Tom Middleton Interview

So anyone seen this? It is pretty interesting. Also, I wonder what his involvement was actually on Analogue Bubblebath. I feel like he probably smoked with a then somewhat isolated Richard and they had similar interests and things to talk about.

No midi controller for the loss.

http://www.propeller...&short=68B21A66

A somewhat isolated Richard? He was actively DJing for G*dssake! That's not really isolated, is it?

So, you are saying that one could not DJ and be isolated? I'm not saying I'm correct. I was speculating, but let me paint a larger picture. A young kid from Cornwall moves to London to make music, have a go at being a DJ, and attend school. Being new to the area, somewhat anti-social and introverted, very busy, and spending most of his time creating he doesn't have a lot of time for people nor wishes to have a ton of friends as he very much enjoys his time alone. Meeting someone with similar interests that he can hang out with, smoke, and do all the other things that entails(i.e. bouncing ideas off one another) he befriends Tom and they spend sometime being creative together. They work together on Richard's first album and afterwards Richard realizes he doesn't really need or want anyone else's input on his music especially if they don't have a lot to offer. (Tom Middleton makes deep house using Reason :\ )

That is just what I was imagining had happened.

The isolation bit just seems redundant, if you ask me. It's speculation. And it's not relevant to the story either, so why bother?

edit: drop the isolation bit and it's almost factual! And still basically has the same information. Whatevs though. Thanks for the link. It's the first time I actually heard about Tom being taught by RDJ. Always thought they were just cooperating in the beginning.

I specifically stated what I said was speculation and I mentioned it because it adds more personality to the story and Richard is a self-proclaimed recluse. Oh, also this was before he was famous so I imagine if he is somewhat of a recluse then before he became famous he probably had less friends.

Yeah, I don't really care about the story all that much. I just wanted to know if anyone was aware exactly how he was involved on AB. I mean it sounds like the entire thing is in Richard's style.

I'd say Tom could need a couple of lessons again. His output with Mark in the early nineties was brilliant! Apparently the RDJ factor was still hot back then. Like radioactively hot!

I haven't really listened to his music at all. When he said in the interview that he makes "Deep House" I instantly became bored. I'm sure there is some good house music, but I haven't been motivated enough to find it yet.

It's probably fitting of the genre but for me I really don't find this over-clean (almost clinically so) digital sound of any interest whatsoever. It really seems to lack any emotional feeling and just sounds a collection of lab demos for the various soft-synths he's used

However -

  On 3/13/2012 at 7:22 PM, goDel said:

His output with Mark in the early nineties was brilliant

I think him being isolated is one of the most important parts of the story. 'Cause imagine if he wasn't. Know what I mean?

  On 3/13/2012 at 7:44 PM, AdieuErsatzEnnui said:

I haven't really listened to his music at all. When he said in the interview that he makes "Deep House" I instantly became bored. I'm sure there is some good house music, but I haven't been motivated enough to find it yet.

In the beginning they were more into techno and ambient and everything inbetween. You might want to check the following records:

http://www.discogs.com/Various-The-Theory-Of-Evolution/master/112476

http://www.discogs.com/Reload-A-Collection-Of-Short-Stories/master/17159

http://www.discogs.com/Global-Communication-7614-Maiden-Voyage/master/16236

  On 3/13/2012 at 7:50 PM, mcbpete said:

  On 3/13/2012 at 7:22 PM, goDel said:

His output with Mark in the early nineties was brilliant

Check 76:14 (incredible ambient techno masterpiece that really transcends the cliches of that time period), Pentamerous Metamorphosis (ditto, just amazingly good). Also the Jedi Knights album New School Science is pretty good if you're into that kind of thing (electro/hip-hop). Very funky.

But I agree about his own output being a bit boring, I also feel similarly about Mark's (to a lesser extent). Somehow whenever they work together though they can do no wrong. They just become this completely different beast.

The take home message is: go listen to 76:14 right now.

  On 3/13/2012 at 7:56 PM, hype said:

I think him being isolated is one of the most important parts of the story. 'Cause imagine if he wasn't. Know what I mean?

I agree

I remember seeing this video a couple years ago in an older thread. I had read an interview with Middleton by complete chance when I picked up a copy of CM Music in 2007, and his story about RDJ was pretty much the same.

And there's the insight he gave back in the day of what RDJ used...

  Quote

I thought it was about time I wrote to the entire group about my connections with the ApheX tWin - as I continually get sent individual requests for information. Ahhh! Richard (AFX) James has been producing music since he was 12 - I have seen him.

 

He worked in his bedroom in a modern bungalow in Lanner, Cornwall. His setup was bizarre to say the least. Casio FZ10M, DX-100 (missing keys'n'all), SH-101, Quadraverb, Atari 520ST with bust keyboard(!), odd keyboards, bits of old electrical equipment, 8+ turntables, one borrowed mixer(!), bits of audio gear (all cleverly balanced on some lucozade cans, hand-sprayed JBL's suspended from ceiling by industrial strength chain. The list continues...

 

Digeridoo was recorded initially for the benefit of FIZZ-BOMB (at the Shire Horse, St Ives, Cornwall). He DJ'ed with my brother (Tom) both here and at the Bowgie Inn (Crantock, Newquay, Cornwall) - not to mention the numerous beaches around the county. The original Pacman (never released) was recorded off an arcade machine in Newquay

 

The original is 100x better than the choci remix on yellow vinyl. AFX released several of his original recordings on Rephlex Records, London - indeed, Richard himself resampled bits for R+S from these Rephlex Records (or that what it sounds like on the R+S release).

 

Richard now lives in Islington, London, and continues to do work for Rephlex Records (under the name Caustic Window). His first record was a joint project with himself and my brother for Mighty Force Records (Exeter, Devon) - the Analogue Bubblebath EP (En Trance to Exit was Tom's idea!). Tom continues to do work for Mighty Force (he had his Schizophrenia - My Splendid Idea released by them). Tom now works with Mark Pritchard (formerly SHAFT - Rhubarb + Custard) on Evolution Records (run by Tom and Mark). This new label has gained alot of respect in London (indeed their latest release Global Communication - Sublime Creation has received a 5 * rating in MixMag. Just goes to show that good music

I wonder where that arcade game ended up. Maybe Richard bought it and has it at his home.

  On 3/13/2012 at 7:50 PM, mcbpete said:

It's probably fitting of the genre but for me I really don't find this over-clean (almost clinically so) digital sound of any interest whatsoever. It really seems to lack any emotional feeling and just sounds a collection of lab demos for the various soft-synths he's used

 

However -

  On 3/13/2012 at 7:22 PM, goDel said:

His output with Mark in the early nineties was brilliant

Yeah, my brother recently bought a couple Pioneer CDJ's and a mixer, and when he bought it the dude unloaded his entire collection of house music to him.[burnt cd's] So, we basically drank beer and played all these awful house records. Every single one was 120 bpm (the guy said he only played 120 bpm music !!!haha). It was labeled tech house, prog house, deep house, etc. and it basically all sounded the same. I understand when you listen to decent house music it probably is necessary to call it by different names, but this was not decent music. It all sounded like someone turned on a sampler, synthesizer, and drum machine and didn't touch the knobs. All the drum beats were the same. It was such boring music. It was like they aren't even trying. I imagined frat boys trying to make music so they can play in clubs and get laid or something.

  On 3/14/2012 at 4:01 AM, joshuatxuk said:

I remember seeing this video a couple years ago in an older thread. I had read an interview with Middleton by complete chance when I picked up a copy of CM Music in 2007, and his story about RDJ was pretty much the same.

 

And there's the insight he gave back in the day of what RDJ used...

 

  Quote

I thought it was about time I wrote to the entire group about my connections with the ApheX tWin - as I continually get sent individual requests for information. Ahhh! Richard (AFX) James has been producing music since he was 12 - I have seen him.

 

He worked in his bedroom in a modern bungalow in Lanner, Cornwall. His setup was bizarre to say the least. Casio FZ10M, DX-100 (missing keys'n'all), SH-101, Quadraverb, Atari 520ST with bust keyboard(!), odd keyboards, bits of old electrical equipment, 8+ turntables, one borrowed mixer(!), bits of audio gear (all cleverly balanced on some lucozade cans, hand-sprayed JBL's suspended from ceiling by industrial strength chain. The list continues...

 

Digeridoo was recorded initially for the benefit of FIZZ-BOMB (at the Shire Horse, St Ives, Cornwall). He DJ'ed with my brother (Tom) both here and at the Bowgie Inn (Crantock, Newquay, Cornwall) - not to mention the numerous beaches around the county. The original Pacman (never released) was recorded off an arcade machine in Newquay

 

The original is 100x better than the choci remix on yellow vinyl. AFX released several of his original recordings on Rephlex Records, London - indeed, Richard himself resampled bits for R+S from these Rephlex Records (or that what it sounds like on the R+S release).

 

Richard now lives in Islington, London, and continues to do work for Rephlex Records (under the name Caustic Window). His first record was a joint project with himself and my brother for Mighty Force Records (Exeter, Devon) - the Analogue Bubblebath EP (En Trance to Exit was Tom's idea!). Tom continues to do work for Mighty Force (he had his Schizophrenia - My Splendid Idea released by them). Tom now works with Mark Pritchard (formerly SHAFT - Rhubarb + Custard) on Evolution Records (run by Tom and Mark). This new label has gained alot of respect in London (indeed their latest release Global Communication - Sublime Creation has received a 5 * rating in MixMag. Just goes to show that good music

Well, damn my fault for the jazz. This is really interesting though. I wonder where that arcade game went to. I'm kind of tempted to buy that gear just to see where it takes me. The only thing I wouldn't really be able to get over would be using floppy disks.

  On 3/14/2012 at 4:34 AM, AdieuErsatzEnnui said:

Well, damn my fault for the jazz. This is really interesting though. I wonder where that arcade game went to. I'm kind of tempted to buy that gear just to see where it takes me. The only thing I wouldn't really be able to get over would be using floppy disks.

No worries! I had to really dig to find that old thread. I'm usually quite fascinated with old gear and their sounds, especially in the context of when they were made. I'd browse the EKT forums for tips and recommendations of hardware and/or software. I sometimes remind myself that RDJ and other innovative producers back then were tweaking and experimenting far beyond what even the hardware they had was intended for, so I don't obsess of thoughts of buying certain synths or soft-synth emulators.

  On 3/14/2012 at 7:40 PM, joshuatxuk said:

I don't obsess of thoughts of buying certain synths or soft-synth emulators.

Abso-fuckin'-lutely - if more people mastered the stuff they already have rather than worry about getting what they assume they should have I think the 'bedroom' electronic music scene would a be a far more diverse and interesting place ...

Hell I've been using Jeskola Buzz for over 10 years now and I still feel there's so much I have to learn with it

Well, I wasn't really wanting it because Aphex used it. I want it more because I would like to learn the simple side of making music using various types of hardware. All those pieces are relatively cheap and it would be really fun to boot up an Atari computer and try to do anything with it. I've been using Reason for six or seven years now and I will admit there are pieces of it I haven't gotten into at all and I regret that a bit. The computer is starting to really bore me as the sounds are just not as lush as I want them to be at all. I think even my microkorg sounds better than most of the sounds that come out of my computer.

  On 3/14/2012 at 4:01 AM, joshuatxuk said:

I remember seeing this video a couple years ago in an older thread. I had read an interview with Middleton by complete chance when I picked up a copy of CM Music in 2007, and his story about RDJ was pretty much the same.

 

And there's the insight he gave back in the day of what RDJ used...

 

  Quote

I thought it was about time I wrote to the entire group about my connections with the ApheX tWin - as I continually get sent individual requests for information. Ahhh! Richard (AFX) James has been producing music since he was 12 - I have seen him.

 

He worked in his bedroom in a modern bungalow in Lanner, Cornwall. His setup was bizarre to say the least. Casio FZ10M, DX-100 (missing keys'n'all), SH-101, Quadraverb, Atari 520ST with bust keyboard(!), odd keyboards, bits of old electrical equipment, 8+ turntables, one borrowed mixer(!), bits of audio gear (all cleverly balanced on some lucozade cans, hand-sprayed JBL's suspended from ceiling by industrial strength chain. The list continues...

 

Digeridoo was recorded initially for the benefit of FIZZ-BOMB (at the Shire Horse, St Ives, Cornwall). He DJ'ed with my brother (Tom) both here and at the Bowgie Inn (Crantock, Newquay, Cornwall) - not to mention the numerous beaches around the county. The original Pacman (never released) was recorded off an arcade machine in Newquay

 

The original is 100x better than the choci remix on yellow vinyl. AFX released several of his original recordings on Rephlex Records, London - indeed, Richard himself resampled bits for R+S from these Rephlex Records (or that what it sounds like on the R+S release).

 

Richard now lives in Islington, London, and continues to do work for Rephlex Records (under the name Caustic Window). His first record was a joint project with himself and my brother for Mighty Force Records (Exeter, Devon) - the Analogue Bubblebath EP (En Trance to Exit was Tom's idea!). Tom continues to do work for Mighty Force (he had his Schizophrenia - My Splendid Idea released by them). Tom now works with Mark Pritchard (formerly SHAFT - Rhubarb + Custard) on Evolution Records (run by Tom and Mark). This new label has gained alot of respect in London (indeed their latest release Global Communication - Sublime Creation has received a 5 * rating in MixMag. Just goes to show that good music

That was Tom's brother Ben that posted all that stuff on usenet back in the day.

  On 3/15/2012 at 6:18 AM, AdieuErsatzEnnui said:

Well, I wasn't really wanting it because Aphex used it. I want it more because I would like to learn the simple side of making music using various types of hardware. All those pieces are relatively cheap and it would be really fun to boot up an Atari computer and try to do anything with it. I've been using Reason for six or seven years now and I will admit there are pieces of it I haven't gotten into at all and I regret that a bit. The computer is starting to really bore me as the sounds are just not as lush as I want them to be at all. I think even my microkorg sounds better than most of the sounds that come out of my computer.

Oh I gotcha. Yeah that does often seem more appealing than getting overwhelmed with software options, especially stuff that sounds disappointing.

  On 3/16/2012 at 2:10 AM, Diao said:

That was Tom's brother Ben that posted all that stuff on usenet back in the day.

Ah, noted. I skimmed over the original post.

SPD will probably have a bit to add to this conversation...

I hate to see so much dissing aside from Global Communication, I never listened to his deep house but he did some great early liquid funk and some brilliant downtempo/chillout tracks.

Oh yeah, I'm a huge Tom fan. Think he probably gets a bad name in a group like this for being into some of the house stuff, but it doesn't phase me. Some is good, but the things this guys is capable of are immense. He still surprises me. In person, I've run into him a couple of times and of all the electronic musicians I've talked to he's easily the friendliest and most gracious toward fans. He's just a great big wonderful Star Wars nerd.

Well, I never stated that the house I was listening to was "good" house. Just that it was house music. I'm sure there is good house music out there. I just haven't been exposed to it. In the states if you wanna listen to good electronic music you really have to look for it. Most people don't listen to electronic music or don't hold it in as high regard as guitar music.

Yeah I'm pretty familiar w/ your country. Ben Middleton is of a wealth of knowledge. I'm sure he still hangs out on the Reloadonline forms. I do a like a good number of Tom's dance floor remixes for sure. Thought the Kalahari 12" was such a great underrated happy ass record.

Two solo Middleton Ambient Tracks (one from '93 and one from '99)

http://soundcloud.com/tommiddleton/tm-1402-live-edit-from-tom

http://soundcloud.com/tommiddleton/aznyte-falls-unreleased-ambient-track-from-c-1999-2000

and this Interview with Global Communication with Redbull Music Academy:

http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/magazine/global-communication-interview