CONSTRUCTING RE-GENERATIONS (KCD7)


back to News Archives December 1999

Kinetik had been considering releasing an album of REFINED remixes since around the end of 1997. Up ‘till then, the band had already remixed / reconstructed a couple of tracks in experimental studio sessions and had judged to results to be a success. Another possibility considered by the band was the release of a four track EP consisting of a live recording of the (then) forthcoming live performance at EMMA#4 in Derby in 1997.

The original plan (providing the concert went well) was to release onto CD EP, a middle portion of the concert comprising of FATHER OF INVENTION / SOUNDS OF INDUSTRY, HAVEN’S LAMENT, TRANS-CONTINENTAL and I.S.D.N. (all tracks which were previously unreleased – at least in live format) However, after the actual concert, the live recording of FATHER OF INVENTION / SOUNDS OF INDUSTRY was considered to be unsuitable for CD release because of various technical / live desk problems encountered on the day.

Because of the reduced number of suitable live EMMA tracks available, the possibility of combining the two projects was then considered. Additionally, the band felt that ‘something extra’ ought to be included and was keen to develop and include brand new studio material to complement the release. Completion of the album was to prove problematic however, due to various circumstances.

After several postponments, RE-GENERATIONS was finally released on October 11th 1999. Here are the details behind the tracks on the album 

(DISC 1)

RADIO DERBY #1
- The first of four extracts taken from Kinetik’s interview at BBC Radio Derby in early 1998 before the launch of the ‘Micro Tour’. Kinetik thought it would be nice to give presenter Ashley Franklin his own Kinetik jingle for his Soundscapes programme. Ashley was absolutely thrilled with the result !
GENERATION
(Re-Generation Extended Remix) - This is the full length version of the remix originally released in edited form on the cover CD of Sequences #17 magazine in early 1997. It was one of the very first remixes to be attempted, recorded in late 1996 actually before the definitive studio version of the track was laid down ! The recording was done directly to DAT with no multi-tracking involved and was remixed by Colin Jordan.
RADIO DERBY #2
- The quote about refineries “generating their own sounds and rhythms” is Very Ralf Hutter I’m afraid ! – It made good radio at the time...
INDUSTRY OF SOUND (Micro Tour Mix)
- This is a studio version of the arrangement of SOUNDS OF INDUSTRY which Kinetik performed during the Micro Tour in 1998. Andrew had previously done some rough ‘doodling’ which everyone liked and the idea was expanded into a full restructure by Andrew Slegt and Colin Jordan - all prepared during the Micro Tour rehearsals. Shirleyann was also very keen to include this as a contemporary dance arrangement into our set. This studio version uses distinctive artificial voices for the vocals rather than the sung vocals as performed live and was the first Kinetik track recorded to use the Novation SuperNova.
YOU CAN DANCE
…- The first of two short special ‘linking’ pieces recorded in April 1999. The speech was edited from the ‘introduction’ to DANCE MACHINE during the 1998 Micro Tour.
DANCE MACHINE (Rave Machine Remix)
- Encouraged by the success of the GENERATION remix, this experimental track was also recorded directly to DAT without multi-tracking in early 1997. The remixing was done by Colin Jordan and Shirleyann Davies.
INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY (Serious Technology Mix)
- The last of the remixes to be recorded – in March 1999. The original version of this track had a lengthy development period and underwent many changes in its recording history. The idea behind this remix arrangement was to use as many elements as possible from the original multi-track tape master while still trying to make the track as radically different from the original version as possible. This remix was recorded directly to DAT, remixing from the original master tape along with many new instruments live.
RADIO DERBY #3
- Andrew gets a chance to speak at length in the interview at last !
HAVEN’S LAMENT (Live At EMMA ’97)
- The first of three live recordings from Kinetik’s EMMA#4 performance in 1997. I think this live version is actually better and more powerful than the studio version on REFINED.
TRANS-CONTINENTAL (Live At EMMA ’97)
- Andrew finally gets a chance to perform this song for the very first time since composing it in the 80’s. The live mixing engineers had the mix level of the vocoder a little low for the first half of the song. If you’re still wondering what the lyrics actually were, look at the ‘Kinetik Tracks’ section on the Kinetik site ! My speech at the start of the piece did not anticipate the fact that the song would prove to be so popular as to warrant it being included into the 1998 Micro Tour set list.
RADIO DERBY #4
- A preview of some of the ideas behind Kinetik’s next studio album MODEM TIMES. The “pre-millenial” release date seems highly unlikely now however!
I.S.D.N. (Live At EMMA ’97)
- A track composed for the forthcoming MODEM TIMES. There is a little digital clipping present on the original live recording when the Bass comes in at the beginning (watch your speakers!) - as we played this VERY LOUD ! At this point in the concert we were beginning to relax a little and were able to improvise in many places – and it all worked ! I consider this to be Kinetik’s finest moment.
WHAT IS ENERGY ?
- The second of the new ‘linking’ pieces recorded in April 1999. This time the speech was taken from the ‘introduction’ to KINETIK ENERGY during the 1998 Micro Tour.
KINETIK ENERGY (Late Shift Remix)
- The very first Kinetik remix, mixed in March 1995 by Colin Jordan from the original multi-track tape. The remix incorporates a prominent synth solo at the end which it was decided to omit from the original standard studio version. This track was previously available only on the very rare 1995 KINETIK ENERGY CD (KCD 2) or the (slightly) more common cassette release.

(DISC 2)

HYDRO ELECTRIC
- Andrew makes his Kinetik singing debut on this, the first of three new exclusive Kinetik studio tracks. This track was originally conceived for inclusion on the REFINED album but had to be held back because there was not enough time to develop and record it. This version is actually the second attempt at recording the song, it finally being recorded in April 1999. The first attempt had to be abandoned when our old analogue multi-track technology let us down badly the month before.
GO ELEMENTS, GO
- Developed from a tune that Shirleyann found herself humming during a long car journey, this was the last RE-GENERATIONS track to be recorded, being laid down in September 1999. This is actually the first Kinetik track to use the new Novation Nova instrument – the Nova providing all of the vocoded voices.
IN-NOVATION
- This track was originally conceived for live performance during the 1998 Micro Tour, but there was not enough time available to develop it. The track was almost entirely constructed using the Arpeggiators of two Novation SuperNovas - the only exception being the artificial vocals flown in from a sampler. This track was laid down in February 1999 and was actually recorded directly to DAT with no multi-tracking.

As a consequence of its long development history, RE-GENERATIONS inevitably contains a wide range of different Kinetik musical styles. Some, particularly the experimental remixes may not be to everyone’s taste or what they have come to expect as Kinetik music, but the sheer diversity of RE-GENERATIONS should (hopefully) mean that there’s something in there to please most of our Kinetik friends.

What of the future ? Perhaps the best indication of the next ‘generation’ of Kinetik sound can be gleaned from the three new studio tracks on disc 2, but certainly, no-one – (especially us !) will know for sure until the release of MODEM TIMES - sometime into the next millennium. We’re looking forward to it. We hope you are too…

Colin Jordan – 1st October 1999.