It was a release for the Bristol based Idle Hands imprint that first properly burned the name of Szare onto my consciousness. For a recent convert to the offerings of a lower BPM structure, their command of percussion and the furious precision with which the drum track hit home struck a chord.
Retrospective listening and a subsequent release on much feted Techno imprint Horizontal Ground affirmed their potency. Each track proves strikingly prescient, even considering today’s relentless progression, toughened drums, liberal amounts of raw percussion and dystopian tones working in conjunction towards a pacy, hybrid Techno end.
Having located someone, or something purporting to represent the notoriously anonymous Szare deep in cyberspace, I asked (without much hope) whether they would contemplate putting together a mix for us. As you’ve probably guessed by the slushy opening hyperbole, they complied. And how.
We’re happy to be able to present you with two exclusive Szare mixes. Part one is a largely beatless and truly wondrous exploration into electronica, with a tracklist that reads like a who’s who of electronic pioneers. Part two is a mirror to the sound of 2012, with fresh bits from Szare themselves as well as cuts from Anstam, Surgeon and representatives from the Frozen Border/Horizontal Ground stable.
Tracklists for both are at the bottom of the page, and you can also stream from the PYC Mixcloud. The PYC Q+A with Szare is also below, featuring an inspiring quote from an unexpected source.
Huge respect to Szare for doing this, be sure to catch them live at the Eastern Bloc Horizontal Ground/Frozen Border showcase in March.
PYC – First up, how was 2011 for you?
Szare – Gorgeous.
Describe the sounds Szare make.
Eerie, lazy, chewy.
What informed your decision to produce anonymously?
Death threats.
Where are Szare’s roots, musically?
49.557, 19.041
What are you listening to at the moment?
The sound of a pigeon’s wings, the racist jokes of a colleague, and the colour grey.
Political images form the basis of the Szare blog/tumblr. The world changed last year and it looks set to do the same this year. Have these changes infiltrated your musical process or do you keep the two interests (music/politics) separate?
No. “For the introduction of a new kind of music must be shunned as imperiling the whole state; since styles of music are never disturbed without affecting the most important political institutions.” – Plato
Techno music has had somewhat of a popular renaissance over the last year or two. What do you attribute this surge of interest to?
Interest rates.
Any more releases for us to look forward to?
Horizontal Ground 011, Krill 002, Deep Moves 005, Syndrome Z 03.
The world will not end in December of this year. If it was going to, what piece of music would you be listening to at the very end?
Morecambe & Wise – Bring Me Sunshine (Starline Records, 1969)
Give us some words of wisdom.
“The complete emancipation of women from the ties which held them back in the past, during the ages of despotism and ignorance, is a basic aim of the Party and the Revolution. Women make up one half of society. Our society will remain backward and in chains unless its women are liberated, enlightened and educated.” – Saddam Hussein, The Revolution and Woman in Iraq, 1981
Download Szare – PYCMIX011 (I)
North Korea Radio (Thursday July 9th 2010)
The Caretaker – All You’re Going To Want To Do Is Get Back There (History Always Favours The Winners)
Eyvind Kang – Heads On Red Lakes Return (Abduction)
Six Organs Of Admittance – Creation Aspect Fire (Reprise) (Pavilion)
The Haxan Cloak – Hounfour (Temple) (Aurora Borealis)
The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble – Rivers Of Congo (Denovali Records)
Secret Chiefs 3 – Hamaya (Tzadik)
Popol Vuh – Kyrie (Pilz (2))
Ry Cooder – Paris, Texas (Warner Bros)
Tangerine Dream – 3AM At The Border Of The Marsh From Okefenokee (Virgin)
Oneohtrix Point Never – Returnal (Editions Mego)
Lee Ranaldo – Time Stands Still (Blast First)
Vatican Shadow – Worshippers At The Same Mosque (Hospital Productions)
Cabaret Voltaire – Badge Of Evil (Virgin)
Sunn 0)) – Alice (Southern Lord)
György Ligeti – Jupiter And Beyond (Rhino Movie Music)
Vangelis – Atom Blaster (Universal Music)
Raime – If Anywhere Was Here He Would Know Where We Are (Blackest Ever Black)
Download Szare – PYCMIX011 (II)
Surgeon – Not-Two (Dynamic Tension)
Moritz Von Oswald Trio – Pattern 1 (Honest Jon’s)
Monolake – Ionized (Imbalance Computer Music)
Zoir – Kill Everything [Szare remix] (unreleased)
Alex Coulton – Relapse (unreleased)
Donato Dozzy – untitled 2 (Further Records)
Equalized #004 – Untitled 1 (Equalized)
Frozen Border 4.02
Skudge – Man on Wire (Skudge)
Szare – Document (Horizontal Ground)
Milton Bradly – (Do Not Resist The Beat!)
Szare – Ronto 5 (unreleased)
Milton Bradley – (Sequence #1) (Ann Aimee)
OVR – Post-Traumatic Son [Robert Hood Mix] (Blueprint)
Sascha Rydell – Contraire (Fachwerk)
Delta Funktionen – Torpor (Ann Aimee)
Anstam – I Shouldn’t Even Be Here (50 Weapons)
Pinch & Shackleton – Selfish Greedy Life (Honest Jon’s)
