Episode # 42: ‘Evo-Devo’ – new DEEP FOREST album. In conversation with Eric Mouquet

One of the most exciting and musically deepest ambient electronic music acts out there, namely Eric Mouquet/Deep Forest, has just finished recordings for the upcoming album ‘Deep Forest – Evo Devo’, which can be pre-ordered HERE 

We had a chance to chat with Eric about the new albums, what people can expect from it, touring, what gear he used and more – do not miss this!!

LISTEN HERE

Episode # 41: In conversation with Neil Francis

Neil Francis & POEM's Thomas Janak

After seeing his favourite Band Erasure perform in London in 2014 Neil Francis made his way to the tube and while waiting on the platform he just started singing Erasure’s “A little respect” with everyone present joining in. A mobile phone recorded clip of Neil’s impromptu acapella rendering of the classic track made it onto youtube where it has been watched by a global audience over 20 million times, which turned Neil into a youtube sensation.

But the story doesn’t end there – he has now recorded with Erasure’s support act Shelter and others and is well on the way to becoming a thought after singer himself. Recently Neil sang at a ’30 years Erasure’ party where Erasure’s Andy Bell himself showed up and Andy & Neil sang “A little respect” together on stage that night.

We talked to Neil about his youtube video and all that followed and more.

LISTEN HERE

Episode # 40: BPM 2015 – Electronic Music Production Event

On the 2015 brochure BPM says: “when it comes to Djing and electronic music production, BPM is the biggest event on Earth” and who are we to argue with them.

POEMs Thomas Janak went to Birmingham’s NEC where the BPM was being held and had a look around.

This episode features interviews with NOVATION’s Mark Lewis, mainly about the Novation Launch Pad Pro, a talk about the re-issued Arp Odyssey with KORG’s Luke Edwards, we will explore YAMAHA’s Reface series with sound designer Yuji Yamada before talking in-depth with ROLI’s product manager Manon Dave about their brand-new and very innovative ‘Seaboard’ synths, which happen to be the World’s first midi-over-Bluetooth controllers as well.

Enjoy the footage 

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Episode # 39: Kings Of Vinyl - a book about the history of the 12 inch single and more

POEMs Thomas Janak met Bill Wallsgrove at the 2015 Kraftwerk Conference in Birmingham.

Bill is currently working on a book, titled: “Kings Of Vinyl” which is all about the history of the 12 inch single that enabled the club scene to thrive and explore/create new forms of music while expanding on what came before.

POEM caught up with Bill to talk about the book.

LISTEN HERE 

Episode # 38: R is for Roland – 384 pages of awesomeness

When design and photography student Tabita Hub searched for a project her boyfriend Michael Matlak was quick to suggest a book on his favourite ‘toys’: Roland synths and drum machines.

Born out of the heart of a fan the coffee table sized mammoth book (presented by Telekom Electronic Beats) follows 23 legendary machines such as the 303, 808 or 909 drum machines or the world famous RE – 201 ‘Space Echo’ and also includes many interviews with musicians who made these instruments their own and brought sonic joy to the world.

POEM’s Thomas Janak talked to the enthusiastic Michael Matlak about the book, what prompted it and much more.

Special thanks to Svea Gaum (Schroeder & Schömbs PR Agentur) for her support  

LISTEN HERE 

ORDER YOUR BOOK HERE 

Episode # 37: Change of cosmic address – a tribute to Edgar Froese (Tangerine Dream)

Tangerine Dream founder and music pioneer extraordinaire Edgar Froese passed away on January 20^th 2015. He left behinds legions of fans as well as an enormous back catalog of songs.

Electronic music conveyor Mark Jenkins, who performed with members of the Krautrock outfits CAN and ex- members of Tangerine Dream, recorded a tribute album titled: “Change Of Cosmic Address”, together with his brother Chris, the latter also being responsible for the album artwork.

The brothers are also performing a tribute concert for Edgar Froese in London on April 11^th, where they perform two live sets with new material in the style of the late Edgar Froese.

POEM’s Thomas Janak talked to Mark about the upcoming concert, the tribute album, hardware synthesizers, changes in music over the decades and more.

LISTEN HERE 

Episode # 36: In conversation with ANALOGUE SOLUTIONS' Tom Carpenter

In the world of synths there are names that excite the heart and ears of people. Analogue Solutions is one of them. POEM’s Thomas Janak talked to analogue solutions CEO Tom Carpenter about his creations, his influences, the resurgence of hardware synthesizers and his musical project ‘Sound Of Science’.

Don’t miss this 

LISTEN HERE