Art Of Logging came to life in 2001 as a side-project for its two leaders and members: guitarist and producer WM and electronic composer and programmer Totoj started sharing ideas and samples even before meeting for the first time. The former collecting dozens of drum loops, bizarre audio samples and deranged effects that the latter was constantly throwing out of his Apple computer or downloading from the net, and developing them with the help of a few instruments and a guitar effect processor.
After one year and a half spent in sectioning and assembling little bits of music in WM’s bedroom, their first record was released. "The Bedroom Sessions" is an intriguing blend of electronic music with an overall lo-fi taste: powerful drum patterns spacing from jungle to techno, fuzzy guitars intertwined with raw basses and vintage pianola sounds, noisy editing and dirty synth lines, with a crisp melodic attitude on top of it all. The jazzy guitar theme of "Turtle Traces" and the robotic rap of "Timeline" (the best free-style performance a Macintosh has ever made) are among the highlights.
Lyrics and titles, as well as the colour bars on the cover, were mostly inspired by the concept of post-production and video editing techniques, quite not a popular topic which nevertheless remains still today a setting point in AOL’s vision.
Even if pioneering in the use of home-recording, and much more imaginative than a lot of electronic records of the times, "The Bedroom Sessions" was too far from the likes of the DJ and big beats fans as well as from the indie scene. After one year spent in chaotic post-production, WM and Totoj had not enough energies to spend in promoting their bizarre creature, and decided to move on to other projects. WM kept playing guitar with prog-rock band Anacondia and gave birth to his Mala Hierba quartet; Totoj moved to France for a while and became resident DJ in a couple of clubs.
More than three years passed almost without naming Art Of Logging; then in may 2007, WM was cutting a documentary film on the american writer Joe R. Lansdale and just couldn’t find the proper music for a particular scene. He laid down a vibraphone loop and sent it to Totoj for some ideas, and what he got back was a stunning orchestral arrangement. The two understood immediately that the feeling was not gone, and that they both had a much more professional equipment to work with; the chance to make something different from "The Bedroom Sessions", and probably much better than that, convinced them to return to their file-sharing activity.
"Heavy Machinery", AOL’s long-awaited second album, was recorded and mixed in just three months at WM’s new home studio. WM and Totoj abandon the lo-fi flair and psychedelic digressions of "The Bedroom Sessions" and opt for a more concise and straightforward structure, without losing a distinguishing sense of humour. "Heavy Machinery" contains twelve songs holding a brilliant impact and a clean cut, with a more dance-oriented profile as well as references to big beat, house music, nu-jazz and even hip-hop. There’s a wider use of samples, vocals and synthesisers, but also a clearer approach to composition; and this time the duo can also afford special guests, like hip-hop guru 2M and vocalist Jojo. To be mentioned the strict connection of this record to the themes of its predecessor, made even deeper by the promotion of the Edit Life project handled by the Edit List Spy Division association (see blog).
