non standard institute is the partnership of Tobias Freund (Tobias.) and Max Loderbauer (of Sun Electric), and if you know these names, you will know to expect only the unexpected from their collaborative productions. On recordings for Cadenza, Sähkö and Freund's own non standard productions label, they have ranged from convulsive experimentation to ultra-minimal techno, from test-tone fugues to electro-acoustic improvisation involving piano and live electronic processing. And the recordings are only half the story: while nsi.'s live performances are scarce, owing to the intimidating heft of the duo's expansive setup, they have been equally non-standard affairs, examples of the true potential of live electronic performance, rather than Ableton-aided experiences in playback.
Tracks on "Sync"
This Album is featured in Update #073:
The Best Albums of 2011
As the old year draws to a close, we recap the finest musical moments of 2011. For this update we have selected our favourite full-lengths of the year, and we are making all of these indispensable albums available to you for a special price until January 15, more...
This Album is featured in Update #066:
This Year's Best Albums For A Special Price
A hot and long summer finally at our doorstep, it is once again time to appreciate the best music of the year so far in our Summer Sale 2011!
From Moebius to Moby, from the deepest electronic underground to chart-topping heights, 150 of our favourite albums more...
This Album is featured in Edition #043:
Ricardo Villalobos and Max Loderbauer on Re: ECM
Ricardo Villalobos and Max Loderbauer have just released an album on Germany's ECM label, reworking jazz and classical pieces from the legendary imprint's vast catalogue. zero" met up with the two idiosyncratic producers to talk about the project, music more...
Top 3 in Download Charts of Week #5
This Album is featured in Update #047:
BPitch Control, Seefeel, Hercules & Love Affair
The new year's release schedule reaches a fever pitch with a barrage of huge albums and essential singles. BPitch Control's 'Werkschau' compilation surely stands tall among the rest, presenting unreleased material by the label's entire line-up of illustrious more...
Top 2 in Download Charts of Week #4
This Album is featured in Update #046:
Ø, nsi, Bvdub, Ghostly International
Our selection this week looks beyond the edge of the dancefloor toward more adventurous, offbeat, and inventive forms of music: Mika Vainio's electro-acoustic minimalism as Ø, nsi's explorations of avant-garde sequencing, and Bvdub's mesmerizing ambient more...
Top 2 in Best Rated Releases of Week #3
Sync 07 #*=<
(Track 07 on this Album)
Picked!
For the past five years nsi have been playing the electronic music field by their own rules, from releasing adventurous minimalistic techno on Luciano's Cadenza imprint to experimental piano renditions on Finnish cult label Sähko.
As nsi Max Loderbauer and Tobias Freund release music that is anything but commonplace. Both producers have an extensive background in audio engineering, with Freund having worked for everyone from Ellen Allien to Milli Vanilli, and releasing techno under the name tobias. Loderbauer meanwhile is known as a member of Sun Electric, Moritz Von Oswald Trio and has a joint album with Ricardo Villalobos in the works.
Their latest effort 'Sync' is yet another milestone in the pair's illustrious discography. Subtitled '24 pieces for drum machine and sequencer' the album is essentially a sketchbook of short rhythmic patterns created on an extensive array of analogue gear.
nsi go as far as listing each piece of equipment used in the album's track titles: a Doepfer modular system (+), an EML 400/401 synth (#), an Eventide Time Factor delay pedal (*), a Korg Mini Pops 7 (=), a Korg MS 20 (•), a Makenoise Maths module (<), an MFB Dual LFO module (ø), and a Roland CR 78 drum machine (>).
Mastered at Villalobos' Half Inch Magic studio, the individual tracks come together as an intriguing conceptual album exploring themes of musical reduction, repetition and difference, and voltage-controlled sound and pattern generation. Uniquely beautiful and highly recommended.
As nsi Max Loderbauer and Tobias Freund release music that is anything but commonplace. Both producers have an extensive background in audio engineering, with Freund having worked for everyone from Ellen Allien to Milli Vanilli, and releasing techno under the name tobias. Loderbauer meanwhile is known as a member of Sun Electric, Moritz Von Oswald Trio and has a joint album with Ricardo Villalobos in the works.
Their latest effort 'Sync' is yet another milestone in the pair's illustrious discography. Subtitled '24 pieces for drum machine and sequencer' the album is essentially a sketchbook of short rhythmic patterns created on an extensive array of analogue gear.
nsi go as far as listing each piece of equipment used in the album's track titles: a Doepfer modular system (+), an EML 400/401 synth (#), an Eventide Time Factor delay pedal (*), a Korg Mini Pops 7 (=), a Korg MS 20 (•), a Makenoise Maths module (<), an MFB Dual LFO module (ø), and a Roland CR 78 drum machine (>).
Mastered at Villalobos' Half Inch Magic studio, the individual tracks come together as an intriguing conceptual album exploring themes of musical reduction, repetition and difference, and voltage-controlled sound and pattern generation. Uniquely beautiful and highly recommended.