R. Simeon Bowring- Pentatonik/A1 People

Music Downloads Available from hydrogendukebox.com
PENTATONIK'S 'THE FIVE ANGELS' OUT ON CD NOW! ALSO AVAILABLE AS A DOWNLOAD ALBUM FROM WWW.HYDROGENDUKEBOX.COM OR FROM BEATPORT HERE....
23 PENTATONIK TRACKS TO LISTEN TO ON THE BEATPORT PLAYER!!
3 TRACKS FROM PENTATONIK DEBUT ALBUM ANTHOLOGY 1994
A Thousand Paper Cranes- R. Simeon Bowring has completed his forth solo Pentatonik album ‘A Thousand Paper Cranes’. It is his most powerful, potent and dramatic album to date and pushes the boundaries of the genre he helped to create. Fusing classical and electronic influences he has forged an epic work of musical magnitude that breathes life into organic synthesizers and sweeping orchestral arrangements. The album which was inspired by the events of World War 2 is an epitaph for those innocents that have suffered under the tyranny of war and its title comes from the symbol of peace in Japan: the paper crane, a symbol as important now as it was after the atom bomb was dropped. The album captures the passion of both the pain of war and the delight and strength of the human spirit in both overcoming the odds to survive and the simple joy in friendship and love. Tracks such as ‘In Your Arms’ float ethereally, hanging in the air contrasting beautifully with the proud shogun-esque drama of ‘By The Sword’. At other times the album shows its darkness with tracks such as ‘Night Raid Over London’ a counterpoint to the playful melody of ‘The Rush of You’. It is an album that sounds both original and individual and yet has that rare ability to transcend genres and appeal universally.
Background- Simeon started writing music under the name Pentatonik in 1991. Regarded as a pioneer of a sound that fuses electronic and classical styles he has frequently been compared to artists such as Phillip Glass, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Michael Nyman, Vangelis and Ennio Morricone as well as his contemporaries such as The Aphex Twin and Boards of Canada. He is known for writing music that shimmers creating melodic landscapes that combine the tones of ‘real’ (often orchestral) instruments and dynamic synthesized and electronic sounds. As a multi-instrumentalist Simeon plays nearly all of the instruments in his compositions but also occasionally collaborates with other artists (such as Kirsty Hawkshaw on vocals). Simeon’s output is deeply musical and structured (he studied composition from the age of seven) and he is highly regarded for both his composing skills and his ability to push the boundaries of technology, production and the studio (he has featured often in technology magazines and has been asked to endorse several breakthrough cutting edge studio products). He is also highly acclaimed by both the dance music and indie press with many features in both in the UK and abroad.
Anthology (1994) and Severance (1996)- After releasing two EP s in the early nineties (the first of which became single of the week in the NME) Simeon went on to release his debut double album Anthology (1994) which has become regarded as one of the most influencial albums in electronica (as recently voted in Future Music magazine). During the nineties Simeon played live across the globe and headlined venues in the UK such as The Forum and The Camden Palace (Koko) and played many concerts and tours along side other pioneers of that time such as Orbital. He went on to write and perform his second double album Severance in the late nineties and Music Week gave him two singles of the week for the EPs Credo and Pentaura.
The Five Angels (2006)- After a break to pursue other musical projects and remixes (Simeon has produced, mixed and remixed over a hundred artists) Simeon returned to Pentatonik and wrote ‘The Five Angels’. If there was any doubt as to the impact Simeon has made this album cemented his position at the forefront of his genre.
As the press said:
-”It's rare that electronic music can feel this moving, but 'The Five Angels' is up there with the best work from the landmark artists of the genre - from Vangelis, through to the Aphex Twin and Global Communication, taking in Boards Of Canada, Ulrich Schnauss and beyond. 'TFA' is simply an immense listening experience, containing some of the most beautiful music you're likely to hear.” CMU Daily
-”It makes you happy to be alive. If someone can produce something as beautiful as this, then there’s some hope yet.” One Week to Live
-”Shimmering instrumental techno and a pair of magical songs.” Q Magazine
-”This rich electronic soundtrack simply stands well above all the dire ambient competition for integrating classical music and grand melodies as only the greatest do (Glass, Morricone).” Jerry Bouthier, Five.
-”For want of a better word, good Chill-out cds are few and far between and this is a very good one.” M8 Magazine
The Five Angels was another landmark album for Simeon and has perfectly set the scene and reactivated the fan base for A Thousand Paper Cranes to follow in its footsteps. Simeon is currently working on adapting A Thousand Paper Cranes for his live show.
Simeon is published by Reverb XL.
A1 PEOPLE- A1 People are an electro band Simeon started in 1997. Tom Crook joined and they have worked together since. A1 People have released 3 albums- Fresh Juice (1998), The Visit (2000) and The Yellow Album (2002). A new album is ready for release in 2008
In a radical progression to their sound Tree Carr has joined on vocals, Steve Jones (Ex- Headrillaz, Moby) has joined on drums and Karsten Forsey has joined on Samplers. Over the last few years they have released several EPs on Hydrogen Dukebox, Tsuba and Satamile records
Magical Thinking-This new A1 People album is set to be released in 2008.
LISTEN TO A1 PEOPLE TRACKS HERE!!
REMIXES A1 People have remixed well over 60 artists. Most recent mixes include Groove Armada (Song 4 Mutya) and The Dub Pistols (Open, Peaches) and tracks from Blondie, Annastasia, Mew, The Creatures, The Ravionettes, Apollo 440 and Sqeeze.
Current releases
Pentatonik Album- The Five Angels
On Hydrogen Dukebox Records hydrogendukebox.com
A1 People-As Above , So Below
On Tsuba Records
A1 People- No One Likes a Smartarse EP
On Satamile records. To purchase go to satamile.com
A1 People Albums- The Yellow Album (2003)/ The Visit (2001)/ Fresh Juice (1998)
On Hydrogen Dukebox Records. To purchase go to hydrogendukebox.com
For full discography go to
Pentatonik
A1 People
Click here for the official A1 People website
A1 People
STUDIO
Simeon records and mixes in his own studio nicknamed ‘ Vertigo Heights’ because of its stunning view looking for 20 miles over London’s skyline. He is often asked what equipment he uses for his compostions. For all the geeks out there here is a comprehensive list!
Computers, Software, Mix Hardware, Controler Keyboards
Apple iMac 2.3GHz Core 2 Duo
Apple MacBook 2GHz Core Duo
Apple G4 800 GHz
Lacie Hardrives 1TB
Logic Pro 7.3
Focusrite Liquid Mix
Motu Ultralite Audio Interface
PMC TB2A Monitors
Alesis M2 Monitiors
M-Audio Keystation Pro 88
Novation Remote SL37
Software Synths and Samplers
Logic ESX 24
Logic ES1
Logic ES 2
Logic ESE
Logic ESP
Logic EVB3
Logic Evoc 20
Logic EVP88
Logic Ultrabeat
Logic Sculptire
NI Kontakt 2
NI Absynth 4
NI FM8
NI Massive
NI B4
NI Pro 52
NI Pro 53
NI Battery
NI Reaktor 5
NI Vokator
NI Akoustic Paino
NI Reaktor 5
NI Guitar Rig 2
Arturia Arp 2600 V
Arturia CS-80 V
Arturia Jupiter 8 V
Arturia Minimoog V
Arturia Moog Modular V
Arturia Prophet V
Arturia Prophet VS
G-Force impOSCar
G-Force MTron
G-Force Oddity
Korg Legacy Cell
Korg Mono-Poly
Korg MS 20
Korg Polysix
Zebra CM
Alpha CM
Novation Bass Station
TC Electronic Mercury
East West Platinum Orchestra
Effects
All Logic 7 Plug-ins
Sound Designer Reverb with EMT 250/244 and Lexicon 960 impulses
Focusrite Liquid Mix (mainly SSL G and E-Series EQ, Pultec EQ and Avalon Tube Compression)
NI Spectral Delay
Audio Damage Discord 2
Audio Damage Replicant
Nomad Factory Blueverb
Hardware Synthesizers, Samplers and Guitars
Spencer Upright Piano
Line 6 Bass Pod Live XT
Roland Jupiter 8
Roland SH101
Roland SH09 x2
Roland Juno 2
Roland Juno 6
Roland S750 sampler
Yamaha DX7
Yamaha TG33
Solina String Ensemble
Novation Bass Station
Casio VL Tone MT68
Casio VL 1
Sequential Drumtrax
Roland TR 808
Roland DR 110
Technics 1210 Turntables x2
Pioneer DJM 600 Mixer
Mackie 1604 mixer (LIve use only)
Fender Stratocaster
Epiphone SG
Vantage Bass Guitar
ADK Comemorative Edition Area 51 Valve Mic (with U47 tube)
AKG C3000 mic
Shure SM58 (x4)
Tandy PZM Mic
SE Reflexion Filter