of years. The first Shpongle CD, the “Eclipse” album (Twisted) and the Celtic Cross album 'Hickesville' (LiquidSoundDesign) were just mezmerizing. A psychedelic mish mash of ambient dub and diverse beat patterns that influence my tastes to this day.

As the millenium drew to a close, I was gifted with yet more albums that widened my taste even more. The breathtaking album 'Music Has The Right To Children' by Boards Of Canada is just perfect for long hot summer days.

Compilation albums from Dubmission ('Mashing Up Creation', 'Skunked On Planet Dub' & 'More Bass Than Space') introduced me to a new variety of dub which could be termed today as 'Psydub', fusing traditional dub with psychedelic flavours. Again through these compilations I was exposed to, Alpha & Omega, Vibronics & Tassilli Players, (the latter two being part of the Zion Train movement, and label Universal Egg). This led the way to the seminal landmark release from Ott entitled 'Blumenkraft' in 2003. A much loved album and already a classic.

So into the 2000's. LiquidSoundDesign start releasing their colour coded amazing compilation album series, Alex Patersons' Journey, Mana Medicine, Elucidations, Unity Dubs' Voyage and Butterfly Dawn (seriously nice ambient dubs going on here). Right up to their most recent release from the artist Kuba, a nice ambi-dub, world excursion (and sadly my last purchase from ChaosUnlimited's CD shop). Now, broken and chilled beats from labels such as Liquid Records, Peak Records, Interchill Records & Native State are bringing such bright things. Plus an ever increasing sense of failing to keep up. Dark beats from the likes of BSE & Noisia adds a little extra flavour, and nice ambient textures from Vince and the Ultimae stable, Ishq and some New Age music to calm me down on 'the sunday after'. Catching as many live sets as I can at Tribe Of Frog parties and the odd festival (favourite being Glade) and all the people I've mentioned above. Everyone is loved. So, in short, I like to listen to Ambient/Psy-Dub, soft glitchy IDM, Dark D'n'B, Electronic/World Fusion, Psy-Breaks and Psy-Chillout (including some nice deep space ambient). My roots in Indie music are still in there somewhere too. :o)

As for before 1991? Bjork has been a long standing favourite (since 1988 to this day), Stone Roses (my favourite album of all time ever), Tubeway Army (Gary Numan), New Order (schooldays ahh!!), and Abba (thanks to my parents I grew up listening to them).