Barker - Unfixed

Sam Barker returns with his first solo EP since 2020’s BARKER002, this time on Oslo’s Smalltown Supersound. While Barker’s previous releases (2018’s Debiasing EP, 2019’s Utility LP) explored the possibilities of kickless dancefloor tracks, Unfixed sees him inverting the musical equation and exploring both the variability and sonic possibilities of a kick-drum – though the final result is not a concept EP.

The four tracks emerged from a session that started out as both a technical study in bass drum design and cognition, specifically problem of “functional fixedness”, which describes a mental block that restricts the use of an object to its traditional application. Exploring the so-called “generic parts technique”, whereby an object is broken down into its component parts to help reveal novel solutions, the typical bass drum elements of waveform, transient, and noise were re-combined through modular synthesis to become fluid, expressive and dynamic.

However, what began as a rule-based experiment was overtaken by a more organic music making process without specific conceptual constraints, which allowed the music to live and breathe. Tracks were started and then left unfinished, only to be approached again and again over lengthy intervals. Stylistically the result a mix of raw, stuttering, psychedelic growl, kosmische techno, and infinite iterations and of a single groove. In this regard, Unfixed sees Barker not only deeply invested in musical experimentation but also exploring his own biases in both composition and sound design. The result is, once again, a sound and musical framework all of his own.

Out August 25

  On 9/12/2019 at 2:26 PM, IDEM said:

It's a decent album, but some insolent part of me is still pining for Utility 2: The Basslines and Utility 3: The Kickdrums. 

thx

who the fuck writes these descriptions jesus.

sounds like he discoverd db blue glitch

I like Barker, but reading that, the gremlin in me is rising!!!

new barker get me very excite. but that write up is barf. take a chill. 

that write-up is truly terrible....i like hearing the ideas/process behind music if there's something to talk about, but anyway  to the important part:

that first track is dope. very good stuff. hope the whole EP keeps up that energy

Writeup is a bit pretentious yeah but the concept is interesting. Utility was a massive grower. Maybe he'll do hi hats next

Great wrap to the summer months--Aphex end of July, Barker end of August, 0pn end of September???

I am become coom if true. 

barker is cool, so this should be good. Also, New OPN? first time I'm hearing of that

This guy's always a solid worth checking out so yeah bring it.

Yeah that copy is usual pretentious tripe but you or I could go to bleep, p4k, discogs, boomkat, every other bandcamp, etc. and find drivel 10x worse in 10x quantity in 10x realtime, jus sayin'

[burger]Also my watmmuddled brain can only read this thread title as : Unfixed[/burger]

This sounds really good, cant wait to hear the rest of the EP

Been relistening to Barkers back catalogue. Along with Skee Mask he's pretty much top tier electronic producer of today isn't he. Looking forward to this new release, the new track kicks in all the right spots. I've forgotten about the write up and won't read it again. As Richard says, electronic music isn't made to be talked about. The individual should interpret it themselves in any abstract way they choose.

  On 7/27/2023 at 10:08 PM, beerwolf said:

Been relistening to Barkers back catalogue. Along with Skee Mask he's pretty much top tier electronic producer of today isn't he. Looking forward to this new release, the new track kicks in all the right spots. I've forgotten about the write up and won't read it again. As Richard says, electronic music isn't made to be talked about. The individual should interpret it themselves in any abstract way they choose.

https://youtube.com/@skeemask3013 if you like Skee Mask you might like his 

YouTube channel, hes always adding to it with new music recos

You know this track really does sound a bit like Autechre if they had more of a commitment to genre

  On 7/27/2023 at 10:08 PM, beerwolf said:

the new track kicks in all the right spots

So bloody stoked and it came true also--0pn at end of September 

What a lucky pig I am.

It’s been a wild year for releases. Aphex, Ae, OPN, Barker, Andrea, u-Ziq and that’s just off the top of my head. 
 

If Boards of Canada or Stars of the Lid decided to release a record that would just seem like the logical progression for 2023.

Probs that description was written with ChatGPT yo

  On 8/25/2023 at 4:02 AM, thedisavowed said:

It’s been a wild year for releases. Aphex, Ae, OPN, Barker, Andrea, u-Ziq and that’s just off the top of my head. 
 

If Boards of Canada or Stars of the Lid decided to release a record that would just seem like the logical progression for 2023.

Agreed. Add Rrose, Godflesh, Alva Noto and Slowdive!!

Out now.

  On 8/25/2023 at 1:06 PM, dcom said:

Out now.

Hell yeah

  On 8/25/2023 at 2:05 PM, Ivan Ooze said:

Hell yeah

So far so good! I wish I was listening to it on a proper system but I honestly can’t wait till later. 

wasn’t feeling the second track but the rest are good. that 1st track is killer.

  On 8/25/2023 at 4:02 AM, thedisavowed said:

It’s been a wild year for releases. Aphex, Ae, OPN, Barker, Andrea, u-Ziq and that’s just off the top of my head. 
 

If Boards of Canada or Stars of the Lid decided to release a record that would just seem like the logical progression for 2023.

whats Andrea in this list? not familiar