TEN SONGS: ADE FENTON
Ade Fenton, renowned record producer and composer, most notably working alongside electronic music icon Gary Numan, has now produced five critically acclaimed Numan albums. Creator of numerous original soundtracks for Film and Television, Fenton has also remixed Simple Minds, Gang of Four, Rammstein and many others. Here he shares ten songs that have stayed with him through his journey in music.
Image Zed Erina Photography
1
GARY NUMAN
‘A Subway Called You’
It’s almost impossible to overstate just how much of an impact Gary Numan’s music has had on my life and subsequently on my career. Had it not been for Are ‘Friends’ Electric?, I’m not sure my love of electronic music would have been born, and it’s crazy to think that it would eventually lead to me producing albums for him. As with NIN, I could’ve chosen a hundred Gary Numan tracks, such is my love of his music. As choosing one of the tracks we’ve done together would perhaps be questionable, I’ve opted for a track from ‘Dance', the concluding album from the early part of his career. Although his 1979 album The Pleasure Principle was the first album that I gravitated towards as a youngster, it was Dance that most spoke to me at the time and has done many times since. It’s a timeless masterpiece, years ahead of its time and this song is a thing of beauty.
2
NINE INCH NAILS
‘Gave Up’
Choosing my favourite NIN song is a near impossible task as there are so many and I could easily have chosen Reptile or The Wretched, or a hundred more. I’ve settled on Gave Up, taken from their EP released just before their second album 'The Downward Spiral' as it was the song that first turned me on to their music. I was a little bit late to the NIN party and their first album ‘Pretty Hate Machine’ had avoided my radar initially, whereas ‘Broken’ and ‘The Downward Spiral’ delivered everything I was looking for in music at that time and in fact, 30 years later, their music still delivers everything.
3
KRAFTWERK
‘Numbers’
I vividly remember them performing this live in Paris and it felt like you actually touch the sounds, such was the purity and clarity of their performance. My admiration of Kraftwerk has never been about songs, it’s always been a fascination with how they create their sound. ‘Numbers’ laid the foundations for techno and especially electro and deserves its spot purely for that reason.
4
JOEY BELTRAM
‘Mentasm’
Perhaps not my favourite techno track of all time, but certainly the one that had the most impact in terms of how it changed my life and led me down a path that would lead to some unforgettable nights and a large chunk of my career in music. I originally heard this at a club I’d reluctantly attended in the early 90’s and it completely changed my perception of what dance music was. I’d lost a bit of interest in electronic music, but when I heard this it reignited a spark in my brain and from that point I became obsessed with techno, which would then become a career for me for the next 15 years. For me, electronic music at the time had become twee and lightweight, but Mentasm was like someone had found a synthesiser, ripped its guts out and pushed it to the very limits. Whilst not as life defining as Are ‘Friends’ Electric?, Mentasm was definitely career defining.
5
ATTICUS ROSS
‘Panoramic’
This is one of the most beautiful pieces of music I’ve ever heard. It’s taken from the film ‘The Book Of Eli’ and is majestic, powerful and heart-breaking. Not much else to write about it, just close your eyes and listen to this 7 minute modern cinematic music masterpiece.
6
HOW TO DESTROY ANGELS
‘Parasite’
Again, an almost impossible task to choose a favourite HTDA track. What I love about their music is the focus on sound design and I find myself wishing that every sound they create is one I’d made. Their self titled EP in particular, is a thing of wonder in itself, with ridiculous production and incredible noises. I do hope they make some more stuff, music is a poorer place without them.
7
JOHN FOXX
‘He’s a Liquid’
Alongside Gary Numan’s 'The Pleasure Principle', John Foxx’s ‘Metamatic' album played a huge part in my teenage years. I’d listen to them both on repeat for days on end and I still don’t know why the coldness of those two albums appealed to me in a way that others didn’t. I recently worked with John on a track so that was another bucket list moment, given my historical ties to his music.
8
DEFTONES
‘Headup’
Absolutely fucking epic track. Completely insane and taken from their incredible ’Around The Fur’ album, love the production, love the guitars and love how the madness of the song descends into calm for the last three minutes.
9
BJORK
‘Mutual Core’
Alongside Declare Independence, this was one of Bjork’s finest moments. I just love the melodies and her voice is mesmerising. When I first heard it, those rock hard beats really took me by surprise and this is just an incredible track, so I hope she experiments with electronic music like this again.
10
JOHN HOPKINS
‘Open Eye Signal’
Every now and again, a track comes along supported by a mesmerising video and the two are so symbiotic that the music itself is elevated (see also Come To Daddy). Open Eye Signal is one of those tracks, a fantastic 8 minute journey that conjures up memories of being at after-parties back in the day with its incredible bassline and constantly evolving Eno inspired atmospherics.
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