randombeats.com » techno

Karl D – SCAR

karl — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 05:35:18 +0000

If you can figure out the acronym without any help from me, you deserve a prize. Put it in the comments if you think you’re clever enough!

My goal was for “SCAR” to be somewhat of a hybrid of acid house, dub, and techno. Like some of the previous entries, this track’s instrumentation is stripped down to the bare essentials.

Karl D – SCAR

Karl D – Collapse

karl — Sun, 29 May 2011 05:56:06 +0000

Check out the first track from life.remixed. “Collapse” is a somber exercise in minimalism which still has room for some variety. There’s a nice rave stab before the halfway point that breaks up the otherwise dead-serious tone of the song.

Karl D – Collapse

Karl D – Trackdown

karl — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 00:12:36 +0000

Track 3 from the Artifice EP is “Trackdown”. The pads in the background bring the anxiety level way up, and the insistent bass bounces along through most of the track. Like much of the techno work I produce, there are only subtle changes to the mix over time; but where someone else might see minimal techno as pointless and thin, I see exciting buildups and thrill.

Karl D – Trackdown

5_08

karl — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 23:44:32 +0000

This track is like a random beats 2-for-1 sale. Starting out as a uniform techno stomper, the tempo is modulated midway through to transform this minimal caterpillar into a paranoid dubstep butterfly. There is sharp contrast between the two parts, despite using the same bass instrument.

5_07

karl — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 23:44:22 +0000

This glitchy techno track has some great space to it. The first instrument that comes in has a very spooky sound. Once the sharp synth comes in, the track is very noticeably disrupted, but the spookiness continues.

5_03

karl — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:22:55 +0000

Lo-fi beats provide the backdrop for the electronic drama in this minimal track. Lots of vintage sounds at work here.

Karl D – FTL

karl — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:30:23 +0000

You’ve already heard the first new track from the Electronic Monk EP(Toxin). The other new track, and the final one from the new EP, is called “FTL”.

Stylistically, “FTL” sounds a bit like an up-tempo march. The casual listener may find it a little repetetive and plain, but the song really dosen’t kick in until about halfway through the track. I think the end result is quite thrilling! Rather than keep talking about it, I would instead have you listen to it for yourself and generate your own perspective on it.

Because this is the last track for The Electronic Monk EP, the album is now available to download in its entirety in the Downloads section. Enjoy!

Karl D – FTL

4_05

karl — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 06:55:00 +0000

I programmed the drums in this track in what I considered to be a quite unusual way. I think it made the track sound quite unique due to the odd placement of the drum sounds. I really like the fade effects and the arpeggio synth here. Not so sure about the organ, though…I didn’t have an instrument that made exactly the sound I was looking for.

3_03

karl — Sun, 10 May 2009 20:46:35 +0000

It seems fitting that an electronica blog that comes across the number “303″ in any way should probably pay homage to one of the most important pieces of hardware in our culture.

The Roland TB-303‘s influence is undoubtedly widespread in electronic music. I don’t have one, but I frequently use emulators to try to replicate the famous sounds. Did you know that the 303 was originally meant as a practice tool for rock musicians?

Today’s entry in the random beats series adds special attention to the 303 sound and pays it’s respects to the acid house movement. I like how well the “dueling basslines” fit together.

2_08

karl — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 23:22:34 +0000

Today we have some Detroit-influenced hard techno. A lot of the new stuff I’m taking an experimental approach to; I’m not sure it really fits in with some of the mainstream, but that’s why I like it.

2_02

karl — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 01:26:29 +0000

Soundtracks like Blade Runner, Flash Gordon(no laughing), the Matrix, Terminator 2, and other great soundtracks have enhanced the movies they accompany.

I’ve done a couple tracks thinking about how they would fit into movies – this one was inspired by all the great sci-fi classics.

1_10

karl — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:52:25 +0000

Minimal techno has always been an fascinating thing for me. The last few years I think i’ve really got into it. I would speculate that it’s because it’s one of the only genres the underground electronica collective has left. If you think about it, all kinds of electronic music have crossed over – trance, house, drum and bass – I’ve even heard rave-pop songs becoming quite popular. However, if you see someone with a Richie Hawtin CD – you know they’re into the “rave thing” for the long haul.

Be patient with this track, it is indeed minimal…and it’s meant to be.