When Bead is not creating dark analog techno with a muffled industrial edge, he’s busy in his studio making knives with razor sharp edges.
After a self-released tape, the Canberra based producer is set to release Corrode on Berlin label Instruments of Discipline.
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Using an oiled and lubed up latex sheet that he hooks up with microphones he produces music with voice samples and the sounds of grinders and saws that come from his knife workshop. It sounds as ominous as that last sentence reads.
The tape, that included two remixes by Military Position and System Body, is a dark and insidious music that is perfect for playing at your Christmas lunch that will include that cranky aunt who already thinks you are a little bit strange.
Stream the cassette below and read a quick chat we had with Bead.
Noisey: How have you approached Bead? How does it differ from previous work?
Bead: It is the most personal project I’ve had. It’s focussed on more specific ideas both in atmosphere and also production/hardware. Small setup footprint, no big table hogging synths and pure analog sound for the whole signal chain. Specific limitations like that really helped me to not go overboard. I also wanted the setup I used to be computer free, and with the ability to go free-form improvised or programmed patterns. Since I’ve been playing shows under the name Bead only since late this year, I didn’t want to rely on a laptop on stage incase I fuck something up or it freezes. I always manage to mess something up.
It sounds like a fairly intense process with over 303 lines and voice samples. What was the process like?
The idea for Corrode was to use latex sheeting for the organic sounds. I love latex. So I attached contact microphones on a latex rubber sheet and recorded. Over the course of 24-hours it was manipulated and warped and I used the results to make the songs. It was pretty chaotic and unpredictable but it was fun to search for the sounds I wanted. While I was doing the tracks I was simultaneously in the workshop in my garage, recording the output of a range of light machinery which I then added to the mixes.
You make knives? What type of knives?
I make a range of different knife kinds. Outdoor knives, steak knives, folding knives. Only in the last year has that been a constant interest, but it’s something I love. Really I started doing it because I just like them. In regards to my mental health I needed tasks that require steps and rigidity, so it was the perfect match. I usually rush things.
Military Position and System Body have remixed “Vial”. What to you think of the outcome?
They did a great job. I had no idea what to expect, and its nice to have tracks on the release that add extra depth and take away focus from my tracks. Military Position murdered it, and System Body brought a completely different sound to it all. System Body also added live hardware and hands at the last live Bead show supporting Randomer (UK). It was big.
‘Corrode’ is available Dec 19 through Instruments of Discipline.
Catch Bead:
Jan 6 – Melbourne at the John Curtin
