MAGNETIK NORTH

MAGNETIK NORTH is the latest work from Ian Tregoning. It started as a collaboration to synthesise acoustic and electronic instuments. Live studio sessions were fed through ultra-fast studio processors (time-stretch, delay, pitch-shift, loops, auto-tune). The results sound like a noxious hypnotic blend of krautrock and Detroit electronica.
Now working with JAKI LIEBEZEIT, the legendary drummer from CAN, to add his endless evolving rhythms. Jaki Liebezeit is in a world of his own as he balances subtle restraint and technical brilliance. Recording started in the Summer 2006 in an old jazz studio in the south of Koln. Jaki arrived with a very minimal kit including heavily customised cymbals, a snare and that huge Gretsch floor-tom from the CAN days. Some of the recordings are over 10 minutes long but all of his performances are complete takes with no drop-ins, loops or edits.
The finished results are quite minimal, a blend of industrial and classical. The backing tracks are put together using a ‘drone’ keyboard technique where a chord is held for up to 15 minutes. Other instruments and fx are then blended with the key of the drone. The idea is to get away from chord progressions that are common in western music. Drums and percussion are added last which is another unusual technique. As Jaki says “they are often overlooked as tuned instruments in their own right”.
MAGNETIK NORTH - 'The Outside World'
1. Ominous monster chord (6'12)
2. Kings of the robot rhythm (8'51)
3. Sky at night (7'05)
4. Drøn in Køln (9'12)
5. Eight point one (13'02)
6. Mostly error (7'15)
7. Night on the edit block (5'17)
8. The shining (4'59)



'The Outside World' and 'Sky at Night' feature JAKI LIEBEZEIT with TIM HUTTON on trumpet.
LEE HARRIS (from ORANG/TALK TALK) has added his unique percussion skills to 'Ominous Monster Chord'
Layo & Bushwacka! remixed 'Eight Point One under the title DJEMBE released on October 23rd 2008 on Olmeto/The End Recordings. Also available on Beatport and other download sites.