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BLUETECH - A classically trained pianist and master of the art of software production. Bluetech’s love of the melodic and exquisite sense of sound design makes him one of the most ingenius producers today. Bluetech’s sound emerges from his custom-built Reaktor instruments and software based synthesisers as a primordial electro-dub alchemy. While encompassing musical touches from different parts of the globe, he presents a total blend, crossing genres and borders. Bluetech has created a label called Native State Records to release his own music and music from other artists who cross boundaries between ambient/chill and more idm/experimental sounds. Not content to stay at home, Bluetech has toured extensively and performed in Japan, UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, Croatia, France, Denmark, Mexico, United States, and Canada. Bluetech has released two albums on Aleph Zero Records, an internationally acclaimed chill label run by recording artist Shulman, and is currently working on a third for release in 2008. Aleph Zero brought Bluetech’s music to the attention of the international chill audience, and helped to launch his career worldwide through strong support and beautiful packaging. Stay tuned for the next chapter!
http://bluetechonline.com/

PITCH BLACK - Having pumped their way through New Zealands electronic music scene since their inaugural performance at the annual Gathering New Year’s eve festival in 1997, Pitch Black have spent the last nine years rousing dance floor punters, generating rave reviews, winning awards and gaining thousands of fans across the world.

Hard to box into a single audio ‘genre’, Pitch Black is a combination of musical journeys, created by Paddy Free and Michael Hodgson. Their sound is distinctive; ranging from organic ambient beginnings and layered soundscapes to skanking keyboards, cutting acid riffs and thumping rhythmic grooves, with dub being the glue that holds their sound together. One critic has described them as like “Richie Hawtin meets King Tubby, or Rhythm and Sound in Technicolor”.

Their debut album, Futureproof, was released in September 1999 and rose to the top of the New Zealand electronic charts, despite no marketing or advertising. Their second album, Electronomicon, followed in August 2000, and led to a sell out 30-date tour of New Zealand and Australia. Both albums spawned remix projects, featuring mixes by local luminaries such as International Observer, Epsilon Blue and Downtown Brown.

Their third baby, Ape to Angel, was released in New Zealand on October 4th 2004 to critical acclaim. The Ape tour was the biggest yet, with 42 shows across the world, including their debut performances in America. The album was then released in Europe thru Dubmission in July and in America on Waveform in August 2005. Englands DJ Magazine rated it Album of the Month, giving it 5 stars.

Tracks from Ape to Angel have been undergoing the remix treatment of late. The first installment of mixes came out as Halfway in New Zealand in November 2005. This collection featured versions by Bluetech, Antix, peak_shift, Agent Alvin and others. Another selection was released in Japan in July 2006 as Halfway from Ape to Angel, which had extra tracks by Youth, Kenji Williams, System 7 and more.

The final collection came out on September 25th 2006, with mixes by International Observer, Red Star, Youth, Alucidnation, son_sine, Module, Bluetech, peak_shift, Minuit and more. Called Frequencies Fall it is out on Dubmission Records or thru iTunes, Beatport and other online stores.

Pitch Black’s live show really makes them stand out from the rest of the crowd, both sonically and visually. Their tracks take on an added dynamism and their performances reveal the dialectic behind the band - Paddy wants to do it for the crowd, Michael wants to do it to the crowd. Visually they are in another dimension due to Mike’s cutting edge visuals, which he manipulates at the same time as mixing the sound! Not for nothing have they been hailed as the “Hexstatic of New Zealand” and have been warmly embraced by England’s Big Chill community - playing 3 times at their annual festival.

Over the years they have also found favour among many DJs, both radio and club, including John Peel (Radio One/BBC), Nick Luscombe (Xfm), Greg Roberts (Dreadzone) and Pete Lawrence (Big Chill). Their music has been used in fashion shows and several films, the latest being the Oscar nominated Whale Rider.

Their new album, Rude Mechanicals, came out in NZ on August 6th, Australia on September 3rd, and will be available online from October 8th, in Europe and the US from October 27th and in Japan from November 7th.
http://bluetechonline.com/

PRETTY LIGHTS - pretty lights is an umbrella. under this umbrella stands a shifting collective personality. sometimes two lights shine, sometimes three lights glow. they emit a strong mechanical hum that fills the emptiness provided by time and divided by imagination. they manipulate the world around, illuminating the dark into a breathing electronic cityscape, casting shadow that carve dusty yesterday into a reanimated paradise. The Pretty Lights album “Taking Up Your Precious Time” was produced by Derek Smith and Michal Menert. Considered the debut PL album, TUYPT was released online for free download in the fall of 2006 and in the first year was downloaded over 5000 times across the globe. Since the release of TUYPT, Michal & Derek have been working on different projects, intending to explore new visions and satisfy their thirst for musical diversity. Michal is currently working on an ep with singer Ben O’neil aka Notthesame under the monkier “The Years”, which is due to be released sometime in 08. In the fall of 07, Derek began performing in venues around northern Colorado beside live drummer, Cory Eberhard, with the desire to showcase new solo material intended more for the live setting/dance culture. This combination has pushed the envelope of live electronic music and continues to evolve the sound

http://www.prettylightsmusic.com