Looking at the world's most influential musicians, two polar extremes can be made out: on one end of the spectrum we find the autistic genius, who creates an idiosyncratic musical universe entirely within the confines of his own imagination, and on the other the explorative traveller, who not only bridges the gaps between musical cultures, but also possesses the rare gift to make the result entirely his own.

Moritz von Oswald clearly falls into the second category - part curious flâneur, who traverses musical worlds in a light-footed stride, part creative genius, synthesizing powerful and original music from his diverse influences.

Von Oswald first became known to a wider public through the Maurizio and Basic Channel projects, which he initiated during the early 90s with long-time partner and owner of Berlin's famous Hardwax record store, Mark Ernestus. In rapid succession the two released a series of 12" recordings, which proved tremendously influential on the development of modern electronic music. Combining techno and dub elements with elaborate analogue studio and mastering techniques, Basic Channel defined a unique and immediately recognizable sound aesthetic, complemented by a minimalistic and completely anonymous packaging, which emphasised the time and placeless quality of the music contained.

There couldn't be many more fitting places in Berlin to meet up with Stefan Betke, better known as Pole, than the pleasant waterside surroundings of Kreuzberg's "Club der Visionäre". Built on wooden boards and pontoons on the river Spree, it's a location that radiates an air of relaxed tranquility, while minimalistic techno grooves, selected by Daniel Bell and Pole's partner and spouse Barbara Preisinger, remind you that you are still deep inside the beating heart of the German techno culture that is Berlin.

The interview's backdrop seems a valid metaphor for Pole's music, which oscillates between warm, analogue layers of bass-heavy dub and live instrumentation on one hand and poignant cutting-edge sound design on the other. "Nature is indeed a major source of inspiration for me", admits Pole, who is incidentally just about to embark on a field recording trip to the countryside. "Having a studio in the mountains would be nice, preferably somewhere in the Alps", he adds, "but for now we just hit the countryside by car whenever we can."