TEN SONGS: STEPHEN MALLINDER
© Paul Burgess
Here on TONN Recordings we’re not just interested in music itself, but are also fascinated by the musical inspirations of the artists we love.
So we recently took some time out to explore the influences of an artist whose own musical output has been a huge inspiration to us on the label.
From his earliest forays into industrial, cut-ups and the low-fi electronica with Cabaret Voltaire, to his later solo projects and work with Creep Show and Wrangler, the music of Stephen Mallinder has been hugely important in TONN’s formation. So it’s a very great pleasure to present his Ten Songs selection, which explores the diversity and richness of his own musical influences and loves.
1
TONTO’S EXPANDING HEADBAND
‘Timewhys’
Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margouleff, electronic composers who worked with Stevie Wonder to create his classic albums including Inner Visions, and Talking Book, their own two albums at the time were pivotal in use of early synthesisers.
2
BO DIDDLEY
‘Bo Diddley’
I got into Bo Diddley when I was about 11 years old from rinsing out my sister’s boyfriends record collection. Pure rhythm, the sound of the railroad and the great migration, raw and metallic.
3
DR JOHN
‘Jet Set’
I love Dr John and that whole New Orleans dark swamp sound but this is a mad detour when he inexplicably worked with the Sugarhill producers to create a totally wack piece of electro... sign of the times!
4
STEVE REICH
‘It’s Gonne Rain’
I heard Music for 18 Musicians in about 1977 and the whole systems thing blew me away – this feels like the start of it all but it has that extra swing and edge.
5
JOHN HASSELL
‘Dream Theory’
I still find this sublime, textured and exotic.
6
HAMILTON BOHANNON
‘South African Man’
The human metronome, he was like a real life drum machine, captured the mood of the anti-apartheid time with an almost gestural track.
7
LAURIE SPIEGEL
‘Drums’
Female producers and artists have always been the driving force behind electronic music and so many wonderful pioneers (please check out Sisters with Transistors) and they hold to story together but Laurie had the groove as well.
8
LEONARD COHEN
‘First We Take Manhattan’
Everyone knows Leonard Cohen is the master of emotion and possesses the richest, most beautiful, voice but this was a nice twist when he toughed the drums up and really electrified things – I remember seeing him perform this at Hammersmith Odeon in the late 80s.
9
SUN RA
‘Outer Space Employment Agency’
An extract from Sunny’s Space is the Place film... I recommend watching the whole thing. Afrofuturism and the whole idea of speculative narratives are so important and influenced the future sound of American music, specifically artists like Drexiya and the whole thrust of Detroit techno.
10
RYTHIM IS RYTHIM
‘Strings Of Life’
One of those influenced by Sun Ra and the idea of black secret technology. I am somewhat conflicted about adding this but must acknowledge the impact this track had on changing the whole thrust of electronic and dance music. Everything shifted from this point.
BONUS
ALVIN LUCIFER
‘I Am Sitting In A Room’
I squirm at the term ‘sound art’ but we need to recognise how much sound, as a medium, is increasingly shaping our idea of what constitutes creative work. This piece perhaps more than any other has informed how we hear and listen.
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